How many trips before you're an expert?

[momof2n2]

I'll start by admitting I've never considered myself an expert.
For about a decade we were hot and heavy visitors and I held a pretty good command of the place, but I always knew I had more nuances to learn. Near the middle to end of that decade I found these boards and it helped me to up my game a good deal. (That and UG!!)

During that time a lot of my friends took notice of our frequent visits and I became a sort of go-to person for many of them as they planned their trips. I was always glad to help and felt comfortable and confident doing so.

We've cut down our travels a LOT and are only heading down in May for our second trip since 2007!! So I don't really know what that makes us. Friends still seek me out, but the game has changed a lot. I can share what I know and what I've learned from here. But I lack practical application. So I know where to go... but I'm a newbie in a number of areas. I also confess I get frustrated when I overhear a WDW-based conversation and I hear person A dispensing tons of info to person B (some of which I know is not true based on threads here) and then find out the person has had one trip under their belts.

How many trips and/or days do you think it takes to be an "expert"?

I can't help but worry/wonder if I will be able to take all I've picked up here and jump right back into the game, or if I'll freeze like a deer in the headlights when I come up to my first tapstile...

 

[Robo]

There are "fields of expertise."

A few: tickets, transportation, resorts, parks, FastPasses, shows, fireworks, locations, restaurants, DVC, tickets and upgrades (and many more.)

Not everyone is versed if all fields, regardless of number of trips.

 

[momof2n2]

There are "fields of expertise."

Not everyone is versed if all fields, regardless of number of trips.

Interesting answer..... What fields are most valuable in your opinion?

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

I don't think it really has to do with days/trips at all. That's a part of it. But I think the research and reading is just as important. I've only been 6 times, but feel very well-versed. I know other people that have gone many more times than that and know a whole lot less. I bring up stuff I've learned from the boards, from guide books, and they have no idea what I'm talking about. So, yes, practical experience is important, but someone who's only been a handful of time but has put in the time/energy to research it can be an expert.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

I felt like I had pretty good understanding of WDW, legacy FP, and good touring strategies after our second or third trip. However, we've taken 2 trips with FP+ and I still don't feel like I'm well versed in it.

 

[momof2n2]

I felt like I had pretty good understanding of WDW, legacy FP, and good touring strategies after our third trip. However, we've taken 2 trips with FP+ and I still don't feel like I'm well versed in it.

See - this is what I am afraid of. I don't have the financial means to do a "do over" trip. I'm researching my brains out...

 

[momof2n2]

I don't think it really has to do with days/trips at all. That's a part of it. But I think the research and reading is just as important. I've only been 6 times, but feel very well-versed. I know other people that have gone many more times than that and know a whole lot less. I bring up stuff I've learned from the boards, from guide books, and they have no idea what I'm talking about. So, yes, practical experience is important, but someone who's only been a handful of time but has put in the time/energy to research it can be an expert.

Six trips in 9 years is nothing to sneeze at, though...

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Six trips in 9 years is nothing to sneeze at, though...

Absolutely! But compared to some others on these boards, it's nothing! And I felt pretty well versed after even the first couple, thanks to a LOT of research.

 

[larryz]

Hmmm... I'd say 10 to 20 trips ought to do it. But then again, MDE/FP+/MB kind of reset the whole WDW experience, so I'd take anything anyone says with a grain of salt for at least the next year or five.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

I don't think it has much to do with number of trips. You can take 20 ill informed trips. I think it has a lot more to do with research and following Disney news.

 

[larryz]

I don't think it has much to do with number of trips. You can take 20 ill informed trips. I think it has a lot more to do with research and following Disney news.

After 20 trips, you will have learned, through trial and error, what works and what doesn't.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

After 20 trips, you will have learned, through trial and error, what works and what doesn't.

Eh. *Most* people would. However if people just go, do not prior research and don't really have a desire to learn/optimize while there (and a lot of people do), then you could have infinite trips where you are ill informed. Maybe it'd get a little better each time, but not necessarily expert level. A lot of people go just to go, not to maximize.

 

[larryz]

Eh. *Most* people would. However if people just go, do not prior research and don't really have a desire to learn/optimize while there (and a lot of people do), then you could have infinite trips where you are ill informed. Maybe it'd get a little better each time, but not necessarily expert level. A lot of people go just to go, not to maximize.

