No-Fastpass, No-ADR WDW Trip - Has Anyone Done This?

[bethy]

So coming up for my WDW Disapalooza 2015 trip I wanted to avoid making any Fastpass+ reservations and any dining reservations.

Basically I want to try and do things that don't require FP+, or just do those in standby. And to eat only at food carts, counters, and quick service.

During the past few trips I felt like, between the ADRs and FP+, every minute of everyday was plotted out. While I have no problem with planning things ahead of time, the actual day-to-day experience was exhausting and made me feel like I was a 90-year-old.

And I just remember having to pass by live music, street performers, parades, etc. etc. that I would have loved to have watched but I needed to be at an ADR or FP+.

There was no spontaneity. No slow-down moments, except when we were hiding from the rain like drowned rats under some roofline, haha. And I felt like I hadn't even planned to do that much each day - just one ADR and the 3 fastpasses per day.

I am okay with doing less because I have not planned. I've been to WDW enough times that I don't have to do everything, and I'm still just happy to be there.

Has anyone else tried to do a trip like this? Without any pre-planning besides which park you were going to each day?

If so, any thoughts on your experience? Was it positive? Negative? Would you do it again? Was it stress-free or stressful?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

We are Disneyland vets and so this is what we are used to there and we love it. We are headed to WDW for the very first time next month and all I did was book a few FP+ and I booked them all super close together in the same area of the park. That way we get to do what really want to do (things that are unique to WDW and not at DL). But the rest of the day outside that 2-3 hour window is totally free. And if we miss a FP+ who cares. NO ADR's. I might have been willing to do CRT or BOG but it's too late to get ressies there anyway. I don't go to Disney parks for the food and I have a DD who will not tolerate 1.5 hrs of table service.

I visit Disney parks for the happy people, the happy music, the souvenirs, the junk food, all the rides, including the cheesy less popular ones, the cleanliness, the nice CM's, the kid friendly atmosphere etc. So those are all ADR and mostly FP+ free.

 

[bc7ate9]

I do no ADR trips but have never done a no FP+ trip since it started.

I'd book FP+ and you can always change them up in the parks if you change your mind later as long as you are changing it before the time starts on the FP+.

You can change a FP+ after your already scheduled time. We missed some on the trip we just returned from so I just went on my phone and re-scheduled them when I was ready for them. This probably wouldn't work for the super popular rides, but we didn't have issue for others. We just had to go to a kiosk if we ended up at a different park.

 

[madge]

So coming up for my WDW Disapalooza 2015 trip I wanted to avoid making any Fastpass+ reservations and any dining reservations.

Basically I want to try and do things that don't require FP+, or just do those in standby. And to eat only at food carts, counters, and quick service.

During the past few trips I felt like, between the ADRs and FP+, every minute of everyday was plotted out. While I have no problem with planning things ahead of time, the actual day-to-day experience was exhausting and made me feel like I was a 90-year-old.

And I just remember having to pass by live music, street performers, parades, etc. etc. that I would have loved to have watched but I needed to be at an ADR or FP+.

There was no spontaneity. No slow-down moments, except when we were hiding from the rain like drowned rats under some roofline, haha. And I felt like I hadn't even planned to do that much each day - just one ADR and the 3 fastpasses per day.

I am okay with doing less because I have not planned. I've been to WDW enough times that I don't have to do everything, and I'm still just happy to be there.

Has anyone else tried to do a trip like this? Without any pre-planning besides which park you were going to each day?

If so, any thoughts on your experience? Was it positive? Negative? Would you do it again? Was it stress-free or stressful?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

we did it one day of our July 4 trip. actually, it was one full day & one partial day of a 3 day trip. Day 3 of the trip was MK, where we needed the FP+ for SDMT & Anna/Elsa (never done & must dos for our family) the partial day was Epcot, where we did not use FP+ other than Soarin'. it really worked out fine -- we aren't hard core planners. In fact, we're going next week. I haven't booked one FP+

 

[tjmw2727]

I don't make many ADR's but I do make FP+ and wouldn't go without. We have an idea of what parks we want to visit on each days and we only have 2 or 3 must do attractions so that's easy to plan. If we decide to change plans I just open the app in the am and see what our alternatives are and then we go from there. Many times we have rescheduled or canceled a FP+ and changed course on the fly.

 

[Katherine2123]

Now this may be a question answered elsewhere -- but I have guilt about it and it relates to this discussion:

If I book a FP but don't use it, am I taking a FP spot that someone else might have wanted? There is a limited number of FPs each day available, right?

That is one of the reasons why I feel so compelled to use all the FPs I book. I'm kind of a robot when it comes to that. "I booked it! I have to be there!"

