Planning our daily itinerary from the UK - Need to vent!

[UKKidd]

We only get to go to Disney every few years, especially since I now live in the UK! My partner is English (I'm American), and he's only been once before...so every time we go it needs to be super special!

We're going the big spring break week in April.

We're trying to plan each day....thinking about crowd levels, where we want to eat, EMH, etc.... and my head is about to explode!

It is the WORST puzzle I've ever had to do, lol. Since we only go every so often, you want to make the most of the trip...not spend 3 hours waiting in line for 1 ride!

People say avoid EMH days at parks, unless it's in the evening.... others say avoid days after EHM hours (???)... then you have to look at average crowd levels projected....and which park might have the lower ones that particular day...but you have to do it all months before because you have to book your fast passes! AHHH!

Ok....vent kinda over...

And then WHERE DO WE EAT?! You don't want it to be any old place... and you don't want it to be TOO LATE or TOO EARLY!

What if we just want to cruise resorts? There are rules for that too! It's almost like everything needs to be planned ahead! NO SPONTANEITY!


Ahhh!

 

[luvgoing2disney]

Several things in your posts confuse me. You mention that "we" only go ever so often and also mention he has only been once before. If you have been several times before you must have gone to parks with and without EMH and been able to see how it affects the crowd levels for the day. And the same as to theability of cruising resorts if that is all you wanted to do.

I will admit that it can be a little maddening trying to the THE best things to do each trip, but only you can decide what attractions, parks, and restaurants best fit your likes and dislikes.

 

[Cormoran]

Yeah between ADR's and FP+ spontaneity is a rare event on a trip to WDW. I'm waiting for bathrooms to have FP+ and SB lines! You have a right to rant. Planning a WDW vacation has become incredibly complicated and frustrating.

Are you going to have park hoppers? If so, you could take advantage of morning EMH and then hop to a second park. Make your FP+ reservations for the second park.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Are you going this spring break or next spring break?

The resorts are pretty easy to visit. No rules there. I find there is usually availability at the resort restaurants other than the Signatures.

But yeah, I hear you, not much spontaneity.

I think you just have to dive in, plan as best as you can and then be flexible when you get there. Honestly, the best thing one can do is let go of the idea of the perfect trip. It's just too much pressure especially with all of this advanced planning involved now. You just have to go with it.

Good luck!

 

[Brian Noble]

It's going to be great!

Start by thinking about why you are going on vacation: It's probably so that you and he can spend some focused time together, away from the day-to-day, escaping the "real world" for a bit. If that's the focus, then the rest is easy!

Don't worry too much about "optimal"---there are lots of ways to take a Disney vacation. Some people love going to EMH, using hopping to spend the other part of the day elsewhere, being a bit more on the go. Other people prefer to get their "Extra Magical Hour of Sleep" and avoid the EMH parks altogether.

So, the first step is deciding whether you want a more on-the-go vacation, or not. I tend to avoid most of the EMH parks, because (a) I'm lazy and (b) I have teens who like sleep even more than I do. But, others like the extra time.

Once you've decided that, that pretty much picks your park days for you---or at least narrows things down. This is the hardest part---which parks on which days. No schedule will ever seem perfect, but it doesn't matter, because the point of this vacation is for you and he to enjoy your time together. Any schedule will do.

Once you have the park days chosen, everything else gets easier. Pick a few FP+ experiences for each day. Eat near where you expect to be---let your itinerary choose your restaurants rather than the other way around. I've never had a meal at WDW that I truly regretted, though some were better than others.

The best news? You can change your mind while you are there. We went last year for spring break, made about half of our FP+ reservations the night before, and almost all of our ADRs the night before or morning of. It worked out just fine.

 

[bumbershoot]

What if we just want to cruise resorts? There are rules for that too! It's almost like everything needs to be planned ahead! NO SPONTANEITY!

There aren't rules for visiting resorts. There are rules, sometimes, for parking at resorts, but in my experience I've never encountered those. And there is no need to plan for that; if you are there at a busy time, trying to park at Boardwalk and they say the lot is full, just ask them where to go and they'll tell you. Easy.


For the other stuff, that's part of visiting WDW now. Look at easywdw.com, go by their crowd calendars, work it out based on their recommendations, and go from there. You've been there, so you know restaurants. Things just start falling into place.

