WDW Commando Club

[Disney Commando]

I'd like to join. My family says I'm Disney-obsessed. I booked as soon as the calendar opened for August, and every night I get to sleep by going through my play by play for the 12-day trip. I love this thread!

You are Member #195 This is normal I know I do it:good vibes When in August are you going, Myself & Brian will be there Aug 19-26

 

[tpettie]

WOOHOOO!!!!!!!! THANKS

So... I have to ask. Am I the only one who spends hours and hours and hours running plan after plan on RideMax and using TouringPans, only to get to the park with a very limited shell of a plan for the first day or two, and then create and adjust plans on the fly? I'm questioning whether the costs of these subscriptions are worth it but I think I really *do* glean info from the planning, which I use in "formulation on the fly." Just wondering about the rest of the commandos?

I spend months doing this I do in on hypothetical park time and best park day from the year before tweaking it to the Day of the week we are going...

Then I do it all over again when the park hours come out and the sites up dated their predictions I compile all the sites "best / worst" parks into a spreadsheet and then look the the average from all of them for the best park/day...

I know I have a problem but really it is my Happy Place

Then I ridemax it all re ridemax it to tweak the plan the way I want it and threaten my family I WILL leave you behind if you don't comply

Don't even get me started on the bathroom breaks

 

[Disney Commando]

So... I have to ask. Am I the only one who spends hours and hours and hours running plan after plan on RideMax and using TouringPans, only to get to the park with a very limited shell of a plan for the first day or two, and then create and adjust plans on the fly? I'm questioning whether the costs of these subscriptions are worth it but I think I really *do* glean info from the planning, which I use in "formulation on the fly." Just wondering about the rest of the commandos?

I myself do not use any of them, I never even looked at them, I like to do it the old school way by figuring out myself, I'm not saying RideMax & TouringPans are all the other ones are bad, they probably have a lot of great tips & ideas, The problem I have with them is that everyone else who reads them also know the info, IMO that levels the playing field too much for my liking, I'd rather be a little more adventurous and go out of the box a bit, I've seen a lot of people out in the parks following a ABC type plan, that follow it without being flexible, and if they run into a delay they are like deer in headlights Unlike us Commandos that plan so much we have back up plans for back up plans

 

[Disney Commando]

Don't even get me started on the bathroom breaks

 

[dvczerfs]

I myself do not use any of them, I never even looked at them, I like to do it the old school way by figuring out myself, I'm not saying RideMax & TouringPans are all the other ones are bad, they probably have a lot of great tips & ideas, The problem I have with them is that everyone else who reads them also know the info, IMO that levels the playing field too much for my liking, I'd rather be a little more adventurous and go out of the box a bit, I've seen a lot of people out in the parks following a ABC type plan, that follow it without being flexible, and if they run into a delay they are like deer in headlights Unlike us Commandos that plan so much we have back up plans for back up plans

im with ron. i dont even have,subscibe or read any of those. did you ever see the people walking around reading the wdw books on how to do the parks?? TO LATE NOW LADY!!!!
i have what day we go where and all rope drops. while waiting at the rope before the park opens, someone will ask, which way??? someone picks and thats all that needs to be said.

 

[BELLEDOZER]

Typically we'll target certain rides that we want to do that day, and then once we hit the parks are flexible in which order we hit them. In heavy crowds we take advantage of the Fast Pass system, and it works for us. Once we've done those rides, we'll make a decision about which ones we want to do again, and slowly work our way towards them with many detours along the way. I tend to over plan any trip to the absolute max. But once we leave for the trip, I don't have barely any stress, and leave that to DH. Who, with the last 2 weeks before the trip is in severe panic mode driving me crazy with all the questions confirming that everything is ready for the trip. This is typical for us, but he knows that I'll have everything under control and ready for the trip, although he tends to pack the night before.
As for the new avatar, I've got a really strange sense of humor, fortunately DH has the same sense of humor, although mine tends to be a little more weird than his. I'm always bugging the kids, saying that I'm Evil in a good way, as I'm always plotting against them in different ways, so it fits.

 

[AirGoofy]

I spend months doing this I do in on hypothetical park time and best park day from the year before tweaking it to the Day of the week we are going...

Then I do it all over again when the park hours come out and the sites up dated their predictions I compile all the sites "best / worst" parks into a spreadsheet and then look the the average from all of them for the best park/day...

