I feel bad for people who don't research

[luvsJack]

Most people couldn't imagine planning a trip that costs thousands of dollars without some research. But there will always be those that do just that.

I can't feel sorry for them.

And many go on expensive vacations every year and don't plan. Not everyone would guess that planning for a trip to WDW is taking on a full time job for at least 6 months. We go on vacations all the time where the whole part of planning is "where do we want to go this year". "XXXX sounds good" and we book a hotel for the days we want to go. The fun part of the trip is the exploring when we get there.

 

[Westcoastwild]

And many go on expensive vacations every year and don't plan. Not everyone would guess that planning for a trip to WDW is taking on a full time job for at least 6 months. We go on vacations all the time where the whole part of planning is "where do we want to go this year". "XXXX sounds good" and we book a hotel for the days we want to go. The fun part of the trip is the exploring when we get there.

Where do you go? When do you go? I mean this is a genuine question. During high season, there are few places I've been where you can just show up and not wait in massive lines or experience various disappointments.

Although I planned my Wdw trip in a week, so I feel like 6 months is overdoing it. I have no idea what would take you that long.

 

[SureAsLiz]

Oh sure .. to each their own, but for those who don't know better, I feel the system can really hurt them. But hey .. if they are happy they skipped a line, then the system works and they will learn for next time.

I know I've been guilty of some inefficiencies in the past as well due to inexperience. (like making a FP to Disney Junior at 9:30 AM ).
I just won't repeat those mistakes.

I personally don't "value" FP for shows (after making some during my first forays into FP+)
1) There is no line to wait in really.. Everyone is usually let in around the same time. You aren't really saving time like you would with a ride attraction.
2) I have never felt I needed better seating at a Disney show.. .*shrug* they are big enough productions.

Then that's where our values work best - you use the ride FP, I use the show. We aren't competing for the same spots. And Im not going to say that your use of the Ride FP is a waste, even if it's not how I would have used it.

Each person values their time differently. I just see no reason to feel bad about those who value their time differently than you do, pre- or post-vacation

 

[IrishNYC]

And many go on expensive vacations every year and don't plan. Not everyone would guess that planning for a trip to WDW is taking on a full time job for at least 6 months. We go on vacations all the time where the whole part of planning is "where do we want to go this year". "XXXX sounds good" and we book a hotel for the days we want to go. The fun part of the trip is the exploring when we get there.

Where do you go? When do you go? I mean this is a genuine question. During high season, there are few places I've been where you can just show up and not wait in massive lines or experience various disappointments.

Although I planned my Wdw trip in a week, so I feel like 6 months is overdoing it. I have no idea what would take you that long.

With the exception of Disney, most of our family vacations are how @luvsJack describes. The Florida Keys, Cape Cod, New Orleans, Las Vegas, The Grand Canyon, Southern California, London, Ireland, Rome/Naples are just some of the places we've gone with little to no pre-planning. The only pre-planning we do for the Keys is to get a Florida Fishing License. Sometimes we know, "Hey while we're in XYZ, let's try to do ABC" or in the case of Italy we booked a trip to Pompeii before we went, but not a specific date - we showed up at the tour office the day before we wanted to go. We've never had a disappointing trip.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

And many go on expensive vacations every year and don't plan. Not everyone would guess that planning for a trip to WDW is taking on a full time job for at least 6 months. We go on vacations all the time where the whole part of planning is "where do we want to go this year". "XXXX sounds good" and we book a hotel for the days we want to go. The fun part of the trip is the exploring when we get there.

So, you, at the last minute book a vacation that costs thousands and simply show up hoping that everything works out? I'd love to know where you can do that.

Now, I don't spend 6 months of full time work to plan my Disney vacation, so, maybe we aren't talking about the same thing.

 

[helenm29]

No kidding! from the first time we went 30 years ago to this coming September I am ALWAYS checking on things...weather it be special meals, lines for rides, hotel I want to stay at etc. It starts about a year out and doesn't stop until I get on that air plain! it makes things so much easier when you know what to expect and on top of that...I LOVE doing the research!

 

[Shanti]

Even people who do attempt research often make sad mistakes. I had a colleague last year who goes to Disney annually & looks things up online, and she shared with me that her strategy is to always get to the parks one hour after opening, to avoid the "craziness" of the first hour after rope drop. Where she got that concept is beyond me, but the concept of someone patiently waiting for an hour each day before going to the park, just to avoid the best touring hour of the day, was sad to me. There was no point arguing with her, though. Her mind was made up.

