Next Trip I Will Finally Do Disney Right!

[nat8199]

i have finally seen the light! We have decided to do a long weekend in Nov 2017, and this time I am going to to do it right! Our trip will be 3.5 days with no table service, no ADRs, no in-laws, no stroller, no big camera, and hopefully a lot less stress! We are also going to go to HS with kids for the first time.

My only dilemma is whether we schedule an AK, which I feel like we have to with Pandora opening, and skip Epcot? I love Epcot, but it was our kids least favorite last time. I suppose we could head over there after HS. Luckily I have over a year to decide!

 

[Oswin]

Have fun planning, and have a good trip!

 

[BoltzNBrew]

Waiting for the Nov 17' "I did Disney All Wrong" thread.

 

[nat8199]

Waiting for the Nov 17' "I did Disney All Wrong" thread.

Why do you say that??

 

[MamaLema]

On our last trip, we didn't pack a camera, didn't take extended family, only did counter service meals. I didn't even bring makeup! Best trip of my life.

Have a great time!

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

i have finally seen the light! We have decided to do a long weekend in Nov 2017, and this time I am going to to do it right! Our trip will be 3.5 days with no table service, no ADRs, no in-laws, no stroller, no big camera, and hopefully a lot less stress! We are also going to go to HS with kids for the first time.

My only dilemma is whether we schedule an AK, which I feel like we have to with Pandora opening, and skip Epcot? I love Epcot, but it was our kids least favorite last time. I suppose we could head over there after HS. Luckily I have over a year to decide!

Makes a lot of sense. We did one day last week at Epcot where we planned table service meals for the perfect times and had a set schedule. We did another day when we just ate around the world at F&G and did what we wanted. It was a more enjoyable experience than our first day of rushing around and trying to make our ADRs and certain scheduled shows.

You will want to plan for the FP+, but skipping ADRs can be a big weight off your shoulders (and off your wallet).

I honestly don't know whether I would skip Epcot. We love AK, but we had so much fun just running around the WS at Epcot. My nine year old finally enjoyed seeing the countries for the first time (she had seen them before, but this was the first time she enjoyed them and expressed an interest in learning about other cultures). My kids also love TT and SE.

I suppose part of me would lean toward doing AK for ROL and Pandora, but I think I would work really hard to try and do all three parks if you can swing it. They are just all so special.

 

[tj6285]

My nine year old finally enjoyed seeing the countries for the first time (she had seen them before, but this was the first time she enjoyed them and expressed an interest in learning about other cultures).

My 10 year old daughter is really excited to go to WS this time. She was only 6 last time and all she wanted to do was get her passport stamped!

 

[georgina]

Go for it! I never found having a couple of ADRs stressful. (Never traveled with the in-laws and I don't think we ever used a stroller either.) We didn't plan them every day but enjoy hitting a few of our favorite restaurants. Epcot became our kids' favorite as they got older (they really loved the parade they used to have). You've got lots of time to plan!

I'm thinking of Oct 2017 with just DH and I for our 30th anniversary. It will be during F&W so not many ADR's needed, but maybe one for our anniv dinner and a lunch at Beaches & Cream.

 

[nat8199]

Thank you all! If we do go to Epcot, I might go for an adr at Via Napoli since my kids love pizza. We did way too many ADRs with my in laws, and waiting for ADRs with hungry kids was stressful. I think I will just go into this trip assuming they will eat nuggets and pizza the whole time. I just want easy.

We will definitely do FP+, of course! We might even try for the same day ones with our old magic bands.

I am super happy to hear that others managed relaxing trips!

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Waiting for the Nov 17' "I did Disney All Wrong" thread.

I giggle at your obvious yet joking jab at how a Disney vacation could be "right" with a "lot less stress...."

 

[GPC0321]

Simplicity is smart! I thought I was being smart by just doing the QSDP, but even the stress of trying to use all those meal and snack credits (we never did, $$ down the drain) was annoying.

What I discovered is that all that food that seemed to beckon from the computer screen for the months spent planning at home (bored, snacking, dreaming of food) was suddenly not so appealing when I was busy doing stuff at the parks. I'm so thankful we didn't do table service ADRs! As it was, I threw away almost as much food as I ate, but figured I'd paid for it via the QSDP so oh well!

I'm looking forward to eating decent food for normal-world prices during our next brief stay off-property. We'll probably eat at Casey's during MVMCP and will surely partake in cookies and cocoa, but I'm not planning on more than that. My new obsession is seeing just how cheaply I can do WDW!

 

[2Gma]

i have finally seen the light! and this time I am going to to do it right! Our trip will be 3.5 days with no in-laws...

That's all you needed to say to make the trip the better

 

[Oneanne]

Last October I did no ADRs and no plans other than FP+, half of which I ended up skipping... It was a wonderful trip. For my May trip I have ADRs for three of the seven days, but might end up canceling some.

 

[disneyygirrl]

I think half of the battle with truly enjoying a Disney vacation is figuring out what works for you and your family. There is such a wealth of knowledge and advice on these boards, but trying things out and seeing if you personally like it is a different story. Most of the advice I've taken from here has been absolutely awesome, but there have also been a few tips that just haven't worked for me. I'm glad you get to plan another trip that will hopefully be much more enjoyable for you!

 

[Upatnoon]

i have finally seen the light! We have decided to do a long weekend in Nov 2017, and this time I am going to to do it right! Our trip will be 3.5 days with no table service, no ADRs, no in-laws, no stroller, no big camera, and hopefully a lot less stress! We are also going to go to HS with kids for the first time.

My only dilemma is whether we schedule an AK, which I feel like we have to with Pandora opening, and skip Epcot? I love Epcot, but it was our kids least favorite last time. I suppose we could head over there after HS. Luckily I have over a year to decide!

I've seen people running around with printouts detailing every minute of their visit, dragging kids and loved ones away from something they are enjoying so they can stay on schedule.

You can't do and see everything, so just pick your spots and just have fun!

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

What I discovered is that all that food that seemed to beckon from the computer screen for the months spent planning at home (bored, snacking, dreaming of food) was suddenly not so appealing when I was busy doing stuff at the parks.

This. I spent months perusing menus. Everything looked so good. It was never good as it was in my head (except maybe the bread service at Sanaa).

 

[tiggergal15]

I do take a camara-..but the OPs idea is just how we do Disney everytime- and we have a great vacation evetytime! Go for it and I think you will be very happy.

 

[joanchris]

Planning similarly for our upcoming trip in May. Just two of us, no husband who lives for table service meals; my daughter who uses a wheelchair gets her own special trip in Sept, so my other daughter gets this special trip for her graduation. We've scheduled FPs, but know we're willing to go off even that minimal plan if the mood strikes. She mentioned that she heard about Bus Roulette, and wants to try that one of our days.
We did plan two ADRs, one 730 breakfast at Boma (staying at AKL) and one BOG lunch, neither will cause much stress, only BOG will determine where we are that afternoon.
We're hoping to even go bagless for quick entry, we'll see if we can pull that off, we did buy really cute Mickey string bags. I'm sure we'll use them some of the time.

 

[nilla]

I can't imagine not having any table service meals or ADRs. Dining is half of the fun of the trip for us!

 

[mindeola]

Last summer I went with just my sister and 13 year old niece- No meal plan, no ADR's. It was strange not having the entire family , but man was it easier! We ate when we were hungry at QS places. Wonderful trip!