I know I have a problem but really it is my Happy Place

Then I ridemax it all re ridemax it to tweak the plan the way I want it and threaten my family I WILL leave you behind if you don't comply

Don't even get me started on the bathroom breaks

Hey, the happy place is a good place. What are bathroom breaks?

im with ron. i dont even have,subscibe or read any of those. did you ever see the people walking around reading the wdw books on how to do the parks?? TO LATE NOW LADY!!!!
i have what day we go where and all rope drops. while waiting at the rope before the park opens, someone will ask, which way??? someone picks and thats all that needs to be said.

I don't check them either. But, after last trip, wish we had. We were at MK on the only weekday (not counting Friday) that did not have a MNSSHP. We had an ADR at CRT at 8:00 AM, so first in park. I also did the old FP strategy of collecting them all favorite rides and to hoard for later that day.

Well, it was the perfect storm. Since it rained earlier in the week and only non MNSSHP day, the Brazil tour groups were there, locals were there, and a big check in day from a Disney Cruise. MK hit park capacity, but as we were waiting for Rapunzel and Tianna, we didn't realize it until the 3:00 parade.

If we had checked earlier, we could have added a PH and went to another Park for the day. Fortunately, I had all the FP and we moved between the mountains. Maybe next time.

 

[dorchrislen]

You are Member #195 This is normal I know I do it:good vibes When in August are you going, Myself & Brian will be there Aug 19-26

My DS(11) and I (DW) are going Aug. 14-26. Park days are 15-25. We will also be at RD at HS on Aug. 21 st, but not planning JTA, though my son is a huge Star Wars fan.
Wed. aug. 15 - Mk
thurs. - BB, then eve at EP
Fri. - TL
Sat. - AK
Sun. - MK morn, then DQ
Mon. - EP
Tues. - HS
Wed. - MK
Thurs. - EP
Fri. - AK
Sat. - HS with am EMH

No PH. We only get to go once every year or year and a half, so we fit in as much as possible.

We are from NV so the time difference makes it hard to do am EMH. Last trip we did TS every day with free dining. This time we just made 3 ADRs and planned midday breaks most days, but may not use them if the "commando" kicks into high gear.

 

[AirGoofy]

My DS(11) and I (DW) are going Aug. 14-26. Park days are 15-25. We will also be at RD at HS on Aug. 21 st, but not planning JTA, though my son is a huge Star Wars fan.
Wed. aug. 15 - Mk
thurs. - BB, then eve at EP
Fri. - TL
Sat. - AK
Sun. - MK morn, then DQ
Mon. - EP
Tues. - HS
Wed. - MK
Thurs. - EP
Fri. - AK
Sat. - HS with am EMH

No PH. We only get to go once every year or year and a half, so we fit in as much as possible.

We are from NV so the time difference makes it hard to do am EMH. Last trip we did TS every day with free dining. This time we just made 3 ADRs and planned midday breaks most days, but may not use them if the "commando" kicks into high gear.

We don't do PH either. Lose too much time in transportation to another park.

 

[Disney Commando]

My DS(11) and I (DW) are going Aug. 14-26. Park days are 15-25. We will also be at RD at HS on Aug. 21 st, but not planning JTA, though my son is a huge Star Wars fan.
Wed. aug. 15 - Mk
thurs. - BB, then eve at EP
Fri. - TL
Sat. - AK
Sun. - MK morn, then DQ
Mon. - EP
Tues. - HS
Wed. - MK
Thurs. - EP
Fri. - AK
Sat. - HS with am EMH

No PH. We only get to go once every year or year and a half, so we fit in as much as possible.

We are from NV so the time difference makes it hard to do am EMH. Last trip we did TS every day with free dining. This time we just made 3 ADRs and planned midday breaks most days, but may not use them if the "commando" kicks into high gear.

