SLOWING DOWN at Disney

[korg]

We are all conditioned when tourning WDW to get there EARLY ... Run to get a Fast Pass ... Run to an attraction ... run to the next attraction, use your fast pass, get another fast pass ... run to the next attraction etc. etc. etc.
We plan every minute of every day ... we treat a WDW vacation like it were a military campain! How many of you are exhausted and totally stressed out after touring. How many have gotten home from Disney thinking they need a vacation to rest up from their Disney vacation?

On the other hand how many of you have decided to slow down and "Smell the roses?" When we rush and rush we lose the subtal beauty and amazing detail that really makes Disney Magical. On my last trip my wife FORCED me to slow down. She refused to plan anything more then a day in advance. We didn't run anyplace. We took time to "smell the roses" and after many Disney trips under my belt I have to admit that although it wasn't the most time efficient Disney trip I ever took it was the most enjoyable. We actually RELAXED and ENJOYED the parks! something I never thought you could do at Disney. I didn't even get blisters on my feet!!

Sooooooo this thread is just food for thought. I've come to believe that when you aproach a Disney trip like a military campain you may have a more efficient trip ... but not always a BETTER trip!

BTW ... sorry about the typo on the poll ... that's SMELL the roses!

 

[warpdarkmatter]

how about a little of both, for example i get to epcot early rush to soaring ,test track,mission space then sit back and take my time and enjoy the park at my own pace

 

[parmtoo]

We used to rush, but now we take it a little more slowly, and enjoy just being there............But, I still feel like I need a vacation after the vacation!

 

[aubriee]

Depends on the trip. I usually try to do at least a couple of solo trips every year. If I'm with family, then unfortunately those are commando trips and I usually come home exhausted. We are up at dawn and going nonstop until after park closing. My solo trips are at a much slower pace. I like to eat at alot of TS restaurants, do backstage tours, look for Hidden Mickey's, ride my favorite rides over and over, may skip Disney Studios (my least favorite park) completely, etc. I am an early riser, so I do always make rope drops, but because I work night shift and am used to sleeping in the afternoons, I will sometimes go back to the resort after lunch and take a nap. My solo trips are done at my own speed and frequently I am completely happy to grab a hot dog from Casey's and simply gaze at the castle and people watch. If I was with family, no way that would happen, we'd be rushing to Splash Mountain.

 

[ILuvCrush]

I'm with Aubrie!! My family trips have been pretty comando. And we had a BALL!! But on my most recent trip...a solo... I really took more time to smell the roses.... and I loved it!!

So my answer is "it depends"

But I think I'm going to try something new on my next trip... comando and non-comando days. On certain days try to really get stuff done and on the others...come what may. We'll have to see how that approach goes

Paula

 

[DISNEY FIX]

I was going to post this thread today! This might require a separate thread but...
I need help.
How do you relax a bit more at the park? Yea I mean a little less rush through everything....like the op said running for fastpasses....but also not feeling like you have to rush a little though a meal, slow down the pace you walk at since it it about 5x faster than the rest of your party...losing that anxiety in your shoulders....being more tolerant of your kids....
What have you guys learned, and how have you done it?
Thanks

 

[kadesha]

I rush. I don't mean to, or want to. Once I get there I want to do and see as much as I can. I can't help it.

 

[carmiedog]

how about a little of both, for example i get to epcot early rush to soaring ,test track,mission space then sit back and take my time and enjoy the park at my own pace

Yup. (Korg, you forgot "other" in your poll. ) First hour is critical. Second hour is usually still scheduled but more relaxed. By getting that jumpstart we're "set" for the day so we have time to take it easy. I could never do all day commando. But with three little ones in the family, I don't think mom gets a chance to smell any roses regardless of whether we're commando. And don't tell me my kids ARE the roses - trust me...they don't smell that purty.

eta: Wanted to add that how often a family gets to go also can also play into the touring style. We only go every 2-3 years, so we can't completely wing it and still do everything we want to - especially with kids. If we went every year or more often, I'd still be a planner by nature, but it'd be much easier to leave things to the wind.

