Then and Now - planning preferences flipped!

[ExtraMagic]

I have been thinking about our September 2021 trip. There’s not much planning to be done this far out, but I have been thinking about how much my preferences/strategies have flipped thanks to COVID!

Anyone else?

Before - Deluxe, please
Now - Any “motel style” room that opens to the outside

Before - ADRs!
Now - Takeout and mobile ordering! Eating in the room.

Before - Must be on site
Now - Maybe on site?

Before - Park the car and let Disney do the driving
Now - I’m doing the driving!

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

Before - Stalk MDE at 7 am on the 60-day mark to score a coveted FP+
Now - No FPs... Score a park pass at your convenience and stand in line

Before - Practice for weeks to snag a ROTR boarding group at 7 am
Now - Practice for weeks to snag a ROTR boarding group at 10 am

 

[Leigh L]

Before - Stalk MDE at 7 am on the 60-day mark to score a coveted FP+
Now - No FPs... Score a park pass at your convenience and stand in line

Before - Practice for weeks to snag a ROTR boarding group at 7 am
Now - Practice for weeks to snag a ROTR boarding group at 10 am

Thanks for the reminder! I need to start doing this again and keep missing 10 a.m. We're less than 2 weeks out and I've only practiced once, and it was a mega fail.
(In January, DDs were the successful BG grabbers. I would have actually made it, just they were faster. These days success sounds tougher!)

 

[magicalcouple]

Before- Documents must be made with minute to minute details
Now- Loose Plans other than food

 

[Skicks35]

Thanks for the reminder! I need to start doing this again and keep missing 10 a.m. We're less than 2 weeks out and I've only practiced once, and it was a mega fail.
(In January, DDs were the successful BG grabbers. I would have actually made it, just they were faster. These days success sounds tougher!)

Just curious (I'm sure there is a thread that someone could link me to), but how exactly do you practice for this??

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

Just curious (I'm sure there is a thread that someone could link me to), but how exactly do you practice for this??

Check out this thread for instructions, tips, tricks, etc.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/r...-and-information-no-spoilers.3782822/page-722

 

[Leigh L]

Just curious (I'm sure there is a thread that someone could link me to), but how exactly do you practice for this??

@Grumpy by Birth got ya covered
Read the first post (or two, I forget) and then skip the rest to the latest posts because you'll get a feel for recent experiences. This thread was very helpful to us in January and we were able to ride on two different days.

This morning, I would have gotten a BG successfully. I opened the app about 40 seconds before 10 a.m and that worked for me today. But DD using DH's phone at the same time was a fail, either the app or his phone. Having him update the app and will give it another whirl.

 

[MomOTwins]

Biggest change for us is going to be morning routine with the later park opens since we'll be doing multiple days at HS and EP.

Before: rise early, grab a pastry at hotel QS, get on the bus ASAP 60-90 mins before park open and eat breakfast in line at the turnstiles for rope drop.
After: Maybe a morning swim at the hotel, TS breakfasts (at least on HS and EP days).

Next biggest change is lack of a dining plan. We're finally going to get to try out some more signatures now that we don't have to fret over credit value. Also planning to do a lot of meals where we order a few apps and drinks rather than entrees.

 

[Wild4Walt]

Before: Book as soon as the 2021 rates drop, modify later if special comes up.
After: Book once days off for 2021 are solid, book hotel and make park ressies and don't change if possible.