Looks like we will be in the same park on Tues 21 (Brian will be there also), I will be starting the day on Fri 24 at AK

 

[Disney Commando]

This is a rough outline of my 1st park of the day for Mon Aug 20th, it will be MK with a 9am rope drop

At 8:30 we will be at the turnstiles, while waiting for rope drop while most of the crowd heads for the hub, I have a few things I got to get done, this is my time to ride the horse drawn trolly up to the hub, then catch whatever vehicle is out that day back to the entrance, while riding I'm looking for Main Street Characters ( Mayor, Fire Chief, Deweey Cheatin' etc) to meet up with while walking back up Main St for rope drop, I do my rope drop at Casey's since the mass majority will head to Tommorowland or Fantasyland, I'm heading for Frontier & Adventureland , I'm heading for the mountains, with a brief pit stop at Sunshine Tree terrace, in the hope Orange Bird is there, if not I'm still going to grab a Orange Bird drink in the little orange, Then it's time to check if we can get a free game at the shooting gallery, then it's off to Splash Mountain grab a FP, and then go on on Thunder Mountain, by the time we get off Thunder Mountain, the FP for SM should be ready to use

After SM, POTC is next, followed by Jungle Criuse & Aladin, Now it's time to relax a little and hope my son can start the show at the Tiki Room, followed by Country Bears, now it's time for any Meet & greets in the area, then it's time to head over for a FP for Space Mountain and something to eat, before our 12noon haircut at Harmony Barbershop and our almost private Dapper Dan's meet & greet

I'll stop here for now by noon I will be able to knock out a nice chunk of the park, without rushing and not much of a crowd

 

[Disney Commando]

I was just reading that they will be testing the Fastpass + system, what a joke, IMO this is what they came up with after late risers complained that the fast passes were gone I can't really foresee myself really using this system since it takes out the whole fun factor of achieving the goal of getting on the rides in the first place

I understand they want everyone to get a chance of a quick wait, but IMO this is catering to the lazy, I hope they charge for this

 

[AirGoofy]

We've done your proposed route, the tomorrowland plan, and the fantasy land first.

Pros:
Adventureland first - both mountains.
Tomorrowland - Space Mountain FP, ride it, and ride later with FP
Fantasyland - Peter Pan/ Dumbo with no wait

Now that Dumbo is doubling, I wonder if the wait will be less. The new stuff at Winnie the Pooh was fun if there had been a wait.

 

[Disney Commando]

We've done your proposed route, the tomorrowland plan, and the fantasy land first.

Pros:
Adventureland first - both mountains.
Tomorrowland - Space Mountain FP, ride it, and ride later with FP
Fantasyland - Peter Pan/ Dumbo with no wait

Now that Dumbo is doubling, I wonder if the wait will be less. The new stuff at Winnie the Pooh was fun if there had been a wait.

Just going to add a little to the pros

Adventureland- Both mountains, POTC, & HM although I like that one at night & Jungle Cruise

Tomorrowland Space Moutain FP, then Space Ranger Spin

Fantasyland has got to be the hardest since all the small kids want to do this 1st, I have found during any parade or during the fireworks is the best time, but P.M. EMH rules for this since most turn in early, Peter Pan is a tough sell has a long line no matter what time you go by, but when you really think about it and compare Fantasyland to the rest of the rides in the park, it's the kiddie section, we will do all of them to bring back fond memories but I will not wait on a big line for them, It would have really been great if they added Mr Toad's wild Ride or 20,000 leagues back into the line up for the new Fantasyland, I think it would have done well if updated

In a recap, where you start depends on your family

If you have small children that are not tall enough to ride a lot of rides, Fantasyland is the place to start, if your kids are tall enough to get on most of the rides it's between Tommorrowland or Adventureland side, Myself I go for the Adventureland side basically because of 2 reasons, 1- Most people tend to go right as force of habit (right handed) 2 - there are more rides on the Adventureland side that could be a long wait ( Splash Mountain, Thunder Moutain, POTC, HM, Jungle Cruise) compared to (Space Mountain, Space Ranger Spin & Speedway) all the rest of the rides in those sections are basically line moving rides that a mass amount of guests get on at one time

No matter what Disney Park you go to it basically is a right or left first issue

 

[Pmctn]

Almost game time. Got the butterflies in the stomach Leave tomorrow and so far so good. The kids are consistently waking up on their own about 5:30 to 5:45 Central time. Hopefully this keeps up on Thursday morning for RD at MK.

