How do you plan a relaxing WDW vaca?

[Adlergray]

Hi y'all
So I think I convinced DH to do an adult trip this march. Where do I find touring plans for sleeping in and nice relaxing dinners? It's going to be a short trip so I'm just not real sure where to begin? Touring plans can't help me this time.

 

[brunette8706]

H! YOu can find it right here on the DIS.

YOu can get crowd calendars here for every month of the year. Parade times etc. You can also go to the restaurant threads and ask various questions. March is a great time to go! Start planning now! LOL!

Brunette

 

[KellyNY]

Honestly, you do not plan, you just relax and go with a flow. Make some adrs and that is it. We sleep late every day, then pool, then any park we just decided to go to or TS meal followed by fireworks. I forgot the last time I actually had a plan of attack and we actually come back relaxed, not stressed as before.

 

[ladeedeb]

Hi! Hope you have great fun planning and a nice relaxing trip. You can do it on your own, however if you are used to touring plans site, you can still use that one. They do have some plans that are more relaxed. If you have a subscription, go to the adult plans and there is a one-day, late start, relaxing plan as well as a two day same thing. This is for MK. You can also use it to make your own plan. If you don't already have a subscription & don't plan on getting one, like pp said, you can use this site to help you plan. Also, ride max may help since you can put in as much or as little as you want & you set the time frames. I wouldn't use that one until a few weeks before your trip, though.

Have fun whatever you decide.

 

[OhThePain]

Honestly, you do not plan, you just relax and go with a flow. Make some adrs and that is it. We sleep late every day, then pool, then any park we just decided to go to or TS meal followed by fireworks. I forgot the last time I actually had a plan of attack and we actually come back relaxed, not stressed as before.

I agree 100%. Maybe stay CL somewhere, this way if you decide to spend that day at the resort, you really don't have to worry about anything.

Figure out what resort would best suit you if you decide to stay at the resort for a day or 2. Maybe you wouldn't want to be on the monorail loop because it's too close to the action which might prevent you from relaxing as much. Maybe you want to stay in an EC resort this way you can just walk to the WS for dinner or a couple of drinks or a walk. Maybe stay AKL and enjoy the beauty and the secluded feeling without being far from anything.

No one knows what relaxes you and your DH except for you and your DH. There are many things adults can do sans kiddos and there are many different ways to find relaxation. Maybe his way of relaxing is playing a round of golf. Maybe your way of relaxing is pampering yourself at a spa. There are really a lot of options out there to have a relaxing Disney vacation. Just ask whatever questions you may have as you begin to plan and you'll get a lot of great answers and opinions.

 

[goofy4tink]

Just book a nice dinner ADR for each day, then sleep in, get out of bed whenever you want to, then head to a park (if you want to) and do exactly what you want, with no rushing around.
The problem is that we all tend to start rushing to and fro once we get inside a park. I don't know what it is...it just happens. I try to be relaxed and laid back...after all, I've been to WDW 30 or so times....but, once I get to the park entrance, all bets are off.

We are going with another couple, no kids, in Oct. I have a bunch of nice breakfasts booked, but not until after 9:30ish. We are doing the deluxe dining plan this time, so lots of good food every day. Then, we'll do whatever park we want to do that particular day, then off to our nice signature dinner. Then, maybe a little mini-golf, maybe just sit on the balcony with a glass or two of wine and watch the world go by.

 

[FBDM66]

I agree 100%. Maybe stay CL somewhere, this way if you decide to spend that day at the resort, you really don't have to worry about anything.

Figure out what resort would best suit you if you decide to stay at the resort for a day or 2. Maybe you wouldn't want to be on the monorail loop because it's too close to the action which might prevent you from relaxing as much. Maybe you want to stay in an EC resort this way you can just walk to the WS for dinner or a couple of drinks or a walk. Maybe stay AKL and enjoy the beauty and the secluded feeling without being far from anything.

No one knows what relaxes you and your DH except for you and your DH. There are many things adults can do sans kiddos and there are many different ways to find relaxation. Maybe his way of relaxing is playing a round of golf. Maybe your way of relaxing is pampering yourself at a spa. There are really a lot of options out there to have a relaxing Disney vacation. Just ask whatever questions you may have as you begin to plan and you'll get a lot of great answers and opinions.

