Spoiling The Magic

[LaughinPlace289]

Does anyone else wonder sometimes that if spending too much time on these forums would, in turn, "spoil the magic" of Disney and make it seem less special when you're there?

I know this is kind of stupid and off the wall, but I was just wondering...

 

[71010]

Not me. It gets me more excited about planning another trip

 

[BostonRob]

Does anyone else wonder sometimes that if spending too much time on these forums would, in turn, "spoil the magic" of Disney and make it seem less special when you're there?

I know this is kind of stupid and off the wall, but I was just wondering...

I certainly think it is possible to overplan and obsess so much as to create a vision of your vacation so idealized that the real thing can't live up to the expectations. But I don't think spending too much time on the forums will NECESSARILY lead to that.

 

[KarenCPA]

I appreciate these forums and I believe they really added to my recent vacation. I learned a lot about subtle things to do or not do. When I get ahold of a thread where people are just basically gryping, I skip it. I focus on the threads where we help each other with good advice and answers to real questions.

 

[Kewz1]

I certainly think it is possible to overplan and obsess so much as to create a vision of your vacation so idealized that the real thing can't live up to the expectations. But I don't think spending too much time on the forums will NECESSARILY lead to that.

That's what I was thinking.

Kristen

 

[paladin]

I agree. I spend lots of time (well, probably way tooooo much time) on these forums, but I don't do much actual planning for my trips. I just enjoy reading about WDW, especially when I don't have my own trip scheduled.

I do think that some folks get their hopes up about getting something that they have read about on these forums (whether it be a room upgrade, a special birthday treat, or some other form of pixie dust) and they go on their trip expecting this to happen to them and are then disappointed when it doesn't happen.

 

[boomhauer]

Although I usually stick to our plans pretty well, I do tend to overplan a bit and get worried about what we're doing and on what days. Not once, have I ever followed any plan exactly and I've never had anything less then an awesome time.

 

[cleo]

After years of reading these boards I can say it certainly CAN lead to a sort of 'vacation hysteria' (my own term ) that many people find they simply cannot fulfil once they're at Disney. Families, especially, tend to commit mutiny when they are subjected to a hyper-planner's plan. Once they chuck the every-minute-accounted-for plan, they're fine and have fun.

I did have one trip where I got caught up in the mania and planned WAY too much because I read about so many great things on the boards. It was the most disappointing trip I have ever had at Disney; an impossible schedule that left no chance for the 'magic' to catch up with us. But for the most part the boards enhance the trip itself. I think it's more the obsessive over-planning that's a problem, not the reading of the boards.

 

[thptrek]

I like just reading about things in order to get the most out of my upcoming WDW vacations. Dont want to be taken by surprise. Woe to the family that starts their vacation entering Main Street and looking at a map wondering what to do.

Also if you go during high crowd levels it helps to have a plan and some options available.

 

[MrsMcMouse]

I think it depends on the person - if you like to be surprised or are maybe going for the first time then yes, I think you can know too much. However, if it's not your first trip or you have specific needs then I don't think you can do much harm.

I like to know where I am going and what I am doing. I don't do that well in crowds so it gives me confidence to have everything planned out however, it does take away the element of surprise and some of the magic.

The benefit though is that it is a all a magical surprise for my DH as I tell him very little about the plans so I get to appreciate the magic more through him.

I've been 3 times without knowing about the DIS and had fantastic and magical trips but going with the research meant we saw more and waited less and discovered things we might not have seen.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

not for me, but i can say that when i went in 2001, i had read one of the books (birnbaum) and it explained each ride...so iknew what to expect on rides that were new to me (ITTBAB for one) but i love coming to the dis, i love reading peoples questions, some of them make me think 'oh good question i wouldn't have thought of that' and i learn something new every day here. :O)

 

[amy4bruce]

DW is the planner in our little group. She was the one who found the DISboards, and all the websites and books. She likes to have a firm plan in place.

I am not so much a planner, but I've found the boards to be full of tips that we night need. (The paintbrushes on Tom Sawyer's Island and Waking Up Tink, for example.)

This will be our second trip (it's DW's 10th, and I did a sort-of trip once, but it's the second one with DD , who turned six last December on our first trip). What we did on the last trip was look at the plans in the morning and leave them in the room. At night, we'd look at them again, and see if we managed to do everything. We usually did.