Multiple copies of our TP printed out for the dw and dgp's. A copy of my calculating spreadsheet stored in my phone. I'll be the guy with the green backpack

 

[AirGoofy]

Just going to add a little to the pros

Adventureland- Both mountains, POTC, & HM although I like that one at night & Jungle Cruise

Tomorrowland Space Moutain FP, then Space Ranger Spin

Fantasyland has got to be the hardest since all the small kids want to do this 1st, I have found during any parade or during the fireworks is the best time, but P.M. EMH rules for this since most turn in early, Peter Pan is a tough sell has a long line no matter what time you go by, but when you really think about it and compare Fantasyland to the rest of the rides in the park, it's the kiddie section, we will do all of them to bring back fond memories but I will not wait on a big line for them, It would have really been great if they added Mr Toad's wild Ride or 20,000 leagues back into the line up for the new Fantasyland, I think it would have done well if updated

In a recap, where you start depends on your family

If you have small children that are not tall enough to ride a lot of rides, Fantasyland is the place to start, if your kids are tall enough to get on most of the rides it's between Tommorrowland or Adventureland side, Myself I go for the Adventureland side basically because of 2 reasons, 1- Most people tend to go right as force of habit (right handed) 2 - there are more rides on the Adventureland side that could be a long wait ( Splash Mountain, Thunder Moutain, POTC, HM, Jungle Cruise) compared to (Space Mountain, Space Ranger Spin & Speedway) all the rest of the rides in those sections are basically line moving rides that a mass amount of guests get on at one time

No matter what Disney Park you go to it basically is a right or left first issue

Agree. We switch them up depending on our mood. We did fantasyland last year. Usually, we do Tomorrowland or Adventureland. I like Astro Orbiter which has no lines early, but it is nicer at night. Splash Mountain is better in the heat of the day (cooler). We also switch up parades. This year, it is two MNSSHPs so no early ADR. We don't do characters - just rides.

Almost game time. Got the butterflies in the stomach Leave tomorrow and so far so good. The kids are consistently waking up on their own about 5:30 to 5:45 Central time. Hopefully this keeps up on Thursday morning for RD at MK.

Multiple copies of our TP printed out for the dw and dgp's. A copy of my calculating spreadsheet stored in my phone. I'll be the guy with the green backpack

Have a great trip. I like having my info in phone. So much more convenient.

 

[Therinian]

May I join? I'm a mid-grade Commando, I guess.

I schedule wake up, eating, and leaving-the-hotel times, meet-up times and places, times to eat lunch, and watch fireworks (and where). I make t-shirts with everyone's names, make sure everyone's wearing the same color so they're easier for me to spot, and I still have the itinerary (colored index cards, laminated, and bound together with a key ring!) from 2002 that everyone laughs at.

I haven't planned visits to the attractions down to the minute, so does that mean I still have much to learn?

 

[twokids0204]

May I join? I'm a mid-grade Commando, I guess.

I schedule wake up, eating, and leaving-the-hotel times, meet-up times and places, times to eat lunch, and watch fireworks (and where). I make t-shirts with everyone's names, make sure everyone's wearing the same color so they're easier for me to spot, and I still have the itinerary (colored index cards, laminated, and bound together with a key ring!) from 2002 that everyone laughs at.

I haven't planned visits to the attractions down to the minute, so does that mean I still have much to learn?

Commando's don't plan visits down to the minute, they adapt....so you fit right in. And you are quite an organized Commando to I might add.

 

[Therinian]

Thank you for the welcome!

Yes, I try to be organized when traveling. I'm married to an Eagle Scout, and the "Be Prepared" motto has rubbed off on me. I carry around a tool bag that has everything I need for trips: first aid kit, sewing kit, duct tape, candy, Spanish phrase book, notebook, scissors (I never get on planes anymore, lol), stain wipes, soap... all the good stuff. I don't bring this bag into the parks; I leave it in the car, just in case!

Adapting in the parks is very much required, imo. I can I just can't imagine scheduling ride times, unless I have a FP.... and they are bringing in some new FP system, aren't they?

PS: I have yet to witness a parade in any of the parks. We usually take the time to hit the rides while others gawk at the floats and characters.

 

[Disney Commando]

May I join? I'm a mid-grade Commando, I guess.

I schedule wake up, eating, and leaving-the-hotel times, meet-up times and places, times to eat lunch, and watch fireworks (and where). I make t-shirts with everyone's names, make sure everyone's wearing the same color so they're easier for me to spot, and I still have the itinerary (colored index cards, laminated, and bound together with a key ring!) from 2002 that everyone laughs at.

I haven't planned visits to the attractions down to the minute, so does that mean I still have much to learn?

You are Member #196, I don't think I can add much to Brian's welcome so I'll leave it at that

Commando's don't plan visits down to the minute, they adapt....so you fit right in. And you are quite an organized Commando to I might add.

Nicely Put