Rookie Mistakes

[kaybird]

Good info on remembering where you park! The lots are HUGE! Not our rookie mistake, but we saw a family who had apparently been looking for hours, not only not sure exactly where they parked, but driving a rental they couldn't exactly remember what was!!!! (this could've been me!?!!!)

So my tip, Buy some ghastly scarf or write your name in shoe polish, better yet, rent a hot pink and green mini van, but take note of where you are, what you're driving, and if you park hop, remember where you came from!!!

 

[bdink921]

Even with the DIS and all of my planning, we were still overwhelmed with WDW. We spent 5 days in the parks over spring break AND did TL one of those days. I set this commando pace we couldn't keep up with and by the 3rd day we were exhausted. I had so many "gotta do's" on our list that we never really took time to stop and relax. Even this time, we're only going for 2 days after our cruise--I keep trying to find a way to see everything on the "gotta do" list knowing full well that we can't. I'm just going to have to convince DH to come back for a week again!!

 

[Ltl Mermaid]

My "rookie" mistake was TOO much experience at DL. I thought it was very similar (no need for reservations, PS, or ADRs). I actually had the nerve to walk up to CRT and say "party of four" . The Hostess looked at me like I had grown a third arm out of my forehead!!! She said "we don't have any availability...for 6months!" She could have been nicer about it, but I was SHOCKED. Needless to say, i did not make that mistake a second time!

 

[sorul82?]

Our biggest rookie mistake was thinking we could resist the pin trading craze! I wouldn't even look at ebay, cruised on by the outlet in St. Augustine, skipped the two off International Drive, by-passed the other little one near Kissimmee, and didn't even go to DTD where we'd be tempted with the savings using the Disney Visa. Nope, instead we dropped over $100 on five starter kits right there at the Pizza Planet kiosk! Paid full retail right there in full daylight! I spent day and night for a month reading all info I could find about Disney. No warning of this addiction!! Sure I read how much fun it was, but nothing about the forcefield around the pins! We had just finished visiting with Buzz, and were heading to ....see I don't even know where we were going and it just happened!! The next day as we were melting in AK, we decided to leave and go find some cheap pins!! So off we go to the outlets!!

 

[zookeeper]

This is all great information. I am planning my first vacation and being thrown to the wolves by going during Spring Break so I need all the help I can get. My wife is the planner in our family but wants no part of this trip so I have to do it all if I want to go. Keep em coming

I feel your pain! Last September we went on our first family vacation to WDW. I had never been and neither had the kids so we were SOOOOO excited, especially me since I'd been dying to go since I was a little girl. We really lucked out too because it was during the Free Dining promotion. Well, my DH could not have been grumpier about the whole trip! All I heard in the months leading up to the trip was how he didn't see the point in him going because he'd already been and there wasn't going to be anything new/exciting to see. He was convinced he'd have a miserable time. Oh BTW, did I mention that the last trip he'd taken to WDW was in 1987!!!! I don't even think EPCOT was built yet! We ended up having a wonderful trip and just the other day we were talking about our upcoming trip and DH said how much fun he had on our last trip and that he was wrong to not want to go. Hopefully, your trip will have a similar outcome.

 

[scakul]

Not doing your homework!!!

DH & I were on a Disney bus during our trip this week and overhead a conversation of a family of 4. They had already been at WDW for 4 days and the next day was their last. They were talking about what they wanted to do on their last day. The mother said that they should just go back to MK like they had all of the other days "since you kids like the rides and no other park has rides. AK is a zoo and Epcot is just educational stuff."

I had to interrupt and mention that there were rides in all of the parks and they should probably look at some of the park brochures.

You should have seen the look of shock on the mother's face. "You're kidding, Really??" she said.

I felt sorry for the children who probably missed out on a lot.

 

[krissyh]

I knew where I wanted to go. This was not where the rest of the family wanted to go. I was 4, I had no say. I went there anyway. So I guess my biggest rookie mistake was nearly giving my mother a nervous breakdown in a place that doesn't have booze! Actually - It was great planning on my part - mom & big brother got to go in the tunnels to come get me!

MAJOR ROOKIE MISTAKE
- Lack of research. I don't go to the beach without reseach who would go to an entire "world" without researching?
- I think so many people think "amusement parks", maybe look enough to decide to stay on site and end it there.
Then comes:
* No ADRs- why can't we get a table right now? The kids are hungry (especially if they spent money for the dining plan)
* How do I get to? - The transportation system isn't tough if you do the tiniest amount of research.
*Why is the line 2 hours? What is a fastpass? Have to have a plan.
* Shoes - I normally only wear sneakers to work out - at WDW sneakers, everyday.
RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH Without a plan, there can be no attack...