Another agreement from NY! I'm just back from a 'relax' trip and did just what the PP's said. I started solo at SSR and was joined by friends at the Swan. I did a few plans for some days, ADRs for when I was at the Swan, but mostly just did each day as it came and had a very relaxing time - Disney style!
Have a great time OP!

 

[disnut8]

Why do you need a touring plan? Why not just get up every day and figure out what you want to do? Make some dining reservations for where YOU want to go and then plan around those ON THAT DAY.

My husband and I have been to Disney World about 30 times just the two of us. We settle on what park to visit when we wake up that morning or even once we get to the buses or, if staying offsite, on the drive in. If the park we have chosen gets busy or we get tired or we are done, we just switch and go somewhere else.

I leave in a few hours for my Labor Day trip. I have absolutely no idea what we are going to be doing tomorrow. The only thing I know is that we will be meeting my dad and stepmother for lunch at Downtown Disney on Sunday. But I don't know the time, I don't know where we are eating and I don't know if we are driving or taking the bus to Downtown Disney.

 

[cruisingkat]

Hubby and I have been doing Disney alone for several years now. We don't even plan ADR's unless it is for something special like a dinner show, dinner package, etc. We wait until we know where we want to be for dinner and then we use our phone's internet connection (Disney website) to check for available dining and then make the reservation. We may not get our first choice, but we have always been able to get one of our top three choices.
We spend maybe a few hours in a park, we also tend to enjoy the resort and other things Disney offers. In the evening (Wed-Sat), we usually head over to POFQ to hear Elliot Dyson at the Scat Cat Club. He is really terrific- sings and plays several different instruments.
As far as going to a park, there are times where we play bus roulette. Whichever park bus comes in first after we get to the bus stop is the park we go to.

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

Now that the kids are grown we have very relaxing trips to WDW. We are going for 11 nights in a few weeks and only have 5 ADR's for the whole trip. Our ADR's are for our favorite restaurants that we absolutely want to go to, otherwise we "wing it". At the end of each day we plan our next morning, but rarely do more planning than that. Funny thing without planning we often get more accomplished and don't get stressed.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[vanillarum]

Well, first let me say that there is NO SUCH THING as a "relaxing" WDW trip ! Up early and then out late, for us, usually 10 straight days. Thank goodness (I think) that our first Dec trip is only 7 days ! We do try to relax about an hour a day with either a nap or a siesta by the pool. Have fun.

 

[catra121]

Personally I disagree with the whole not planning idea. That's fine for some, but for me I find it more relaxing to have my ADRs and a plan for where I am going to be (generally) on each day. That way I don't have to make any decisions while I'm there on vacation and I personally find that more relaxing. Maybe it's just because I hate when you go with someone and it's like:

Me: "Where do you want to go today?"
Other person: "I don't care. Where do YOU want to go today?"
Me: " Doesn't matter, what do you feel like doing?"
Other person: "Whatever."

And then I get frustrated and am anything BUT relaxed. I found that for my last trip that was just two adults that it worked out perfect to have the ADRs made and a plan for which park we were going to be in and which shows/parades we were going to see each day. Once we got to the park (whatever time that might be) we usually just picked a direction and went on whatever we felt like. We took it slow, sat and just soaked up the atmosphere, left the park when/if we felt like it, etc. And that for me is really much more relaxing than trying to make decisions while I'm there. But then I'm also the type who doesn't want to drive, loves using strictly Disney transportation and Magical Express, likes the dining plan for the convenience more than any "savings", and is happy to just BE in Disney even if it's waiting in lines.

 

[Adlergray]

Well, first let me say that there is NO SUCH THING as a "relaxing" WDW trip ! Up early and then out late, for us, usually 10 straight days. Thank goodness (I think) that our first Dec trip is only 7 days ! We do try to relax about an hour a day with either a nap or a siesta by the pool. Have fun.

This is how are trips go too. It's funny because when I lived in orlando I never planed a thing now that our trips have become fewer and far between I obsessively plan them and try to fit lots in. Apparently its hard to go back. I think if I start with a list of our have tos (rides/food/shows/ect) then I can see which adrs we need and there for what area we will be in what days and then we can go from there.

 

[shalom]

If you scan down on this page there are some Epcot touring plans for getting there at 11:00. I don't think there are plans for every park, but maybe this could give you some ideas.

http://www.easywdw.com/category/plans/

 

[brunette8706]

Hi There!

