Sure signs of not planning

[MeeskaMomma]

I don't think this necessarily indicates a lack of planning. I planned PLENTY and said this to my son every time we entered a park because he liked grabbing one and being able to "help" navigate. He also saved them and grabbed show times guides too. And though I don't need maps to navigate the parks at all, I did use them once in the world showcase when I wasn't sure where the nearest bathroom was.

Yikes! I didn't even think of that. There I was thinking gosh it is odd going without looking at a map online first. I see exactly what you are saying! As I have admitted before I am such an over planner, but so is DH so it totally works for us. Most people would HATE to travel with us. We do try to be flexible once there we just go overboard in the on preplanning.

 

[mom0299]

I work with someone who planned a trip for her and her two nieces this past Christmas. About four months before that, I gave her all the important info I thought she would need. I told her she needed to make ADRs asap. She waited until a month before her trip (Christmas week) and couldn't get anything she wanted. When she got back she said she'd never go again. She had no idea that it would be as crowded as it was. I told her.....

On the other hand, our upcoming trip is not as planned as it usually is. We got the QS DDP instead of the regular DDP like we usually do. However, we have 2 ADRs and a golf tee time. I have a general idea of which parks we want to go to each day based on EMH and crowd calendars, but we are going to be very flexible. Actually, we've decided on our first day we are going to hop on the first bus that comes along (just not DTD). I have teenagers now and they don't like to plan as much as DH and me. But we know how to use FP and we know we'll have to wait for some things.

I'm looking forward to being less planned this time around.

 

[Cafeen]

One thing that strikes me about this, is the difference between planning (e.g. scheduling, lists of stuff to do, etc) is less important than research (what there is to do, the ins and outs of stuff, etc).

Planning isn't really all that important. You can go with the flow, so long as you know how to swim. (As is seen by several posters here)

Research on the other hand, including trying to discover what you don't know you don't know, is important and can easily (and quickly) move a good trip over to a bad trip.

As far as amusing anecdotes...I don't really have any from either side. There was the time in 2009 that I forgot how to read the front of a bus and we ended up in Animal Kingdom instead of Magic Kingdom...on our 8:30am CRT breakfast day... that was interesting.

 

[kangaroodle]

Last week at work a woman asked if I could help her plan her trip to WDW. She said it was her kids first trip there and she wanted to make it special.

I said, "Sure. When are you going?"
She replied, "Next week."
I said, "Next week! OK..... Where are you staying?"
She said, "Oh, we don't know yet."

I also grabbed her by the shoulders, shook her lightly, and laughingly told her that people like her drive me crazy!!!!

True story....couldn't believe it.

But I bet they'll have a great time because they don't know all that they're missing and will (hopefully) just have fun.

 

[imabeimabe]

Reading this reminded me of my first trip to WDW. I was one of those that had NO idea I needed to plan anything. Went to a local TA and she told me Christmas week was a WONDERFUL time to visit. She booked everything including our flights. I paid rack rate for everything and all we got to do was stand in line. I can laugh about it now. It's a wonder I ever returned. So glad I did. I've since been many times and am always happy to try and help anyone avoid the pitfalls I dealt with. I know this thread was meant to be funny and I've laughed at several of the post and can laugh at myself but my heart goes out to those that spend their hard earned money looking for that magical trip and it doesn't turn out that way. The last time I was there a Mom was close to tears because she had really wanted her daughter to dine at the castle and didn't know she needed to book in advance. I got the impression it was probably their one time trip. Made me so sad.

 

[cinnderly]

Before I did any research and Disney was a mere glimmer in my sons eye, I remember telling a friend "yeah, we'll go to the Magic Kingdom one day, and we can do Sea World..." She asked if I was renting a car, and I thought that seemed silly since it was all at one place. Ha! I feel like such a dope now, but I just had no clue. My friend slowly replied, "I'm pretty sure those are separate parks..."

Live and learn! A number of years later now, I feel like I could write a book for beginner's.

 

[disneymama148]

I remember my first trip with my family when I was a kid. This would have been a little more than 30 years ago and the Epcot was just being built - so before the days of "google it" or "check their web page". My folks and aunts and uncles we were traveling with knew NOTHING about Disney and plans were made to spend the least money possible.

So we arrive to the offsite motel we are staying in and our first park day is scheduled for the next day. And the adults decide we are going to just "drive by Disney and get a look at it". Imagine their suprise when they couldn't even get into the parking lot without pulling out some cash.

 

[Eoywin]

When I was planning our honeymoon my DH thought I was planning too much - he thought I was crazy for making ADR's 6 months in advance. He was glad I did and for this trip, he hasn't made any fuss snd actually was a part of the planning process.

I have a friend who is going to WDW in September - she originally was going to go over spring break but that was only a few weeks away at the time. Thankfully she had several friends, myself included, that told her she'd need more time to plan. She took our advice and was able to get the one ADR she wanted - CRT.

 

[CCole1013]

My first trip to disney was without kids with my husband. We booked it two weeks before we went and didnt make any reservations. I started planning once i got my package at check-in. It was awesome... we didnt eat anywhere super magical, sure, but we took everything in. If we waited in lines it was fine, because we were there together enjoying life. We didnt even know it would be decorated for halloween when we went, so we were thrilled! Little things like that were enough for us.

That was our recon. mission, and it got me HOOKED. I just knew i had to get my hands dirty after that trip.

Live, LOVE, and Learn.