Or get hoppers if food is super-important, and hop to a park for food then hop back to the park you've chosen for rides for that day.

 

[csjordan]

We only get to go to Disney every few years, especially since I now live in the UK! My partner is English (I'm American), and he's only been once before...so every time we go it needs to be super special!

We're going the big spring break week in April.

We're trying to plan each day....thinking about crowd levels, where we want to eat, EMH, etc.... and my head is about to explode!

It is the WORST puzzle I've ever had to do, lol. Since we only go every so often, you want to make the most of the trip...not spend 3 hours waiting in line for 1 ride!

People say avoid EMH days at parks, unless it's in the evening.... others say avoid days after EHM hours (???)... then you have to look at average crowd levels projected....and which park might have the lower ones that particular day...but you have to do it all months before because you have to book your fast passes! AHHH!

Ok....vent kinda over...

And then WHERE DO WE EAT?! You don't want it to be any old place... and you don't want it to be TOO LATE or TOO EARLY!

What if we just want to cruise resorts? There are rules for that too! It's almost like everything needs to be planned ahead! NO SPONTANEITY!


Ahhh!

We are going the Week after Easter. This will be our third year in a row for visiting that week! Last year, I followed easywdw.com recommended parks and had no problems, at all seeing/riding everything I wanted to ride. We did utilize late EMH's, especially at MK. We generally were there around 9 am and stayed the entire day, except our resort day at MK. We went after dinner and stayed until closing...around 1 or 2am. I can honestly say that the parks did not seem overly crowded, except for MK the Wednesday after Easter. It was crazy crowded that day, and it was a recommended park. Now, we were there New Year's Eve week this past year, and, at MK, were there at 6:50am for the opening show (very cool, I must say) and stayed until around 1pm (after the noon parade), went back to the resort to take a nap, and then went back after dinner, again, to close the park. You really can get a lot done after 11pm and before the crowds roll in in the mornings. Have a great trip!

 

[Sparkly]

In your situation, give DDP/TS restaurants a miss. Disney's QS places are good, and it's much more freeing to go to the nearest QS to grab lunch or dinner then to have to stop everything to go to Les Fancy at 7:00pm. I honestly thought the TS places really weren't that good. I only truly enjoyed like 3 of our ADRs, and one was Crystal Palace where we've been before! (although our experience was far far better this year.)

 

[Magpie]

We only get to go to Disney every few years, especially since I now live in the UK! My partner is English (I'm American), and he's only been once before...so every time we go it needs to be super special!

Relax! It'll be "super special" because it's you and him, together. Here's a suggestion - take time out of your day to head back to your resort for a "nap" (actual sleeping may or may not occur). You guys will both enjoy the time alone together. And this way, you'll avoid the busiest parts of the day.

We're going the big spring break week in April.

We're trying to plan each day....thinking about crowd levels, where we want to eat, EMH, etc.... and my head is about to explode!

It is the WORST puzzle I've ever had to do, lol. Since we only go every so often, you want to make the most of the trip...not spend 3 hours waiting in line for 1 ride!

Again, relax. Wanting to "make the most of the trip" is a bad mindset to get into. It leads to people arriving at rope drop, not leaving until park close, and then trying to do it again the next day. And freaking out, because two of the rides were broken down and it threw their whole schedule off!

This is the kind of mindset that leads to holiday meltdowns. You don't want to go there. If a ride says the wait time is three hours, then do something else! Go see a show. Go do one of the less popular rides. Remember... you're at the park with your sweetie, and that's the MOST important thing. Not whether or not you got to ride the Seven Dwarves mine train the requisite minimum number of times.

People say avoid EMH days at parks, unless it's in the evening.... others say avoid days after EHM hours (???)... then you have to look at average crowd levels projected....and which park might have the lower ones that particular day...but you have to do it all months before because you have to book your fast passes! AHHH!

With regards to EMH, do what you want, based on whomever's logic seems most sound to you. Check it out for yourself. If it's too crowded, leave and go do something else.

A parkhopper might lower your stress a bit.

As for picking parks and FPs, I simply print off a copy of the crowd calendar on EasyWDW.com, and pick my parks for each day based on Josh's recommendations. Then I go in and choose my FPs, based on what my husband and I like to ride. It takes me all of about 20 minutes, and I find it quite fun, though I understand why other people don't.

Ok....vent kinda over...