I will give you my restaurant recommendations, if you don't mind. LOL!

BOMA - It's at the AKL the best buffet at WDW. Great atmosphere, great food, reasonably priced (when surcharges don't apply).

Spirit of Aloha - BEST VALUE AT WDW. Here's what included:

$55.00 per ADULT

Appetizers (salads, breads)
Entree (chicken, ribs, great tasting veggies, rice)
Dessert (chocolate mouuse cake)
BEER and WINE - all you can drink
TAX
TIP
ENTERTAINMENT!

This is out doors at the Polynesian resort! It's well worth it!

Another good Value

Trails End Buffet $22.00 per adult

This is in Fort Wilderness. They have the same chicken that the Prime Time Cafe serves, it's out of this world. Very tasty.

Have a great time on your trip. I'll be happy to answer any questions that you may have! Brunette

 

[janabananas]

Dbf and I are having an adult only trip next week, and our only planning has been our ADR's and what parks we want to do each day. Otherwise we will get up when we want, and go when we feel like it, and not "have" to do anything else.

I agree with a PP that not having at least an outline of what you want to do would get me frustrated. The same conversation would play out, "what you wanna do, i don't know or i don't care, whatever you want... etc etc"

Have fun and enjoy your time together!!

 

[Pakey]

My husband and I do relaxing WDW vacations frequently.

We like to stay in a one bedroom DVC unit. We have coffee on the balcony in the mornings while we read. He goes to play golf and I go to the spa. On our non golf/spa days, we may go to a park for a few hours but no more than 2. We spend every late afternoon on the balcony having snacks and wine or cocktail.

Then we go to dinner. We like the Swan/Dolphin restaurants that are not on the dining plan the best because they are very slow paced and quiet. We usually walk over to Epcot WS afterwards and stroll around there before heading back to the room.

 

[kwdw]

Personally I disagree with the whole not planning idea. That's fine for some, but for me I find it more relaxing to have my ADRs and a plan for where I am going to be (generally) on each day. That way I don't have to make any decisions while I'm there on vacation and I personally find that more relaxing. Maybe it's just because I hate when you go with someone and it's like:

Me: "Where do you want to go today?"
Other person: "I don't care. Where do YOU want to go today?"
Me: " Doesn't matter, what do you feel like doing?"
Other person: "Whatever."

And then I get frustrated and am anything BUT relaxed. I found that for my last trip that was just two adults that it worked out perfect to have the ADRs made and a plan for which park we were going to be in and which shows/parades we were going to see each day. Once we got to the park (whatever time that might be) we usually just picked a direction and went on whatever we felt like. We took it slow, sat and just soaked up the atmosphere, left the park when/if we felt like it, etc. And that for me is really much more relaxing than trying to make decisions while I'm there. But then I'm also the type who doesn't want to drive, loves using strictly Disney transportation and Magical Express, likes the dining plan for the convenience more than any "savings", and is happy to just BE in Disney even if it's waiting in lines.

lol!!

Your "conversation" is SO me and my boyfriend!!! And then it will take him three hours to decide WHERE to go for the day after cussing and swearing because his iPhone isn't fast enough....

For our upcoming trip - I have planned a few "we will do this meal at this restaurant at this time and don't argue with me", a couple of "we will do this park on this day", and written out a few "ideas" for a couple of days. That way - not everything will unplanned, and we can go with the weather/flow we feel like. Hopefully it will work!

 

[shalom]

Personally I disagree with the whole not planning idea. That's fine for some, but for me I find it more relaxing to have my ADRs and a plan for where I am going to be (generally) on each day. That way I don't have to make any decisions while I'm there on vacation and I personally find that more relaxing. Maybe it's just because I hate when you go with someone and it's like:

Me: "Where do you want to go today?"
Other person: "I don't care. Where do YOU want to go today?"
Me: " Doesn't matter, what do you feel like doing?"
Other person: "Whatever."

I don't do ADRs, but I always have a plan. If the other person particularly wants to do something else, fine, but I don't play the "I dunno, what do you want?" game. Either they say, "I want to do X," or I say, "Okay, well, this is what I'm doing. You can come along or do something else."

You can always bail on a plan that isn't working. But if there's no plan, harder to work it up on the spot.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Alcohol and a little somethin'-somethin'.