 

[HonnyDipp]

We are going with my folks this trip. Its there first time there so this trip, we will take it easy! Can't wait!

 

[duketennisgal]

Like other posters we do a bit of both. We get to the EMH park and usually rush around for the first 2 hours or so doing everything we can fit in. By then the crowds start getting bigger and we slow down and relax, enjoy shows, shops, street performers, etc.

I'm no longer a scheduler but that could be because I've been going every year for the past five or six years so I pretty much know what to do and when to do it without planning.

 

[JPN4265]

We like to smell the roses, even the small ones.

 

[queenmum2]

Mostly rush, but not the entire trip. I, too, like to have a LRP (long-range plan) for our Disney trips. DH calls me the 'Planning Nazi'.

But how timely this discussion is for me: We've just booked a trip for the first week in June. We've never gone in the summer before. The closest was a weekend early in May. DH doesn't handle HOT or crowds very well, but I've talked him into it.

I promised that we would not have to be in the parks during the hottest parts of the day, and got the Water Parks & More passes so that we could a) get wet and b) spend some afternoon hours at air-conditioned Disney Quest.

So we're definitely going to have to PLAN a different type of trip this time around. I'll still jerk everyone out of the bed early to get there at park opening. And I'll still rush to get to our favorite attractions(s) at each park first thing in the morning.

But then, I'll be able to settle down and smell the roses -- or the hybiscus, since we're staying at the POly -- and lounge by the pool.

Tracie

 

[mel&me]

We used to rush, but the more we go the slower we get. Can't believe we still find stuff that was missed, mostly do to rushing in previous trips.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

how about a little of both, for example i get to epcot early rush to soaring ,test track,mission space then sit back and take my time and enjoy the park at my own pace

Exactly. I find to enjoy myself the most, I need to know how I'll start the day ie where I'm heading first, I need to know where I'll eat and when, at least for TS, and, unlike Bush, I always have an exit strategy. But iin between, wing it and s-l-o-w down. And in the parks where allowed, have a beer or 3 in the afternoon and chillax.

 

[Yen Sid]

We rush to get where we are going in the morning because we usually have an early ADR but then after that we take our time, we know we will be going again and again so why rush things.

 

[littlbugmom]

We will do RP most mornings but will slow down as the morning goes on. After lunch, we'll be back at the hotel. Evenings will be spent in the park but at a much slower pace than the morning.

 

[korg]

Yes I should have added "other" to the poll ...my bad!

 

[kimis]

We also do a little of both. The first four days we are there we are like kids it is go. go. go...... Then the last few days we move slower. It is my dh and myself so we love to take our time (after the first four days). We enjoy the deluxe dining plan so we can enjoy some great resturants we don't normally eat at. One thing is for sure---disney is magical no matter how you do it.

 

[Mad Hattered]

The wife and I plan it down to a science. We don't have any children so the trip is always about US!

We took pedometers on our last trip. 3 days and 80 miles walked just in the parks...then we rested.

 

[tofubeast]

I voted "rush" because that is what I am used to doing. In the times I have visited WDW and at DLR this past summer, it was COMMANDO! I booked the 4/3 deal for this coming April, and if we indeed end up going, I have promised my DH that this would be a RELAXING visit to the World.

We plan to actually spend a few days by the pool at CSR. I feel no need to go crazy with touring plans for the rides. Maybe we will do a few early mornings, maybe we will just show up for fireworks and EMH evening at MK. I want to actually see the Innoventions exhibits at EPCOT rather than just breeze by them to get fastpasses to Soarin' etc. That is the intent!!

So with that said, what are some other fun relaxing things to do at WDW? We did not enjoy Quest, but would love to do a round of mini golf one night. We may go over to City Walk. I even want to do some ORLANDO or nearby Central Florida things. Any good suggestions or web sites you can tell me about? I would love to visit some small town with antique shops!! Feel free to PM if you know any good mini day trips.

I VOW HERE TODAY... that if I do go to WDW at the end of April (if the economy should allow...)

I WILL STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES!!!!!!!!!!!