Leaving for Disney this weekend...suddenly so nervous!!

[glohoffman]

Ok I have been planning this trip for a year and now that the time has come I am super nervous! Of course I am still excited to see the looks on my daughters' faces (they have no idea we are going!) but I think I have let some of the posts get to me. I am so scared its going to be overly crowded and we wont be able to enjoy much. I think I feel this pressure because I had to do some serious convincing my husband to even make this trip! I subscribed to touring plans and did custom touring plans, and the day seems so doable when I look at that. No wait times greater than 20 minutes (and thats only on a couple rides since we arent doing big thrill rides). But then I look at so many people talking about how they are only able to do a handful of attractions and I get so worried! Am I unreasonable for thinking we can get more than a few things done?!?!

 

[hgeisler]

You'll have a great time! Try to just go with it and not stress to do everything The crowds should be low this time of year, because school is not out yet We're going this time next year as well

 

[Cherinva]

First off.....take a deep breath.....relax. You are going to Disney.....just take it easy and enjoy what you can do. Don't put so much stress on yourself. No trip to Disney is perfect...no matter how you plan. And plans can be changed due to crowds or weather. Your family will have a wonderful time just being there....

 

[Niewoe]

We went in May 2012 and the crowds were not bad at all! The weather was beautiful and it was my favorite time of year to visit so far.

Just make sure you go with the flow, to a certain extent. Having a plan is awesome! You do not want to go to WDW without one. However, things like ride closures and weather cannot be controlled. You've done all you can do to prepare - when you get there, live in the moment. Don't worry about what each day will bring and how you won't be able to get to everything on your list. You'll get to do so much - so enjoy those things.

And if your husband isn't happy - that's his problem. You did all you could do - and I'm sure if you're happy, he'll be happy!

Enjoy surprising your girls!

 

[Nemo32]

We arrive on Sunday! I am so nervous too. We have done all the necessary planning, but reading everything on the Dis makes me so nervous for crowds and the limitations of FP+. Convinced we won't get as much done in as little time.

Trying not to stress and just be happy I will be in sunny FL and out of cold NY for a week! Just think positive!!

 

[HeatherLassell]

Ok I have been planning this trip for a year and now that the time has come I am super nervous! Of course I am still excited to see the looks on my daughters' faces (they have no idea we are going!) but I think I have let some of the posts get to me. I am so scared its going to be overly crowded and we wont be able to enjoy much. I think I feel this pressure because I had to do some serious convincing my husband to even make this trip! I subscribed to touring plans and did custom touring plans, and the day seems so doable when I look at that. No wait times greater than 20 minutes (and thats only on a couple rides since we arent doing big thrill rides). But then I look at so many people talking about how they are only able to do a handful of attractions and I get so worried! Am I unreasonable for thinking we can get more than a few things done?!?!

*HUGS*

First of all don't worry that is very normal! I felt the same way! I planned my kids first trip for over a year and a half. Once we got close I started to feel the same way. Just take a deep breath! :good vibes

Think of all the reasons you wanted to take them to Disney. Those will still happen! Even if you have to wait in some lines. The lines really can be part of the fun if you're open to talking to people around you. My children had fun telling people how cold it was where we lived (when the people were saying they were cold lol) and learning what countries people were from. There is a lot to look at in most lines too. Also just being at the parks is amazing. The sights and the sounds. Just walking around deciding what to do next was fun for us. We went in October 2012 the first time. Crowd levels were 5's and 6's. We went on TONS of rides. We had a blast. Not one of my kids complained they didn't get on enough rides or really about anything. We had so much fun.

And so will you!

 

[ajwolfe]

I wouldn't let those posts get to you!! Just being there and seeing everything is wonderful. Your kids will have a blast regardless if they get to ride 5 rides or 10 rides in a day. My kids never whine about the lines, never complain about how much we get to do; they are just so happy to be there and soak it all up!!

 

[glohoffman]

Thank you all so much! I know I just need to be happy we get to go, and once we are there I am sure all these nerves will fade! This is actually our first real family vacation since having kids (besides weekend getaways) so I think that is adding to the pressure! I am soooo excited, but I have commitment issues to having my plan set stresses me out that it isnt right! But I honestly think the best parts for my girls will be meeting the characters and eating in the castle! Do you guys suggest sticking with my plan pretty hardcore until lunch time and then being a little more lax to do whatever we want in the evening? I feel like that may be the best way to go? (Ps we are early risers so plan on rope drop and also have pre opening reservations)
Again...thanks so much for all of the encouragement!!!

