One final question...

[HayGan]

Well we are in the final weeks of preparation for our much anticipated first family trip to WDW. The cast includes: Mr. Incredible (DH), Snow White (me), Dash (DS 5yrs) and Stitch (DS 3yrs). Fairy Godmother (my mom) will also be joining us for a day at Epcot and MK. We are skipping AK this year to have an extra day at MK

So I have learned so much from DIS during my last year of planning but I have one final question (ok there may be more but this is the last one for today ) Should we get a touring plan? I have the UOG but I admit I haven't looked at it for months. I have heard about Tour Guide Mike but I admit I haven't paid much attention to the info regarding his service. I know that there are many things that are a must do (and even must be done several times ) but I'm really starting to panic that I don't have a plan beyond which park on which day and our ADRs.

So what would you do if you were me?

 

[dcmbshafe]

It's very easy to get overwhelmed with information, so I would recommend getting one source and sticking with it. We used TGM in the past and were extremely pleased with the service, but there is a TON of information on his website and you could easily get buried clicking on all of the useful links. I like the UOG also and if you already have it and have done any planning using this, I would be inclined to stay with it if you're only a couple weeks away from your trip.

In terms of determining your "must see" attraction list, you might consider calling a family meeting this weekend and ask everyone to come up with 5 things they absolutely have to do at WDW. You can then use this list as your baseline for planning and fill-in around these attractions/events. If this is the first trip for the kids, you'll have to help them out a bit (if by chance you got the Disney planning DVD this can help), but it might help you focus in on what is really important to everyone.

 

[froggy33]

I just took a last minute whirlwind trip to Disneyland last week. I spent the three days prior reading everything I could and making up a detailed plan. I mean we only had 14 hours to see everything Disneyland had to offer since it was me and BIL's first trip to Disneyland.
First off, we were a little late - left a little late and then had to wait in lines once we got there (will call and ticket) - so my first step of get there "earlyish" and go directly to Space Mountain was already shot. Once we made it there the wait was already 60 minutes, so we got a fast pass and went on. From there on I just decided to wing it. All that was important to me was that we do everything on the must see list.
My little BIL got to meet Buzz and dance with him, we had a nice lunch, stopped to watch the talking Trash Can, shopped a bunch, and got our faces painted. These were things not on the list, we did all this while still riding all the rides (even the dark rides) at Disneyland, some at Cal Adventure, saw the parade, fireworks, and Fantasmic.

So my take on the whole thing - know what you want to ride and the basic layout of the park. Other than that enjoy it, take your time, do other things. I found that even though we had a lot to do and only one day to do it, we still had plenty of time to do everything we wanted and then some.

Have fun!!

 

[HayGan]

Thanks for the replies!

Any other opinions?

 

[PJV57]

Thanks for the replies!

Any other opinions?

Like you, I have done alot of planning and gotten alot of great info thanks to the DIS and other sources. I know which parks we're going to each day. I've checked out menus, made my ADRs for a few places, but mostly will be doing CS. I've mapped out when to see Fantasmic, Illuminations, and parades and fireworks at MK.

But I've decided not to plan beyond that. I have not checked out TGM or UG.
I don't want to go "commando style" as some people say. I'm on vacation. That's enough planning for me.

Let us know what you decide. And have a great trip!

 

[disnut8]

A few years ago, when we entered the "we're going back again?" thing with our then teenage son, I came up with a list of every single Disney World attraction. Then I had my husband and son rate each one. I had a scale of 1-10 but came up with different levels. A one was "no way, Jose", 10 was "YES, YES, YES". Anything with a "YES, YES, YES" was a must do. If the other two had anything about "OK" on a "no way, Jose", it was a maybe. Then I compiled all three of our responses and was quite surprised with the results.

It's a do it yourself touring plan. Worked like a charm for us.

 

[kutchyone]

The first time I used TGM was for this past June which was our first summer trip. Since he offers a money back guarantee I thought what the heck. Let me tell you that it was worth the little bit that I spent. I have been to DW at different slowere times of the year but this was the first trip that the longest we stood in the lines was 10 minutes. I recommend using TGM and also any other source available to you.

