How many really are “In the Know”?

[jomass]

While I am a WDW veteran, I have only really used this site for the last couple of trips (and my new one next week). I was actually one of the originals (didn’t spend much time here though) but after a long hiatus lost all of my original information.
In any case I am an old school tour planner who religiously used the Unofficial Guides long before the web changed everything. I am curious to know what your guess is as to how many really know about the “ins and outs” of WDW. From how the FP+ system works, to the touring strategies, the park calendars, the dos and don’ts, the how and when, etc. What percentage do you think really goes to the lengths that most on here do? I am guessing no more than 5%. Maybe 10-15% total that do some degree of planning and prepping, but not more than 5% go to great lengths. I wonder what the impact would be if that jumped to say 25-30%.

 

[Indio]

I think the % if fairly low too. Based on the confusion you see in the parks sometimes you wonder if people ever even attempt to look at any info. However, WDW advertising certainly pays off - crowds have increased tremendously since we began going 20 years ago.

 

[eXo]

I think you are right that a limited number of folks really do the leg work to know what they are getting into before they go. Disney World is a big place and there are a lot of moving parts. The magicband/fp+ system really changed things up for a lot of the vets who felt they had their system locked down.

I do think that the FP+ system, and by extension the app, encourage people to go to the website ahead of time. By their nature, it encourages people to look at things like ADR's and other aspects of the trip they may not have considered otherwise. Then, the curious ones go deeper down the rabbit hole, and soon enough they are reading about emh, and adr's, and fp+, and a ton of other things that requires a legend of sorts just to understand the terminology at first. When I first started reading disney boards it felt like a different language. All of the acronyms are a bit overwhelming at first. As a programmer, my first thought was a chrome plugin that adds the full word in parenthesis next to each acronym on the webpage (for folks who hadn't learned them all yet), lol.

I went last October and while I knew a bit about how it all worked, I didn't really spend much time thinking about fast passes or adr's. We had a pretty good time of it. For this next trip I am trying the opposite approach. Using crowd calendars, plans to get from attraction to attraction, adr's, fp+ based on calculations over at touring plans, blah blah blah. I'll be interested to see if it makes the trip any more "fulfilling", or if in the end it just gave me something to do while I waited =)

 

[monkyby87]

Despite what we may think or feel, DIS users and similar are a small % of those that go to Disney on any sort or regular basis, and those that don't go regularly most likely are not on these or similar boards. So, as has been mentioned, I'm sure the % is very small. Many simply pack up and go without much planning. Planning to many means picking your hotel, dates, and perhaps a dining plan. Perhaps an ADR if they're a little bit in the know. But otherwise most don't do much more than that. At least that's what I've found. Myself, I don't do a whole lot of extensive planning, ie touringplans, crowd calendars, etc. But I do know what's going on, and I'm pretty aware of everything. I suspect this is the case for most on these boards.

 

[jomass]

I'm just trying to imagine the impact if that % really jumped. Where does that curve of having any advanatage start to flatten out? I remember seeing more and more Unofficial Guides in the parks back 15-20 yrs ago and thinking the cat's out of the bag. LOL

 

[monkyby87]

Disney World is so big, and so internationally popular, that I just don't see how the % will jump to a detrimental level. Most people aren't as "obsessed" with Disney as we are, so they don't go to the great lengths to understand it as we do. Smart people do some research and look at planning guides, but that still doesn't mean they're fully "in the know" as you say. I really can't imagine the % changing all that much.

 

[jec6613]

Maybe 5% do obsessive planning, but well over 50% do some significant research before going. It's a rather large expense, and people will research how to take advantage of it and maximize to some extent, and my guess is that this has increased with MM+.

 

[PEC]

Disney World is so big, and so internationally popular, that I just don't see how the % will jump to a detrimental level. Most people aren't as "obsessed" with Disney as we are, so they don't go to the great lengths to understand it as we do. Smart people do some research and look at planning guides, but that still doesn't mean they're fully "in the know" as you say. I really can't imagine the % changing all that much.

