I don't think I even implied I was complaining about anything! In fact I acknowledged that a relaxed, spur-of-the-moment strategy will necessarily have limitations in what can be done; I accept that. I was hoping to get some constructive opinions on how to approach things, touring-wise, if I want to skip rope drops, etc. Thanks to those that have provided some ideas!
Keep in mind the audience you're writing to here. By default, this is probably the top 5% of Disney World guests in terms of the amount of planning done. So naturally the response you might get when asking a planner if not planning would be ok -- is that it would not. After all, we all plan because we want to be ahead of the crowd, etc. Why did you come out here? To get some sort of edge over everyone else presumably...
My question is; Are there any plans for people who like a more relaxed Disney vacation, and yet still want to avoid lines and maximize attractions experiences, as much as possible? I fully understand that sleeping late and arriving well after rope drop will limit possibilities, but that's Ok. But I think that there must be some good advice for those that like to maybe arrive later, pick parks on the day of visit, etc. and that want to do as well as they can minimizing waits given the limitations they've accepted.
I guess you just have to decide what it is you're asking! Do you want the more relaxed unplanned trip? Here you are asking about how to avoid lines and maximize attractions... Maximizing Rides and having a relaxed unplanned trip are generally opposite approaches on a spectrum -- all perfectly good! We are kind of in the middle.
I plan a lot, but we go with our family and lots of kids, so it's not like we're power tourers running from one ride to the next. To me, that level of planning sounds awful. But we also don't just show up empty handed and w/o an idea of what we want to do. As a result, I get my kids on everything we want, and into any restaurant we want... I lean toward doing more planning now, then having those plans as a baseline while we're there, but doing pretty much whatever we want on the fly. Thus the planning for me is not restrictive, but provides options.
Because we walk at a kid pace and do kid things, I'll plan in 2 hours in the mornings to just do whatever. Ride some rides, eat breakfast, etc. Things a power rider might think are a complete waste of time... but with kids, are essential. We'll take our FP's and a lunch midday, and plan to not ride much else during that time. We'll build in a sit-down meal per day, which is planned... but that gives us one staple thing we can all meet up and do together (group of 10).
Just plan as much as you want! The tools are here to plan what you want, and wing the rest. There is no bad way to plan a trip to Disney World.
Also, find a facebook group for the month you're going.