The freedom of NOT doing Disney

[Planogirl]

Today I'm beyond grateful for the quiet ease of visiting Universal. I'm so tired of all of the planning needed just to ride something or eat somewhere at WDW and now the talk is that my beloved Norway will be destroyed for the flavor of the month. Universal gets rid of things too but so far they seem to do so wisely.

 

[macraven]

well, Universal does listen to it's followers/fans and Kong will be returning in the future.

 

[Planogirl]

well, Universal does listen to it's followers/fans and Kong will be returning in the future.

I wouldn't be surprised if that toothy fish doesn't work his way back too someday.

 

[Cielei]

We love both! We ventured over to the Darkside after Wizarding World opened and absolutely loved it. It was so much more relaxing and we had an amazing time. We are headed back in 26 days!! We can't wait. We will be staying at PBH - we stayed at HRH last trip and loved it, but we are really looking forward to the more quiet, relaxing feel of PBH this time. I might even actually do a trip report this time - maybe.

I came over here when I was planning our first trip and never left - the people on this board are absolutely wonderful! I don't post very often, but I visit and lurk all the time.

 

[ChrisFL]

While on this subject, a co-worker and friend asked me about spending 3 days at Disney with his new fiancee and her 11 year old son next month

He's never visited Disney before, and wasn't familiar with it. I offered to help him plan 3 days (not staying on-site) and honestly, I didn't know where to begin.

This MM+ has changed planning so much, it's difficult to even get started without saying...well you need this phone app, and you need to decide your rides in advance, arrive first thing in the morning, etc.

I practically gave up halfway through and said here's the attractions that are must see, but you literally can't get FP+ for all of them (because of the tiered system now), and hope you can get on the other rides in reasonable time.

When does a vacation seem like more work than being at work itself? I think WDW is getting close!

 

[sersee05]

I think you hit the nail in the head for me......I love Disney but ut did get to be so much work. I found I am stressed planning it. I think for some people, they like the planning. But fir me...vacation shouldn't be stressful.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

While on this subject, a co-worker and friend asked me about spending 3 days at Disney with his new fiancee and her 11 year old son next month

He's never visited Disney before, and wasn't familiar with it. I offered to help him plan 3 days (not staying on-site) and honestly, I didn't know where to begin.

This MM+ has changed planning so much, it's difficult to even get started without saying...well you need this phone app, and you need to decide your rides in advance, arrive first thing in the morning, etc.

I practically gave up halfway through and said here's the attractions that are must see, but you literally can't get FP+ for all of them (because of the tiered system now), and hope you can get on the other rides in reasonable time.

When does a vacation seem like more work than being at work itself? I think WDW is getting close!

I hear you. And I'm supposed to be the one who "knows" Disney upside down and just how to get the most out of it. Except I don't feel like I know much of anything anymore.

The thing that really gets me (and my 60 day window is in the next few days so this is REALLY on my mind) is seeing the advice being dispensed when you get shut out of what you wanted to do….just keep checking back! That's the whole issue! I am checking threads to see if ADRs are canceled, as well as the website,now I have to do this for rides too? While juggling 7 guests (and one infant) in my party? Well, sign me up!

Ugh, I just can't remember the last time I had such a bad time doing ANYTHING associated with a vacation. I usually LOVE planning. But when planning becomes a race, it is NOT fun.

Case in point, we are going to San Francisco for a quick 4 day trip next week. We had such fun picking a cool hotel, and getting tickets to Alcatraz and Muir Woods and then expanding our plans to Monterey Aquarium. That's the kind of planning I love, not this MDE garbage. For me, it used to be there was ONE ride we always needed to plan to get a FP for...TSMM. It was never any problem at all. Now it seems I have to plan for rope drop everywhere. Ugh.

 

[ChrisFL]

I hear you. And I'm supposed to be the one who "knows" Disney upside down and just how to get the most out of it. Except I don't feel like I know much of anything anymore.

The thing that really gets me (and my 60 day window is in the next few days so this is REALLY on my mind) is seeing the advice being dispensed when you get shut out of what you wanted to do….just keep checking back! That's the whole issue! I am checking threads to see if ADRs are canceled, as well as the website,now I have to do this for rides too? While juggling 7 guests (and one infant) in my party? Well, sign me up!

Ugh, I just can't remember the last time I had such a bad time doing ANYTHING associated with a vacation. I usually LOVE planning. But when planning becomes a race, it is NOT fun.

Case in point, we are going to San Francisco for a quick 4 day trip next week. We had such fun picking a cool hotel, and getting tickets to Alcatraz and Muir Woods and then expanding our plans to Monterey Aquarium. That's the kind of planning I love, not this MDE garbage. For me, it used to be there was ONE ride we always needed to plan to get a FP for...TSMM. It was never any problem at all. Now it seems I have to plan for rope drop everywhere. Ugh.

