Next Trip I Will Finally Do Disney Right!

[Amunet]

This is a fascinating thread!
I fall between plan everything or winging it.
I plan most everything beforehand (especially ADRs & comparing if DDP will work best for us or not) but once there, all plans are guidelines.

One of my favorite memories is when we just cancelled all reservations and plans for the day and went back to Epcot (f&w) to enjoy the festival and eat at Tokyo Dining. It was wonderful.

BUT another favorite memory is walking into an empty Magic Kingdom, taking lots of photos and starting our day at Crystal Palace. This would not have happened without planning for that pre-park opening adr.

I'm glad you're discovering what works best with your family ^_^

 

[mindeola]

OMG! I forgot about the Skipper Canteen! (I haven't started researching changes by the time of the trip at all.). I might have to break my no ADR pledge if I can get one there!

They only take ADR's the day of and you can usually just walk in. No need to break your pledge!

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

Our last trip to WDW was October 2014 and we didn't do ADR's, either (on prior trips, we did ADR's at least once a day). It was a great trip. Having to work your day around FP+ times PLUS ADR's proved to be too stressful for us. I realize others disagree with that.

We are going back in October 2016 and I have made a few ADR's just because I did miss a couple of our favorites, and I plan to make a Rivers of Light dining package ADR if they ever release that. But, we won't have an ADR every day. It's nice to just stop and eat when you're hungry and when it's convenient for you... not at a time you picked 6 months prior!

 

[Flamingeaux]

Congrats on seeing the light. The best trips are the ones with the least amount of burdens - ADRs and cameras and such.

 

[MammaMoe48]

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!

Funny my 10 y/o son is excited about the WS too. He's more excited to see that than MK.

 

[MammaMoe48]

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

Yeah, we are leaving the camera home too. We're getting Memory Maker for the ride and "tourist" shots and using our phone cameras for the random photos we can't get with MM.

 

[teachmedis]

I'm the kind of gal who likes to know where my next meal is coming from and what's on the menu. I love the idea of simplifying things though...last trip we had a stroller, diaper bag etc...next trip its my goal to go bagless! Travel sunscreen in my pocket, magic band, credit card. It sounds amazing but will I pull it off (well I have two years to figure it out!)?