No more commando--how do you do it?!

[Dale-n-Chip]

I repeatedly see posts that say "Now that we have DVC, we don't feel like we have to see everything every time. It will be there next trip!" I want to feel that way, too!!

See, the problem is. . . I'm a little anal-retentive/obsessive compulsive about my Disney vacations (insert DH's voiceover here: "A LITTLE?!"). I'm high-strung. Don't feed me caffeine. I want to go, go, go. Add to that we're short vacation people--five park days instead of ten. We'll do three five-day vacations rather than a single fifteen day vacation. How do you decide "We're not going to do ______ this trip, we'll do that next time." I just can't figure out how to get there from here!

Admitting you have a problem is the first step, right? I need assistance, I need advice, I NEED A SPONSOR! (This is not me dinging twelve-step programs, this is requesting a NEW twelve-step program!)

Can former commandos weigh in on how you got from "Gotta see everything, time's a-wastin'!" to "Stop and smell the flowers!" please?

 

[Scratch42]

It Comes with Time, Grasshopper!

To help aleviate the commado, you must first have a second, third, etc., trip already planned.

But be wary, becuase I used the next trip thing, or shall I say DD did, I will no longer be able to see Tarzan Rocks!

Well at least I have my picture of Tazan and Myself from MNSSHP! The memories!

janet

 

[Caskbill]

We use to commando all the time, prior to 1993 when we purchased into DVC.

Now, almost 13 years later, we're so laid back I can't believe it. Often, while there, we'll get up in the morning and have absolutely no idea what park to go to.

Instead we play bus roulette. Go to the bus stop, and get on the first park destination bus that arrives.

Interesting how owning DVC can make such a difference.

Relax and have a caffein free drink. Give it time, you'll get there. Just let the magic happen....

 

[MinnieGirl33]

I realized that when I slowed down & wasn't dragging everybody everywhere DH was more inclined to go more often. That was convincing enough for me!

Now instead of 1-2x per year we are at the 3-4x per year (love my DVC ). I would have no problem resuming my pace & DS11 would join me but DH & DS8 ("I wanna go in the pool") prefer to lounge.

I hate to admit it but I have come to enjoy just sitting on the balcony or hanging out at the pool (think "drinks with umbrellas") reading a magazine . After all, it is a family trip (although being the only female in the house I do like to think the world revolves around me) and we OCDers need to learn to take turns once in a while.

Give it a shot! You might be surprised.

 

[dsneygirl]

We haven't been commando for the last few years. On our Dec trip we did not to one ride and only a couple of attractions (Country Bear Christmas). DH isn't really a big "ride" person but he humours me. He loves all the live entertainment. We spent a lot of time this last trip watching Streetmosphere at MGM.

Since we usually travel when the weather has turned cold up here we spend a lot of time at the pool because that is a real treat for us. Also we know most attractions will be there on the next trip so there is no urgency.

We also take time out to eat nice meals at sit down restaurants and it's our vacation sometimes we like to sleep in

 

[pouncingpluto]

I'm a former commando! Basically, once I started going to WDW more frequently, I no longer had the desire to see everything every trip. There are a few favorites I want to see every time or nearly every time, but there are plenty of other things that are lower priorities. Maybe I enjoy the attraction, but I am fine with seeing it every other trip or even only once every few years.

So, basically, once you know the system (what times of day to avoid, what times of year to avoid, how to use fast pass, etc.), it's really not too hard to play it by ear. Maybe you head over to MGM first thing in the morning to ride RnR and ToT, but after that you just hit whatever attractions you feel like hitting until it starts to get crowded and you would rather go crash at the hotel for the hottest part of the day.

 

[cobbler]

Instead we play bus roulette.

Bus roulette - now that is hilarious

I know what you mean about trying to stop. We are kind of at that same place too. But this past year we were forced to slow down because our passes expired 3 days before we checked out.

You know what, we had a great time (well except for our exchange student who put a damper on the trip. Don't mess with my Disney trips, that is taboo. And that is another thread). Ok, anywho it forced us to slow down and relax.

One day we did the pool and hubby and I walked from SSR to the Marketplace to the West Side and back to SSR (like a big circle) and it was great. We also spent 1/2 a day hanging out on the boardwalk and took it slow. It was very nice.

So now I have decided to impliment at least 1 non park day every visit and slowly build relaxation that way

 

[gilld]

Because we live in the UK and also like to vacation in other parts of the world we only visitWDW once a year at most. Last visit, in September, we went into the parks for about 2 hours at a time max and only on about 7 of our 14 days.

We like to chill beside the pool, soak up the atmosphere, play a little golf and just relax. For us, it's about so much more than rides.

 

[BillPA]

First thing is you have to get APs, otherwise you feel you just have to 'get your money's worth'. This was the big difference fo us. With the AP you don't mind just going in for a few hours, or for a meal at your favorite place to eat.

I always have 2 or 3 future trips reserved, so I know we will be back in 3-4 months, so the "we can just do it on the next trip" attitude comes along quickly.

Have a great trip, and remember you "WILL BE BACK", so try to RELAX.

 

[SueOKW]

You already have some excellent responses, and I really have nothing more to add, but I'll open my big fat mouth anyway!

It DOES take time, Grasshopper... so, don't push yourself to change anytime soon.... open your arms to the universe and let it happen...

it does just happen.... 3 -4 trips maybe and suddenly the pressure is off..

Let's hear it for umbrella drinks!!!

 

[stinkerbell2009]

Yep, takes time. Try picking one day that involves no parks (best done at the beginning of the trip - 2-3 day maybe). Plan to go walk around other resorts, eat someplace new (at a resort), pool hop. You will soon learn there is so much more to do than the parks.

