How do you relax?

[Plan Man]

I promise myself every time we go that I will be calm and relaxed. When I get there I suddenly become obsessed with seeing as much as possible. I know how to use early entry and fast passes but I always think we are not going to get everything done. It is all for the family but they would probably be just as happy going at a slower pace and smell the roses. How do you do it??? I really want to know.

One example - My 7 yo DD always wants to stop and get autographs - I almost always say - the line is too long - we will see them again. Lets get to (ride).

Does this happen to anyone else?

 

[Horizons16]

This happens to us too... when it does we head back to the Resort and kick back with some nice cool drinks

 

[Harambe]

My DH has this same "syndrome"! Our last trip, DD had to complete a reading packet given to her by her teacher. She and I went out to the beach bright and early at the Poly, jumped into a couple of lounge chairs and read for most of the morning.

DH was going crazy! For him, every minute at Disney is sooooo expensive, he wants to be doing something! By the time we left for MGM at around noon, he was in a bad mood and the entire day was ruined.

But - if we get out to the parks early, that seems to satisfy him, then we can go back to the resort and hang around because we've accomplished something. So I can always get him to slow down and smell those roses ar the end of the day!

 

[Jillpie]

PlanMan, I can totally sympathize with you. We're going on our 5th trip in August and I already have every day planned out. Even when we go to the pool in the afternoon, I'm thinking of what we're going to do next. Sometimes it makes me crazy, but there is always so much to see and do! I'm not really sure which trip I will slow down. Even on the "days off" from the parks, we're planning trips to the water parks and downtown disney, it really never ends. But I guess thats the fun of it all. We slow down enough when we get home. I don't think there is a cure.

 

[jaysue]

This is too funny - I wanted to stop and smell the roses, meet some characters, take a moment to just look and 3 1/2 year old DS kept tugging on me to keep going to rides...LOL



Thanks
jaysue

 

[skiwee1]

First you have to pick a resort that you enjoy just as much as the parks. We love the Polynesian and can think of no place better to relax then by the volcano pool. We do not try to do every ride. If we do 4 rides a day then that is a busy day for us! We go to the parks around 11am and stay about 4 hours. We take our time walking around and not rushing to get from one ride to another. After that we hang by the pool until we feel like it then get ready to head out to Epcot or somewhere for a couple of hours. I do know that I was one of those "the line is too long" for autograph people. Then after 2 trips in 6 months we decided that we did indeed have enough time. So last trip we actually waited one hour, yes an hour, to get Ariel's autograph in her grotto. It is one of my 4 y/o's most prized possessions so I'm so glad we found the time. I don't have the attitude of getting my moneys worth so I can relax and not even go to the parks for a couple of days.

 

[Planogirl]

Since everyone prefers to tour at different rates, I think that people should occasionally split up. DH has jumped in our rental car and driven to one of the gambling ships while DS and I play at WDW. I've taken off for some shopping while DH and DS hang out at the pool.

I've also gone with friends and we've sometimes had to take breaks from one another. I went with a group once and two were mega commando tourers. I couldn't take it and asked to be excused a few times. That was nice!

 

[hipporina]

Jaysue- I know where you're coming from! Both of my DS's (almost 3 and 7) were way more interested in rides than in characters. If we saw them out, that was great, but the only times they would really wait were for Mickey and Buzz and Woody.

Kristy

 

[Morticia]

Well DH has coronary artery disease & stage 2 angina, so we can't go very fast.
I make an itinerary. First I make a list of must do's & then plan out our stay from there.
We plan pool time, sailing time & resting time.
We also stay a week or longer to ensure that we are not rushed.

 

[Kitten516]

We normally take the parks nice and slow. Part of it is Dh can only take so much at a time. Even though we live in FL heat is a major issue. We take lots of little sitting breaks for 5 min here and there. We also know that we WILL be back. And knowing if we miss something this time around we can do it next time really makes the we have to do this and that part go away for us. Although in MK we Have to do Pirates everytime!

 

[PoohSizedDH]

DARN TOOTIN ... PoTC is a MUST, as is BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN RAILROAD

 

[jennymouse]

Oh boy can I relate! I've got short legs and STILL find myself walking so fast I'm WAY ahead of the rest of my log legged group! I try to slow down, relax, but as soon as my feet hit WDW soil it's go, go, go.