 

[huskies90]

Like you, I have done alot of planning and gotten alot of great info thanks to the DIS and other sources. I know which parks we're going to each day. I've checked out menus, made my ADRs for a few places, but mostly will be doing CS. I've mapped out when to see Fantasmic, Illuminations, and parades and fireworks at MK.

But I've decided not to plan beyond that. I have not checked out TGM or UG.
I don't want to go "commando style" as some people say. I'm on vacation. That's enough planning for me.

I am in the same boat...I am a born commando and over planner by nature but besides booking a few key ADRs, we are going to wing it as much as possible this time. I originally had planned out each day to the max because we weren't going to get the park hoppers so each park, meal and attracation was planned out. But after adding them on to our tix, I completely let the bottom fall out of our planning and we are going to just go where the wind takes us. I think just having the info we have from being on these boards and using a little common sense will make it easy to get around and have an enjoyable and relaxing vacation and if things go south, I can always revert to my original plans.

 

[2belles'mom]

Hmm, I would definitely make a touring plan (consult UG or subsribe to TGM), if only so you know the general pattern that will help you avoid crowds. You do not have to follow your plan "commando style," but at least you will have a general plan of action that will help you avoid long lines and congestion (I mean, yuck, what kind of relaxed vacation is that?). Make sure you really understand crowd patterns, know what rides need to be done early, what is safe to wait until "later" in the day...that kind of stuff! Again, a plan that you feel free to improvise with, but that provides you with a FRAMEWORK FOR FUN!

We have been to WDW many times, and I have gone both ways--planned to the nth degree commando style, and laisses faire. FAR PREFERABLE is to have a plan! So I still refer to schedules for ride order, etc, but I also improvise (or wing it, if you will!) around those plans.

Have fun!!!!!

 

[james15]

Like you, I have done alot of planning and gotten alot of great info thanks to the DIS and other sources. I know which parks we're going to each day. I've checked out menus, made my ADRs for a few places, but mostly will be doing CS. I've mapped out when to see Fantasmic, Illuminations, and parades and fireworks at MK.

But I've decided not to plan beyond that. I have not checked out TGM or UG.
I don't want to go "commando style" as some people say. I'm on vacation. That's enough planning for me.

Let us know what you decide. And have a great trip!

Amen.First few trips draging the kids out of bed at the crack of dawn and doing the commando style was alright.But anymore if we sleep in thats ok after all its vacation.If we get to the park late we do what we can then head back to the resort.Hey laying at the pool with drink in hand is alright too.

 

[Leota]

I'm not a big one for planning out each step of the day. That doesn't seem like vacation to me. I plan a loose idea of what Park we will start out in on what day so I can plan my ADR's (dining is important to us). I plan to be at each Park at opening time at least once a trip so I can bang out the "big" attractions without long lines & that's it. We haven't waited in a line longer than 20 minutes in years & we do everything we want plus all kinds of things in between.

I have found that the Magic of WDW is what happens when you least expect it. It's the little spontaneous moments that you can't find in a plan that lists attractions - It's interacting with characters & streetmosphere performers. It's savoring that yummy Mickey bar in a rocking chair in Frontierland, watching the crowds go by. It's seeing your child Dance to the performers in World Showcase - That's the Magic for us & that won't be found on a Touring Plan.

 

[Wendaeh]

Do you have a Passporter?

I absolutely love their products. I used the spiral edition for our last trip (in Feb 04), and moved up to the Deluxe Edition for this one.

There is a great fold-out park map for each park, and there are lists of each attraction and show that you can check off which ones you want to go to. I made a basic plan on post-it notes and stuck them on the map last time.

For example, there was a post-it in each land in MK that listed what we wanted to see (sometimes in order, if I thought that was necessary), with a little FP next to anything that I could get a FastPass for.

I also love the pockets in the back -- there is one for each day that you can put any information you might need in (or put your receipts in), as well as a basic organizer for each part of the day (moring, lunch, dinner time, evening) and a place to put your confirmation numbers.

I am also a TGM subscriber, but I agree with the above poster -- it's a little overwhelming at first to sort through all his advice, and takes a lot of time of reading (sitting at a computer) and printing.

Have a wonderful trip! Only 26 more days for us!

Wendy