Speaking of the critical importance of research and planning...

[writermommy6]

So let's say not everyone is internet savvy or has a computer. "In the old days" when you wanted to research somewhere to visit there was this thing called mail. You would go to the library and find out an address in which to call or mail a written request for more information about the area (chamber of commerce for the city was always great) and they would send you a whole ton of pamphlets about hotels, restaurants and tourist stuff.
And we actually had to know how to read maps in order to know how long it was going to take to get there. Used the legend and broke out the ruler and everything. Not saying EVERYONE would/did do it, but if we wanted to know about an area that we didn't then we did a bit more research.

Again, this goes back to the some people plan and some people don't thing.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Some people just don't plan. With or without the internet. With or without guidebooks. It's not the way some people travel. You can insist all you want that it's not a good idea, but it's a fact.

My mother cruises every year. She never researches. Ever. She has two computers, an iPad, and an iPhone, and goes to the library weekly. She still doesn't research. She calls her cruise consultant, tells him when she wants to go, and books whatever is leaving out of NYC or Boston, and off her and my aunt go. No research. The horror!

LOL
And I bet she has a marvelous time!

 

[Magpie]

Just for the record, the fellow I quoted clearly has a computer and knows how to use it. After all, he was posting on a discussion thread, when the topic of his upcoming vacation came up!

(He also thanked me for the links. I figure the rest is in his hands now.)

 

[IrishNYC]

LOL
And I bet she has a marvelous time!

She comes back alive and happy!

DH and I have traveled in Europe without plans. A ticket there, and a ticket back, along with a rental car. Every morning we get out the map, pick a place that we want to end up that night, and off we go. We started that in the days before smartphones, so it was up to our own map savvy to figure out how far we could get. We wouldn't do it that way now that we have a young child, but when she gets older, it's game on again.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

"It's not being judgemental. It's reality."

IN YOUR OPINION!

 

[missbrooke06]

Says you...
About the dangerous and irresponsible...
Again, Not everyone has the resources you do , and don't realize they are being "dangerous and irresponsible"
So judgemental!

Books! Newspapers! How do people without access to these resources even know Disney World exists? Don't they believe it's just a myth whispered about by the village elders?

 

[AshleyLovesDisney]

So let's say not everyone is internet savvy or has a computer. "In the old days" when you wanted to research somewhere to visit there was this thing called mail. You would go to the library and find out an address in which to call or mail a written request for more information about the area (chamber of commerce for the city was always great) and they would send you a whole ton of pamphlets about hotels, restaurants and tourist stuff.

It's not even the "olden days," it's still an option if you don't want to walk in blind and don't have access to a ton of resources. I'm 29, and last October, my husband and I did a long weekend in a touristy area a couple hours from us. I requested a guidebook magazine from the city's visitors bureau and then received it via snail mail. Then I used the telephone to call some places and make our reservations.

I agree with others that say that it's just a matter of some people not thinking ahead and then having no clue once they get somewhere. Basic, BASIC research can offset this.

 

[Magpie]

Spare me. This coming from you. There's a laugh. But anyways, look its obvious you have some issues. A deep rooted need to be right is obvious. But the fact is - what you think is reality isnt reality for everyone else. People take trips, very successfully I might add, all the time without planning. Does it always work out? No. But most of the time it does. So just give it a rest for crying out loud. Your opinion is just that - an opinion, not a fact or reality.

To be fair, I suspect every human being on the planet has a "a deep rooted need to be right", including you.

Otherwise, you'd be all, "I think you're wrong, but that's cool, because hey maybe I'm wrong, too. So let's all just sit here in a friendly way, being wrong together."

For what it's worth, though, I agree with 21Stamps that it can be dangerous to travel without any knowledge of where you are going. Anyone remember the Death Valley Germans? But on the other hand, you probably CAN visit Orlando without your vehicle breaking down, getting lost and dying of thirst. Probably.

 

[mshanson3121]

To be fair, I suspect every human being on the planet has a "a deep rooted need to be right", including you.

Otherwise, you'd be all, "I think you're wrong, but that's cool, because hey maybe I'm wrong, too. So let's all just sit here in a friendly way, being wrong together."

For what it's worth, though, I agree with 21Stamps that it can be dangerous to travel without any knowledge of where you are going. Anyone remember the Death Valley Germans? But on the other hand, you probably CAN visit Orlando without your vehicle breaking down, getting lost and dying of thirst. Probably.

