Thoughts on different touring philosophies

[Masonmj84]

A few examples of touring philosophies:

Commando - the main focus is the theme park experience, which typically includes spending as much time in the parks hitting as many attractions as possible, spending a minimal amount of time at resorts/hotels, spending a minimal amount of time eating, and getting the most bang for the buck from those expensive park tickets. Tend to stay off property or, if on property, at value resorts as a common focus is getting the greatest amount of park experience for the least amount of money.

Spontaneous - the main idea is vacations should include a break from structure and scheduling as regular life has this in abundance. Often prefer sleeping in (as opposed to hitting the parks at rope drop), are not into table service dining (because they don't want to be tied to ADRs), and usually hate FP+ and spending a lot of time and effort planning. May or may not prefer staying on property and, if on property, can be found at all resort classes.

Resort - view WDW as a resort that just happens to have theme parks and, along those lines, value WDW for the resort and restaurant experience at least as much, if not more, than the park experience. Tend to prefer to hit the parks in the mornings and/or evenings, while saving the afternoons for resort/pool time. Enjoy table service dining (don't view it as "wasting park time") and typically stay on property at the moderate or deluxe level.

While these aren't mutually exclusive categories, I find that most people sort of gravitate to one over the others depending on their vacation preferences and budget.

We are strongly Resort types, but I can understand why some may not like our style for at least the reason that it tends to be more expensive, it's not terribly spontaneous (we hit the parks at RD, have touring plans, and make lots of ADRs), and requires lots of advanced planning.

There's nothing wrong with people having different touring philosophies (everyone's idea of a vacation is different) but it can be difficult if you have people or groups with different philosophies trying to vacation together.

 

[lustergirl]

Well I can tell you that I have changed my touring philosophy. On my last trip, the last week of April, I definitely slowed down a lot. This is due to the fact that both of my knees are pretty banged up (two surgeries so far on the right and having surgery on the left on 7/9). Limited mobility really dampens your get up and go. But I was alright with a slower pace because if I didn't catch something during that stay I will see it the next. I learned to take more breaks, with a cool drink in hand. I had the park hopper option but there were a couple of nights that I didn't go back out during the evening hours because my knees were bothering me too much.

I did enjoy some great food at new places: Sanaa, Kona Cafe and BOG for lunch.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

Definitely commando. Wouldn't say I rush or even go fast but I know what I like and don't like spending much time eating. I eat when I am at home

 

[Lucius Best]

Commando - the main focus is the theme park experience, which typically includes spending as much time in the parks hitting as many attractions as possible, spending a minimal amount of time at resorts/hotels, spending a minimal amount of time eating, and getting the most bang for the buck from those expensive park tickets. Tend to stay off property or, if on property, at value resorts as a common focus is getting the greatest amount of park experience for the least amount of money.

For me, "commando" is someone rope-dropping, making rides the top priority, park-hopping, FP-ing as much as possible, and/or closing down the parks every night. Doesn't really have anything to do with resort choice and dining philosophy. Someone who stays at a value resort or off-site, brings own food, avoids expensive sit-down meals, etc. would maybe fall under the "budget" category.

 

[Mrs. Max Goof]

We are commando to the core. Having just graduated college, it isn't easy affording a Disney vacation. The only way I can validate it to myself is to be there at rope drop with a touring plan in hand and staying at the parks until after closing, with no breaks back to the hotel. We like to see and do as much as we can...a Disney vacation is exhausting!

We used to be spontaneous, but I have come to love the planning aspect as well as the challenge of trying to figure how to accomplish everything we want to do with limited time and budget. I find that we enjoy our trips so much more as well as experience so much more. We get on many more attractions with way less waiting time too!

Both of us are in our early 20's, so we want a vacation where we get to do fun and new things, not a trip to relax. When people ask us why we go to Disney as two adults, we always tell them that any other vacation would be too boring.

 

[georgina]

Our park days are definitely commando, even when we are staying at the Beach Club. Now we have some down time days where we do other things than parks. We usually do at least 2, sometimes 3, parks on park days.

 

[holden]

I see us as "modified commando." We hit rope drop. Sometimes we stay for 12 hours, sometimes not. Some days we leave by 3pm to enjoy pool time, shower, eat dinner and bed. Sometimes after dinner, we hit the parks again. It all depends on our mood.

Things we always do: book ADRs 180 days out, FP+ 60 days out, change our mind about what we want to do on any given day.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

For me, "commando" is someone rope-dropping, making rides the top priority, park-hopping, FP-ing as much as possible, and/or closing down the parks every night. Doesn't really have anything to do with resort choice and dining philosophy. Someone who stays at a value resort or off-site, brings own food, avoids expensive sit-down meals, etc. would maybe fall under the "budget" category.

Agreed 100%. We are true gung ho commandos, but we also stay only at CR. The 10 minute walk makes it easier to be commandos with a little guy who still needs the occasional nap. We can walk back so he can rest, then be back in the parks 10 minutes after he wakes up. Also we like signature ADRs. Commando when done right allows you to knock off your whole itinerary and still have time to hit up some good ADRs. In fact going for the Golden Spoon is probably the exact definition of something someone commando would do.

 

[Networth]

I will say your resort category is pretty much exactly how we view WDW. The parks are just as important as the golf, massage, tours, signature dinners, resort time, shopping, atmosphere etc.

