Vacation Style/Touring Plans?

[mello]

It seems that most DVCers change vacation styles, usually going from commando to laid back after joining. But when you bring folks who've never been and may never go again, do you change your style to accommodate that? Or is that silly to do?

What I'm wondering is this:
We'll be there from Mother's day weekend to Memorial day weekend with lots of people coming and going, many of whom are first-timers, on a tight schedule, who will want to "see it all". While most of the time shouldn't be too crowded, I know the two weekends I mentioned will be crazy for sure. Should I have a touring plan for those times?

We ourselves are not commando type folks, but I want our guests to have a good time without spending too much time in lines and fighting crowds. The more I think about it, the more I think I need to consult the least crowded park charts and touring plan sites. Am I being paranoid? Have any of you actually used touring plans, and if so, do they really work? What do you think?

 

[dianeschlicht]

We don't use touring plans anymore, but I have no problem giving friends a plan to follow when they are with us. We do tend to do more when we have newbies with us, but I tend to give them the plan, and then join them when I feel like it.

 

[KandiB47]

Last vacation I started off commando style because I wanted my mom (who has never been to Disney) to see everything. She was worn out by the second day and actually spend some mornings sleeping in after that.

With my experience, I will do things differently with newbie guests in the future. Some people are shocked by the pace of a Disney vacation vs. the ones they have done before Next time I will let my "newbies" set the pace.

 

[KandiB47]

Have any of you actually used touring plans, and if so, do they really work? What do you think?

I always use the Unofficial Guide to WDW for touring plans. Yes, they really work. The main point is: get up early before everybody else does

 

[OurDogCisco]

Nope... I still use other sources especially the least crowded park schedules Even though I own DVC I still travel mainly during school holidays so, I find it worth the cost to buy.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Some people are shocked by the pace of a Disney vacation vs. the ones they have done before Next time I will let my "newbies" set the pace.

Too funny - this totally happened to me! I took my fiance on his first trip to Disney 5 years ago. Somehow he thought it would mostly be a sit by the pool type of thing with a stroll or two through the parks. He came back telling everyone how crazy I was....up early, tearing thru the parks etc, etc. He just knew that I was the exception to how you were supposed to do Disney. Well, everyone he told this to just looked at him all funny and told him that's exactly how it's done! The poor guy just couldn't believe it and got no sympathy about his complaints. We did still get married though, we have been back 3 more times and he's probably more apt to ask when we are going back than I am and we're looking at buying DVC! A great relief since I thought I had practically killed him on the first visit. (We won't go into the footwear he brought along )

Last trip I did try a planning software and have to say that it seemed very on - and sometimes we even got ahead and could fit in more than we planned. We were there in the 3rd week of Dec so it was starting to pick up for Xmas. Of course I find the whole operation of Disney fascinating, so to use this software was also just kind of a fun thing to try out, but it did do well.

 

[aidansmommy]

The whole Fam is going with us the next trip. Our plan is to tell them our plans and let them decide if they want to join us or not.....that way we get to see what we want to and they can do whatever their hearts desire(most of them are following us). It's our sons first trip so we want him to have the most fun of all!

 

[ilovefh]

Our style definitely changed. When we stayed at hotels our touring plans were definitely commando. Now we're much more laid back because there isn't the urgency of "will i ever get to come back?" We know we'll be back, at least once a year.

But our touring style does change depending on who is with us and the length of time we're there. In feb we went with my parents, sister and her boyfriend. We slpt in until 8 or 9 most days and got to the park around 11. I didn't make a spreadsheet with park times (which I missed horribly!). We're going in May for four days with my brother and his wife. They don't go nearly as much as we do and we're only going for a few days so I'm sure we'll be commando again.

I think a plan is important. We went without one this year and even though we had a great trip, I felt like we missed alot.

 

[moredisneyplease]

I agree with letting the newbies set the pace! Some people just aren't in to the commando style and will be turned off becuase of the fast pace.

Anytime I've gone w/ someone new I've sat down with them well in advanced, pulled up all of the park information on line, showed them what was out there, and had them tell me what they wanted to see. If they said "I'll let you lead the way because I know I'll be able to see more w/ you in control" then go nuts! If they say (and my BIL did this for his first trip) "I dont really like crowds, would like to relax a good bit, but am interested in these rides" then take it at that pace!

**on a side note, my WDW vacation pace as certainly changed since purchasing DVC but I dont know if that is because 1) the purchage, 2) the fact that I now have small children, or 3) the fact that I've seen almost everything there is to see so I'm not in a huge rush to fit it all in. Whatever the reason, I like this new slower pace because it includes naps, meals in, and time at the resort pool!

 

[photobob]

I have always gone commando but I am trying to change. My wife and I went on a short us only trip for the first time in February and we went way laidback. We actually didn't do that many attractions we mainly just strolled around for a while then caught a bus/monorai/ferryboat/boat to either another park or to our room. My problem on previous trips we've gone with friends or family members and I feel responsible for touring plans and I end up trying to make sure everyone does as much as they want to do. So I think I end up pooping everybody out. My intentions are well meaning and everyone seems to look for me to lead the way. This summer we are going with just my family plus my 21 old son's GF. I'm going to try to just go with the flow and see what everyone wants to do this trip.

Good topic BTW..

 

[mello]

Bob, you hit the nail on the head. Our last trip - just dh and I - we had no plan, except a few dinner ADRs and a massage appointment! We got up late each morning and said, "what do you want to do?" We just wandered around slowly, and we had a great time! But I already know that approach is not going to work for this trip with all our kids, siblings families and parents. There's just so much to fit in for everybody.

I already have 1 ADR per day, and a basic itinerary of one park per day, and I made folders fo them all with lots of info. But I keep thinking I should check that the days I chose for parks are "optimum", and that I should at least let them know what rides to try to go on first, etc.

I think it makes sense how most of you mentioned going at the guests pace. We'll have lots of guests with lots of different paces, lol!

Soooo, with that in mind, I did go ahead and sign up for TGM yesterday. I've been doing lots of reading there, and have already picked up quite a few good tips. I can't really change too much at this late date, but at least I can have some info for those in our group who might want it.