My biggest Disney planning mistake...

[KayakDaddy]

My biggest recent mistake was not tracking the 90 days before my trip closely enough. I really wanted to get my son on the Pirate Cruise that leaves from the Grand Floridian. I wasn't really focused on the 90-day window and I called a few days late. Of course it was booked up. I called about once a week hoping for a cancellation, but there never was one. Good thing I never hyped it up to my son, so he still doesn't know it exists. I will be more on top of it next time.

Something that I learned from a mistake a few years back that I haven't repeated: Don't plan to do a park each day of your trip. Schedule several non-park days just to hang out at the resort and do other fun stuff (renting mouseboats or pontoons, swimming, eating at various resturants, mini-golf, resort hopping, shopping, Downtown Disney, etc.) These activies are just as enjoyable, the kids love them, and they let you rest and get to bed early the night before a park commando day. We have tried to only do parks every other day on our recent trips. I guess this strategy would change if I had the Ultimate Park Hopper or MYW tickets, but we've still be using up 7-day park hopper plus tickets.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

Just got back from 10/1-10/14 - and we planned - after many months of researching on the boards - to have down days, take things at the kids pace, make ADR's, and many more useful hints. The only thing I got a complaint about was making a ADR for a buffet at dinner and then another for the next morning early breakfast. We ate the all you can eat skillet from Whispering Canyon at 8:00PM and my DH ate way too much and had a breakfast buffet at Cinderella's Castle for 8:30 AM - he woke up saying I'll go but there is no way I can even think about eating yet!!! In the future I wouldn't plan back to back all you can eat events - especially not a dinner then breakfast. I would either space it out a couple days or make a earlier dinner reservation and a later breakfast reservation if they had to be a day apart. And I agree with making at least 1 ADR per day even if you don't stick to it and especially for those meals/restaurants that are a must do on your trips. That way you are guaranteed a reservation vs. not being able to get in.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

Never had a planning regret until this past trip. And it was, of course, not making ADRs. Never needed them before, but geez we needed them this time. So, we were turned away from our favorite, Chefs de France, and only got to sit at the bar/soda fountain in 50s Prime Time. I also wish I'd decided to try a character breakfast ahead of time... I decided on it while we were there, and of course by then it was too late.

 

[susan1]

hi
not getting an premier annual pass so we could come and go in the parks as we pleased and also could make a further 2 budget trips with in the year. just to be able to do a few attractions before it got busy and then go elsewhere for the day was more relaxing than doing the commando thing we did before :thewave:

 

[Kristina]

The mistake I made was only spending 9 nights there and trying to fit too much in. That's why our next trip is 14 nights.

This was our second trip, and I added 2 days. Still haven't learned to take it easy I guess, because we still visited a park every day ! I think we did maybe 3 proper sleep in's during 15 nights, although there are many days we didn't get to the busses until 11 am but still. I had thought we would swim and really rest this time around, but the lure of the parks was too great!!

We still had a great time but I was dead tired every evening!! It's not worth it and boy, next time I will make sure we have some proper rest after a few days park hopping!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I think my 1st mistake was not realizing how long it takes to get from point A to point B. It really takes a while to get anywhere in the World. Also, all meals take longer than you would expect.

For our next trip, I've tried to keep our ADR's near our resort or the park that we will be in on that day. No more running from here to get to there for our ADRs. We're taking it nice and SLOW!

Lori

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> ... How long it takes to enter the parks ... Add to that an hour for a shower...
Prepare the night before. THen skip the morning exercises, out the door ten minutes after alarm clock, and grab a bite at the park (pleasure) or into the airport limo on the dot (business). So many families don't make (or care for) morning Extra Magic Hours because of what the late Ann Landers calls "the battle of the bathroom which is an all-American sport".

>>> ... Wasted two days of a Length of Stay pass because connecting flights got in at 7 PM and we had to leave early on the last day ...
One reason why Length of Stay passes went out of style. Smart folks asked to drop the first and/or last park day. But "premium" packages I heard still require purchase of a MYW pass long enough to cover first and last days. Fortunately you can make the MYW pass non-expiring.

>>> ... Next trip is for 14 nights
You still need to crystallize a schedule before you can compute whether a 10 day expiring pass with Water Park Fun is enough, or whether a premium annual pass is better.

 

[puffkin]

We avoided a HUGE mistake on our very first trip. Being poor college students, we were going to stay off site with no rental (both under 25, didn't want to pay the outrageous amounts for a rental). My now DH decided that we should just pay the extra money and stay onsite at the All Stars. I am so glad we did.