 

[Praying Colonel]

We're more of a modified commando. We're there for RD most days and we have at least a basic plan. We go hard for the 1st hour or so, but then we back off and go at a more leisurely pace.

 

[ArwenMarie]

We're probably Lazy Commando. For us, I don't see any point in traveling to Orlando other than for the parks. There are other destinations I would go to relax, eat, swim, etc. But we usually end up doing less than we planned because we get kind of lazy as the day progresses. And our kids are always asking when they can go swimming

 

[ghtx]

I am a "commando" type married to a "resort" type. We do RD every morning and I plan everything down to the minute, but we also stay at deluxe DVC resorts and take mid-day breaks.

 

[ghtx]

Also OP great post but you are missing one type: the people who have absolutely no idea what they are doing until they set foot into the parks, which I think describes the majority of guests.

 

[aVASTGrl]

When I travel with my family, we are hardcore commandos!! We squeeze in every second of park time, from opening to closing, and we rarely spend much time at our resort unless we build in a pool day. This is why we usually stay at the mods when we go together. I guess some people might call that stressful, but we love it!

When I started going solo a few years ago, I made it a point to slow things down and really take in all of the nuances and little things around WDW, including the resorts, so I would say my solo style is more Spontaneous; I still enjoy going on most of the rides, but I'm OK with doing less at a more leisurely pace.

I've never really seen the value of a Resort strategy when staying at a Disney Resort because I can get a much more luxurious experience at the Four Seasons or the Ritz Carlton for around the same amount of money as a Deluxe. I have yet to try this out, but if the EMH rumours happen to come to pass, I guess I will find out!

 

[EmilyS90]

I went in fully intending to be "commando". Going in at rope drop, having a set plan for each park, etc.

After day 2, we were exhausted. We ended up sleeping in on day 3 and finally wandering over to the parks around 1pm and had a great time. We discovered how much we enjoyed just hanging out at the resort and spending time together. Definitely in the "resort" vacation type now.

 

[ammag]

Modified commando here too! Plan days meals, FP. Plan to be in certain areas then for the most part do what we want. I have three days on our next trip that require more detailed planning, and I am not sure if I like it or not yet! I do love planning, I tend to pad for time if I can and no matter what the plans are we are ok with change because comfort and happiness are more important than a plan.

For us the commando like thing is more about just loving the park and wanting to do ALL THE THINGS not because of the cost, but because we love what we have done and there is so much more to see!

 

[DisPup75]

For me, "commando" is someone rope-dropping, making rides the top priority, park-hopping, FP-ing as much as possible, and/or closing down the parks every night. Doesn't really have anything to do with resort choice and dining philosophy. Someone who stays at a value resort or off-site, brings own food, avoids expensive sit-down meals, etc. would maybe fall under the "budget" category.

Agreed 100%. We are true gung ho commandos, but we also stay only at CR. The 10 minute walk makes it easier to be commandos with a little guy who still needs the occasional nap. We can walk back so he can rest, then be back in the parks 10 minutes after he wakes up. Also we like signature ADRs. Commando when done right allows you to knock off your whole itinerary and still have time to hit up some good ADRs. In fact going for the Golden Spoon is probably the exact definition of something someone commando would do.

Also totally agree with this. I see commando as being all about experiencing as many attractions and, well, experiences, as possible. Dining and resort choice might be part of this. My most commando trip ever involved the Deluxe Dining Plan and a suite at the Grand Floridian - we opened and closed the parks in addition to eating at every Signature that trip.

Our more usual trips.... We are hard core rope drop commandos so we can be spontaneous types in the afternoon and evening. My relatives hate my scheduling so we don't travel with them. We have friends who are total resort types and want to go with us on our next trip; I know we will clash and I'm actively trying to figure out how to deal with it.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

We are commandos. We always hit RD and usually close the park down. However, we also enjoy TS and plan quite a bit of dining. We usually stay at mom and dad's, but this trip we are staying a few nights at the cabins at FW, so we have a couple of relaxing days planned for a change. One day is breakfast at Trail's End, swimming, horseback riding, dinner at Hoop Dee Doo, campfire and movie. The next day kills me as we have nothing planned but swimming. I want to head over to a park late afternoon, but my sister just wants to chill around the pool.

 

[xlsm]

I feel like we fit all three categories, I guess.

I've never stayed anywhere but Deluxe (Wilderness Lodge every time!), but I wouldn't hesitate to book a Mod or Value if we had to.
We always hit rope drop, do ADRs 180 in advance, do the FPs 60 days in advance, pick my park days based around crowd calendars. But...we also leave midday most of the time, and if we don't, we leave the parks right after an early dinner. We get hot and tired, and sometimes wet if we get caught in the rain. I feel like I need the afternoon recharge of a swim or nap and a shower.
We like ADRs, but we don't do *too* many of them. The dining plan offers no value to us, though. There are days when we have nothing else planned besides our FPs. We don't play "bus roulette" or anything, but if we did, we'd be able to pull it off and have a good time. I feel like anyone who's been more than a couple of times should be able to do that, too.

So, to conclude, I'd be willing to stay at any level (but always onsite), I'd be willing to skip ADRs (except 'Ohana), I love hanging out at the resort (and we usually have at least one or two nights in), but you'll never be able to get me away from rope drop!! The first two hours are prime touring time!

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I like to arrive at rope drop, get a lot of rides in when it is less crowded. Have a not rushed but not too long of a lunch and finish up and go back to the room for some downtime at the pool. So I am not a open to close person.