Just Back - Great trip/Low crowds

[skater]

Just left my happy place yesterday, and literally had the perfect trip. Great weather (I like hot), nice low crowds (when we chose our park carefully) and mostly happy (or good at faking it) CM's. A couple observations:

1. Our best days were when we relaxed, left when we felt like it, didn't "run" at rope drop, etc.

2. It is definately worth choosing your park either based on TGM or Touring Plans or on your own common sense. EMH days are not worth it IMO, unless you have hoppers and can take advantage of EMH, but be able to go to a quieter park for the rest of the time (or back to the resort).

3. If a CM gives you a choice and says "are you sure......?" - make sure you take the choice they're offering.

4. Try not to look for trouble. We had several experiences with rude guests - pushing past us in lines, etc., but we had many more good experiences. People repeatedly gave up seats for my youngest or for the older people on the bus. I know this is controversial, but in the reality of it, I just can't imagine letting a very elderly person stand when I have two good legs . But back to my point - if we had focused on the "mean" people, our trip could have been different. Sometimes it was hard, but I tried to focus on the good things.

5. CM's - Almost all of them were great. We had 3 grouchy CM's over an 11 night trip - not too bad! Unfortunately, one of them worked in guest relations which is not cool, but I didn't let her get to me - there were too many wonderful things that happened to us!

6. Don't forget to use the resort pool. Some of our best memories happened at the pool. You pay for that too!

7. Don't sweat the small stuff! Disney trips can be stressful. You will have problems, issues, etc. You will sometimes feel grouchy . If you're healthy and you're at WDW, you've got it made! You will have a better time if you let the little slights, etc. go.

 

[crazycatlady]

I'm glad you had a great trip and thanks for the pointers!

Can you give me an example of the CM giving you a choice that includes an "are you sure...."?

Also, we have hoppers and planned to do the am EMHs, take a break at the resort after lunch and then return to a different park for late afternoon and evening. Some of these later parks include the park with the pm EMH...
Am I making a mistake in hitting 2 EMH parks in the same day sometimes?

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Welcome back. Now all the unpacking and laundry begins!

Glad to hear you had a great time. I would love to be able to go in September with warm weather and low crowds. It is getting harder and harder to find a time like that throughout the year anymore.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

glad you had a great time! we're leaving in one week, hopefully we'll have a wonderful trip as well.

 

[skater]

I'm glad you had a great trip and thanks for the pointers!

Can you give me an example of the CM giving you a choice that includes an "are you sure...."?

Also, we have hoppers and planned to do the am EMHs, take a break at the resort after lunch and then return to a different park for late afternoon and evening. Some of these later parks include the park with the pm EMH...
Am I making a mistake in hitting 2 EMH parks in the same day sometimes?

We were standing at the rope inside Epcot, planning to race to Soarin' when a CM from Living with the Seas asked us if we would like to go with her to Living with the Seas. I'm saying No No, we're heading for Soarin' She keeps saying Are you sure....? My DS and DH were apparently catching on before me, but she was nice enough to finally spill the beans and tell me she would make it worth my while . She made us Living with the Seas Family of the Day and let me tell you, that was fun!! We got lots of perks.

Your plan for EMH sounds fine to me although the benefits of it probably depend on what time of year you're going. We literally walked on Soarin' at 6 p.m. the other day.

 

[skater]

Welcome back. Now all the unpacking and laundry begins!

Glad to hear you had a great time. I would love to be able to go in September with warm weather and low crowds. It is getting harder and harder to find a time like that throughout the year anymore.

Seriously about the laundry! I didn't wash too much because we were having too much fun! Also, with the whole bed bug scare, I figured I should wash everything anyway, though I know that won't help if I don't wash everything on hot . At least we didn't have any signs of bed bugs in the room. I'm hopeful that everything is OK!

I also know what you mean about timing. With a serious soccer player, its getting hard to go in September.

 

[mlg32]

Just left my happy place yesterday, and literally had the perfect trip. Great weather (I like hot), nice low crowds (when we chose our park carefully) and mostly happy (or good at faking it) CM's. A couple observations:

1. Our best days were when we relaxed, left when we felt like it, didn't "run" at rope drop, etc.

2. It is definately worth choosing your park either based on TGM or Touring Plans or on your own common sense. EMH days are not worth it IMO, unless you have hoppers and can take advantage of EMH, but be able to go to a quieter park for the rest of the time (or back to the resort).

3. If a CM gives you a choice and says "are you sure......?" - make sure you take the choice they're offering.

4. Try not to look for trouble. We had several experiences with rude guests - pushing past us in lines, etc., but we had many more good experiences. People repeatedly gave up seats for my youngest or for the older people on the bus. I know this is controversial, but in the reality of it, I just can't imagine letting a very elderly person stand when I have two good legs . But back to my point - if we had focused on the "mean" people, our trip could have been different. Sometimes it was hard, but I tried to focus on the good things.

