What % of visitors really PLAN their trips?

[wdwnut2]

Obviously all of us on these boards are a little planning obsessed , but I was just wondering how many people really plan their trips to the World. We have some friends that went to WDW last summer for the first time, and besides booking their flight and hotel I don't think they planned at all. My friend mentioned she looked at a guide book in the bookstore, and thought she knew everything she needed to know! I loaned her my Unofficial Guide and she looked at me like I was crazy! (Well, this was about 2 weeks before their trip, so I'm sure she didn't have much time to look at it). So any funny stories about friends/strangers who are planning challenged? What percent of the park do you think is walking around without a clue?

 

[Queenofthecastle]

Hmmmm I would say somewhere around 80%...and I'm happy to say that I'm not in that percentage (anymore!)

Q

 

[GlennandAnn]

We used to really plan our trips. I mean long marathon conversations about when to do this or that, or at what place to eat. Now, we just go with the flow. We are lucky enough to go to WDW several times a year, so we don't feel the need to have set plans. The most planning we would do now would be to get a PS, but that's it. I think you do most of the planning when you stay on the property, because you have to think about where you're going to eat, what time to catch the bus to which park, etc.

Ann

 

[*Fantasia*]

I used to plan everything...not anymore...I've seen what I wanted to see..I am happy...so now...I just kind of go with the flow.

The only thing I would plan is that the EE (or whatever they call it now). I would take advantage of it. This time, I am not going to do any PS. I no longer cry about not getting Cindy's PS. I don't even bother trying. I don't even care anymore if we see Spectromagic or not nor see Fireworks...we've seen it once or twice...so I don't plan anything around them.

My motto now is.."Do whatever...whenever...however..."

 

[Deb & Bill]

I've got my Illuminations cruise. My sunrise safari. My Cinderella's breakfast. Plus three PS for a breakfast and two dinners. We leave in 49 days.

Now my husband's sister just needs to get her daughter's plane reservation down to MCO. Otherwise we will have an extra place on most of these events.

 

[meiandrew]

Hmmmmm?? Without a clue?? Probably around 85% !!

A co-worker of mine went to "The World" a few months ago for the 1st time. Except for the hotel and air, she planned nothing ahead of time. When she got back, she said it was just "ok".
I asked of she had seen certain things...from parades to attractions, to live shows. She must have answered "yes" to 1 out of 10 items. I think WDW is too big to go and just wing it.
You have to plan at least a little, no?

 

[lisajl]

quote
"I think WDW is too big to go and just wing it.
You have to plan at least a little, no?"

I say this is true. While we did not plan every little detail, we did plan some major stuff.

You don't have to be obsessive with planning...just have a good time.

Lisajl

 

[Suedrews]

the first time we went to wdw, we atleast knew what park we were going to that morning....I also had a list of the things we all absolutely wanted to do at that particular park....I was able to get park maps ahead of time, so we also had an idea of where things were, so we weren't wandering aimlessly....knowing the layout of the park saves alot of time....we had a blast & can't wait to go back this August!!!

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by lisajl
quote
You don't have to be obsessive with planning...just have a good time.

To me, this is part of the excitement. Even if the plan just says pool hop and lists which resort. I do an AM, Mid-day & PM section, that's all but I find it makes the anticipantion of the trip great and I don't come home disappointed.

I once saw a post about someone planning in 6 minute intervals and trying to upload to their palm pilot - I'm not that annal

 

[cart-mom]

I think it's pretty high - 80-85.

I have found out so much more from these boards than I ever knew before. And I've been to WDW many times. DH and I used to just drive down and then look for a hotel that he thought 'looked' good. The last time we did that was when we drove down when Andrew hit. Driving up & down 192 in & out of every hotel when no rooms where available. Then we finally found something in LBV (last room). So close to staying at the Swan or Dolphin (probably at rack rate) because we had ressies the next night on site.

I tell everyone to plan but also to have a soft schedule that they can change.

 

[TiggerInNY]

who went to WDW in March for the first time. She has 3 kids, her husband who never went before, and she also went with her sister, brother-in-law and they have 3 kids. I was way more excited than her. She just planned the trip about 2 weeks before they left. Didn't really plan anything but Chef Mickey's (and her and her son didn't even go cause he was sick). Didn't really know where she was staying (POR-Riverside), what the park looked like, what they were going to do or anything like that. Did absolutely no research on anything. I think her sister bought a guide book and read it on the plane down there (2 1/2 hour flight) When they came back I went to see her and asked her tons of questions. She laughed at me because I have a 3-ring binder with all my info in it. She said I was too anal and laughed....She did a lot of stuff, but they are the kind of people who do not leave the parks until they close. No matter how ugly their kids get. That's why her son got sick. Total exhaustion!!!

I'm not planning every minute, but do have an idea of what I DO want to do.

InstImpres...I too saw that post about the 6 minute intervals. Way too time conscious.

With this information, I would have to say that the percentage must be high about ill informed patrons at WDW. I feel it is necessary to do some research and plan ahead for certain things. That's why I love these boards. Someone else's mistake may help someone else out down the road. Or a review might change someone's mind.

Sorry to ramble. It's past my bedtime and I will sign off now. Amazing at how different people really are.