Second mistake on that trip was not realizing the toll commando touring and the June heat and humidity would have on our bodies. We were young and in shape, but still wiped out by the middle of the week. We now take a break every afternoon, even if it is just for a quick swim and shower.

From our mistakes we have learned to hit the parks at opening, head back to resort (onsite of course!) in the afternoon and close out the parks at night. Try to sleep in a few mornings. Usually have a plan for which big attractions to hit first thing, then slow down and go at a more leisurely pace. Have at least one ADR a day, even though we usually end up cancelling a few each trip.

 

[The Sweetness]

Overplanning, and being a vacation commando... bad ideas on both parts, planning is good, but dont over do it. Kids WILL wait 20 mins to shake plutos paw, and DH's WILL wait an hour to sit in the front row for TOT etc...

 

[GoofyDad869]

My biggest regret this last time was the back-to-back big meals - we ate at O'Hana (two words: 'meat' & 'coma') for late (& long) dinner, then we had a big breakfast planned early the next morning. BUT, I'm not complaining about the planning at all (I don't "do" the planning in our visits)...

Another thing is not planning any true sleep-in days. I don't know how many times I'd get on the phone at 12:30am or 1:00am to make a wake-up call for 6:00am. Kids would go to bed about 10:30 or 11:00. One day we all slept until 7:30 (son slept 'til 8:00 - we threw pillows at him until he got up). One day my wife took a nap while I took the kids swimming. I don't need a lot of sleep, but I normally don't walk 8-10 miles per day either (2 days is an upper limit for me), so the pace was tiring. BUT, I'm not complaining about the planning at all (I don't "do" the planning in our visits)...

We had alot packed into our 8 days - but there was STILL things we wanted to do that we didn't make time for (like Lights, Motors, Action at Studios, DisneyQuest at Downtown Disney, Illuminations at Epcot, swimming more at the Old Key West pools). BUT, I'm not complaining about the planning at all (I don't "do" the planning in our visits)...

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...

 

[GoofyDad869]

I'm noticing a common trend here...

Don't those 'cancelled' ADRs keep other people from getting their own ADRs? I mean, we're talking about restaurants with a finite amount of seating (admittedly most have vast amounts of seating).

Simplistic example: if there are 20 ADRs at 5:35 at LeCellier, and 5 ADRs cancel or no-show, does that allow SOME seating for later ADRs or walk-up reservations? Or are those people S.O.L. (&*%-out-of-luck)? Does Disney immediately put cancellations back into the ADR pool? Any info would be appreciated (maybe start a new thread)...

I'm not intending this as a flame to people who do this - I just probably don't comprehend the whole ADR system.
( OK, I'm lying - I like awake at night grinding my axe on this. )

 

[maciec]

My biggest mistake was taking my parents with us. We like to move at a nice pace ~ not fast, but definitely not slow. We didn't get to do much of anything because we were always waiting for them.

 

[disneysteve]

My neighbor just booked a quick trip.. her first. She's making no ADRs. I tried to tell her several time to book ahead.

This really depends on when you go. We virtually never make advance reservations but we go off season and never have trouble eating where we want to eat. I will sometimes make a reservation the morning of or the day before while we're there, but not before leaving home.

I would say my biggest planning mistake is when we went to Disney without a rental car. What a nitemare to have to depend on Disney transportation all week. Ever since, we have always had a car and done all our own driving.

 

[whacked]

I'm noticing a common trend here...

Don't those 'cancelled' ADRs keep other people from getting their own ADRs? I mean, we're talking about restaurants with a finite amount of seating (admittedly most have vast amounts of seating).

Simplistic example: if there are 20 ADRs at 5:35 at LeCellier, and 5 ADRs cancel or no-show, does that allow SOME seating for later ADRs or walk-up reservations? Or are those people S.O.L. (&*%-out-of-luck)? Does Disney immediately put cancellations back into the ADR pool? Any info would be appreciated (maybe start a new thread)...

I'm not intending this as a flame to people who do this - I just probably don't comprehend the whole ADR system.
( OK, I'm lying - I like awake at night grinding my axe on this. )

Actually, the missed ADR's don't really keep other's from getting ADR's, as Disney knows about how many no-shows they will get per night. They give out additional ADR's based on the expected ADR no shows. The real problem is when EVERYONE shows for their ADR's.

This is why there can be a wait even with ADR's. More show than expected, and in addition, some eat slower than expected.