Therefore, I think that the way to plan is to do the detail work and then ignore it in favor of reality.

 

[skater]

These boards are the only place where I can "talk" and be part of discussions about Disney without driving everyone around me crazy. When my family members' eyes glaze over, I can come here for my daily Disney fix!

 

[laceemouse]

What Skater said, IRL people look at me like I am NUTS when I get too hyped up about WDW . And I am not near as crazy as some of you guys!

 

[ukwildcat]

The magic for me is being at WDW. When I'm there I remember happy times I had as a child with my family. And I hope when my childeren are older they remember happy times they had also.

Long ago I stopped obsessing over trip planning. DW and I know what we like to do, where we like to eat, etc. We do those things. We are in a different situation than most, however. We live so close that we go almost monthly. On our last trip we went on 2 rides, and then basically ate too much and walked around.

Again, the magic is just being there. If I can help someone else on these boards (or get help myself ), I am more than happy to do so.

 

[LadyDulcinea1]

I don't think it ruins the magic for me at all, helps get me psyched about my trip and gives me a fix when I'm not planning one

I could see the dangers or overplanning b/c I'm a huge planner, but I think for our last trip I found a happy medium that worked great! I just go expecting to have a great time at my favorite place in the world, and if any extra Disney Magic happens I consider it an added bonus

 

[Subrbnmommy]

Does anyone else wonder sometimes that if spending too much time on these forums would, in turn, "spoil the magic" of Disney and make it seem less special when you're there?

I know this is kind of stupid and off the wall, but I was just wondering...

I agree. I've never noticed anything negative while at WDW. Which leads me to conclude that while I'm visiting the mouse, I'm wearing rose colored glasses 24/7. I like not noticing anything unpleasant, kind of a holiday from reality. But, with these boards and all the critics (that I read obsessively, can't stay away) and all the observations on how things are changing for the worst, I'm afraid that my next trip will not be as magical.

 

[mickeymousemom]

Not for me. I started lurking on another WDW discussion board several years ago and finally became a member. I read and read and read over there and it helped us out so much on our first family trip to the World(I hadn't been since the mid 80's and DH and DD's had never been). I eventually found out about DIS and joined up here too. I love both boards and even though we've been several times and know TONS, it's always nice to get on here and mosey around...makes me feel closer to Disney(I spend much more time here than the other boards)...AND I can get my memory refreshed about many tips, get new ideas, find out when rides are closing, etc. I normally don't get on right after our trip for a few months, but only because it depresses me. Once that passes I'm back on(and on and on and on...... )

 

[Loves Disney]

Never. In fact, these boards don't do enough for me! I tend to visit the boards or become more active in them when my trip nears so I have a place to vent my excitement and this place certainly does it for me! I find that these boards give me enough added anticipation as well as controlled excitement (for the most part...lol ) I actually find Walt Disney World better than what my wildest imagination can conjure up so I am pretty safe when it comes to over exaggerating.

Also, these boards are VERY helpful to me when it comes to knowing what rides are a must because of limited access to it or because of its novelty. These boards also inform me when to visit what park. Even though we have been to WDW more than 10 times and I am a pretty okay judge when it comes to which parks are better at what times, these boards never fail to feed me more and better information. So I am not only here to pluck the "gotta get my Disney fix" string, but also the "gotta know what is good and what is bad" stringe. lol.

The Dis boards provide me with a place to "store" my excitement so that it doesn't explode in me lol, and also a place to feed me important planning news!

The Dis boards cannot spoil the magic for me, it creates half of it!

 

[kkevcamsmom]

I know I use it as a tool, what has worked for others, what hasn't. I in no way expect my trip to be like anyone elses. My only expectation is to see the magic come alive in my kids eyes.

I have a secert hope of getting a photo of my DS3 with Pooh Bear, but I am not holding my breath, as Chuck E. Cheese freaks him out. If it doesn't happen oh well, maybe next time.

I have no big agenda, no "If we don't do everything we didn't have a good time" attitude. DH, DD15 and myself have each picked one 'big' ride we want to go on and not miss other than that... plans are still in the planning stage. When we have gone on other vacations we have plan a, b, and c... just in case. We will have the same deal at WDW.

Just think, if you miss something you have a reason to go back

Lori