My biggest Disney planning mistake...

[jann1033]

first visit staying off site..never again...since then we stay on site and never use the car the whole time we are there.

to mom22boys...the ug has a list of how long it takes to drive ve disney trans. and usually driving is longer( have to include getting to car traffic ect). wdw is huge and confusing.we have been there a number of times and still get lost the first day as a routine( just gettting to dtd before we went to our restort got us lost. it is like driving around a large busy city without a map.) those who go every year or a number of times ayr might do well with a car, i really don't think most others would. if you get to a bus stop mid day and a bus doesn't come in a few mins. ask a cm and they will send one

 

[disneysteve]

Let me amend my earlier post. I didn't read the part of the OP about gearing this thread to the first timer. In that case, I think staying onsite and using Disney transportation is ok. As a repeat visitor, however, my biggest planning error was not renting a car. We just hated the inflexibility of onsite transportation. We hated not being able to come and go where and when we wanted. We like visiting the different hotels - virtually impossible without a car. We like getting offsite for some meals and shopping, also not practical without a car. Stuff like that.

 

[GoofyDad869]

I started a new thread in the Restaurants forum titled "ADR 'ethics' question" so that this thread is not hijacked.

 

[phisigprincess]

I think it was overscheduling. I had 3 days and tried to show my FI everything there was in Disney. Plus I had never been there for Christmas, so I wanted to do all of that too. FI didn't know how to pull me back from my Disney euphoria yet, so I just kept on trucking forgetting about things like going to the bathroom and eating.

 

[GEM]

Let me amend my earlier post. I didn't read the part of the OP about gearing this thread to the first timer. In that case, I think staying onsite and using Disney transportation is ok. As a repeat visitor, however, my biggest planning error was not renting a car. We just hated the inflexibility of onsite transportation. We hated not being able to come and go where and when we wanted. We like visiting the different hotels - virtually impossible without a car. We like getting offsite for some meals and shopping, also not practical without a car. Stuff like that.

See that's what makes this board wonderful - and confusing. Everyone has such vastly different opinions. We are definately repeat visitors, as you can see from my signature. I would say that one of my biggest mistakes has been wasting money to rent a car! Even on the trips where we did rent a car, we found it just sat in the lot the whole time. We discovered that, even having a car, we vastly preferred Disney transportation. We find it convenient, easy, and fun. No dealing with traffic, parking, taking the shuttle to the gate, getting back in hot car, waiting forever to get out of the lot after the fireworks, etc. Plus we enjoy talking to people on the busses, boats, monorails, etc. We've stayed almost everywhere, including resorts with bus transportation only. We've never had a complaint - and that includes three trips now with a little one and all the stuff that goes along with that like a stroller, diaper bag, etc.! It's true that you'll need a car if you're going off-site, but we've never felt like we needed a car to get anywhere on site - even the other resorts. It may take a bit longer, but I guess we just don't mind that. And, honestly, we've never felt like it took all that much extra time. Of course, everybody's different!

 

[5DisneyNuts]

Just in case I didn't make it clear, I didn't "do" the planning in our visits, so I'm not complaining about the planning...

sounds like someone I know!

Anyway, the biggest mistakes I've made:
1. During my early visits, not getting more familiar with Disney transportation **before** my trip. Nothing worse than sitting at the CR dock with 2 sleeping children only to find out the boats stopped running hours ago!
Map out the best route and check schedules/times when you get there. You can't always rely on CM's to give you the right info and there is nothing worse than "Disney Transportation Gone Bad".
I use this site: http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/twiz.asp?action=rts
(hope its ok to post that)..
2. I love to over plan, I think the mistake is not being able to roll with things when the plan isn't working. Realizing that kids will determine when they have had too much and you need to stop looking for the talking water fountain!
3. Letting your travel group know how much you have planned - it has been my experience you turn into a tour guide and the others will sometimes look at you like you are crazy
4. But my biggest mistake has been not staying in the moment and enjoying what is happening right then and there instead of thinking where you are headed next..

No matter what, you will not do/see it all - that's why we keep going back!