And then WHERE DO WE EAT?! You don't want it to be any old place... and you don't want it to be TOO LATE or TOO EARLY!

Why can't it be "any old place"? There's nothing I enjoy better than sharing a hotdog with my husband, while watching the crowds go by. Or a pizza! The quick service at WDW is actually pretty good. I usually book about four "sit down" meals a week, and we play it by ear the rest of the time. If we feel a sudden desire for another sit down meal, we play "restaurant roulette" and just stop in at Guest Services and see what they have available. It's always guaranteed to be something we'll like!

As for time... We like to eat around 6pm, like civilized people.

What if we just want to cruise resorts? There are rules for that too! It's almost like everything needs to be planned ahead! NO SPONTANEITY!


Ahhh!

Unless you're planning to swim in other resort pools (which isn't allowed), there are no "rules". Wander around and check out any resort you like. Eat in their restaurants, use their quick services, shop in their giftshops. Personally, I quite enjoy exploring the monorail resorts, particularly at Christmas. And actually, one of my ADRs this trip is at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, so we can have an excuse to explore that resort and see the animals!

Yes, a Disney trip requires some advance planning. But honestly, I spent just as much time planning my trip to London - buying combo tickets and deciding which sights to see on which days and finding out what time to show up in order to beat the crowds... it was just the same!

You'll be fine. Focus more on your sweetie, and less on making everything "perfect". You'll find perfection in each other's company, even if you end up at One Man's Dream, followed by a hotdog from Casey's Corner.

 

[Dr Gevil]

It's going to be great!

Start by thinking about why you are going on vacation: It's probably so that you and he can spend some focused time together, away from the day-to-day, escaping the "real world" for a bit. If that's the focus, then the rest is easy!

Don't worry too much about "optimal"---there are lots of ways to take a Disney vacation. Some people love going to EMH, using hopping to spend the other part of the day elsewhere, being a bit more on the go. Other people prefer to get their "Extra Magical Hour of Sleep" and avoid the EMH parks altogether.

So, the first step is deciding whether you want a more on-the-go vacation, or not. I tend to avoid most of the EMH parks, because (a) I'm lazy and (b) I have teens who like sleep even more than I do. But, others like the extra time.

Once you've decided that, that pretty much picks your park days for you---or at least narrows things down. This is the hardest part---which parks on which days. No schedule will ever seem perfect, but it doesn't matter, because the point of this vacation is for you and he to enjoy your time together. Any schedule will do.

Once you have the park days chosen, everything else gets easier. Pick a few FP+ experiences for each day. Eat near where you expect to be---let your itinerary choose your restaurants rather than the other way around. I've never had a meal at WDW that I truly regretted, though some were better than others.

The best news? You can change your mind while you are there. We went last year for spring break, made about half of our FP+ reservations the night before, and almost all of our ADRs the night before or morning of. It worked out just fine.

Well said.

Free yourself of the feeling that there is "NO SPONTANEITY!" left at WDW - because there is lot that can be done on the fly, as stated above. You're on the right track by thinking of visiting resorts - see and do what you want, when you want while at those places!

You can have a great trip and not spend 3 hrs. in a line - there's way too much stuff to do at WDW for that to be your only choice.

.

 

[Dr Gevil]

Relax! It'll be "super special" because it's you and him, together. Here's a suggestion - take time out of your day to head back to your resort for a "nap" (actual sleeping may or may not occur). You guys will both enjoy the time alone together. And this way, you'll avoid the busiest parts of the day.


Again, relax. Wanting to "make the most of the trip" is a bad mindset to get into. It leads to people arriving at rope drop, not leaving until park close, and then trying to do it again the next day. And freaking out, because two of the rides were broken down and it threw their whole schedule off!

This is the kind of mindset that leads to holiday meltdowns. You don't want to go there. If a ride says the wait time is three hours, then do something else! Go see a show. Go do one of the less popular rides. Remember... you're at the park with your sweetie, and that's the MOST important thing. Not whether or not you got to ride the Seven Dwarves mine train the requisite minimum number of times.



With regards to EMH, do what you want, based on whomever's logic seems most sound to you. Check it out for yourself. If it's too crowded, leave and go do something else.

A parkhopper might lower your stress a bit.

As for picking parks and FPs, I simply print off a copy of the crowd calendar on EasyWDW.com, and pick my parks for each day based on Josh's recommendations. Then I go in and choose my FPs, based on what my husband and I like to ride. It takes me all of about 20 minutes, and I find it quite fun, though I understand why other people don't.



