How do people do Disney unplanned?

[dahrjo]

Uh-oh. We are going in about 2 weeks. I've got our park tickets, flight and hotel (POR), all set. Then I got rather overwhelmed with everything and just kind of stopped planning. I think I had better start thinkiing of some plans. We didn't do the dining plan. BUt, it just seems so confusing trying to plan out which parks on which days and what would be better.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.

 

[toy]

Disney is not a cheap trip. I need to get the most for my money/trip. I can't go there unprepared. I need to know about the dining plan, the best/worst places to eat, extended hours, downtown Disney, etc. We have been planning our latest trip for about a year. Now that we are down to a couple of months, I am spending more time on the site and message boards. My SIL decides today that they are going in April and want to eat with us in the castle. I laughed so hard my side hurt. You can't even dream of having lunch in the castle 2.5 months out. Some planning is very necessary. It cost too much not to take advantage of all Disney has to offer.

 

[Motherofafae]

I'm the half planner type. I went the busiest time of the year this year, when I learned that I bought books and made detailed plans of what we were going to do and what days and all, however those plans that weren't dinner or which parks to do on which days, flew out the window and we had the best time ever, we planned to do the rides with the least lines and it worked so very well. Im a rough out line type of girl. I still got to do every thing but the tea cups, but I wouldn't wait 40 mins to spin.

 

[Motherofafae]

Disney is not a cheap trip. I need to get the most for my money/trip. I can't go there unprepared. I need to know about the dining plan, the best/worst places to eat, extended hours, downtown Disney, etc. We have been planning our latest trip for about a year. Now that we are down to a couple of months, I am spending more time on the site and message boards. My SIL decides today that they are going in April and want to eat with us in the castle. I laughed so hard my side hurt. You can't even dream of having lunch in the castle 2.5 months out. Some planning is very necessary. It cost too much not to take advantage of all Disney has to offer.

Yeah, I found out about the Castle too late. I dreamed up this trip and didn't know about planning. Then I found this site and was awed! The next morning I called WDW dinning and tried to get lunch 70 days out.... No way! We finely got dinner, I was thrilled I got anything! My next trip to DL is spur of the moment, I hear not much Dinning, which is good cause I don't have ADR's!!!!

 

[Floridagram]

You did not mention if you had told him about this site. Have you said something to him and he has responded in a negative way? If not why don't you just pop him an email and tell him you found this site with everything you could every want to know about Disney and then leave it up to him.

Or you could you buy him a tour book and just say I thought you might like this for your trip? Or give it to your niece and as she looks at it she can point out things to him she wants to do or see.

Back in the old days (I have been going to WDW since it opened) we didn't have any way to make all these plans, gosh we didn't even have the internet! I realize it wasn't as crowded back then ( it wasn't as big either)but just being there is part of the magic, the enjoyment.

They can have a good time and will enjoy whatever they get to do. Hopefully he will figure out fast passes!

 

[Cee]

Our family has been going to WDW since '93 and we sort of go "unplanned" now
because we are so familiar with everything. I found that when I had ADRs, I
usually ended up cancelling them because we were doing other things or couldn't
get there in time, etc. Now we just wing it. We call and see what's available
and do that. We've gotten last minute Hoop-dee-doo ressies, La Nouba,
Concourse Steakhouse, Fultons, etc. All on the fly. It can be done if you're
willing to take what's available. So much more relaxing for us. It's what is
best for the individual. We all have to learn from our mistakes.

 

[Nicole786]

I don't "plan"
What i do is make a cummulative list of the attractions or shows that everyone wants to make sure they see and we all take that list and try to complete most of whats on it. We don't say "we're gonna go to MK on thursday, but we have to leave at 3" we find it a lot more relaxing to take it slow, because if you run around you exhaust yourself. I also try and follow this credo:

Why do you think the kids have so much fun? Because they're kids, they don't have a plan, they're just running around! Disney is supposed to take the kid out of you!

 

[pigletforever]

OP buy your borther a book. or sign him up for TMG At least that way you can say you tried for the kids sake.

 

[laura001]

We always do Disney unplanned and have a blast every single time! Of course we do stay on property, but we don't usually do ADRs or plan our day as to what parks we are going visit, when we're getting to the parks, and when we're leaving. It works best for us to just "go with the flow" as they say! Then the only expectation is that we'll have a great time!

I think there are a few differences....doing WDW unplanned is one thing, doing WDW unplanned for the first time....well, I see an bit of a stressful vacation. They are the ones standing in the park wondering what to do next.

I think it is difficult to do if you have no clue as to transportation, fastpasses, ADR's etc. It is not like going to Six Flags for the day. Preplanning too much can put some people over the edge, but you have to go into the vacation with some sort of plan.