 

[oogie boogie]

My biggest mistake was not knowing about the DIS last year! This board has been the most helpful resource for everthing in or around WDW!!! So this year my planning will be much improved over last year!!!

 

[tlbwriter]

I'm noticing a common trend here...

Don't those 'cancelled' ADRs keep other people from getting their own ADRs? I mean, we're talking about restaurants with a finite amount of seating (admittedly most have vast amounts of seating).

Yes, they do, which is why you should cancel as soon as you can. Disney does allow for no-shows, but that doesn't mean they give out an unlimited number of ADRs (as anyone who's tried to make one for a popular time/place can tell you!)

Edited to add... it doesn't stop anyone from *eating*, since they'll simply give your spot to walk-ups or people who showed up early for their own ADRs. It simply prevents people from making their own ADR.

 

[Rella Bella]

I would say my biggest planning mistake is when we went to Disney without a rental car. What a nitemare to have to depend on Disney transportation all week. Ever since, we have always had a car and done all our own driving.

I wouldn't exactly disagree, Steve, but we actually enjoy the somewhat slower pace of the Disney transportation. We are there to relax and it is so nice to not have to think about 'which road' or 'what exit'. You get on the bus, you know where it's going, when it stops you get off. The only time we've had waits we considered long were when we stayed at the AllStars, and most of those were only 20 minutes or so. At the moderates the waits for buses weren't bad at all.

You also have to take into consideration that parking is not close to the park entrances, particularly at MK. When you end up at the back of the lot and have to take a Tram to the transportation center and then board a boat or the monorail to get to the park... you have NOT saved any time over the Disney bus system... it takes longer. Plus if I remember right you have to pay for parking. (If, however, you are doing off site activities... that would make a difference and you might want to have a car.)

Another bonus of Disney transportation is you get to meet some of the people staying at your resort. And once in a while you get the pleasure of "the singing bus driver"... you can't get that in your rental car!

In fact, I would not recommend a rental car for "first timers"... it's somewhat disorienting to drive at Disneyworld. We have gone in circles more than once... even when we've driven there before! Everything is so much further apart than you imagine before your first visit, it's nice to get a little bit orientated before trying to drive. Stay on property and don't get a car!

As for our own biggest trip planning mistake... taking the Mears shuttle from the airport. Everyone said it was the best and least expensive way. WELL, now we know that depends on the size of your family. For our family of three it is cheaper and MUCH faster to take a taxi. You pay one price... with Mears you pay per person.

 

[mom22boys]

In fact, I would not recommend a rental car for "first timers"...

This is my biggest debate. I even did a separate thread on the family forum asking "should I rent a car or not?" I love the idea of Disney doing all of the driving, but I worry about not having flexibility with our youngest DS; he is almost 2 1/2. We will definitely be heading back to the resort for afternoon naps or swims, and I thought the buses do not run as frequently in the afternoon. I think I am leaning towards renting a car, just because DS is still young. I think in later years I would be more tempted not to rent the car.

Thanks to the OP for a great thread. It has been helpful in planning our first trip to WDW!

 

[DVCajun]

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.

 

[puffkin]

This is my biggest debate. I even did a separate thread on the family forum asking "should I rent a car or not?" I love the idea of Disney doing all of the driving, but I worry about not having flexibility with our youngest DS; he is almost 2 1/2. We will definitely be heading back to the resort for afternoon naps or swims, and I thought the buses do not run as frequently in the afternoon. I think I am leaning towards renting a car, just because DS is still young. I think in later years I would be more tempted not to rent the car.

Thanks to the OP for a great thread. It has been helpful in planning our first trip to WDW!

We have always used WDW transportation at a variety of resorts, and almost always take an afternoon break. The transportation is very reliable, especially in the afternoons. Busses come ever 20 minutes at the most, and you always get a seat in the daytime. They do come faster at park closing, but are usually packed and you might have to stand.

I would hesitate on lugging a 2 1/2 year old on a tram, to your car sitting in the hot florida sun and then have to navigate back to the resort. If you are staying deluxe, the parking lots are pretty far from the hotel (values or mods you can park pretty much outside your building). Plus, you will want to use Disney transportation anyway to the MK because of the parking situation there.

Sometimes the WDW transportation can be a pain, but it is usually VERY good and reliable. The only time I wouldn't recommend it is if you are doing a lot of off site things; are planning on going to a lot of different resorts for ADR's; or are travelling with several young children and have your own strollers.