Is it possible to be to efficient?

[THEJOEL]

We just got back from a 5 day trip that included our very first MNSSHP, first F&W and first off-site stay.
We had a blast and enjoyed ourselves. This may sound stupid but I feel like we were too efficient. When I say that I mean we did everything we wanted multiple times but it felt like we never stopped. It was a pace I'm not sure I want to repeat. IDK if was because my DD9 has made the transition from characters, which we saw plenty of, to wanting to do more thrill rides but it was an exhausting pace. The bad part is we did afternoon breaks, we ate everything we wanted to try at F&W(even though we did it Saturday&Sunday) and had a great sit down meal at Mama Melrose but I felt we missed some of the magic because of our efficient touring plans.
Is there any way to find a balance between doing what you want and having time to experince the pixie dust or do you have to choose one over the other?

 

[superlarz]

I am the same way when we go. Too effiecient. Next trip I want to spend more time to stop and smell the roses

 

[HadesTX]

I am the same way when we go. Too effiecient. Next trip I want to spend more time to stop and smell the roses

That is exactly what we are doing in December. I am making a few ADR's & I just set up my FP's, but if we can't do it all it won't bother me. Hopefully we'll be able to cancel ADR's without fee if we have to... but even that is not gonna kill it for us. We are usually tied to a pretty strict schedule with what park we HAVE to be at & all the ADR's. Now... we're gonna chill. It is making life easier already.

I'm just gonna enjoy Christmas in the parks... and the sweet balcony TPV at the CR.

 

[disney world dreamer]

well if you think you're too efficient then do everything ONCE and then take it slow instead of doing everything multiple times and just being so go go go inside the parks.
if you have time to fit in your favorites multiple times then you have time to do them once and explore other things and then do your favorites again.

when we find that we have done everything once and have plenty of time even if we do some things again we find a place to just chill and people watch or do a very relaxing attraction like go all the way around on the WDW railroad or take the monorail for a ride from MK to TTC to epcot and back.

thats mostly for if we are at MK and epcot.

wjen at HS and AK we more have the approach of do everything we want and a couple things twice and then tgo back to the resort to relax.

 

[Upatnoon]

We just got back from a 5 day trip that included our very first MNSSHP, first F&W and first off-site stay.
We had a blast and enjoyed ourselves. This may sound stupid but I feel like we were too efficient. When I say that I mean we did everything we wanted multiple times but it felt like we never stopped. It was a pace I'm not sure I want to repeat. IDK if was because my DD9 has made the transition from characters, which we saw plenty of, to wanting to do more thrill rides but it was an exhausting pace. The bad part is we did afternoon breaks, we ate everything we wanted to try at F&W(even though we did it Saturday&Sunday) and had a great sit down meal at Mama Melrose but I felt we missed some of the magic because of our efficient touring plans.
Is there any way to find a balance between doing what you want and having time to experince the pixie dust or do you have to choose one over the other?

You often see people on the "Disney Death March." Don't fall into that trap!

 

[Jfsag123]

I have compromised with myself/my family on this one. We do very commando touring for the first couple hours of park time, then approach touring in a more relaxed way for the rest of the day. We still follow a schedule to some extent, because we are just built that way, but there is free time built into that schedule, along with the freedom to change it up on a whim if desired. Getting so much accomplished in the morning allows us to feel more open to just doing whatever later, as we know we've already hit our must-dos.

 

[Travis B]

I know exactly what you mean, OP. We're heading back in 10 days and I really want to take my time - try to relax and really enjoy my surroundings. On our last trip (which was my first since I was a child 20+ years ago) I was so concerned with pushing and making it through everything that I didn't enjoy the details as much as I'd like to. Don't get me wrong - I had an awesome time - but I'm looking forward to focusing more on ambience and atmosphere, and less on hitting every attraction and seeing every last thing. My strategy to find balance is to make sure I get lots of Disney trips; if I know I'm coming back I won't feel so desperate to fit it all in.

