Maybe we just know to much.

[tinkerone]

Maybe we should just go to the park like it is our first time, and slow down and smell the roses.

on our first trip to wdw dh and i were young. 20 and 22, we ran from place to place. not knowing any different, when our children came along we pretty much did the same with them. it was always go, go, GO!!

the children have grown up and left, dh and i are much older. we now take this advice and walk slowly, taking in all the hustle around us with a smile. hey, that was us not that long ago. its just so much better when you realize its all going to still be there. if you don't see it/do it this time you will next time. its just so much more special when you take the time to 'see' everything.

 

[gojoe]

I don't want to agree or disagree. I feel the more I know the more we have been able to slow down. The first few times we ran from attraction to attraction. Planning every moment of the day. I made sure we didn't miss a thing. We had a wonderful time with many fond memories.

We have all gained knowledge and experience over the years. The knowledge came from these boards, a couple of books, talking with other guest and a bus driver or two. The experience is from figuring out what worked for us and what didn't.

I have to say we seem to get everything done at a more leisurely pace than before. Of course our list isn't as long.

Friends, family and colleagues know we vacation at Disney almost every vacation (but not all). Some have been and tell me it a complete waist of time and money. I don't disagree with them. That would be a waste of my time. A few have asked for my help in planning. They all have told me they had a great time and can't wait to go again.

I don't think I would want to go with out the knowledge I have and knowing where to get the info I don't have (My Disney Experience included). I wouldn't want to be one of the people who say "It's a complete waist of time and money"

I understand not wanting to lose the magic and I hope I never do.

"Been There, Did That, WE'RE GOING BACK"

 

[JStew50]

I remember a trip long before I knew about these boards or ADRs. We got off the ride Living with the Land and decided to go to Garden Grill for lunch. Walked right up, got seated. Then, all these characters started coming to our table. We weren't expecting it at all. Who knew what a character meal was? We were just having lunch and Disney magic brought characters right to our table. It was so much fun especially since we had no idea that was "supposed" to happen.

 

[alicemouse]

One of the things that originally led me to hyperplanning was our first trip in 2003 and the absolute lack of knowledge that we had. My thought process went something like, "hmmm wouldn't it be fun to go to WDW for our honeymoon? Oh, December 31-January 2? It should be crowded then. That's Christmas break. All of the children will be home playing with their toys."

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

SO we did New Year's Eve at Magic Kingdom because "they'll probably have special fireworks at midnight." Long story short, we were there at rope drop. Park was at capacity by 10:30. Noisemakers were handed to the children at 4:00. At 4:20, we were out the front gate. We went back to the hotel and I fell asleep for 13 hours.

So life and work and moving several times happened, but finally we had the time and resources to go back in 2010. Now that we were a little more educated and I understood that at least SOME planning was necessary to get what we wanted out of our vacation was necessary. I discovered during that process that I really enjoy planning and I also learned during that trip that no matter how much planning you do, it is nearly impossible and definitely not desirable to calculate every minute of your vacation.

Now, 5 trips later, we've settled on a happy medium. We research and plan like crazy and then aside from reserved events, we just kind of let things happen when we arrive. I love having the knowledge about Disney that I have. For me, having that knowledge makes for a more relaxed trip because I'm not constantly stressing out over my timeline. FP+ has also helped because instead of criss-crossing the park like a maniac all day, I can pick a direction to walk each park and tour mostly in order with my FP+ falling into place right on queue.

 

[carl850]

I have to agree. I'm a newbie to the boards so I hope I don't get things thrown at me for saying this, BUT is this much "hubbub" over the Fast Pass limit really justified? After all, they're really just a free perk. (Now I can feel your dander rising...hear me out.) Disney doesn't have to give us Fast Passes at all if they don't want to, yet they continue to do so. And yes, it does help their bottom line when guests are moved through attractions more fluidly, but it also makes us supremely happy campers in the process (win/win). So they have kept the FP system in place even though park guests continually complain about it. Have faith that they'll straighten it out. I believe in them. A little trust and pixie dust!

While we might get disappointed with a change here and there, when it comes right down to it, we're all just a bunch of folks scattered through all walks of life who love Disney down to our marrow no matter what. We might grouse over this and that, but at the end of the day, the heart wants what the heart wants. I'm determined to do my best at accepting changes and trusting in Disney to figure out the rest (insert Serenity prayer here). And who knows, maybe they'll eventually remove the tiered system on the FPs. Whether we get 3 or 10, at least we're still getting to take part in some of the most amazing, magically Imagineered attractions in the world with no wait. Even if I had to wait, for that alone I will remain grateful. Cheers!

Very well said. I could not agree more.
Life is a journey, not a race. Enjoy every minute.