Agree. A very big percent just go to Disney and have no desire to do any detail planning. They go maybe 2 to 3 times their entire life life and they are quite content with that. They are not going to be looking through Websites, studying and planning every detail of their trip. To many people Disney is a nice trip but not an "obsession". With the new MM+ they may book some FP+s and possibly an ADR or 2 but for other meals they will be happy with a QS meal or eating off of Disney property.

 

[loves to dive]

I'm one of those researcher but not big planner sort of people, and I assume I'm not alone. I research everything I spend money on, doesn't matter how much I'm spending or what I getting. A new TV, research. A new phone, research. A new puppy, research. Then after all the research, most of the time I throw it out the window and go with what attracts me the most. Yes that stove may be higher rated but look at the pretty knobs on that one. Yep, that phone gets good reviews but it doesn't come in flame red and this one does. I make a bare minimum of ADRs, just the ones I know I'm not going to get other wise, i.e. tea at the Grand Floridian, breakfast at BOG, then we go to CS at Epcot the day we arrive and say what ya got at this park on this day and go with it. We make only FP for the rides that are impossible, i.e. soarin and TSM, after that it's stand in line or move onto something else. We like to just go with the flow and see what's down that road (can't tell you how many times we've gotten lost with literally going down that road to see where it goes, or how many times we've discovered really cool things by just jumping down the rabbit hole).

 

[MrKnight]

Unfortunately jomass is right, I really believe that the vast majority of WDW guests are most definitely far from being "Disney Experts" or at least savvy on basic Disney-related concepts as most of us are here on DIS, especially the large volume of international guests. As a former WDW cast member this was one of the most challenging parts of the job, explaining very basic WDW information and entire systems (such as FP+, ADR, etc.) to impatient first-time guests that did not do their homework and have a hard time comprehending the overwhelming amount of information and planning that WDW really requires. A first-time visit can quickly turn into disaster and I have seen this happen time and time again. It seems that WDW is taking steps to help improve this situation with MDE by integrating concepts such as FP+ into the online ticket purchasing process so guests are exposed to it prior to arrival, the same applies for WDW resort reservations and other types of bookings arranged directly through Disney.

 

[jomass]

I'm one of those researcher but not big planner sort of people, and I assume I'm not alone. I research everything I spend money on, doesn't matter how much I'm spending or what I getting. A new TV, research. A new phone, research. A new puppy, research. Then after all the research, most of the time I throw it out the window and go with what attracts me the most. Yes that stove may be higher rated but look at the pretty knobs on that one. Yep, that phone gets good reviews but it doesn't come in flame red and this one does. I make a bare minimum of ADRs, just the ones I know I'm not going to get other wise, i.e. tea at the Grand Floridian, breakfast at BOG, then we go to CS at Epcot the day we arrive and say what ya got at this park on this day and go with it. We make only FP for the rides that are impossible, i.e. soarin and TSM, after that it's stand in line or move onto something else. We like to just go with the flow and see what's down that road (can't tell you how many times we've gotten lost with literally going down that road to see where it goes, or how many times we've discovered really cool things by just jumping down the rabbit hole).

I can't tell you how many times we hopped in the car and just hit the road with no destination in mind.

 

[jomass]

Unfortunately jomass is right, I really believe that the vast majority of WDW guests are most definitely far from being "Disney Experts" or at least savvy on basic Disney-related concepts as most of us are here on DIS, especially the large volume of international guests. As a former WDW cast member this was one of the most challenging parts of the job, explaining very basic WDW information and entire systems (such as FP+, ADR, etc.) to impatient first-time guests that did not do their homework and have a hard time comprehending the overwhelming amount of information and planning that WDW really requires. A first-time visit can quickly turn into disaster and I have seen this happen time and time again. It seems that WDW is taking steps to help improve this situation with MDE by integrating concepts such as FP+ into the online ticket purchasing process so guests are exposed to it prior to arrival, the same applies for WDW resort reservations and other types of bookings arranged directly through Disney.