 

[ABZDisneyFan]

We took the in-laws with us on our trip last year & ended up doing exactly what you did.
As they hadn't been for over twenty years, we had planned things to do with them almost every day for the full two weeks.
Although we achieved just about everything we wanted including two MCMCP's we didn't get a chance to just relax & enjoy wondering round the parks.
Our next trip will be in 2017 & we'll be going on our own & will definitely not have every day planned out to the minute.

 

[linzjane88]

When we went with my cousin and his wife, he made the remark "are you like a shark? Do you die if you stop moving? " as I was rushing us to our next stop on the list. It didn't take long for them to figure out that if they got a drink in me I wasn't such a drill sargeant.

But I agree. After every trip I say in going to slow down, look around more. Then you get there and "Space Mountain is a 15 minute wait..... Run!"

 

[Nancyg56]

You often see people on the "Disney Death March." Don't fall into that trap!

YUP! WE did that the first trip we took when the kids were young, well over 20 years ago. We did everything but no one liked it. Never hppened again.

When we went with my cousin and his wife, he made the remark "are you like a shark? Do you die if you stop moving? " as I was rushing us to our next stop on the list. It didn't take long for them to figure out that if they got a drink in me I wasn't such a drill sargeant.

This AUgust we took the little family on our street. They are used to camping and beach vacations, and Disney is not that! At least not for us. We are pokey Petes but I guess not pokey enough when you're not used to this kind of vacation. Anyway, she was miserable and ended up plying me with alcohol...but I think she was thinking that my family was sharks.....moving moving moving! LOL!

 

[rainboots]

Our last trip was w/ my family, my parents & my sister's family. I planned it all. We rarely had lines, we hit every pre-opening ADR, didn't take breaks (except the first day). I have gotten requests from everyone for the upcoming trip to relax some. So we aren't going to RD (which kills me), and a couple days we won't head to a park until noon or 1. Our ADRs make sense, maybe they aren't the coolest Character meals, but they are more relaxed/easy to get to.

 

[wdw4lif]

This year we're only doing 3 days, and plan to pack in as much as we can, but also not obsessing as much with planning to the minute. I've done that in the past to keep us all organized and I have to say, I'm looking forward to this trip a lot more than the past trips. We're going to do what we can. Our tickets aren't being upgraded until we get there, so we have NO FP's scheduled. I'm bummed about that one for sure, as we won't be able to do that until we upgrade our tickets when we get there. (They're messed up in MDE with the entire party). We'll do all 4 parks, but we know the things that are MUST DO's and the things that we'd "like" to do if we have time. We have NO ADR's. We did have 'Ohana for breakfast our first morning, but decided paying out of our pocket when we aren't breakfast eaters, it wasn't worth the money or the time right now on such a short trip. Plus, our kids weren't all that excited at all. Our kids aren't TOO interested in a lot of characters (they're 14 & 10), so we'll be doing more rides. Plus, we are eligible for a meet & greet in Epcot with the Disney Visa card, so that helps A LOT!

 

[lustergirl]

I have to been to the "world" several times and still feel like I haven't seen everything. We go with a laid back approach. For the past two trips, once in April (solo) and once last month (with hubby) I made fast passes. For those rides that had too long of a wait we didn't ride right then. I enjoy my slow paced touring style. Now next year I am taking my grandson for the first time, so I know that is going to be different.

 

[5kidsmommy]

I worry so much about seeing everything, I've second guessed my plans a gazillion times. This trip will just be my daughter and I and I've tried so hard to make it perfect and I want her to ride every ride and see everything. She keeps reminding me that she wants a relaxing trip, she doesn't have to see and do everything, and that no matter what we'll have fun. I so need to not worry about efficiency and just learn to relax which is really hard for me.

 

[mrsjoannh13]

Longer trips!!!!!

 

[msmama]

I'm guessing you're a regular disney goer. I kind of felt like that a little bit my last trip. I never felt rushed, but we really accomplished everything we wanted to in a relatively short amount of time. I think it's because, 1, I know good strategies (both from these boards and experience). 2, I know what I do and don't want to do (there are rides/shows that I've done and never really have to do again).