Add to that the people who read outdated online articles about when is the "best time" to go to WDW & avoid crowds. Those articles still are online, undated, looking pretty, saying that fall at WDW is a big secret, low-crowd time to go...it does makes me a bit sad & I try to correct misconceptions when newbies on the boards post things here about how low crowds in September & October, or first week of December will be. I just want to help them prepare, but they don't always take it well.

 

[Nick6300]

I do too.
Think of all the people that "waste" their Fast Passes on shows ... or half the attractions at Epcot.

The odd thing is .. the more people who DO their research, then the less valuable the research we do is.

If EVERYONE knew that making a FP reservation for most rides between 9-10 am was a waste, think of how much harder it would get to get the mid-day fast passes.
(But on the flip side, how much faster would standby lines go that first hour?)

If EVERYONE knew you really don't need a FP for Living with the Land or The Seas with Nemo and Friends, think about how hard it may be to get other Tier 2 rides at Epcot (oh wait .. is there a Tier 2 ride at Epcot that really needs a FP?)

Darn it, I guess I'm one of these naïve FP wasters who book FPs as tight as possible and as early as possible. And I still RD too, so I don't even have the excuse that I don't quite get to the parks early enough to benefit from less waits early. If I have 9, 10, 11am FP's for a 9am opening... I RD up until 10am, hit 1st FP by 10:15, 2nd FP right after, 3rd FP at 10:55, and obtain my 4th (unless at EP and staying). I figure by about 10:30am, crowds have kicked in (certainly for the top attractions) and we've already RD our several top attractions, and on our way to 10+ FPs in the evenings at MK. If park hopping... say you go to your 2nd park at 3pm. Seen the recommendations from the experts to pick your 3 FPs from 3-6pm in park 2 to save the most time. Depending on where I go (hopefully not EP 2nd unless mainly visiting WS), I prefer saving my time via volume of FPs across both parks by picking 'em early. Like Irish stated, we do our own thing. Maybe to the benefit of others, but that's what we like to do. I like repeatedly hearing that Ching! FP sound each time, and having a humongous list of used FPs for the day.

 

[mustinjourney]

If EVERYONE knew you really don't need a FP for Living with the Land or The Seas with Nemo and Friends, think about how hard it may be to get other Tier 2 rides at Epcot (oh wait .. is there a Tier 2 ride at Epcot that really needs a FP?)

Got into a huge fight with my wife at Epcot over this. I wanted to wait with our daughter to meet Jasmine and Alladin, but that meant we would have missed our Fastpass to Figment. I reminded her that we don't really need the Fastpass to Figment, we just had it because there was nothing better to use it on. Miraculously, I won the argument, we met Jasmine and Alladin and, afterwards, walked onto Figment. She never did apologize though.....

I think it was about 8 years into our marriage before I ever heard my wife say "i'm sorry -- you were right."

Don't get me wrong, she was right many times...but so was I. She just could never bring herself to say it. I never had a problem admitting where I was wrong.

Probably didn't help that after she apologized...I completely stopped whatever it was I was doing, and said, "I'm sorry -- I don't think I heard you correctly. Could you please repeat it?"

 

[Westcoastwild]

With the exception of Disney, most of our family vacations are how @luvsJack describes. The Florida Keys, Cape Cod, New Orleans, Las Vegas, The Grand Canyon, Southern California, London, Ireland, Rome/Naples are just some of the places we've gone with little to no pre-planning. The only pre-planning we do for the Keys is to get a Florida Fishing License. Sometimes we know, "Hey while we're in XYZ, let's try to do ABC" or in the case of Italy we booked a trip to Pompeii before we went, but not a specific date - we showed up at the tour office the day before we wanted to go. We've never had a disappointing trip.

Well, any trip you can have a good time. That's not dependent on planning. Not even at wdw.

But you're telling me you booked a plane ticket to somewhere like Rome, booked the first hotel you found on hotels.com and just showed up at the airport without any idea of what you wanted to see or do? Any idea where your hotel was and how to get to sights from it? Or any restaurant reservations? Because if you don't have table reservations, you're unlikely to be eating well at popular Roman restaurants, unless this is off season. And trains to day trips take research, knowing opening times and days for museums and shops takes research, what sights to see take research. I feel like someone in your family must have researched this stuff.