 

[SamSam]

on our first trip to wdw dh and i were young. 20 and 22, we ran from place to place. not knowing any different, when our children came along we pretty much did the same with them. it was always go, go, GO!!

the children have grown up and left, dh and i are much older. we now take this advice and walk slowly, taking in all the hustle around us with a smile. hey, that was us not that long ago. its just so much better when you realize its all going to still be there. if you don't see it/do it this time you will next time. its just so much more special when you take the time to 'see' everything.

This was pretty much us, except we didn't go for the first time until our kids were 13 and 8. Since then we've went more times than we care to count. My DH thought we wouldn't want to go once the kids were grown and gone (I knew different) so I couldn't talk him into DVC when it first became available.

Hmm, once the kids were grown and gone we bought our first DVC points and have been adding on ever since. Our trips now are very laid back; we go to the park we feel like on a particular day, ride our favorites or something we haven't ridden for a long time. We love dining at the signature restaurants and enjoy just going to a park and people watching. It's still our Magical Place where we go for total escape. Yes, we travel to other destinations but WDW is our 'happy' place.

 

[easyd]

I've been to WDW numerous times, including for DAP in 2013, and just got back from Backstage Magic in Disneyland... I was a total hyper planner. Used to get touringplans on one screen and Excel on the other. I planned ADRs at 180 days. I used to be a FP runner, going from one Fastpass attraction to the next.

Going to Disneyland was an eye-opener for me. Walking around there requires you slow down and smell the roses.

Also, my last trip to WDW (for DAP in December 2013) was with my girlfriend. She hadn't been to WDW for something like 20 years. Going with her has given me a new apprication for everything! Trying new table service places, actually going to things that don't have Fastpass... It's like a whole new place!

That said, I don't agree that we know too much. I love that we know all we know! I wonder if anyone has ever written a thesis about Disney as a religon...

 

[Linda67]

Great thread!
I couldn't agree more with the sentiments expressed. I am a BIG planner but the last couple of trips I've really taken my foot off the gas and our trips have been better for it
I remember when I very first watched Wishes and Tinkerbell flew above us, I had absolutely no idea this was going to happen. I screamed! and yes I am a grown woman
It's so hard in this day and age not to see everything in advance, take the new parade this week. I am trying so hard not to see too much of it in advance of our next trip so there are some elements that will suprise me
I expect that when the Mine Train opens up, I will have to switch off every device I own for two months

 

[ChikoAwad]

Brilliant post!!!

 

[safetymom]

I can't compare my visits to my first time. I didn't want to come the first time we visited. I came because it was a trip for my sisters and families.

I don't think the magic has left for me. I think you can tell that when I talk about WDW.

I do think I hold WDW to a higher standard than other vacation areas. Only because WDW set a high standard to begin with.

I still get goosebumps when I see something in the park, there are still teary eyed magical moments as I walk through the park.

The thing I always have in my mind is the fact that there are lots of folks out there that would love to come to WDW and can't for whatever reason. I get upset when I read that someone isn't coming to WDW because of what they have read on the DIS. Yes, things are done differently now. But it is still a place to forget about the day to day trials and tribulations we all have in our life.

You may have to plan months in advance if you want a fast pass now but you also don't have to now get up early and make the mad dash at rope drop to get a fast pass.

When we first started coming (after I decided that WDW was a pretty cool place) the kids and I picked the must do attraction in every park. That way if we didn't do it all we got to do our favorites. We never went at a fast pace and took an afternoon break.

I used to be a person that didn't like change. Well I found out that change can be a good thing. I look at all the changes at WDW and feel the same way now. Once they get it fully rolled out I am sure most people will be singing the praises of WDW again. I have full confidence that WDW will make it right for most people that visit their parks. There will always be that person that thinks the changes aren't for them and they aren't coming back.

I could go on and on but you get my point. Come with an open mind and you will find that WDW is as magical as it ever was.

 

[DeAnna4140]

Great post!

We were there in January. 3 of us had been multiple times before and 1 was experiencing it for the first time.

After just 1 day of MK to see the castle for his very first time and HS for the Osborne Light Show, and before the start of our scheduled 5 more days, he said that his day/trip was perfect and that if that were his only day to go, he'd be happy.

To see it through the eyes of someone on their first visit really puts it all in perspective for any of us who feel the need to complain.

We had a GREAT week!

 

[Mome Rath]

This is a great post, and many other good follow-up posts! Disney isn't for everyone because no matter what, there are certain personality types that won't enjoy it because of various factors. I've go to experience Disney from the time I was around 7 or 8, and there was only the MK and EPCOT, there were no fastpasses just the Florida heat and looonnnggg lines, and we didn't think twice about it. We stood in line for around 2 hours to go on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea... You also had to be proficient at reading the different flags on the buses at the only hotels available to us at the time; off-site hotels.