Even a mouse learns how to find the cheese after several tries... if they don't make it by 20, they become cat food...

anyone catch the mouse reference?

 

[3DisneyFanz]

We've been probably 50+ times (lost count at 40 in the mid 2000s) and like others said pre FP+ we could knock out a park a day and not really "rush" because we just knew schedules, flows and had our routine in place. We've done 3 trips post FP+ and we still can't make it work for us. It's just thrown everything competely out of whack and it just seems every trip is a new set of challenges. I still feel pretty good about what we know about the resorts and restaurants but park flow is now a crap shoot for us.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

I don't think it has much to do with number of trips. You can take 20 ill informed trips. I think it has a lot more to do with research and following Disney news.

This may be true. I've seen people who feel like they've got it all figured out after one trip which they complained about constantly so anything is possible.

 

[cheshirecollector]

After 10 trips in 30 years, and several years of reading sites like this, I feel like I know a lot in theory, but not in practice. I just don't do most of the things you can do in WDW, so I'll probably never consider myself to be an expert. If asked to help plan someone's trip, I'd just direct them to these forums.

 

[aprincessatlast]

I would say I considered myself well informed/expert in the years 2006-2010. I had many friends/family asking me to plan their trips and for tips etc. After burnout we waited a few years and went again in 2014 and I felt I was a novice at best. So I think it is not the number of trips but when those trips occurred.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I'll start by admitting I've never considered myself an expert.
For about a decade we were hot and heavy visitors and I held a pretty good command of the place, but I always knew I had more nuances to learn. Near the middle to end of that decade I found these boards and it helped me to up my game a good deal. (That and UG!!)

During that time a lot of my friends took notice of our frequent visits and I became a sort of go-to person for many of them as they planned their trips. I was always glad to help and felt comfortable and confident doing so.

We've cut down our travels a LOT and are only heading down in May for our second trip since 2007!! So I don't really know what that makes us. Friends still seek me out, but the game has changed a lot. I can share what I know and what I've learned from here. But I lack practical application. So I know where to go... but I'm a newbie in a number of areas. I also confess I get frustrated when I overhear a WDW-based conversation and I hear person A dispensing tons of info to person B (some of which I know is not true based on threads here) and then find out the person has had one trip under their belts.

How many trips and/or days do you think it takes to be an "expert"?

I can't help but worry/wonder if I will be able to take all I've picked up here and jump right back into the game, or if I'll freeze like a deer in the headlights when I come up to my first tapstile...

We've been quite a lot, but I still wouldn't call us experts. I'd say I have more specialized knowledge in areas like Shades of Green and the Armed Forces Salute (though still don't think I'm an expert there, just know some great resources for information), and probably ADRs...but with MM+/FP+ I'm definitely still learning a lot.

 

[lovethattink]

As rapidly as things have been changing recently, it's impossible to stay up to date about everything. And I'm there a lot.

 

[horse11]

I think you will do fine. If you are putting the time into researching plus you are on this boards regularly you should do well. I went for the first time in 2000 and believe it or not I did not plan a thing!!! I did not even know about ADR's back then. At that time you could go to the parks and grab the old pass with a return time for the rides and never run into any hiccups. I was able to eat at a table service and be seated in a decent amount of time WITHOUT a ADR. I returned to Disney with my family plus I treated my parents back in May 2014. I wanted our trip to be magical for my children's 1st time and I also wanted to make it very special for my parents as a thank you for all they do for us. At that time I did a lot of research and found these boards which have been a God sent!!! With the new FP system and so many other new things it was a completely different ball game. I made sure to make my ADR's at the 180 day and even planned our ride route and plan of attack from rope drop to FP. I followed the board regularly asking questions along the way. Heck I found out things from these boards before cast members even knew about them. Every detail was planned without even stepping foot on the grounds since 2000 and we had a perfect vacation!!! Everything worked out even better than I could have ever expected. Without that planning I would have been lost. So although obviously I am far from a pro I think you are on the right track and quite possibly ahead of the game. Try not to put as much pressure on yourself and enjoy the planning stage. The only hiccups I would think you may run into is the closing of rides and the openings of new rides or shows and when those exact dates would be. With the construction at DHS and the changes coming soon to AK you may just need to be a little bit flexible.