 

[lustergirl]

I believe you when you say you are nervous. With all the changes and reading of the forums I would be nervous as well. Go and had a great time. There may be a monkey wrench thrown in here or there but relax and have a great time. If you don't see everything then use that excuse to go back soon

 

[GillianP1301]

I wouldn't let what you read on here get you nervous or anxious. I love reading this boards as a way to fill in time between vacations, but I learned from when first started coming here (before my 2012 trip) that a lot of what is on here is heavily exaggerated (both on the negative and positive side) because it's a very very small sampling of the overall people going to WDW. There's certainly a lot of great info on here though, so that keeps me coming back. But when I read either very positive or very negative reviews, I do take it with a grain of salt and that leaves my expectations in check and then I'm able to enjoy my vacation and establish my own opinions without being heavily influenced.

Just relax and think about how much fun you're all going to have. Will you do everything on your plan? Very likely not, but if you accept that and don't sweat it, then you'll find you will have a fantastic time. Have fun!!

 

[jrjankowski8]

We're leaving next weekend and it's a surprise for my wife (telling her Monday for her bday) and I feel the same way. Like I'm second guessing my FP picks and times haha

 

[TinkerElsasMom]

Use information on this thread as a tool, not a measurement of the success you might or might not have. This board is just a sliver of what's out there. You've done your planning, you've done all the right things. Now, it's time to just relax. You have to know your plan is not going to be perfect, things will go wrong, or even right, to change it. On our last trip we had everything planned it using ridemax, but it didn't count for the time we wanted to spend shopping, or seeing a random character we had no idea would be there, etc.

Breathe, enjoy your trip, come back and tell us how it went!!!

 

[HeatherLassell]

But I honestly think the best parts for my girls will be meeting the characters and eating in the castle! Do you guys suggest sticking with my plan pretty hardcore until lunch time and then being a little more lax to do whatever we want in the evening? I feel like that may be the best way to go? (Ps we are early risers so plan on rope drop and also have pre opening reservations)

Yup! It WILL be great meeting characters and eating in the castle!

And your plan is perfect! Hardcore all morning while the crowds are lower. You'll be able to ride A LOT! And then in the afternoon if it gets warm you can take your time (lots of great air conditioned rides [so then who cares if the line is long lol] and stores to look in) Definitely enjoy the sights and sounds and just do what you want into the evening. (Maybe save your fp+ selections for the afternoon/evening also since you can pretty much ride standby all morning without as much of a wait)

 

[Hootch]

the wait times on MDE recently. It looks like the waits are not bad right now.

I think the best way to approach a vacation at WDW is to make a list of your priorities and a list of some other things you would like to do. Be happy with getting to all your priorities and some of would like to to dos.

It sounds like you have planned well. Now relax and enjoy. You are right that watching your kids take it all in is one of the greatest things about WDW.

 

[Cricket2]

Just remember, at some point the planning fun stops and the vacation starts. Don't let one ruin the other.

 

[HeatherLassell]

Just remember, at some point the planning fun stops and the vacation starts. Don't let one ruin the other.

 

[glohoffman]

Just remember, at some point the planning fun stops and the vacation starts. Don't let one ruin the other.

Such good advice! I am an over planner/organizer/stresser so its easy for me to get out of control I need to remember too that the longest wait times are for rides we aren't even going on, and others are some that are not even priority. Its really only magic kingdom i was stressing about, but i am feeling much better about it now!

 

[glohoffman]

Yup! It WILL be great meeting characters and eating in the castle!

And your plan is perfect! Hardcore all morning while the crowds are lower. You'll be able to ride A LOT! And then in the afternoon if it gets warm you can take your time (lots of great air conditioned rides [so then who cares if the line is long lol] and stores to look in) Definitely enjoy the sights and sounds and just do what you want into the evening. (Maybe save your fp+ selections for the afternoon/evening also since you can pretty much ride standby all morning without as much of a wait)

Thank you!!!

 

[photo_chick]

Ok I have been planning this trip for a year and now that the time has come I am super nervous! Of course I am still excited to see the looks on my daughters' faces (they have no idea we are going!) but I think I have let some of the posts get to me. I am so scared its going to be overly crowded and we wont be able to enjoy much. I think I feel this pressure because I had to do some serious convincing my husband to even make this trip! I subscribed to touring plans and did custom touring plans, and the day seems so doable when I look at that. No wait times greater than 20 minutes (and thats only on a couple rides since we arent doing big thrill rides). But then I look at so many people talking about how they are only able to do a handful of attractions and I get so worried! Am I unreasonable for thinking we can get more than a few things done?!?!

We got tons done on our first trip and had no idea how to really work the FP system. We still never used the FP system for more than 2 or 3 FP's on subsequent trips (and we always travel at peak times in summer). I also had to convince my husband to go on the first trip. However, he was the first one to start saying "on our next trip we will......"

The people who are upset about FP+ ruining their magic are mainly people who are frequent travelers. They have established their touring style around the system as it was and don't want to change. There was the same kind of talk not that long ago when they started enforcing FP return times. And again way back when paper FP first started. Since you're a first timer you don't have those comparisons.

Don't stress. Things will not go exactly as planned. Just roll with it and you'll have an amazing trip.

 

[HeatherLassell]

Thank you!!!

Anytime!