5. CM's - Almost all of them were great. We had 3 grouchy CM's over an 11 night trip - not too bad! Unfortunately, one of them worked in guest relations which is not cool, but I didn't let her get to me - there were too many wonderful things that happened to us!

6. Don't forget to use the resort pool. Some of our best memories happened at the pool. You pay for that too!

7. Don't sweat the small stuff! Disney trips can be stressful. You will have problems, issues, etc. You will sometimes feel grouchy . If you're healthy and you're at WDW, you've got it made! You will have a better time if you let the little slights, etc. go.

I think our family could vacation with you It sounds like we vacation the same way. We have never done a rope drop-LOL

 

[PoppyGirl]

Welcome home! I was depressed for you all day yesterday! And it wasn't even my trip! I'm so glad you had such a good time together. Someday I hope to be able to go for 11 days. I can't even imagine an 11 day vacation.....what would THAT be like? Our 8 days in December are going to be a stretch!!

Can't wait to hear more and GREAT tips, by the way!

PoppyGirl

 

[PoppyGirl]

Just one more thing: I always appreciate your positive attitude! It makes such a difference!

PoppyGirl

 

[Serenity1207]

Glad you had a fabulous trip!!!!!

 

[skater]

Welcome home! I was depressed for you all day yesterday! And it wasn't even my trip! I'm so glad you had such a good time together. Someday I hope to be able to go for 11 days. I can't even imagine an 11 day vacation.....what would THAT be like? Our 8 days in December are going to be a stretch!!

Can't wait to hear more and GREAT tips, by the way!

PoppyGirl

I was depressed yesterday. I totally embarrassed myself and cried in the POR gift shop. I couldn't even talk to the wonderful CM for a while - I didn't trust myself to speak. She felt so sorry for me, she kept saying, You can come back and see us! I really thought I would be ready to leave after such a long trip, but that wasn't the case . I cried so much that DH agreed to let us eat lunch at the food court before we left. I didn't realize how selfish I was until we got home at 4 a.m. . I actually was a little ashamed of myself - I just went a little Disney crazy and didn't think about the consequences.

I'm doing better today, though .

 

[Lou Holtz]

You'll probably be laughing about that one for the rest of your lives!

 

[mlittig]

Glad you had such a magical trip

 

[Cin]

I can totally see myself doing that. Heck, I cried when I booked this trip and several times since during planning. (Still pinching myself that DH finally said yes!) Just watching the planning DVD they sent me brings tears to my eyes as I envision my DH and I on Main Street and there it is, Cinderella Castle. Thanks for your tips, My poor DH, I have my itinerary planned down to the rope drops even. Glad you had such a fabulous trip! Makes it ever so hard to leave it. But it's time to get planning your next one!

 

[Duckiedee]

if you're healthy and you're at wdw, you've got it made!

absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[skater]

I can totally see myself doing that. Heck, I cried when I booked this trip and several times since during planning. (Still pinching myself that DH finally said yes!) Just watching the planning DVD they sent me brings tears to my eyes as I envision my DH and I on Main Street and there it is, Cinderella Castle. Thanks for your tips, My poor DH, I have my itinerary planned down to the rope drops even. Glad you had such a fabulous trip! Makes it ever so hard to leave it. But it's time to get planning your next one!

Being at rope drop is good - I personally recommend it . However, I had to give up on it a couple times because my DH had a glassy look and the kids were getting fussy (even older kids can get fussy at WDW ). It was hard for me, but it worked and everybody was happier!

I also had to give up on racing from attraction to attraction (we did it the first few days). We had so much more fun once I did. Its better to miss a few things and be relaxed and see the little stuff! My middle child likes to talk to CM's which can be frustrating, but its really part of what makes Disney special! He gets to talk to people from all over the world, learn about their culture, and share his own opinions.

I wouldn't give up any of our little experiences for one big attration! (Although we did get to ride Soarin' more times than I can count - my family puts up with that one because they love me)!

 

[LMO429]

thanks so much for the report...we will be there soon...cant wait

 

[PoppyGirl]

I was depressed yesterday. I totally embarrassed myself and cried in the POR gift shop. I couldn't even talk to the wonderful CM for a while - I didn't trust myself to speak. She felt so sorry for me, she kept saying, You can come back and see us! I really thought I would be ready to leave after such a long trip, but that wasn't the case . I cried so much that DH agreed to let us eat lunch at the food court before we left. I didn't realize how selfish I was until we got home at 4 a.m. . I actually was a little ashamed of myself - I just went a little Disney crazy and didn't think about the consequences.

I'm doing better today, though .

I can't believe this, but I have actually been feeling sort of teary thinking about the end of our trip....which isn't even until December!!! Last night I told DH, "I'm afraid that I'll cry when we leave because I've been looking forward to it so much and then it will be over!" He did this: and then he said "Well, maybe the solution is not to go if it's going to make you sad." Then I did this: "As if."

PoppyGirl

 

[harpinjean]

Glad you had a great trip!

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Trip Reports board.