Others Like Me, Or am I weird?

[markey]

This will be our 3rd cruise and we have never been to Palos, never been to the spa, have only taken 1 excursion on other 2. We 1 morning excursion planned for this trip and will not go to Palos or visit the spa. Also do not plan ahead from the navigators. I always have everything planed for transportation, hotel, and cruise but need the element of some spur of the moment things. I read everyone's talk about spreed sheets and planning for reservations, Palos and spa, and wonder if there is anyone like me who enjoys entering the ship with no plans except to go eat, unpack and take a slow stroll around the ship? I do read up on what there is on the islands, and we will be busy while there, but in a very slow relaxed vacation mode. If something is not available, there will be something else to do. I think that everyones vacation is theirs to plan - nothing wrong with excessive planning. I was just wondering if there are other relaxed vactioners out there.

 

[appink]

Markey, I don't think your weird. Well if you are I am too. We do not plan ahead or have any excursions planned for our 8/24 cruise. I have everything planned for what we are taking with us but we are just going to play it by ear on the ship and the islands.

Patti

 

[prymsu]

I think it really depends on each person. I for one am very much a detail oriented planning type person. I would feel like I might lose valuable time if I don't research in advance the ports, and what activities are available. Just my take...

 

[Anita Williams]

I have nothing planned for our 9/21 Magic cruies, just as I planned nothing for last years Magic cruise. We'll probably try Palo's this time. I love to just be there and do what comes up.
We went to the islands last time and did things on our own and had a great time. Anita.

 

[Scratch42]

I plan and plan and plan.
Then I usually throw caution to the wind.
As this is a surprise trip for my DD not sure what
she really wants to do except have her hair braided!

Scratch

 

[wovenwonder]

I've been on the MAGIC three times. I've NEVER been to the spa. I've had brunch at Palo once -- and that is the only time I've ever been to Palo. I've never been on a shore excursion -- but hubby and DS were on the Kayaking tour in April.

And best of all --- I have NEVER felt like I was missing any MAGIC in our trip.

 

[maycruiser]

Nov. will be my 3rd cruise also, but I still like to get out here, see whats available, meet some fellow DISers, etc. My husband and daughter make fun of me, they DO NOT PLAN a bit. But then, they are always asking me questions before and during the trip! I feel like a tourguide.

 

[disny4ever]

My DW and I have not done alot of planning on our 2 cruises to date. We did do Palo's in January and a last minute decision for Palo's brunch ( excellent ). Any excursions we have waited til we are on board to plan, if we get them ok, and if not we sit by the pool and relax.
It is possible to get into the C.C. spa last minute, same with parasailing or banana boats ( not always, but possible ). I just look to go and have a good time no matter what I'm doing.......so I guess that means I get to join the weird club too !!!! LOL

 

[Trekker]

markey - on a lighter note! - LOL

There may be a third option:

Others like you AND you are weird! - LOL

I'm a planner - but DW is like you and likes to take things as they happen - so there are others like you - but you are all weird! LOL

 

[4nana]

Markey...
You are not weird! It's called 'different strokes for different folks'.
LOL!! This being our first Dis cruise, these brds have been a God send! But, I too get caught up in all the reading and am over whelmed wondering how am I going to fit all this in.
Isn't a vacation to relax....LOL?
I would have a heart attack the first hour on the ship if I tried to do it all....ck navigator's to see what is happening when.....did I get the best dining rotation...spa...palos...excursions...children's clubs. I have really enjoyed helping plan and organize our trip for a long time and am hoping when we arrive we will go w/the flow and have a 'Magic'al time making special memories w/our family.
HAKUNA MATATA

 

[mickeymom629]

I love to plan my WDW vacations months and months in advance--it's almost as much fun for me as being there! My family thinks I'm nuts, but they always like when I know what to do next (old favorites and new experiences). BUT, now I have our first cruise planned for Jan. and I really don't want to plan anything. I don't know what to expect and I don't care if I just stay on the ship and enjoy just being there. But I was feeling kind of weird that I'm not planning excursions, so . . . I'm glad to know that there's someone like you because I think I'm that way too (cruise-wise).

Debbie

 

[dgroet]

Not weird at all.

This will be my first cruise (wifes second), and the kids first. We have made no plans at all. Having 3 kids (2, 6 &7) we really don't have much interest in going ashore to explore the islands (it just doesn't excite me that much where we are going). And the kids, esp. the 2 yr old, would last about a half hour. Personally I would rather do an Alaskan cruise, since we are not "sun" people. We're also not "babysitter/day care" people. We don't plan on sending the kids off to activities/sitter so we can do our own thing. We're all on a family vacation together and plan to do what the family wants. I know the kids will want to spend most of the day in the mickey pool (since they would spend all day in my SIL's pool). So we're just going to take it as it happens.

 

[mcnuss]

I am a compulsive reader, researcher, pre-trip planner bc it's fun for me...but when it comes time for the vacation, I just let it happen. You will not find me with a spreadsheet (too many of those at work!) and I will not be doing the ressie dash. There are things I'd like to do, but we are taking this particular vacation because I want to relax. I have have come home from almost every vacation thinking that I need another vacation to recover from it. Not this time. Other than reserving a catamaran trip for a few hours on Grand Cayman, and maybe SNUBA in Cozumel, we will be lazy bums and lovin' it. And if we miss something, it will just be an excuse to go back.