It's very interesting to hear this from another former CM. One of my daughter's friends is a former CM as well, and I have heard the same thing.

 

[Belle61513]

My friends and family use DH and me as their personal Disney assistants when they're planning, to the point that many have joked we should "start charging" lol. I think most people start with some light research, it gets overwhelming, and they reach out to "Disney expert" friends. Most people don't enjoy planning or reading up on everything ahead of time like we do. Plus, we've amassed a catalog of knowledge from over 15+ trips over 25+ years...no amount of internet research can beat that experience, so unless people have been before, it's hard for all the research in the World (haha) to make them "experts"...

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I would guess around 40% of guests at WDW actually know what they're doing there. By that I mean they are aware the WDW has an FP program, that ADRs are pretty much required in many situations, that certain times of the day or dates during the year are better or more challenging for touring, etc.

You can narrow that down to a smaller percentage (10% maybe) who have gone online, consulted a guidebook, or taken sound advice from a wise friend and applied that learning to their vacation.

 

[Orph]

Really low! Percentage-wise....10% at best of weeks (Food and Wine maybe?)

Its hard to fully grasp the complexity of WDW planning if you dont pay attention and read all the information. Yes, the booklet is mailed to you in advance with all the information, but realistically now, how many reads them?

A good example of that is the amount of people who line up at BoG for dinner...only to be told that there is no spots available to them and throw a fit. "Dining Reservations? Whats that?" you will hear. Or the occasional.."OMG, they are skipping the line in that special line of theirs"..while you go int he FP lane.

 

[kamik86]

One of the reasons I think Disney creates some of their own problems... Disney commercials make it sound like you don't have to plan.

There is one where it shows a family checking in and being asked if there is anything else and they rattle off a list of things (more time in the parks, dinner with a princess, a few other things) Now some of these if you walked in you could manage. However some of them. Dinner with a princess in particular if you haven't booked it before you get there your very unlikely to get this. Yet they make it sound like by staying on site they will do some magic and fit you in.

 

[robndani]

Despite what we may think or feel, DIS users and similar are a small % of those that go to Disney on any sort or regular basis, and those that don't go regularly most likely are not on these or similar boards. So, as has been mentioned, I'm sure the % is very small. Many simply pack up and go without much planning. Planning to many means picking your hotel, dates, and perhaps a dining plan. Perhaps an ADR if they're a little bit in the know. But otherwise most don't do much more than that. At least that's what I've found. Myself, I don't do a whole lot of extensive planning, ie touringplans, crowd calendars, etc. But I do know what's going on, and I'm pretty aware of everything. I suspect this is the case for most on these boards.

I am such an OVER planner (in life) that it's just a natural fit to transition that over to WDW. Where I think I'm lacking is anywhere that doesn't really concern 5 year olds... LOL! I'll get there one day!

I also don't do a great job coming back to the boards with detailed experiences, although I usually intend to. It's just too fun and exciting and busy while I'm there to keep track of every little thing. I'm pretty good when people have specific questions though!

 

[LetsTalkWDW]

All of the acronyms are a bit overwhelming at first. As a programmer, my first thought was a chrome plugin that adds the full word in parenthesis next to each acronym on the webpage (for folks who hadn't learned them all yet), lol.

I found this "List Of Common Abbreviations" invaluable when I first started reading "The Dis". It is a bit dated but still very useful.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/a-list-of-common-abbreviations.1660743/

Of course, I'm an expert now so I don't need it (as much )

 

[smiths02]

It has to be higher than 5-10%. Surely a higher percentage than that are repeat visitors/locals/Annual Pass holders/CMs or former CMs? Maybe those people haven't uber-planned, but they have a general idea
A WDW vacation is expensive. Many people are going to do some research or ask a friend or go through a travel agent.
Also, I've gotten several reminders from Disney about ADRs, FP+, and online check-in. When I called for one ADR, the phone agent specifically prompted me if I wanted BOG. So I think Disney is upping the percentages.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Very low. However, I think you can get by in WDW and have a good vacation without being "in the know".