I've got to experience all the changes; on-site hotels, new parks, new rides, new technology (including cell phones), and so the knowledge my family and I gained was "organic," meaning we experienced it firsthand, we didn't just hear about it or read it. The area where I do think reading too much is detrimental is reading those accounts of people who want to have something to complain about, and who Disney has become a target of frustrations in their lives rather than a chance to go relax and have some fun. Now, that being said, I love Disney, but I too have has some horrid experiences there, but it wasn't "Disney" doing it; it was rude guests, or a cast-member having a bad day, or me trying to do too much. I've seen more guests shoot themselves in their own foot and then gripe that someone else is obviously to blame. Back in the day, there was just as much of this going on, but you didn't read about it because there was no internet.

As for me and mine, we go for family, fun, good weather, good memories, and the Disney bubble. So, I think there is a middle ground, a balance, that people should shoot for, too much head knowledge, or not enough can be a hindrance. Too much and you miss out on what Disney is, something to be lived and experienced. Too little and you also miss out on what Disney is because you go into it thinking it will be something it isn't.

Love the thread and the thoughts!

 

[hockeymomNS]

Ahhhhhhh

I just wrote this profound (of course) reply and for some reason wasn't logged in. Now I'll do it in short form.

Disney has changed but so has my life. My first trip was with my dh and two sons ages 6 and 11 months. Our ride choices and priorities were much different back then and the only knowledge that I took was that there was a baby station in MK and that Jan back then was slow season. We toured commando for two weeks and had a blast.

Since then we have stayed on-site, off-site and home rental. All great choices depending on the stage of life that we were at......again life changes.

We have to visit during Xmas if we want everyone to be able to join us these days, so this Boxing day the clan will arrive with a newbie in the form of oldest son's gf. Will our trip be ruined if we don't get to do all of our favourites and some of her wish list? No of course not because we are together. Would we be disappointed if we couldn't ride a couple of our favourites and a couple on her list? Yes, but FP+ will prevent this as well as the knowledge that it is going to be busy. At the end of the day, I am in the parks with those that I love and that really is most important. I do however realize that for some people Disney is a once in a lifetime event and that shot of the kiddies on Dumbo is oh so important. For those people, knowledge is key.

In a nutshell, Disney has changed but so has my life. While I no longer have a stroller to hold my backpack, I no longer need to pack extra clothes nor do I need to make sure that my restaurant choice sell chicken nuggets, I also have big men to carry my backpack, I don't need to worry about film for my camera and we as a family can stay up late without worrying about a meltdown the next day.

Do we know too much??? Maybe it depends on who you are.

 

[rotlex]

Good post. I agree with it as well.

We have an upcoming August 2 week trip that I am honestly trying to look at as a new experience. I admit, avoiding the negative threads on the boards is tough, and having a few personal friends down recently that have had issues isn't making it any easier, but hey, I'll still be at my favorite place on the planet for two weeks right?

(As a side note, if Disney is having issues, I'd appreciate them giving me a discount to compensate for my troubles).

 

[jseiden420]

I had so much fun planning my first trip. I hadn't gone to Disney much when I was young, only a few day trips. So, when I got the chance to plan our first family trip in 2012 I researched like crazy. Planning was some of the most fun I had in a long time. My wife had been to Disney many times and was what I call a "runner". Her family would literally run from ride to ride. I promised myself I wouldn't do that. So knowing too much isn't possible. Disney is constantly changing and the more you know the less "running" you need to do. Planning is a great tool but so is patience and being willing to change your plans on the fly!

 

[OKW Lover]

Good post Evelyn!

I think that sums it up pretty good. Basically, people get so wrapped up in trying to squeeze the largest bit of value out of their WDW vacation that they obsess about everything. Then when real-life intervenes they think their trip will be ruined.

 

[collins316]

Great topic.
I know very often when there is a new ride/show/whatever coming, I try to tune out the discussion on it before I see it. That way it is new to me. I dont want to have to go in with full expectations on what is going to happen.

 

[hedberg1661]

I think you are so right. We love to point out all the little (and big) things that are "wrong" with Disney but somehow we forget to point out all the wonderful things Disney offers...all those magical experiences that we enjoy so much.

 

[marctav]

No matter what changes its still magical.

 

[Jennygt]

Such a good post and very true. I don't harp too much on what I don't like, however I know Disney reads these boards so when I have a chance to simply explain why something new is not a favorite of mine I do. I also go out of my way to compliment cm and send letters about what I do enjoy. This is good to remember to not get tunnel vision with the planning and miss all the magic along the way!