ABN

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

I tend to be pretty laid-back while I'm on vacation... and that includes cruises. But I like to know details ahead of time so I'm not shut out of my options. I've been to resorts in the past and decided that I'd like to get a massage, only to be laughed at when I call the spa because the massages are booked well in advance.

Palo is one of the ship's features. It's featured prominently in their video and other literature. If I waited until mid-week in my cruise to say... "hey, let's dine at Palo tonight", chances are I wouldn't get in or would only get in at an undesirable time.

By knowing what's available to me and by taking care of the ressies for the things I want, I can relax even more for the rest of my cruise vacation.

 

[billylen]

I have have come home from almost every vacation thinking that I need another vacation to recover from it. Not this time.

I can relate TOTALLY.... I even planned out our vacation so that we both will have about 4 days to "relive and recover".

What I tend to obsess on are the travel arrangements. I want to know the time to the airport and anticipate lines for check-in. I rented a car so we can get from point A to B while in Florida and visiting the parks or going to the ship, but thats where it will stop for me.

This board has given me so much info and insight that in some ways I begin to feel as if I am on or have been on the ship. Where I'm at today is I've booked no excursions. And I will read about experiences, but I'm starting to limit what I read...why?

Because the kid in me still thrives on spontaneous activity, and SURPRISE!!!

 

[JLSE50]

I guess we are in the WEIRD CLUB too.

We have been on the MAGIC twice--a four day and the seven day Eastern cruises. We never went to Palo or the Spa. We did excursions when we could because we wanted to snorkel. We enjoyed walking around the port towns and finding a post office to send cards to friends and OURSELVES. Then we have postcards with postmarks and stamps from our cruise destinations for our scrapbooks. We love wandering around the ship, having no schedule and being relaxed.

We are very scheduled the rest of the year and prefer it that way.

We did not know about the DIS before those cruises.

We booked our 7 day Western nine months out. It was such a bleak winter--too many losses and not enough sun (you don't want to know... ) I found the DIS and this has kept me going. Daily time to read other people's experiences, learn about the Western itinerary, etc.

We have not read the excursion information yet. We may not book anything until we get on the ship. We have not decided. All we know is our stateroom number, that we will have late seating for dinner and gradually we are making lists and/or piles of what to pack.

!! Each to his own!!

Jan & Tom
&

 

[AliPom]

Formerly a "weird club member" but went over to the other side (for Disney-related vacations anyway). Have already done the parks many times as a "come what may" person. But learned that planning lends to seeing/doing more (and eliminating what I really don't want to do). As for the cruise; this will be my second. The first was no-nonsese, no planning and very relaxed. This time I want to see what I missed the first time. So with notes in hand I will enter the ship, make only a couple of ressies (don't really want to be on a schedule) and will then relax and enjoy..probably will start off the unwinding part with a refreshing drink at Signals...ahh...

 

[westjones]

Since we are going on a 7 day cruise, we are going to go on excursions this time (although I would have been happy to just stay on the ship).

I have never been to the spa (this will be our 3rd cruise), but I am thinking of going up just to 'see' it this time.

We went to Palos once. It isn't for 'us'. I know so many love it, but we are happier with the regular dining rooms. In fact, we don't like the idea of 'formal' night, and may not bother to go to the first one on our 7 day cruise, but on the second one our twin daughters will be celebrating their birthday, so we will go because of that.

Personally, I don't think the cruise is all that expensive UNLESS you do like to do all these things and would be unhappy not doing them. But for us, we don't buy drinks, we don't go to Palos, we don't care about excurions, and we prefer our own pictures to shutters. We don't spend much on board at all (mostly tips and a couple of items from the shop for our kids).

I found, for the quality, that it was an economical vacation for us. That is why we are going back for the 3rd one, with dates for our 4th already picked out!
DJ

 

[Tluvs2talk]

My Hubby and I have been on 3 Disney cruises and have not even stepped foot inside the Spa. We booked Palo's twice for Dinner and cancelled because we didn't want to miss out on seeing our seat mates. We did eat Brunch once at Palo's and enjoyed it. I also have never been in ESPN. We have only booked one excursion and it was cancelled due to tropical storm. We have LOVED each cruise and always find plenty to do.

 

[BethC1952]

I can't imagine keeping to a schedule while on vacation (other than the obvious travel arrangements LOL!). I live by my calendar all year (including weekends because of special events), carry my pager and my cell phone everywhere, and have to be available any time, so once my vacation starts, I switch to "our time" and do what we want when we want to.

We didn't go to Palo's on our first cruise, and I don't plan to do it this time, either. DH and I aren't "spa-type" people, that doesn't interest us at all. We aren't "commando tourists", we relax, see what we want to and plan for our return if we miss something we want to see. We don't need to rush to a beach to swim in the ocean (we live two blocks from a beautiful beach at the Jersey Shore and can go there any time we feel the urge).

That being said, we did book snorkeling equipment on CC last cruise, and will probably do that again, because it's something that we don't do here.

I do read everything I can, and make some decisions about what would interest us, but that's it for the planning!

Beth