Even given that all of the above is true- are you saying there is nothing in any of those places that you were disappointed that you missed because the attraction was closed or the line was too long or some other reason? Because that I find hard to believe. Research prevents possible snags. That's the whole point in researching- so that the trip runs smoothly.

But to each his own, I guess. I just can't imagine booking an expensive plane ticket, and spending thousands of dollars on a trip where no one researched hotels or restaurants or attractions or anything else.

 

[Farro]

With the exception of Disney, most of our family vacations are how @luvsJack describes. The Florida Keys, Cape Cod, New Orleans, Las Vegas, The Grand Canyon, Southern California, London, Ireland, Rome/Naples are just some of the places we've gone with little to no pre-planning. The only pre-planning we do for the Keys is to get a Florida Fishing License. Sometimes we know, "Hey while we're in XYZ, let's try to do ABC" or in the case of Italy we booked a trip to Pompeii before we went, but not a specific date - we showed up at the tour office the day before we wanted to go. We've never had a disappointing trip.

How do you go to Europe without planning? Unless you've already lived in those cities.

I need to plan. I'm not wasting my vacation time figuring out where to go. Now I don't need minute by minute, but I certainly want to figure out (beforehand) what sites I want to see, what restaurants I want to try, any festivals going on, etc.

Before the internet, guidebooks were awesome. And Rick Steves!

 

[Shanti]

But you're telling me you booked a plane ticket to somewhere like Rome, booked the first hotel you found on hotels.com and just showed up at the airport without any idea of what you wanted to see or do? Any idea where your hotel was and how to get to sights from it? Or any restaurant reservations? Because if you don't have table reservations, you're unlikely to be eating well at popular Roman restaurants, unless this is off season. And trains to day trips take research, knowing opening times and days for museums and shops takes research, what sights to see take research. I feel like someone in your family must have researched this stuff.

Most Americans don't equate a trip to a theme park with a trip to Europe. Although maybe they should, given the uptick in pricing...

For the many domestic destinations I've been to, none of them have required even half of the insider knowledge and advance preparation that a WDW trip requires to get a lot out of it. It's counter-intuitive to think that such a carefully crafted family vacation resort as WDW would require so much work on the guest's part. It really shouldn't be this way, but it is due to the year-round crowds. So it's not surprising that many families receive some unpleasant surprises upon arrival.

 

[Westcoastwild]

Most Americans don't equate a trip to a theme park with a trip to Europe. Although maybe they should, given the uptick in pricing...

For the many domestic destinations I've been to, none of them have required even half of the insider knowledge and advance preparation that a WDW trip requires to get a lot out of it. It's counter-intuitive to think that such a carefully crafted vacation resort as WDW would require so much work on the guest's part. It really shouldn't be this way. So it's not surprising that many families receive some unpleasant surprises upon arrival.

I can name 5 domestic locations off the top of my head that take more advance planning than Wdw, that's the thing: SF, Boston, Yosemite, Washington D.C, NYC. I'd probably add Hawaii too. At least during high season and if you're on a budget. If you can throw 400-500 dollars/nt towards a hotel, things get easier. If you don't care about restaurants, then even better. But still, museums, historic sites, shows, all that tends to sell out, or develop huge lines. And I'm assuming that people who spend 6 months planning a Wdw trip really care about ADRs, so that would lead me to believe they care about restaurants elsewhere. You can't get a last minute reservation at a hot new restaurant in Chicago or NYC or SF for love or money most weekends.

But again. There are entire guide books on the topic. All they have to do is flip through one and realize it's a bit more complex than six flags.

Editing that I do agree largely with your domestic point- in my post you quoted, I was specifically replying to the poster who claims to do very little research for international trips.

 

[Figmentmommy]

I think we should stop assuming that others don't know what they are doing or haven't done their research - whether it be fastpasses, dining, or what have you. Unless someone specifically asks you a question or tells you something, you have no idea what they have - or have not -thought about, planned, or done.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

As I'm planning for the D23 Expo and Disneyland, I feel like I won't know what I don't know until I get there and find out how little I know. Make sense?

