Silly Mistake's

[danny1649]

That you made on trip's to WDW that cost you time or money?Also that you no longer make or try not to make anyway First one we made was arriving at parks around 10:30am to avoid crowds couldn't understand why the parks were jammed,honest.So we do arrive early to parks now and that alone saves us 2 to 3 hours of standing in que's.That it is not a sin to share a meal sometimes,portions are huge most of the time and we were throwing alot of expensive Disney food in trash.So now we do splilt meal's often,not because we're cheap but why waste food and dollars when you don't need to.That you don't have to be first one in door at a show like CBJ to get a good seat.So now we take advantage of the bench seat's many have lobby you wait at for next performance.That lrest off your feet for a few minute's is great and you still get a good seat for show.So some of you WDW vets please share some things you have learned through your WDW experience.

 

[megan4777]

That you made on trip's to WDW that cost you time or money?Also that you no longer make or try not to make anyway First one we made was arriving at parks around 10:30am to avoid crowds couldn't understand why the parks were jammed,honest.So we do arrive early to parks now and that alone saves us 2 to 3 hours of standing in que's.That it is not a sin to share a meal sometimes,portions are huge most of the time and we were throwing alot of expensive Disney food in trash.So now we do splilt meal's often,not because we're cheap but why waste food and dollars when you don't need to.That you don't have to be first one in door at a show like CBJ to get a good seat.So now we take advantage of the bench seat's many have lobby you wait at for next performance.That lrest off your feet for a few minute's is great and you still get a good seat for show.So some of you WDW vets please share some things you have learned throgh your WDW experience.

I totally agree with the arriving early. We got there on one day around 9 and were not happy.
Dh and I also shared meals. When you go to a sit down meal, tell them you're sharing and they'll pre-plate it, most times (with the regular serving of the side on each plate)>
We also found that you should plan your busses. We took the bus from OKW to Downtown to Boardwalk and were stuck*it was 5pm* for a while before we could go. We were aboug 25 min late for our reservation at spoodles. Plan on park closing times if you're taking a bus..

 

[nativetxn]

Staying offsite and depending on the shuttle to get us to the parks. We wasted so much time.

Now I stay onsite and use the Disney transportation

Katholyn

 

[arkansas mom]

Hurrying to catch a bus, didn't actually read the sign (who has time?), and ended up at the wrong resort!

 

[MinnieM21]

Hurrying to catch a bus, didn't actually read the sign (who has time?), and ended up at the wrong resort!

I did the same thing when I was coming back from Downtown Disney. I thought...."hmmm since when was the Grand Floridian moved to the forest?" "ooohhh I'm at Fort Wilderness...."

 

[snyderla]

We didn't realize Spaceship Earth at EPCOT was actually a RIDE until our 3rd trip there.
Lori

 

[Sleeping~Beauty]

Just recently we flew from Newark, NJ down to WDW. It was our first flight taking two children with us (2.5 and 15 mths). We didn't know you could take your stroller right up until you board the plane. Instead we lugged two carseats, two children, and our carry-on bags through the entire airport.

We really had no idea! We were quite a sight.

Our trip home was much easier, I wheeled the kids in the stroller. No hassle or problem.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

In the beginning it was things like: learning what a PS was, using FP, and knowing park hours. We've moved up to using the transportation system more efficiently (and having back up plans), being able to drive around WDW property without a map, and exploring the resorts.

D4D

 

[minivan3]

I did the same thing when I was coming back from Downtown Disney. I thought...."hmmm since when was the Grand Floridian moved to the forest?" "ooohhh I'm at Fort Wilderness...."

That's great!

 

[CdnDisneyFan]

Staying offsite in 97 (travel agent wanted to book us at the newly opened All Star Sports, but we weren't into sports. We're kicking ourselves for that one now!) and depending on shuttles, the hotel (the former Best Western Kissimmee, now a Travelodge I think) was in the middle of nowhere (right on the corner of two major highways), nothing but a small gas station within walking distance, so we had to take a cab whenever we wanted to go out, also same trip, I wore shoes that gave me blisters, so what did I do? When my friend and I took a trip to the Outlet mall, I bought a brand new pair of shoes, thinking that will help, but they made things worse! I spent a lot of vacation either in pain, or in our room at the hotel. There is probably more, but those stand out in my mind right now!

Jules

Edited to spell out the resort name fully, didn't realize it would be censored out, sorry mods!

 

[AJKMOM]

We went once in June, that was the silliest thing we could have ever done. It was hot, humid, and it rained EVERY day. If I would have known it was hurricane season, I would have avoided it like the plague!

 

[susan1]

silliest thing we ever did was to pay a fortune for an hotel we onle ever slept in - never again

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

I would say the biggest mistake we made was during our first family trip in 1997. We made priorty seatings all over the place without understanding the daunting task of trying to get to a meal on the other side of WDW! Now we make our dining reservations fit into our park plans. MUCH easier and saves a lot of time.

 

[Leota]

I booked a cheap flight for a quick weekend - I didn't arrive til 10pm Fri & I had to leave my resort at 5am Mon for the first flight out.

The $50 or so I saved on a ticket was not worth the time I sacrificed. I never flew off times again to save money. I will fly on off days wherever possible. I leave home as soon as possible & get home as late as possible.

 

[cleo]

Planning too many PS's. When you plan 2-3 sit down meals a day, by day 3 you just can't eat any more. And you spend WAY too much time sitting in restaurants when you could be enjoying the parks.

Biggest mistake? Not slowing down enough to really SEE what's there. The smaller touches make Disney what it is. It's a shame to rush so fast you don't see them.

 

[lorik]

Not using the single-rider line for test Track. First time wait was 2 hours. Next trip we walked right past the long lines, and long FastPass return times, and right onto the ride. Kids still got to sit next to each other and I went in the next car. Single-rider line is now the only way for us.

 

[joeytiffany118]

I agree single rider lines are so easy. It is not like you will never see you family again. They are most likely in the next car anyway. We used this on the Mummy at universal, MIB, and whenever possible at disney to get on faster and saved us mucho time.

 

[Amy&Dan]

For us it was the Fantasmic Dinner Package. We had a very mediocre meal that took forever and then ended up in a seating section that wasn't even the best section. It kept thundering and they kept coming on the p.a. and saying it might be cancelled (thankfully it wasn't) and I was sitting there sweating bullets that we had overpaid for dinner and a show and might not see the show. Also, not doing our must do's early in the trip. For instance our first trip I was dying to see Illuminations but got talked into (by my kids of course) to going back to the resort to swim. We never did see Illum. that trip because the days and nights go so fast. Now, I have everybody make a list of their top 3 things so we get to those first. After that its all gravy!

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Paying extra for a room view, if your staying in a deluxe resort most all the rooms have a good view. If staying in a Moderate or Value we keep our curtains closed so passing guest don't look into our room. So why pay extra for a view?

 

[Stacy's a freak]

My biggest mistake was staying at a hotel in the DTD area (not Disney owned) and dealing with their sub-par transportation. I had stayed in a MOD a few times previous, but I thought it would be just as good. I was within walking distance to DTD staying at the Courtyard Marriot (now Holiday Inn I think?). I thought that it would be a nice hotel but the room probably cost as much as a MOD at that time and had NO disney magic! Well, that was in 2003 and I've learned that lesson.