I also think that you read so much on here about large crowds, and the importance of good touring plans and how many trips DIDN'T work out that when you have a successful trip, it's almost a surprise and then you start wondering if you should have tried for even MORE!!

For us, we pick three things each (there's only 2 of us) and if we accomplish those things, we consider it a successful day. I also have been trying to make myself do things that maybe I would have skipped on previous trips. Sitting through 45 minutes of Ellen's Energy Adventure was HARD (when thinking about the other things we could've been doing), but my son thought it was hilarious!!

 

[THEJOEL]

I know exactly what you mean, OP. We're heading back in 10 days and I really want to take my time - try to relax and really enjoy my surroundings. On our last trip (which was my first since I was a child 20+ years ago) I was so concerned with pushing and making it through everything that I didn't enjoy the details as much as I'd like to. Don't get me wrong - I had an awesome time - but I'm looking forward to focusing more on ambience and atmosphere, and less on hitting every attraction and seeing every last thing. My strategy to find balance is to make sure I get lots of Disney trips; if I know I'm coming back I won't feel so desperate to fit it all in.

The bad part is we are now Annual Passholders so we are going back in 65 days.
Not sure why we did it the way we did but the DW and I both are talking about how we can slow the pace down and still keep the kiddo happy. The Christmas stuff will be out so hopefully we can slow down and enjoy that. We do have a Late LE Cellier ADR so that will be one night of leisure.

 

[HadesTX]

When we went with my cousin and his wife, he made the remark "are you like a shark? Do you die if you stop moving? " as I was rushing us to our next stop on the list. It didn't take long for them to figure out that if they got a drink in me I wasn't such a drill sargeant.

But I agree. After every trip I say in going to slow down, look around more. Then you get there and "Space Mountain is a 15 minute wait..... Run!"

That was me on one of our trips until DD & DH just had enough & said... no more. Wimps!

 

[Mikie]

I'm guessing you're a regular disney goer. I kind of felt like that a little bit my last trip. I never felt rushed, but we really accomplished everything we wanted to in a relatively short amount of time. I think it's because, 1, I know good strategies (both from these boards and experience). 2, I know what I do and don't want to do (there are rides/shows that I've done and never really have to do again).
. . .
For us, we pick three things each (there's only 2 of us) and if we accomplish those things, we consider it a successful day. I also have been trying to make myself do things that maybe I would have skipped on previous trips. Sitting through 45 minutes of Ellen's Energy Adventure was HARD (when thinking about the other things we could've been doing), but my son thought it was hilarious!!

We've never been break-at-the-resort people, so Ellen IS our afternoon break! Last trip when I brought extended family for the first time, I felt sort of bad about "wasting" time on Ellen, and suggested I'd scrap it from future trips, but 2of my 3 kids said they wanted to do it again next trip and 2 of the other adults said it was a great A/C break with something to look at vs sitting on a wall in the sun.

That same trip, everyone regarded it as great, but I they all but one (me included!) would have liked a bit less efficient, time to soak it in. My commando sister is the exception - she's definitely a "go-go, we're at Disney, we'll sleep when we're dead!" variety.

 

[Happy_2_B]

We do 'commando style' touring from RD until around noon/1PM- then we are done. We do this twice at MK every visit- and once at the other parks. After that first 3-4 hours, we take a long break then do the parades and fireworks and see whatever we see at a relaxed pace- whether that is gift shops or people watching or just strolling. We have 10 days at WDW this year- and three of them don't include any park visits. The other park days we arrive later and it is just a loose plan- like strolling the World Showcase, for example. By being at RD, we can see every major attraction in a short period of time with almost no waiting- and the rest of the time can be relaxed. This will be my 28th visit, so we don't feel the need to do any of attractions multiple times- and we actually skip a bunch anymore- but even back in the days when I was more hardcore commando I cannot ever remember standing in a line longer than 20 minutes- and most were several minutes at most. With RD and going at slower times of the year- there simply aren't that many people in the part of the parks our plan has us in until we are ready to leave the park for our break. This has been a good compromise for us in recent trips- where we can be 'efficient' and get all the attractions we want to see accomplished, yet still leave plenty of time for going wherever the wind blows us.