I can't go pretty much anyplace without some sort of plan but I know lots of folks who like to wing everything. I don't feel sorry for them, I figure that's just how they are.

 

[Mrs. W]

I'm a *huge* planner. I thoroughly research before any and every vacation. I've been to Vegas and L.A. more times than I can count and I still research before I go. That's just how I roll.

My husband and the rest of my family: they do *no* research or planning whatsoever. My family enjoyed hearing about our 2015 WDW vacation so much that they decided they'd go that same summer - a month later...in June. They ended up only riding the rides for which they had FastPasses for at each park. Their entire trip was not very successful to them, to say the least, but when I described how much research I did before our trip, they were SO glad that they didn't research, haha. They were overwhelmed and exhausted just listening to me. I didn't feel bad for them at all because I knew they would not have researched even if I encouraged them to (which I did!).

So yes, there are definitely people who purposely do little research before going places, but there are also people - I suspect more people, who do not plan because they'd rather *not* plan and just wing it, rather than spending precious pre-vacation time in the details.

 

[Shanti]

Editing that I do agree largely with your domestic point- in my post you quoted, I was specifically replying to the poster who claims to do very little research for international trips.

I see- I hadn't realized that.

But domestically, I stand firm because I've had amazing trips to Hawaii, Washington D.C., Chicago, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Mount Desert Island, all steller domestic destinations, with much less background knowledge & advance planning than WDW. I don't really care about being fashionable & seeing the latest show or eating at a super-trendy restaurant (wouldn't even know which those are), but the level of discovery & enjoyment was high. At WDW, though, if you don't know a lot & plan thoroughly, you can have a really disappointing trip with little to show for all the money you spent. So I do think there's a difference, although I agree that it's a bad idea to go into any trip with no planning at all.

 

[Westcoastwild]

I'm a *huge* planner. I thoroughly research before any and every vacation. I've been to Vegas and L.A. more times than I can count and I still research before I go. That's just how I roll.

My husband and the rest of my family: they do *no* research or planning whatsoever. My family enjoyed hearing about our 2015 WDW vacation so much that they decided they'd go that same summer - a month later...in June. They ended up only riding the rides for which they had FastPasses for at each park. Their entire trip was not very successful to them, to say the least, but when I described how much research I did before our trip, they were SO glad that they didn't research, haha. They were overwhelmed and exhausted just listening to me. I didn't feel bad for them at all because I knew they would not have researched even if I encouraged them to (which I did!).

So yes, there are definitely people who purposely do little research before going places, but there are also people - I suspect more people, who do not plan because they'd rather *not* plan and just wing it, rather than spending precious pre-vacation time in the details.

This I do get. My family is like that too! They for some reason spend a lot of money on frustrating vacations because they don't want to plan while watching TV or something. I don't feel sorry for them, and to their credit, they never complain that they should have planned. I just try not to travel with them.

 

[Westcoastwild]

I see- I hadn't realized that.

But domestically, I stand firm because I've had amazing trips to Hawaii, Washington D.C., Chicago, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Mount Desert Island, all steller domestic destinations, with much less background knowledge & advance planning than WDW. I don't really care about being fashionable & seeing the latest show or eating at a super-trendy restaurant (wouldn't even know which those are), but the level of discovery & enjoyment was high. At WDW, though, if you don't know a lot & plan thoroughly, you can have a really disappointing trip with little to show for all the money you spent. So I do think there's a difference, although I agree that it's a bad idea to go into any trip with no planning at all.

Hmm. I don't know if I agree with you about WDW, but I could see your point about the other places. To be fair, my interests tend to lean heavily towards history, and a lot of the more popular historic sites (Pearl Harbor, White House, Washington Monument, some of Philadelphia's attractions) tend to book up pretty far in advance, so if you don't plan, you either don't see those or you spend a few hours in line for day of tickets.

I do get that most people have less interest in that sort of thing.

My current "struggle" is that I desperately want to see Hamilton and visit the African America smithsonian and so far tickets have eluded me for both.

 

[Upatnoon]

Of course, then there are the people I've seen going around with an excel spreadsheet detailing every minute yelling at their family members that they are "ruining their vacation" because they want to stop and buy a beer Epcot.

There always a balance in planning vs. just going with the flow, and the trend at Disney has certainly been moving more and more in favor of the planning crowd.