 

[mking624]

Man I see so many things about how people don't go places without researching so why wouldn't you research WDW. Honestly, we actually don't spend much time researching ANY place we visit. We're very spontaneous with our vacations (to the point where we've just said "let's pack up and go now!" and we've left a few hours later for our destination...leaving no time for research...only time to get online, book a hotel room and pack). This upcoming trip is our 6th trip together and this is the only one we've really planned out because of free dining. Otherwise we're the type of people who love to sleep in, wake up and then decide what park to go to. At most, we'll see which park has evebing EMH and then we'd plan to be there that evening. People may have blamed our trying to do it all on our lack of research (for our honeymoon), but we had no idea that we'd be returning year after year...actually most times we don't know we're going again until only a few months before we go. So to us, our honeymoon was our one opportunity to do it all (how exhausting)!! I do think research does benefit a lot of people (especially those who think a Disney bus will take you to Universal), but we never got much out of researching...it's way more enjoyable for us to make the decisions when we're there. While I LOVE the idea of free food for our upcoming trip, all the planning that goes with it makes my head spin. I leave all the happy researching to you all!!

 

[LoriMistress]

My biggest rookie mistake was buying my airfar, tickets, and hotel at one place (Expedia.com). It wasn't a "bad deal" but I know now that if you buy seperately, you can get your stuff much cheaper.

 

[LoriMistress]

My "rookie" mistake was TOO much experience at DL. I thought it was very similar (no need for reservations, PS, or ADRs). I actually had the nerve to walk up to CRT and say "party of four" . The Hostess looked at me like I had grown a third arm out of my forehead!!! She said "we don't have any availability...for 6months!" She could have been nicer about it, but I was SHOCKED. Needless to say, i did not make that mistake a second time!

I sort of feel your pain. I was so adjusted to DLR since I've been there since...forever. But after doing my research online months before our first trip I was surprised that there would be a six month waiting list for restraunts.

 

[Mousema]

My rookie mistake was letting my DS (8) mess up my planning. He decided he didn't want to do the things I thought he would and we ended up doing totally different things and not getting as much done. Include your DK's in the planning.

 

[Albertan mom]

Subscribing.....just learning from you all!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

My rookie mistakes

1- staying off site at a dump on I-Drive because I thought it wouldn't matter
2- renting a car to drive from said dump to WDW each day
3- having no idea where anything was in the parks

 

[popeyeohoh]

Ah! I remember it well, April 1994 Dh Ds 4 and 1. Pushing stroller down main street shortly after park opening and stopping to look at my map. I apologize to the people directly behind us.

 

[Blue62]

1. Not researching dining well enough. Wasted lots of $$.

2. Trying to do too much.

3. Not allowing the kids enough pool time. The pool is an attraction equal to all the other Disney attractions in my kids' eyes and I've finally learned to give it the time it deserves. Did this last trip and probably was the best part of our trip.

Finally at the point going into our 5th trip that we feel we can slow it down. Looking forward to a slower paced Disney.

 

[Dandylyon]

Heh. Good suggestion. Another way to tackle this is to check the lot name/number where you parked and leave a voicemail or text message for yourself reminding you of what it is. You can then check it upon leaving if you forget what it is.

This has saved me a couple times over the years.

What a great idea!

 

[Misa]

Traveling with too many people and STAYING with them all day *sigh* However, the trip was MIL's gift so we had to put up with FIL's Commando style touring..doesn't work well with 4 kids under 8 and an infant.

Next time we're heading down just DH and our 2 DS's.

Overall we all had a ball, but boy it got stressful at times.

Research saved us many times during the trip..I read the books, I copied and pasted info from here..printed it out and put in a 3 ring binder. Each day I removed the page I needed and tucked it into my fanny pack. (Thank you to the lady who gave great directions to the Super Wally World! lol)

However, it became clear, early on, tht I became the "trip tour guide" since I had done so much research. I got tired of explaining history...etc...finally just told them to enjoy the MAGIC

 

[twinklebug]

Staying in a Ft. Wilderness cabin during hurricane season
Not using DisBoards to become DISney Wise
Sticking with a group which had no interest in the same rides as us.

Now were you to ask what have *I* learned to wise up?
NOT to stay in Ft Wilderness during hurricane season
USE the Web to know what's going on, park hours, special tips, tricks & rates.
Allow others who don't tour the parks the same as us to do their own thing while we do ours & to meet up with for swimming or meals.

 

[momrek06]

Not discovering The DIS until after our trips.

EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY!!! And after the # of times my family has been and I thought I knew it all.....wow.....was I ever mistaken until I found this absolute GEM of a message board....I just cannot get enough info about going to the "WORLD"!!!!