What are your regrets about your last trip?

[cindyfan]

jeleebeene, I know how you feel.
Everyone should be able to enjoy WDW the way they want.
We had one trip back in '89 that Dear Mom paid for....It was her, me, DH, DD, Brother and his crew....total of 8.
Mom insisted we all "Keep together!" By the 2nd day my DD who was 12 was having such a HORRIBLE time !!! My nieces were 5 and 7 and couldn't keep up, so we had to go at such a slow pace.
And the worst thing was that Mom insisted on sit-down meals 3 times a day!!! At EXACTLY 9am, Noon, and 5pm!!! What a waste of time!! We simply don't eat that much! Mom spent most of her time asking "Where do you want to eat???"!!! How annoying! And DD just kept saying "who cares.....I'm NOT HUNGRY!"
On the 3rd day.....I had to stand up to her for DD sake! We broke off and did our own thing the next 2 days and the last day spent with them. Mom pouted for a day, but got over it.

We really laugh about it now.....and some of the pictures we have are absolutely HISTERICAL!!! The looks on everyone's faces!! If looks could kill!!


But get this......2 yrs ago.....Me, DH, 9 yo DD and now 23 yo DD and boyfriend went.....I foot the bill.
Well, DD and her boyfriend followed us around like lost puppies!! Drove me NUTS!! After the first day....I had to remind her of our trip in '89!! Then told her "I am not your tour guide!" She got the point. The rest of the 7 days were FANTASTIC!!! We spent some days together others not. But we had alot more stories and experiences to share!!!

We are all going together again in June. Wish us luck!! LOL

 

[ebaynut31]

I regret doing the Land/Sea package. I don't think I will do the two together again. We had so much booked while on land, including going to MK for Halloween Night which if you ever have a chance, it's a MUST DO!!!! It was so fun seeing everyone dressed up and the parade and the fireworks!! And the candy, oh the candy. We left for the cruise on 11/1 and I had to buy a tote bag just for candy! And I booked so much while in Nassau and Castaway Cay that we were totally exhausted at the end of our "vacation". I'm glad we did both though. I am going in June for 1 week at CSR and doing the 3-day Cruise in August. We'll see how that goes.
Karen

 

[froggy12]

Let's see....i went to WDW in September. It was me ( 13 ), Dad, Mom, little bro, gramma, papa. We stayed at Carribean Beach. The resort was awesome, but we were there during 9/11. That was scary. We were shopping in down town disney. I took my little brother ( 5 ) over to Lego Land and there were signs that said it was closed. When I went back into the big disney store that my mom and gramma were shopping in, a worker came over and told us we were being bombed and WDW was a target. Being told that you are going to be bombed any minute is kind of scary! Turns out, it wasn't the truth. Then another lady said that there were fires is chicago. Another false alarm. We had no idea what was REALLY happening. All we knew was that we had to make our purchases and get out of the store fast! My dad and my papa were golfing and they had to get off of the golf course. We were in an emergancy lock down in our resort. The characters came to the resort to get peoples' minds off of "things". When we got back to the room we watched the news. They brought a big screen tv into the food court. Everyone was panicing. I have to say that the employies were extra friendly. My whole family went swimming that night. Thank god the pools were open! The next day we went to epcot. At the gates they searched through our bags to see if we were criminals. Another scary thing. If I could have changed one thing, I would have stopped the terrorists, but obviously that couldn't have happened. I also wish we could have stayed longer. My mom just decided that we are going back to Disney ( staying at CS ) for 2 weeks in June! YEA!!!!....can't wait!

 

[kimmar067]

sounds like you are quite a BRAVE young person!!! I am sending Xtra magical PIXIE DUST your way* * * * * you deserve to have a wonderful time at WDW!!!!!

 

[DisneyVillans]

Our biggest regret is not doing Typhoon Lagoon. We had a day planned to go there on our first two trips. Both times we decided to do something else. This trip - Typhoon Lagoon is the first thing we are doing.

Last trip we went to IOA. We rode Dueling Dragons first. Nobody wanted to do the Hulk afterwards. This time - we are riding Hulk before anything else!

 

[Luv2Roam]

I keep forgetting to stand under the umbrella at MGM!