 

[bub]

Dale-n-Chip -
I feel your pain. My DH and I were total commandos before we had kids (and before DVC). Adding two kids slowed us down a lot (especially when they were small) and changed the focus of our trips. Now, as our kids get older (11 and 12 on the last trip) I find the commando thing creeping back in. The kids' stamina is starting to be better than mine, and their love of coasters means getting to the park early so as not to wait in long lines. We do always take a mid-day break, and often eat meals in the room, so that time is relaxing.

One thing I do (because I tend to be an obsessive planner) is to plan some down time into the week. We are better with the park hoppers that do not expire than the APs, because then we take a day or two away from the parks. One day we do a water park in the a.m., and then either relax or do a movie later, and one day we might sleep in, do a character meal, go shopping, or just hit the pool.

We also try to plan maybe one or two important things each day, and then let much of the rest of the day just happen. Maybe if there is a new attraction, or a show we particularly enjoy, we'll be sure and do that, but otherwise we try not to plan every move.

I think being in DVC helps make the trip more relaxing as well because of the nicer accommodations. I'm more likely to enjoy time in the room when there is space to spread out, and cooking facilities, than if I was in a traditional hotel room.

Enjoy your trip, commando or not!

 

[jekjones1558]

A word about relapsing...
Although we do multiple trips each year and have APs, I find myself back in commando mode when we are entertaining guests who are not frequent WDW visitors. Much easier to be laid-back when we are alone!

 

[llp479]

It took two trips for us to get out of the commando mode. Not that we ever were "real" commandos - no getting my crew out of the room before 9 or 10! I agree that the key is having the next trip planned, so you know if it's packed, I'll catch it next time. I will no longer wait more than 25 minutes for any ride or attraction. If this means I don't ride Splash, then oh well, catch it next time.

DH admitted on our last trip that he's - gasp - getting theme parked out. So when we go in March, he's going to catch a Spring Training game while the girls and I hit the parks. It used to bother me if we didn't get to do something on a trip, but now I let it roll.

 

[Jimbo]

Instead we play bus roulette. Go to the bus stop, and get on the first park destination bus that arrives.

We did that on our Xmas trip! We had no kids that week, and decided to take the first non-MK bus that came along. So we spent our day at MGM.

Not having kids with us made our style a lot more relaxed, too. But now that I think about it, it probably doesn't need to make that much of a difference. Our grandkids are just so happy to be at Disney that no matter what we do they seem to have fun. We're taking them for 9 nights in October, so maybe we'll play roulette one of the days.

 

[psu4glory]

we have yet to take our first trip as new DVC members, but have been to WDW our share of times. we (or should i say "I") have been DEFINITE commando's in the past.....one reason why i've always gotten a rental car - EVEN when we're staying on WDW property - so that we could be FIRST in the parking lot.....FIRST to the gate.....and FIRST to the biggest ride/attraction.

that has always translated into 630am - midnight type days that wear you out very quickly. by mid-day 2 or 3, DW is pretty frustrated. but my philosophy has always been "WE HAVE TO GET OUR MONEY'S WORTH!!!" if i was going to just sit around, i wouldn't have travelled 1000 miles!

now that we're in DVC, i FULLY expect our (my) attitude to change! for all of the reasons given by all the great folks on this board and in this thread. we KNOW we'll be back again, so no need to kill ourselves to see EVERYTHING...plus, we will no doubt purchase APs, which will alleviate a lot of the "GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH" worry.

i'm sure it won't be easy, but i have faith that we'll eventually relax....and i'm sure you will too! whether commando or not - always enjoy yourself!!

 

[spiceycat]

start with your resort!

if at the BCV or BWV try to only visit the parks close to you - another words - Epcot and Studios... that is all - no going to the MK or AK or DD.....

So at VWL only the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

at OKW I do AK and MK (or Epcot or DD depending upon how I feel)

at SSR I do DD, AK and MK.

every 2nd or 3rd day - take a day off - NO PARKS - just relaxing around the pool, shopping in the resorts or outlet malls, reading a book, etc - what you do to relax....

If you think you aren't seeing everything - you are right - you aren't on that TRIP!!!! but you will be back.

try it this way - some people can't do it. they have to go to every park everytime. but time and knowing you will be back will help.

 

[WolfpackFan]

You know it's funny - we just came back from a long weekend staying at SSR. We did Epcot on Saturday and MK on Sunday. This was our first WDW trip where I really didn't care that much about the parks. We only did a few attractions at each park and just walked around other than that. At MK we did HM, POTC, JC and Swiss Family Treehouse and that was it. All four were basically walkons for the most part. We left MK way earlier than I had thought we would and rode the boat over to VWL to checkout our "home". I really wished we had taken more time to just relax around SSR and hadn't done MK on Sunday. IMO SSR is a very relaxing resort, I would have loved to laid out by the quiet pool at Congress Park some. I told DW that I really am serious about spending more non-park time in the future when we go down even to the extent of perhaps spending some weeks with no park visits at all. And if you knew me, you'd know this is a major concession.

 

[SueOKW]

this thread is a good example of why i think they gave us good prices on APs.. were weren't (and aren't) hitting the parks as much as we used to.

 

[WDWMom]

this thread is a good example of why i think they gave us good prices on APs.. were weren't (and aren't) hitting the parks as much as we used to.

That's why I don't recommend AP's to people. Once you've members you don't go into the parks like you used to.

We're going for 10 days at the end of March and plan on going to the parks only twice. Disney isn't making much money on us any more. We eat in our room and play for free - pool hop, resort watch, spend time at all the free things at Fort Wilderness.