I just bought into DVC. One of the things that attracted me to DVC was everyone saying when you were DVC you could relax because you knew you'd be back.....we'll see. I know this upcoming trip I'm taking a friend who's never been and wants to see EVERYTHING.

If you figure it out, let us all know!

 

[loriandmatt]

Our family WDW vacation motto: There will be plenty of time to rest when I'm dead! Lets Go Do or See Something!!!

kidding - at least a little bit....

We have such a GREAT time having things to do....we do occasionally enjoy more restful things though while there. (a "rock" on the front porch of Crocketts Tavern, a rest on the beach at FW waiting for the boat parade, plopping down in one park or another with a snack to do some people watching, taking it all in.)

- lori

 

[caitycaity]

i am the wrong person to ask for advice. :lol: i am always rushing to do something when we're at wdw. even when we were there for 2 1/2 weeks for our honeymoon!

we are going in august this year and we've never been that time of year before. i am hoping the heat will curb my enthusiasm a little bit. LOL

 

[DrTomorrow]

PlanMan and others;

I used to be really bad about this; I'd be in the middle of one ride/attraction and be wondering about how to get off/out the quickest to avoid the crowds and dash to the next.

A few things have helped me with that; YMMV.
1. Plan ahead. This may sound like it would make things worse, but if I feel comfortable that the big issues are under control, I can let go of the small stuff.
2. Get a little Zen. When I realize that I'm in 6'4" strider mode and my 5'5" wife is scurrying to keep up, I stop, take a few deep breaths and remind myself that the HM will still be looking for that 1000 ghost even if I take 5 more minutes to get there.
3. Get experienced. The first few visits to WDW are overwhelming, but eventually you can develop the attitude that 'enjoying' the attraction you are on is far better than worrying about the next ones on your list.
4. Get older. I don't know if it is maturity, world-weariness or just aging joints, but stopping to watch a street performance, checking out the architecture of some of the buildings or just people-watching takes on a value it didn't have when I was 12; or 20.

Erick

 

[PattnFmly]

I have also always been commando style, with plans almost to the minute. But all those trips I had hopper plus ticket, and felt since I only had x days (usually 5) I HAD to see/do it all in those days or I'd miss out. We'd start at rope drop and leave with the masses at closing time. But our last trip (last Oct) we bought annual passes, with the anticipation of getting two 2-week trips out of them. Knowing that I could come & go within the day and not lose time having punched the ticket that day and also knowing that we have another trip planned this fall really helped me to relax and stop to see all the little things that I missed before!

 

[WDWorBUST]

Although I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for everyone - I will be 7 months pregnant this trip and hope that my physical limitations will make me slow down and relax more than I have in the past

 

[NotUrsula]

If you really *want* to take things slower, but are just having trouble adjusting your attitude, how about paying your family members something every time you make a comment about needing to hurry up? (Getting dressed in the morning wouldn't count, naturally!)

Then, of course, you would have to wait while the child "spent" whatever forfeit you paid up. It doesn't have to be money; you could create little "kid-time" tickets for things like autograph lines or street shows.

We have no trouble taking our time. We never use up a whole hopper pass in a single trip, but that's not a problem, because we know we can always use the days on another trip. Needless to say, we DON'T buy UPH's--that *would* be a waste of money.

 

[ohpoohmetoo]

I can totally relate to your statement I want to relax but HOW? I'm reading replies for any hints.

I was so tired on the 2nd day of our trip that I couldn't enjoy going to Prime Time Cafe even though I had so looked forward to it. And, my cousin made me eat a green bean desert. Yuk!

I hope I can relax next time too!

 

[MinnieGi]

I grew up with a commando Disney mother and I am sooooo glad DH and I learned to stop and smell the "roses!" We may not get "everything" done but we have a great time that is also relaxed and what we don't get done this time we will save for another trip! I really remember our leisurly moments from our trips now whereas growing up I remember my mothers constant advice on how to navigate the parks so we missed most of the crowds and got it all in!!! We have a little one (2 1/2 yo) so that helps us to take things slower b/c she loves to look around at everything and comment on it.

It sounds like you have been several times before and will probably be having another trip upcoming. For me just knowing we will be having another trip in the near future helps us not to get in a panic rush of seeing it all.

Oh and please take the time to let your DD get those pictures and autographs!!! If that is what is important to her let her get a few in each day even if it does cut out a ride. You will all be much happier and think of the cute pictures you'll be getting!!