Yeah, the FP+ choosing your ride times for you is also nerve-racking.

BTW, I also love Apollo's Chariot

 

[Granny square]

I wouldn't be surprised if that toothy fish doesn't work his way back too someday.

Oh I hope so.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Yeah, the FP+ choosing your ride times for you is also nerve-racking.

BTW, I also love Apollo's Chariot

It's such an amazing ride, although Griffon is also pretty spectacular!

 

[Dashzap]

I can thank fastpass+ for making it an easy decision not to go.

Exactly this! We only made the decision to go to Orlando in early July, and are here now. We did 3 days at Universal (3 nights at Cabana Bay), and 1 day at Epcot tomorrow (4 nights at the Dolphin).

I would think all the early planners will have all the prime Fastpasses reserved.

We're going to drive over to Universal one day instead of a second WDW day.

If I could have changed my reservations to be just at CB this morning, I would have done it in a heartbeat rather than move to the Dolphin!

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Yeah, the FP+ choosing your ride times for you is also nerve-racking.

Yes, especially when you have carefully planned out ADRs 180 days in advance. Not to mention parades, shows, and anything else that might catch your attention while you are there.

Nope, it's all, "OK, so Mine Train at 10:15, then an ADR at whatever restaurant at 11:45, THEN Splash mountain at 1, and BTMRR at 3:30! Never mind squeezing in any standby stuff in between then, it would be pretty tight, depending on wait time.

I hate this new system so much.

 

[TeacherDL]

This is an interesting read for me. I love planning our trip, but we are ready to do something different. So, next summer, it's Universal, Discovery Cove, SeaWorld, and Aquatica. I'm excited but a little nervous because I am the "planner".

 

[clsteve]

This is an interesting read for me. I love planning our trip, but we are ready to do something different. So, next summer, it's Universal, Discovery Cove, SeaWorld, and Aquatica. I'm excited but a little nervous because I am the "planner".

Yeah, I was nervous about that, as well, for our Uni Trip. I thought there had to be something I was missing - something I wasn't doing that would crater the trip.

But, once we got to PBH and the Front Desk TM's got us our tickets and Express Passes, pointed out the boat dock and walking trail location, and answered "that's all you need to do...." When I asked them "What else...?" --- I finally realized I actually could relax and go with the flow. Trust me, it's a liberating experience.....

 

[glocon]

WDW has its wonderful magical qualities. (disclaimer: I have not been there with the new magic bands or fp+ yet). And UO has its wonderful magical qualities also (great resorts that are so close to parks, ep, minimal planning required).

You can have a great time at both places, realizing they are two different experiences that each have their own "magic".

Our last couple of vacations we did both WDW and UO, heavier on the UO side, but this trip is all UO. And we can't wait!

 

[AlexandNessa]

Anna and Elsa? Should I know who they are?

Anyway, I don't know what I'm having for dinner tonight, much less where I'd want to eat 180-190 days from now.

I haven't been here in a while, because quite frankly, I have never read an HP book all the way through and never made it to the end of an HP movie either, and that is what's clogging the boards these days. However, we won't be going back to Disney any time soon. We tend to go once every 8 years or so, and that's plenty for us. FP+ just put the nail in that coffin. Just not my idea of fun planning, especially when you're game day decision people.

Even with all this HP hullabaloo, Universal still is our first choice. I sort of miss the old (cheaper) Uni without it though. Yeah, yeah, yeah ... Uni needed HP. HP is amazing, blah, blah. But remember when we were truly red-headed stepchildren who had to defend Uni before the whole world was suddenly interested? It's like wishing your cat was still a kitten.

 

[BugsDaddy]

The ironic thing that most people don't seem to understand is that the Universal execs would LOVE it if their resteraunts and theme parks were as successful as Disney's so that they would be forced into their own version of ADRs and Fastpasses. The reason that Universal can afford to be so casual is because supply does not exceed demand.

 

[Go Vols]

The ironic thing that most people don't seem to understand is that the Universal execs would LOVE it if their resteraunts and theme parks were as successful as Disney's so that they would be forced into their own version of ADRs and Fastpasses. The reason that Universal can afford to be so casual is because supply does not exceed demand.

That is why we have to savor it now because that will change soon.

 

[clsteve]

The ironic thing that most people don't seem to understand is that the Universal execs would LOVE it if their resteraunts and theme parks were as successful as Disney's so that they would be forced into their own version of ADRs and Fastpasses. The reason that Universal can afford to be so casual is because supply does not exceed demand.

Or maybe ---

supply has increased in proportion with demand.....?

 

[Planogirl]

Or maybe ---

supply has increased in proportion with demand.....?

I agree. Plus there are far fewer resorts which places less demand on Express.

I do wonder about the restaurants though. If you parks get more crowded and people discover how good Mythos and the Confisco Grille are then that part of it could change.