TTFN,
Maria

 

[pegasusEH]

The last time we went we had to fit the Disney Parks, 2 Universal, Seaworld, Busch Gardens & water parks into 14 days (it was going to be our final trip you see). We went armed with an itinerary. Within 2 days we had changed things due to wet weather (I will not go to BBeach in the rain!). It did come in useful though as we could cross off the things we had achieved. If we didn't have the list we could easily have run out of time and missed a park.

This time though we are going with the flow and will take each day as it comes. We are not planning on visiting every park this time and are hoping to have a few days relaxing by the pool.

 

[time101]

I have a friend, about 29 or so, who was raised going to the Disney parks. He and his wife honeymooned there. Now they have a little boy and are planning on going back in February. When I talked with him, he had no idea what a Park Hopper pass was. When I told him that a 4 day hopper was approx. $200, he thought that was totally too expensive. Of course, I helped him reason on how much Six Flags charges for a day multiplied by 4.

He had previously told me that when they were on their honeymoon, he was pleased with himself because he found "hidden" attractions at the parks. When I asked him which ones, he said that at Epcot both China and Canada have 360-degree movies. "Hidden" attractions??? It was all I could do to keep a straight face! He's totally Disney illiterate and he's probably been to the parks more than 10 times. No planning whatsoever; no clue as to what attractions are found at the parks. I think he merely wanders around aimlessly, waiting in line for whatever attraction catches his eye. Poor misguided soul!

Tim E.
Michigan City, Indiana

 

[kdibattista]

I'm with Fantasia... I LOVE to plan but we have been there sooooo many times that we have seen all, done all so there is no need to "make sure we get this in and don't forget to see that". I like it much better now just being able to relax. We do plan which park on which day and we do make PS forthose parks but that's it. I must say that I also agree with the 80% clueless rate seeing all those people stopping in the middle of Main Street with their maps out, each person pointing a different way and looking more confused every minute!!!

 

[PrincessAli]

Half the fun is in the planning-Ü We visit WDW at least 3 times a year (AP's) and still make plans for the first few days of each visit. After that we just wing it and usually spend most of our time relaxing at the resorts or eating!! I have a friend that just returned last month and did not make any plans at all. Infact she thought I was crazy for doing so--but when I asked her about whether or not she saw the parades, and some of the newer attractions---she had forgotten to take the time or didn't even have a clue as to what I was asking. There fore we always check before a trip to see 'Whats New' and plan to do it in the first few days--if we liked it we do it again later.
Looking forward to our next visit---

All Star Music Sept 6--12
Port Orleans Riverside Sept 13---18
Contemporary Sept 19----23

We love to Resort Hop--each one is a different vacation in itself.

 

[kilarney]

Judging by the number of people that think Fastpass is for "special guests", I think most people don't plan.
If you want to get the most our of your vacation, you really have to do some planning. The trick is to be flexible, and to be willing to toss those plans out the window.

 

[C.Ann]

When it comes to planning out airfare, hotel room, rental car, what to bring with me, etc., I'm WAY over the top.. Everything has to be "just so" and carved out in stone..

I'm pretty flexible about the other aspects of the trip though.. It's usually 2 days in MK, part of a day in AK (and the other part in Epcot), 1 day in MGM, 1 full day in Epcot, 1 day in Universal, 1 day in IOA, 1 day in Sea World, and 2 days for shopping and/or exploring.. Inside the parks I don't follow any set plan for rides, attractions, etc.. We like to "wander" around and just see or do whatever happens to be nearby.. The only exception would be parades, fireworks, etc - which we schedule in - and at least one character meal..

I think when people plan too much it places a much higher expectation on the vacation and when something happens to throw a monkey wrench into the plans, it can be extremely stressful and basically ruin the entire trip..

 

[jcemom]

I will definitely be planning this trip! When my family visited WDW (several times) as I was growing up, nothing was planned. My DH and I visited b4 having children without planning -- after being there 4 times, I still haven't seen much of MK!

Last year we took our boys to Six Flags/Sea World for a few days, walked into the park on the first day, looked at them and said..."so, what do you want to do?" LOL

NEVER AGAIN! Needless to say, that was a VERY unproductive and frustrating day! Both had different ideas, we wandered around cris-crossing the park aimlessly, and wasted most of the day.

I've waited a long time to be able to afford to take them to Disney, and I plan to do my best to make it a good time for all. I don't intend to plan every minute, but will have an idea of which section or "land" to go first, second, etc; an idea of restaurant choices in the general vicinity at lunchtime, and am hoping to do parks in the morning, with free time (unplanned, unscheduled) in the afternoons.

 

[snuggles]

Actually, I do very little planning any more. I do make a PS for dinner if I have somewhere I really want to go but other than that, our family just kinda makes a decision and goes for it. We don't have little kids though. I think going with little ones would make a big difference. Being flexible is the idea.

 

[zulaya]

I think the percentage of people who don't plan or who do VERY minimal planning in terms of research and knowing what there is to do is very high. I think 85%-90%.

And a lot of it is that they assume they don't need to educate themselves. That they can just show up and do it.

I just had a peer consultant go with 3 daughters. All she knew about was that she had 4 days and she was doing Cindy's breakfast. She asks me, "So is that Wild Kingdom park really just a zoo? Can we skip it because the zoo here in Omaha is fantastic."

They just don't get it. Oh, and she planned to skip the Studios. With 3 girls the perfect age for Bear in a Big Blue House.