 

[mtdevine615]

I have to agree that for me the biggest mistake I made was renting a car on our first trip and letting it sit in the parking lot most of the time. We've been many times since then and have never rented a car again and actually like not having to do all the driving. Maine

 

[Kpulle]

One mistake we made on our trip before last was to take too many photos. Weird, I know, but we were always looking for the "perfect shot" and weren't enjoying what we were doing as much. The last trip we didn't take our camera and could really enjoy everything we were seeing and doing. Much Much Better.

 

[marj70]

That's funny-- you couldn't get me to use a car if it was given to me for free! I LOVE not having to fight traffic, look for a parking spot, etc. But I might feel differently if I stayed at a resort where I had to depend solely on buses, I don't know.

DH and I always fight over his driving, and he drives me crazy with comments while I am driving...SO even with a wait, standing up, etc the busses are worth it to us for peace in the family. Also, DS's favorite ride at WDW is the busses!

 

[JerseyJ]

sounds like someone I know!

Anyway, the biggest mistakes I've made:
1. During my early visits, not getting more familiar with Disney transportation **before** my trip. Nothing worse than sitting at the CR dock with 2 sleeping children only to find out the boats stopped running hours ago!
Map out the best route and check schedules/times when you get there. You can't always rely on CM's to give you the right info and there is nothing worse than "Disney Transportation Gone Bad".
I use this site: http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/twiz.asp?action=rts
(hope its ok to post that)..
2. I love to over plan, I think the mistake is not being able to roll with things when the plan isn't working. Realizing that kids will determine when they have had too much and you need to stop looking for the talking water fountain!
3. Letting your travel group know how much you have planned - it has been my experience you turn into a tour guide and the others will sometimes look at you like you are crazy
4. But my biggest mistake has been not staying in the moment and enjoying what is happening right then and there instead of thinking where you are headed next..

No matter what, you will not do/see it all - that's why we keep going back!

Thanks for posting that website for planning times between resorts & parks.
Have never seen it - it's great!

 

[tomerin]

my biggest planning mistake was ignoring the great advice here and not going to late EMH during our last trip this july. it was a horror. i dont know what was worse dealing with the crushing crowds or constantly having to hear about how much better it was when they had E-ride nights in stead of this messs.

 

[plutospup]

My biggest mistake was trying to surprise DMIL with an all expense paid trip to WDW! Who would have thought she would have said, "No, it's not a good time for me". Unfortunately, aside from the lost money on airline and park tickets, it's taken away some of the excitement about our upcoming trip. No more future WDW surprises for my family members!

 

[Shanan]

One of my biggest mistakes was planning to wash clothes when we were there for 10 days. It just did not seem like vacation having to go wash clothes. Never again. I save my clothes washing for when I get home.

 

[disneyfan61]

Trying to take too many pictures. I miss alot trying to get the "best" shot. From now on I will enjoy the parade, fireworks etc & take less pictures.

 

[vanyel]

My regret from our last trip was that I didn't take more pictures!

And, from several years ago, my only trip without a rental car. I'm one of the ones that prefer having a car rather than relying on wdw transportation.

Everyone's different

 

[bubba73]

My biggest planning mistake has been in the past. That was going to WDW with NO plan of attack at all. Going without a plan is just plain stupid and I have to admit, I was stupid. But never again. I can promise you that.

 

[homedad]

not a long enough trip, we went for 5 nights/6 days, i packed a ton in and we took 3-4 hour breaks everyday but I would go for at least 7 days next time and plan the middle day as total resort day...get up whenever, meals whenever, just kick back.

 

[kmkja1]

One of my biggest mistakes was planning to wash clothes when we were there for 10 days. It just did not seem like vacation having to go wash clothes. Never again. I save my clothes washing for when I get home.

You must have some pretty big suitcases! We have three kids and could never get away with this.

 

[Shanan]

DH swears his back goes out every time we go somewhere due to my packing. Now it helps alot that we have no kids and the suitcases we take are the BIG ones. DH travels so much that he has his packing down to a fine art. Due to research we do pack a box of snacks and mail it to the resort so it is there before we get there and that helps to.

 

[kmkja1]

The snacks are a great idea! We have a long way to go untill its just the two of us so we will just keep bringing the Tide.