 

[Ragetti]

I don;t like to plan things out to a nat's hind-quarters, but I DO like to plan those things I really want to do (like lunch at Cindy's) and I like to get the tips on things to do. Through reading books and visiting websites I've learned that I really want to see Fantasmic and Wishes, I've decided what resort would be best for us, etc. Not a "programmed" trip, but one I've thought through.

I'll probably make a few more ADR's and let it go at that.

 

[mericletwins]

My BIL is going with his DD10 to disney for their easter break and they just have their hotel and air tickets. They plan to buy tickets at the park entrance. They have no ADR's. They have no clue disney has resorts. No tour plans or anything. I have to bite my lips most times so as not to scream at them. He works in IT and so is one the internet most of the time but how do people do disney in such a clueless fashion. I have a May trip and I have everything planned out not in a boot camp fashion but I have my days structured to get max out of the vacation.

How do people like my BIL do disney?

We don't really plan too much when we go to Disney. We have our hotel booked, our tickets bought and one or two ADR's. We have no idea what park we are going to until the night before or the morning of. We usually have a villa so ADR's aren't that big of a deal. I can't be that planned. It would drive me crazy. This trip we are going to do the dining plan so I had to do do ADR's for each night. I have to say that I am uncomfortable with that degree of planning. I have no idea what parks we are going to on which day though.

 

[mericletwins]

I would never do it during Easter break because it's just too busy. .

We did it last year over Easter break and had a fabulous time, but I read the boards, read UG and have the Passporter. We also get a villa and do most of our meals at the villa so ADR's are not an issue. We take it slow, use FP and spend time at our hotel pool. We have a fabulous time. We are relaxed and come home refreshed instead of exhausted. I can see how it would be a huge problem to go to Disney over Easter and have no clue as to what Disney is all about (i.e. ADR's, FP, EMH, etc.) You don't have to plan, but you do need to have knowledge.

 

[themudd4]

My first trip as an adult and with my DH and DD (their first trip) was "unplanned". We didn't know a thing about anything. We had the BEST TIME! Each time I go now I plan a little more, and now we know to plan out even more than before. We still keep a go with the flow plan except we now plan our AM EMH, avoid the PM EMH...hit the lesser crowded parks (according to the guidebooks) and make all our ADR's as far in advance as possible.
But going on a whim can be done and can be just as wonderful...

 

[disnut1149]

Hi
I plan EVERYTHING. That's part of the fun for me. I even laminate my itinerary!!

 

[thatduffgirl]

I think there is a difference between "unplanned" in that you have no real schedule and no ADRs, but you know the whole system and the layout, and "unplanned" meaning you haven't a clue! .

Yup! It is fun sometimes to go without a set itinerary, but if you have never been and you have NO CLUE...odds are that you will come back unhappy.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

When we go we have a basic idea of what parks we'll go to on what days and we may make a few ADR's for special meals but for the most part we just wing it and enjoy as we go. We've tried the planning route in the past and found the vacation was much less enjoyable when trying to follow a rigid schedule. The reality is quite often things arise which force you to improvise and deviate from your schedule anyway.

As an example, during our 2005 trip we had planned to spend an entire day at MK then stay for the MNSSHP however shortly before lunch time we discovered our digital camera had decided to call it quits. We ended up scrapping our afternoon at MK to go shopping for a new camera before MNSSHP. We find that even these unplanned situations provide us with a lot of special memories.

 

[GoofyGirlnPrincessV]

For our first 3 or 4 trips we went without plans or ADR. Granted one trip was our honeymoon and just wanted to relax. On later trips we always felt that we missed so much or felt rushed to get things done.

Now I "semi" plan and that is a good balance. We get things done, have some adrs. But most importantly HAVE FUN...

 

[Hope73]

My Dh said I was over planning the first treip then he thanked me once we got there. I would never go and not do the food plan. I see people being so cheap wiht food and dragging so much in. I think the food plan is the best thing and a totaly great savings.

Canada: Last Feb we were there and this Canadian couple had just gotten there
with 3 kids and the DP and no res. The disney rep was not being very helpful. I ended up taking them to a house phone and helpped them make all of their reservations. I felt bad because they had 2 little girls and could not get into a princess dinner. Theri travel agent dropped the ball there by not planning or helping them.

 

[mcdebbie]

This is the first time we have ever "planned" anything at Disney, we've always just winged it. As Florida residents we just waited for the specials but now that I am taking Grandboy instead of daughter I am much more interested that he has a great time.

 

[disnut1149]

This is the first time we have ever "planned" anything at Disney, we've always just winged it. As Florida residents we just waited for the specials but now that I am taking Grandboy instead of daughter I am much more interested that he has a great time.

Hi mcdebbie
Welcome to the Dis!! Taking grandchildren is the best!!!