Mistake you will not repeat next time...

[housetomouse]

Won't overpack! Lugging too much stuff around was a pain, we didn't use all of it.

 

[acwsmom]

Standing in the middle of the park, looking at a map and trying to figure out what to do next. We wasted so much time on our first trip. Never again!

 

[nansmama]

Uh oh... What happened with this? My DH and I have been talking about bringing our DD's BFF with us. Do tell!

I posted a separate thread about it, but basically, she was totally out of her element, acted like a brat, and it was a nightmare. Never again! She is a lovely girl outside of Disney, so we'll just keep her out of there, LOL. The girls are around 15, BTW.

 

[amomma23]

We also don' t plan to return with extended family. Just went in Sept. with my Mom and Sister and her family. Over all the trip went well, but DS5 was getting overwhelmed being is such a big group. I really felt bad for DS9. He did the Pirates League for the first time and then got really embarrassed when his cool uncle Tommy saw him made over. I think he would have really enjoyed it if it was just us. It did convince my husband to book the bounce back offer for just the 5 of us next year.

 

[laurafergie]

Count me as another one who will NEVER go again with extended family. If my father complained about the crowds of people ONE MORE TIME......deep breath...

Also, when DH and I went on our own, I thought it would be fun to eat supper at a different resort every night. See the resort, different foods...right? Except we didn't have a car, so the buses took forever and the food is not all that different now. To me, it was WAY more trouble than it was worth.

 

[WDW1979]

My biggest mistake was waiting until day 3 of our vacation to tell my in-laws "you all just meet us when you can" and not spend an inordinate amount of time sititng around waiting on them.

I agree with DisneyHardin - I had a similar experience.

Count me as another one who will NEVER go again with extended family.

Me too. I had such a trip once. Oops! Live and learn.

In future, if anyone I know is to be in Disney World at the same time as me, I will let them go their own way and maybe we can all meet up at the hotel pool a couple of times, if it works out.

To all those considering taking family/friends...we had separate rooms and rule was everyone was free to do their own thing. Not traveling as a "pack" is essential--that way everyone gets to do what they want.

I think natfrac has it right. If you really want to go with extended family or friends, natfrac's method would be your best hope.

 

[edk35]

I would pick going with extended family. That is one I don't want to repeat any time soon.

 

[WDW1979]

Yes this is making me reconsider things as well... However I'm afraid it might be too late.

I have seen several people list the extended family and friends as a mistake. I will definitely keep this in mind, because I was considering this type of trip. I think I will take everyone's advice and reconsider.

Hi KapBoy77 and racefans44, if you go ahead with a Disney trip with extended family or friends, I recommend natfrac's advice:

To all those considering taking family/friends---we always take someone with us. Last year, we had DM, DD, DS, plus a cousin, his wife and their teenager. We had a blast. Of course we had separate rooms and rule was everyone was free to do their own thing. Not traveling as a "pack" is essential--that way everyone gets to do what they want.

 

[KapBoy77]

Hi KapBoy77 and racefans44, if you go ahead with a Disney trip with extended family or friends, I recommend natfrac's advice:

Hi thanks for the advice but as it turns out everyone bailed out on the upcoming trip so it's just the four of us again... Just booked our suite today!!!!

 

[fitzy819]

2. I know...I know....but - We will never go WITHOUT the Dining Plan. . Our past trip was our first without it and it just stressed me out WAAAYYY to much. Maybe we saved some $$$ - but our kids are big eaters so sharing sounded good on paper, but was an epic fail in the Parks. We ate off property a few meals to save some $$$. For the little it saved us, we lost a lot in Park time. I am one of the people Disney had in mind when they created the Dining Plan - don't care about the $ for $ return - The idea that our food is paid for...priceless.

Same here! Our last trip I priced things out and figured we would save about $100 or so by paying oop with our eating habits. Wellllll, we might have saved a little cash but I had to listen to my husband exclaim how expensive each meal was. After about two days of that I decided that the meal plan cost would always be worth it versus listening to my husband complain.

 

[missycj96]

Our DD is 6 and I feel the walking will be too much for her. What type of stroller did you bring?

I rented a baby jogger from magic strollers (owners locker). I have also used orlando strollers . My 6 year old fit - make sure they give you a parent tray for cup holders.

 

[1153rsmith]

Mistakes I don't want to repeat is watching Captain EO. That was 20 minutes of my life I will never get back and could have used much more productively.

But, my 14 year old son loved it and wants to see it again.

 

[momto3gr8boys]

As many times as I have been to the world I still have never seen the Jammin Jungle parade There is always something that happens to intervene with the timing of that particular parade.....maybe next trip

Me too! I think because it is so late. I specifically made dinner ADRs at Yak and Yeti last time so we would see it and still missed it (ok we caught a glance of it, but basically missed it). I'll try again this year

 

[NHKristy76]

Mistakes I don't want to repeat is watching Captain EO. That was 20 minutes of my life I will never get back and could have used much more productively.

But, my 14 year old son loved it and wants to see it again.

My husband and daughter enjoy this show. I despise MJ so I saw it once and now I sit outside and people watch while they enjoy it.

 

[housetomouse]

It's kinda funny with this thread as the "mistakes" are so opposite. One person will say "my mistake was not making rope drop" and another will say "getting up for rope drop". Another will say "having a touring plan" and the second will say "not having a touring plan".

Lol! But I think we can all agree that my mistake was a mistake no matter what: we missed our airplane on the way to WDW If it weren't for the associated meltdowns, I'd say it all worked out, we got another flight 3 hours later. But, never again!! (in my defense, we got to the airport 2 hours early, but the security lines were so crazy long that we missed the flight).

 

[mkel34]

Our family will never ride Stitch again

 

[DisHmsklMom]

Next time we do a split stay we will start at the value and then go to our moderate or deluxe. At the beginning of our trip we were not spending much time at our resort, by the middle of the trip we were slowing down and enjoying our resort more and the last 2 days we moved to a value, the kids really liked the moderate pools much more. It really is easier to size up than to size down. We did enjoy doing the split stay because we had the opportunity to experience two different resorts, it felt like 2 vacations instead of one.

 

[Tinker_Belle]

Our biggest mistakes...

1. On our first trip, I thought since DS didn't nap, we could spend the whole day at DHS - mostly doing shows. He had a viscous meltdown that night, and now we ALWAYS take a swim break at our resort after lunch.

2. The dining plan is a complete waste of money for us. We don't eat enough to warrant it, and there is way too much dessert included. We opted for free dining over the 35% RO offer for our last trip. Big mistake!

3. Over planning - The best trips we've had were the ones where we were able to take more time to sit back and take it all in.

 

[kpmdjm]

Me too! I think because it is so late. I specifically made dinner ADRs at Yak and Yeti last time so we would see it and still missed it (ok we caught a glance of it, but basically missed it). I'll try again this year

Animal kingdom parade is our family's favorite you have to see it!!!!

 

[mariamouse]

Our family will never ride Stitch again

Agreed.