Why can't it be "any old place"? There's nothing I enjoy better than sharing a hotdog with my husband, while watching the crowds go by. Or a pizza! The quick service at WDW is actually pretty good. I usually book about four "sit down" meals a week, and we play it by ear the rest of the time. If we feel a sudden desire for another sit down meal, we play "restaurant roulette" and just stop in at Guest Services and see what they have available. It's always guaranteed to be something we'll like!

As for time... We like to eat around 6pm, like civilized people.



Unless you're planning to swim in other resort pools (which isn't allowed), there are no "rules". Wander around and check out any resort you like. Eat in their restaurants, use their quick services, shop in their giftshops. Personally, I quite enjoy exploring the monorail resorts, particularly at Christmas. And actually, one of my ADRs this trip is at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, so we can have an excuse to explore that resort and see the animals!

Yes, a Disney trip requires some advance planning. But honestly, I spent just as much time planning my trip to London - buying combo tickets and deciding which sights to see on which days and finding out what time to show up in order to beat the crowds... it was just the same!

You'll be fine. Focus more on your sweetie, and less on making everything "perfect". You'll find perfection in each other's company, even if you end up at One Man's Dream, followed by a hotdog from Casey's Corner.

Well said. This is what I was trying to say, but done much, much better.

 

[Pesky]

Relax! It'll be "super special" because it's you and him, together. Here's a suggestion - take time out of your day to head back to your resort for a "nap" (actual sleeping may or may not occur). You guys will both enjoy the time alone together. And this way, you'll avoid the busiest parts of the day.



Again, relax. Wanting to "make the most of the trip" is a bad mindset to get into. It leads to people arriving at rope drop, not leaving until park close, and then trying to do it again the next day. And freaking out, because two of the rides were broken down and it threw their whole schedule off!

This is the kind of mindset that leads to holiday meltdowns. You don't want to go there. If a ride says the wait time is three hours, then do something else! Go see a show. Go do one of the less popular rides. Remember... you're at the park with your sweetie, and that's the MOST important thing. Not whether or not you got to ride the Seven Dwarves mine train the requisite minimum number of times.



With regards to EMH, do what you want, based on whomever's logic seems most sound to you. Check it out for yourself. If it's too crowded, leave and go do something else.

A parkhopper might lower your stress a bit.

As for picking parks and FPs, I simply print off a copy of the crowd calendar on EasyWDW.com, and pick my parks for each day based on Josh's recommendations. Then I go in and choose my FPs, based on what my husband and I like to ride. It takes me all of about 20 minutes, and I find it quite fun, though I understand why other people don't.



Why can't it be "any old place"? There's nothing I enjoy better than sharing a hotdog with my husband, while watching the crowds go by. Or a pizza! The quick service at WDW is actually pretty good. I usually book about four "sit down" meals a week, and we play it by ear the rest of the time. If we feel a sudden desire for another sit down meal, we play "restaurant roulette" and just stop in at Guest Services and see what they have available. It's always guaranteed to be something we'll like!

As for time... We like to eat around 6pm, like civilized people.



Unless you're planning to swim in other resort pools (which isn't allowed), there are no "rules". Wander around and check out any resort you like. Eat in their restaurants, use their quick services, shop in their giftshops. Personally, I quite enjoy exploring the monorail resorts, particularly at Christmas. And actually, one of my ADRs this trip is at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, so we can have an excuse to explore that resort and see the animals!

Yes, a Disney trip requires some advance planning. But honestly, I spent just as much time planning my trip to London - buying combo tickets and deciding which sights to see on which days and finding out what time to show up in order to beat the crowds... it was just the same!

You'll be fine. Focus more on your sweetie, and less on making everything "perfect". You'll find perfection in each other's company, even if you end up at One Man's Dream, followed by a hotdog from Casey's Corner.

Well said! Look, you won't see everything. You won't. And something will go wrong. It will rain on your parade. Someone will step on your foot. You will get a blister or your guy might find his innards and Disney food do not agree. It happens. The best thing you can do is just roll with it and enjoy the moments as you find them. Don't try to schedule every last second. Make a rough plan for the day, maybe with an ADR, maybe not, and be ready to be flexible (but watch the penalties for missing an ADR). Have fun!