 

[Boopuff]

DH and I always fly by the seat of our pants. I do book FP but I get what I get. If we're busy having fun we don't rush off to make a FP. I did make some ADR at favorite restaurants or shows. We love to get up (whenever) go down to the pool, hang out, get dressed, check to see if we have a FP we really want to do, go to that park or void all FP and wing it. So much more relaxing and fun. Enjoy

 

[mbsquirrel1198]

I did this back in March. Showed up on a Thursday with no plans. Had a blast! I booked FastPasses that day for all three days I was there. I was not able to get a FastPass for some things like Toy Story Mania and the Mine Train, but I was able to do more than enough things without ridiculous wait times. I would definitely do it again.

 

[Katherine2123]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone!

Yeah, we are only two adults -- no kids. And we can't do a lot of the fast, spinning, turning, weee!!!! rides. So the most-in-demand FPs won't even be needed by us.

It seems like a lot of people have done this and it has worked out well for them -- even just making FPs when you show up. I didn't even consider that option.

 

[Kathryn777]

I would do the fp when you show up, or the night before, for 2 people you'll mostly be fine.

Peter Pan is the only one I'm struggling to get that might fall under the list you'd like to do

 

[Katherine2123]

I would do the fp when you show up, or the night before, for 2 people you'll mostly be fine.

Peter Pan is the only one I'm struggling to get that might fall under the list you'd like to do

Does Peter Pan go backwards? My friend can't do anything that goes backwards. It's been awhile since I rode it, so I can't remember.

 

[Kathryn777]

No, it is super slow and tame. But very classic

 

[Katherine2123]

No, it is super slow and tame. But very classic

Thanks!

 

[tcherjen]

I am always a no ADR person.... I have only made reservations twice-1900 Fare and T-rex for our upcoming trip.

I personally love making my FP+ reservations though. It gets me excited about our trip.

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

My daughter has done it, and my son will in November. They travel with their band and the touring company doesn't seem to know anything about Disney - they won't even give them their itinerary until they get on the plane, and they only give them their tickets at the gate, so they don't really have the option to make ADRs or get fastpasses. My daughter had a blast, and my son is looking forward to it, even though they both love getting on everything in the park with our carefully planned out touring plans and reservations. It's a different approach for them, but they just enjoy the shows and shops and few rides they can manage. Lines are less annoying when you are hanging out with friends, essentially. If you are not concerned about getting on specific rides, and are more interested in soaking up atmosphere, reservations are optional.

On the other hand, we went one year on the quick service dining plan and found the lack of table service negatively affected our level of relaxation, so maybe consider some day of ADRs at less popular restaurants.

 

[AJA]

We are doing it for the first time for our quick trip in January. We're only staying 4 days and plan to be in the parks only 2 of those days, one MK and one Epcot day. No dining plan. No FP's since we haven't purchased our park tickets yet.

We will see how it goes lol.

 

[drp4video]

I did it in May. Having been over 27 times between 2000 and 2011, and not having gone since 2011, I was leery of FP+ as I am NOT a planner and it was new to me. Always got to WDW and decided which park to go to each morning.

I was there May 12 before schools were out. No planning. Got up and decided to go to MK. Went to the front desk, they asked which rides I wanted, and booked my three passes. After I did those, I was able to book the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train while in the park at a kiosk.

Next day got up and decided to go to Epcot. Did the same thing.

I did not eat at any table service restaurants, but I did check them and many were available. Later dining times or early, but that would have been ok. It was a trip that I was to take with my 82 year old mom so this was the main reason I didn't plan anything as I didn't know how she would feel each day. As it turned out, she didn't come so I was solo. I am thinking that perhaps because I was solo it was easy to get the FP+'s I wanted but it was also a less crowded time than summer or Christmas.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Now this may be a question answered elsewhere -- but I have guilt about it and it relates to this discussion:

If I book a FP but don't use it, am I taking a FP spot that someone else might have wanted? There is a limited number of FPs each day available, right?

That is one of the reasons why I feel so compelled to use all the FPs I book. I'm kind of a robot when it comes to that. "I booked it! I have to be there!"

If you don't use a FP, it would just mean someone from the standby line would get into the ride a few minutes sooner. No harm.

 

[linskypens]

We always take what we call our "chill " Mk day. No major attractions( the Mountains).
Carousel of Progress, People Mover, Country Bears, Philharmagic, Tiki Room, Laugh Floor, Pirates, Mansion.
Turkey Leg, Dole whip, Columbia Harbor House, Churro, maybe Caseys.
Slow day, parade, Castle show, shopping, people watching, sit and chill.enjoy the ambiance. Always a stellar day. This is with a now 19 yr old. We stared doing this when she was about 13 or 14. Always our favorite day.

 

[kwdw]

For me, with the exceptions of 7DMT, PPF, TT, and TSM - I don't really care if I have any FP+ or not when traveling alone or with my boyfriend. So - I DO think you can have fun without them and NOT waste time in lines.

I have to admit, though, since I don't like alot of the CS meal choices, I find having one ADR per day is essential for me if I am going to enjoy the food on my trip - IF traveling during free dining - which seems to be practically all the time now. It's basically the way I structure my day. Though, I too, have canceled some the night before!