 

[Missymouse18]

I love the planning- it's part of the fun! But some people don't. To each their own I'm plagued by over-planning and anxiety in daily life, so it's really fun when it pays off big time in Disney.

THIS. Exactly. For me planning helps me feel like I'm getting closer and closer to the trip. I'm a former teacher so after years of doing lesson plans, I can say that lesson plans don't even hold a candle to how I plan for WDW. I made my list in a pink spiral bound notebook for this summer's trip. From rope drop till park closing. By the time we arrived at Pop last Sunday I had them memorized. Every night when we got back to our room I would get out my notebook and see how close we came to following through. We did everything I planned but not always in the order I had it listed... reason being that I need the security of the list, but needed to enjoy the flexibility of moving things around to keep us relaxed and having fun instead of stressed out because we didn't make it over to TSMM before all the FPs were gone.

 

[Missymouse18]

Here are two that kind of blew me away...
*One evening we were in line at WGP in DTD and looking over the menu posted on the outside facade. The people behind us were looking over our shoulder and commenting on how expensive they thought it was. The daughter in the group asked why did anyone care about the price because it was on their dining plan. Then the mom responds, "because we have already used almost half of the amount of money we are allowed to use. I got the QS instead of TS and we are only allowed to use x-amount of dollars before it runs out." I am guessing that she thought if her DP cost her, say $500, she had to keep up with that amount and not go over???

*This one is from a relative who claims to be a WDW expert. Their family WDW vacation was around the first week of May. Two weeks before her trip she said she thought she was gonna go to Tusker House for breakfast with her daughter so she could eat with the characters but wasn't sure so they would just "get in line and see how long the wait was to get a table." So.... yeah.

 

[tjmj9801]

This one is from a relative who claims to be a WDW expert. Their family WDW vacation was around the first week of May. Two weeks before her trip she said she thought she was gonna go to Tusker House for breakfast with her daughter so she could eat with the characters but wasn't sure so they would just "get in line and see how long the wait was to get a table." So.... yeah.

Is she still there waiting?

 

[WendyWonderland]

Not so much a lack of planning dilemma as much as a "I'm not going to follow the advice of millions because they don't know my child" dilemma.

We went with our 5 year old last year, and assumed since he didn't nap at home that he wouldn't need breaks at Disney. Despite the MILLIONS of people who say a break in the afternoon is MUST with little ones, we were all "No way! He can sleep in the stroller if he gets tired!"

Worst. Mistake. Ever.

 

[MyMagicKingdom]

No we're not making dining reservations. When we get hungry we'll find a restaurant.

This...I've heard so many people say that. A lot of friends come to me asking for help planning because I love it so much and so many people say this. "The lines can't be too bad, right? There are a lot of places to eat." Yep there sure are a lot of places to eat but for every one place to eat there are 500 people that want to eat there.

 

[JenluvsDisney]

When we were at MK last August we encountered a mom who was yelling at their kids that there was "NO WAY we're going to criss cross all over the park like the rest of these idiots to get to different rides and fastpass booths" They had apparently started their day in Adventureland and were working their way around in a circle so they would next hit frontierland, then liberty square, etc. This was the first week of August so I can't emphasize enough how hot and humid and crowded it was. The family had apparently arrived at 10am and figured that they would be able to hit every ride using their strategy and be on their way home before dinner. When we encountered the mom in full meltdown mode it was noon and they were all miserable, horrified at the crazy wait times for rides, and totally discouraged about how long it was taking them to get around the park.

On the one hand I felt bad for them but on the other hand I couldn't understand why you'd ever show up during the busiest time of year and think that you'd be able to just walk on every ride. Trips to Disney, even on a budget, are EXPENSIVE. Why you'd be willing to plunk down that kind of money for a trip and do NO research at all on how to manage your time while you're there is crazy to me!

 

[bauer1168]

Last week I was checking in at BOG for our ADR, and many people were in line asking how long the wait was. The CM was telling them november.

I would have high fived that cm

 

[JamiLeigh]

Not so much a lack of planning dilemma as much as a "I'm not going to follow the advice of millions because they don't know my child" dilemma.

We went with our 5 year old last year, and assumed since he didn't nap at home that he wouldn't need breaks at Disney. Despite the MILLIONS of people who say a break in the afternoon is MUST with little ones, we were all "No way! He can sleep in the stroller if he gets tired!"

Worst. Mistake. Ever.

My 5 1/2 yr old hasn't had regular naps in a year and a half. He napped everyday last month while in Disney. They were a lifesaver!!!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

You ask if the monorail stops at Harry Potter.

You ask if you can see Shamu at The Seas with Nemo and Friends.

When you see Donald Duck, you call him Daffy.

You don't use FastPass because you didn't spend the extra money for it.

 

[estherhead]

A few months ago I had a friend text me "Any tips for a WDW vacation for us?" He has a baby, 2 twin toddlers, and 2 teenagers. I sent back and asked when he was planning on going. He said, "We are already here. What should we do?" But I knew they'd have fun because they live their life like this. He doesn't know what he is doing five minutes in advance. And is at least an hour late for everything. They are a super sweet family and successful. Though they seem to have more stress than me. I can't imagine. And I feel pretty flexible. But I would never take a vacation without some pre-thought. Too many vacation nightmares in my past and too much money to go places.

 

[ashleyrm]

My 5 1/2 yr old hasn't had regular naps in a year and a half. He napped everyday last month while in Disney. They were a lifesaver!!!

I haven't napped in 50 years, and I nap every day in Disney....