Touring Plan, Go with the Flow, or a Mix?

[weregoingtodw]

I've been studying my Unofficial Guide and am entranced by all the choices! However, I'm not sure it will work for us this time, at least for the MK & AK days, since there will be eight of us touring on those days (ranging in age from my mom to my 15mo niece).

What have you found works best? We'll be there for the second week of May. We're going to try to open AK on our AK day, but likely won't do the same for MK, as we're going on a pm EMH day.

 

[iankh]

I'm more of go with the flow than a comando. I have been to WDW many times. I really just compile my list of "musts" for the trip and I'm quite happy keeping to that.

I have never been let down. I always get everything on my list and a rather layed back and enjoyable time too.

 

[henrylovespooh]

We do a mix. I usually micromanage a plan for one day at MK because it has the most "must-do" rides for us. We usually go to WDW for a week and go to MK at least three times (full or half day) so once we've hit all the must-do's, we then take it easy. We definitely go with the flow in Epcot, AK and MGM - no real commando approach.

If possible, I like to get to the parks at opening because the crowds are smaller. It's truly wonderful. I don't think I would go to MK if I didn't go first thing in the morning.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I do a combination of both.

Since planning is one of my hobbies, I of course make very detailed plans of what attractions I want to see the most, where, and when.

Then, when I get there, I use that as a guideline and then just do whatever feels right. I may even totally change parks - I just mark down what I missed doing and work it in later.

So I'm for being a balanced commando - I run the plan, it doesn't run me. I'm just someone who likes to be prepared, and enjoys preparation, so I find that the combination of that with a "go where the wind takes me (and the crowds aren't)" works well.

Even if you don't have specific plans for specific days, you should REALLY get ahold of maps before hand so you at least know where most everything is. Know where the big lines form, and work around them.

The only people I know that have a bad time at WDW are those that arrive clueless and end up wasting time or having a bad trip because they just aren't very aware of where they are going. I read in a thread here once about someone who didn't realize that the rides in Fantasyland were rides inside the buildings!

It's all what feels good for you. If you are a planner and your family revolts, you can keep the plan and adjustments in your head and make it appear spontanious - it just adds to the magic.

N.E.D.

 

[iankh]

... If you are a planner and your family revolts, you can keep the plan and adjustments in your head and make it appear spontanious - it just adds to the magic.

N.E.D.

I realized that I think that's what I do. I am a planner, but there is usually a revolt "we don't want to get up early ..." I suppose I ultimately do drive the herd once we're in the parks.

 

[newholidayx2]

Im thinking of cutting our 14 park days down to 11 - want to return w/our APs next yr too
Still thinking ea park once at their regular opening (not doing early morns)
ea park once at their late closings (AK twice at late closing)
and ea park (not AK) at their reg closings
only day doing 2 parks would be 1 day start at MK, end w/late AK

 

[lajones81]

I look at the Touring Plan, but make my own schedule. Of course, I bring that schedule with, but I don't go totally commando. The point is to have fun!

 

[juliesue]

To use an old quote - "All things in Moderation".

I agree that a mix of plan and spontaneous is the best way to go. If you go with no outline at all, you are just going to spend all your time trying to make decisions. But, I have certainly met people and have seen posts about "commando" vacationers that seem to miss all the magic trying to fulfill the plan.

We go with a basic outline of which park on what day. We have been there a number of times, so we know what we can skip or what is just a "nice-to-do" versus a must-do. If the park is much more crowded than we expected, we change the plan and try again later. (Of course having 7-8 days gives us more freedom to do that). Also, we take advantage of fast pass as MUCH as possible.

We used to try to get to parks at opening under the assumption that the crowds were smaller. We have given this up (partially due to a mutiny from our DD and DS). We get there usually no later than 10:00 and do not have to fight a crowded bus, the lines of people waiting to get in, or see those people who feel the need to run to through the park to be the first one on a ride.

In our experience, the crowds are actually much smaller from 3:00 - 6:00 in the afternoon. Many families are leaving during this time to take a much needed break, get ready for dinner, etc. Also, we often walk onto rides during the parades, since a large number of people are in the center of the park during this time.