The first trip, January '01, we went with some dear friends I truly love and we get along great. The only downside was they are 20+ years older than DH & I. The friend's DH can keep up easily. My friend -- well, she is a retired dawdler.
We did separate one day, but near the end of the trip we just had to start leaving her/her DH behind. She was walking a pace of a one year old (or 90 year old). And it's nice to stop and smell the roses, but....
We should have planned a little more apart than we did.

This last trip (January '02) we made a couple mistakes I would not do again. First, because I wanted to go to the Disney outlet and the HRC stores, we rented a car for a few days. It was much more bothersome driving around off property than it was worth.
The *crowds* were non-existant, except on the highway. Then it was stop and go like L.A. on a very bad day. (If not worse.)
We were tired from the flight, frustrated, stressed and became the Bickerson's.
Then to top if off, because we ran around TOO MUCH the first day (early rising, flying in, running/driving around, Poly pin meet, etc) DH didn't rest, and didn't drink near enough water, and we ate way off schedule.
He had his miles in for the '02 WDW marathon and was injury free. (Unlike the previous year.) Because of tired, stress and dehydration, he developed viral flu-like symptoms half way through the marathon.
He did finish, but only by walking half the marathon. And I have the finish photo to prove he looked like crap afterwards!
He was dehydrated even more, pale, weak, and physically sick.
Luckily I had Pepto and other OTC meds and he recouped that evening.

For the '03 marathon, we are flying in Friday, not the day before the marathon.

 

[Kellym]

In 2000 we stayed at Dixie Landings. When we left to go to the parks I wish that we would have taken our swimsuits and put them in a locker. Then in the afternoon when it was so hot we could have hopped over to one of the waterparks instead of having to go back to the room, change and then go to the waterpark.

 

[melindaandrob]

Let's see not really regrets but next time I'm gonna's!

Next time I'm gonna..... get the AP instead of the park hopper.
........stay an extra few days (9 wasn't enough)
........eat at more Disney restaurants. (more ps's)
........see Fantasmic.
.........buy myself the Disney underwear
........ride big thunder mountain. (how did that happen, I didn't??)
.......have ds hair cut at the barbershop on Main Street
.......ride the car down mainstreet
.......eat more banana stuffed french toast at POR
I miss Disney!!! That's it I'm going back!!

 

[DisneyVirginia]

After staying on site for many years, we made the mistake of renting a very nice and spacious house off site during the Holidays. For many, maybe even most, a good value. But as a vacation--what's the point? It was like being at home instead of in the middle of the fun. Guess we have to stay off-site every decade or so, just to relearn the lesson.

 

[Antonia]

Here are my regrets:

1) Went in January - was too cold to enjoy the pool and the water parks and some times almost too cold to enjoy the parks.
The water mice on Bay lake was closed every day but one due to the cold weather.

2) Took DS's friend - they were good friends in January, but by March were no longer friends and he is in all our pictures. Wish we had just gone as a family now that I look back at the pictures.

3) Was traveling with 2 teenage boys and never did see the snow globe parade or the Hall of Presidents.

4) Stayed 2 nights at Dolphin (to save money) and moved to WL for 4 - wish we had done all 6 at WL and just spent the money

5) Made more PS - there were so many people and it was cold - everyone was tryiong to eat in sit-down restaurants it seemed

Stuff I do not regret:

1) Ate 3 times in the Main Street Bakery

2) Went to e-night even though it was chilly - no crowds and at the end we were among just 8 visitors left in the park - we were on Main Street and it was magical - then we were the only people on the monorail and got to ride up front

3) Bought all our pictures on ToT, Splash Mountain and RNR coaster - they are funny

We will go again - in a warmer month and we will not take a friend and we won't switch resorts.

 

[kimmar067]

Originally posted by DisneyVirginia
After staying on site for many years, we made the mistake of renting a very nice and spacious house off site during the Holidays. For many, maybe even most, a good value. But as a vacation--what's the point? It was like being at home instead of in the middle of the fun. Guess we have to stay off-site every decade or so, just to relearn the lesson.

I'm with YOU, DisneyVirginia!!! If I have to prepare a meal, make a bed, clean a bathroom, or any other chore, then to me it is NOT a vacation!!!!