My issue with him has nothing to do with right or wrong. My issue with him, is calling people "clueless" and accusing them of having "life issues", just because they don't agree with what his opinion is, and also of thinking that his opinion is a factual reality.

 

[dmdcash]

How come every time there's a planning thread it turns into a "snark" fest?

Here's my .02....I'm a planner at work--it's what I do...BUT it's the last thing I want to do on vacation. I am appalled every time I go to Disney and watch so many people spend so much time racing/arguing/dragging their kids to as many shows as quickly as they can--I literally have witnessed people tell the kids to eat as fast as they can to be able to hit the next show. Seriously???....I realize some love this, but to me it is totally and completely against what vacation means to me. That said, Disney is incredibly expensive and time consuming, so it's unfortunately impossible to do a week long trip without some planning. We plan fast pass and some dinners, then actually slow down and enjoy the parks and each other....not the "chase"....

I realize I may be in the minority's, but society today with rushing kids from one activity to the next is already so fast paced that actually slowing down and enjoying each other seems to get lost in the mix....again just my .02.....

 

[Alesia]

My issue with him has nothing to do with right or wrong. My issue with him, is calling people "clueless" and accusing them of having "life issues", just because they don't agree with what his opinion is, and also of thinking that his opinion is a factual reality.

I see the problem here. You completely misread what the other poster wrote. She didn't say that anyone had "life issues" she said "this isn't a Disney issue, it's a life issue. As in, being prepared and aware of your surroundings isn't something that pertains just to Disney, but to life in general.

 

[Alesia]

Yes. You need to get out of your perfect little bubble and realize that YES, people DO travel without research.

But the question isn't do people do it (we all know people do,) but is it wise?

Learning just the very basics of you destination (general geographical layout, what areas to avoid, local customs, etc.) can not only greatly enhance your trip, but can actually help you avoid trouble.

 

[mshanson3121]

I see the problem here. You completely misread what the other poster wrote. She didn't say that anyone had "life issues" she said "this isn't a Disney issue, it's a life issue. As in, being prepared and aware of your surroundings isn't something that pertains just to Disney, but to life in general.

She actually did say they have life issues

"Anyone who would do the things people here say that they heard- these people have life issues, not Disney planning issues."

I could care LESS if she/he is referring to Disney planning or not. Just because some people choose not to plan or research vacations (to any destination), does not mean they are utterly clueless to the world around them or have life issues. It means they have a different lifestyle than that person, that's it. Whether we agree with it or not, is completely moot. And for the record, yeah, if I was going to another country like that, I'd research it a bit. But I also know people who just pick up and go backpacking across Europe. Literally, they fly over, leave the terminal and every day is a new adventure. No research. And normally they have a blast. Sometimes they don't. Sometimes they get lost. I met an amazing man who was walking across Canada. No, he didn't use a guidebook, or research. He just walked and saw what he saw. It's not a life issue. It's just a different personality, that's all. Unfortunately, Disney is just a really bad place to have that sort of personality.

 

[mshanson3121]

But the question isn't do people do it (we all know people do,) but is it wise?

Learning just the very basics of you destination (general geographical layout, what areas to avoid, local customs, etc.) can not only greatly enhance your trip, but can actually help you avoid trouble.

No one can answer that for another person. It's about personal comfort level. For myself, I like to know my hotel is going to be in a good neighborhood, that's my comfort level, so I read reviews. My mother in law could care less, she'll stop at any place along the way, the cheaper the better. She's comfortable with that, so... whatever. It works for her, so who am I to say it's wrong?

 

[missbrooke06]

How come every time there's a planning thread it turns into a "snark" fest?

Here's my .02....I'm a planner at work--it's what I do...BUT it's the last thing I want to do on vacation. I am appalled every time I go to Disney and watch so many people spend so much time racing/arguing/dragging their kids to as many shows as quickly as they can--I literally have witnessed people tell the kids to eat as fast as they can to be able to hit the next show. Seriously???....I realize some love this, but to me it is totally and completely against what vacation means to me. That said, Disney is incredibly expensive and time consuming, so it's unfortunately impossible to do a week long trip without some planning. We plan fast pass and some dinners, then actually slow down and enjoy the parks and each other....not the "chase"....