 

[cindala]

Originally posted by jeleebeene
My husband and I paid for our vacation, and wanted to do things that we liked, as well as try to accomodate everyone else. It was stressful with 11 people, trying to eat together, ride rides together. [/B]

I agree!! Traveling with a lot of people can take all the fun out of vacation! It's important to set the rules with everyone before you go. There is another family that we usually go to Disney with, and we work together fine. We do what we want together, and go off on our own when we want. Never any problems. (Unfortunately, they didn't go with us last year)

But twice, there were an additional 8 people, totaling 16 of us! It became too crazy to tour the parks together, and get PS's together, that my DH and I just said, "we'll catch up with you later!"
Vacation is suppose to be fun, and not stressful!!
It can work going with other people, and long as they all agree on the rules, and as long as there aren't too many of you!!!

 

[tink1953]

Although we had a great time there were some disappointments too.

1. We really regreted doing Hoop Dee Doo...we thought it was not worth the price and were very disappointed with it.

2. Going to M. K. on a Saturday in October.....mistake, it was packed with locals. It was my birthday and I wanted to celebrate it in Magic Kingdom.

3. Waiting for the 1st Spectromagic parade instead of catching the late one.....we actually watched both because we couldn't see the first one.

4. Should have taken more pictures with us in them!! We always seem to make this mistake, but you don't know until you get home.

5. Taking to much into the park (overpacked fannypack with things I didn't need)

We still had a wonderful 10 days and the good definately out weighed the regrets!!

 

[CdnDisneyFan]

My regrets were:

1: Booking thru Sears Travel
2: Staying at Best Western Kissimmee (way in the middle of nowhere)
3: Flying charter, and getting into MCO late at night, and getting back to Detroit late at night
4: Not wearing comfortable shoes (I ended up buying a pair of sneakers at the Outlet Mall, BAD IDEA!!)
5: Not bringing travellers checks
6: All of the above

Jules

 

[CdnDisneyFan]

One more regret, that my friend and I had done Epcot, and that Space Mountain had been open when we were there.

Jules

 

[Kimkimba]

I got married! Private wedding with just my then spouse and dd. Beautiful pics inside at the GF (it rained!). 9 months later I was divorced. Spent lots of $$$$$. Fairytale wedding, but to wrong guy. Now I'm married to my prince charming - this wedding cost was $0 (maybe $35 for the marriage license) - we eloped almost 5 years ago. Third times the charm :!) But I still love Mickey and will always believe in FairyTales.

 

[IndyWDWfan]

Thank you everyone for your insights-- both the positive and not-so-positive aspects of The World. I have truely leared alot about planning our next trip and then again, not doing as much planning...just enjoying!

 

[cinlee3]

1. I would have liked 1-2 more days in the parks so we could have park hopped.

2. Didn't spend enough time in World Showcase - I would have done more shopping and eaten more food.

3. I forgot to pack my comfortable shoes - Had to wear my hard-sole mules - Ouch!! I keep checking Badshoe.com for my picture.

4. Didn't go back to see Fantasmic on NYE when the rest of my family wanted to leave MGM at 7:00pm

5. Didn't buy a Victorian Mickey Mouse to go with my Minnie but I had my friend pick one up for me when she went a few months later.

 

[jeannej]

I two regrets...............that we didn't spend about two more days
to just enjoy the resort we were staying in...Coronada Springs and that I didn't talk my husband into staying on a congierge floor of either the Beach Club or Wilderness Lodge............we got a price that was exceptional.

Jeanne

 

[CherylA]

These are the things I learned over multiple trips

1- not to go in Feb, too cold. I don't like to wear a scarf on vacation

2- Don't travel with people other than your immediate family. If you do get rooms at different resorts and meet up a few times along the way

3- This one is totally just us. I know many people like to have a lot of PS and after all the time I spent reading the restaurant reviews I felt the need to eat at all these wonderful places but it made our trip stressed trying to make all the PS's and we spent more money than we would have liked and ended up eating at times when we weren't hungry. Now I'll make PS for just character meals (1 or 2)

4- I need a car. So many people raved about the towncar transportation and how nice it was to not have to drive and to use Disney transportation but I thought it was hell. DH and I need our freedom!

5- Don't make an itinerary. We have been enough times that we know what we want to do. Leaving exct timing up in the air makes for a much more fun for us!