I realize I may be in the minority's, but society today with rushing kids from one activity to the next is already so fast paced that actually slowing down and enjoying each other seems to get lost in the mix....again just my .02.....

But this is totally different than the topic at hand. There's a difference between being the type of non-planner that decides to go to whichever park the next bus is going to and being the type of non-planner that thinks it'll be an easy 6 mile walk from the hotel to "Disneyland" in Florida.

 

[Magpie]

She actually did say they have life issues

"Anyone who would do the things people here say that they heard- these people have life issues, not Disney planning issues."

I could care LESS if she/he is referring to Disney planning or not. Just because some people choose not to plan or research vacations (to any destination), does not mean they are utterly clueless to the world around them or have life issues. It means they have a different lifestyle than that person, that's it. Whether we agree with it or not, is completely moot. And for the record, yeah, if I was going to another country like that, I'd research it a bit. But I also know people who just pick up and go backpacking across Europe. Literally, they fly over, leave the terminal and every day is a new adventure. No research. And normally they have a blast. Sometimes they don't. Sometimes they get lost. I met an amazing man who was walking across Canada. No, he didn't use a guidebook, or research. He just walked and saw what he saw. It's not a life issue. It's just a different personality, that's all. Unfortunately, Disney is just a really bad place to have that sort of personality.

So, where do you draw the line between being footloose and fancy-free, and just being a hobo?

Personally, I'd be VERY unhappy with any family member who struck out to explore the world without at least a rough itinerary, and some basic knowledge of the geography and culture. If you get stuck up a Canadian back road, out of cell contact, and no one knows where to look, you can actually die. It's happened!

 

[The Sasquatch]

someone else has "A deep rooted need to be right..."

 

[mshanson3121]

So, where do you draw the line between being footloose and fancy-free, and just being a hobo?

Personally, I'd be VERY unhappy with any family member who struck out to explore the world without at least a rough itinerary, and some basic knowledge of the geography and culture. If you get stuck up a Canadian back road, out of cell contact, and no one knows where to look, you can actually die. It's happened!

Being a "hobo" typically isn't a choice.

And you're right - it can and does happen. And yeah, I'd probably worry too. But really, at the end of the day, it's not our choice to make. We don't have to agree with it. But quite honestly, this whole "argument", is really just a product of the last generation or two. Really, most of our generation today, are a bunch of pansies when it comes to this sort of thing The immigrants that came to this country and founded it, didn't have GPS, tour guides, maps, brochures etc... they just heard about the place and came. As they struck out west, they had nothing to follow - they just drove. They asked along the way. Some bad stuff happened sometimes, but obviously the vast majority survived despite not having have pay phones or cell phones with which to call for help. So overall, I'd say "winging it" has worked out pretty well I know it seems more dangerous today, but that's just a result of the fear-mongering that goes on today. Statistically, crime is lower than it has been, even 30-40 years ago. Except maybe in Miami, lol.

At any rate, at the end of the day - plan, don't plan, research, don't research. It's a personal choice. None of us can say whether it's right or wrong. It's all about what works best for that family. We may not understand it or agree with it (I definitely wouldn't be comfortable winging it to the degree that some do, but I'm not going to stand here and say it's wrong and irresponsible) but that doesn't make it wrong for them, or a personality flaw.

 

[mshanson3121]

someone else has "A deep rooted need to be right..."

No, I have deep rooted issues with arrogant, judgemental attitudes from those who assume that their way is the right way for everyone.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

We, as adults, are each only responsible for the person we are.
It is not our choice, our business, or our responsibility to decide if someone else (family member or not) chooses to travel in a different manner than ourselves. It is not our place to judge. (And people here are judging, believe me!) It is not OUR responsibility to "make" them responsible. If they (those "other people") chose to do no planning other than hopping in their car and driving until either their money or their gas runs out, it is not our job to judge them. It is their life, their vacation, their budget, etc, and is NONE OF MY BUSINESS! Nor is it yours!!!
I don't know why it annoys 21 stamps soooo much that it is so important to continue to beat this poor very dead horse, but please stop.
We all now know your position on planning. I honestly don't care. Nothing you write will change anyone's mind. To each his own!
Worry about planning your perfect vacation for you. I'll exercise my rights and plan mine. And no one else's unless asked to do so.