What wags your dog?

[Judy from Boise]

This is in response to the WDW planning thread, but i think it might start a good discussion on bringing clarity to planning.
WDW is so complex....you have to decide what "tail" is going to wag the dog. Many people use food as the tail, some people use effciency, some people proximity when changing resorts, some each kids' favorite ride, I use nightime shows. I know i want to see "wishes" twice a trip, and "Illuminations" twice a trip a trip, and spend one full night at Studios. I then back into the days based on who has EMH that day. Dining reservations are the last thing i make, one a day (dinner)based on where i will be spending the evening.

I think for planning clarity everyone should be clear on what is wagging their dog.....this uncovers your priorities and makes sure at the end of the trip you are not disappointed.

I prioritise food very low on my list....that is just me.

So, lets hear from someone who is the exact opposite !

Chime in with your personal "tail". Is it the same for WDW and DLR ? If not why?

 

[Disney Dreams]

Hmmm... planning around the shows. Maybe THAT'S how I should have done it.

- stops herself from starting over -

 

[DesertBell]

For us, food is a priority. Nighttime shows are last on the list, followed by attractions. There's nothing we absolutely HAVE to ride or see or do while we're there, we just want to enjoy our stay. However, we do have to eat.

 

[Gisele]

When I plan to go to Disneyland, my first trip is to visit the wildest bunch to ever set sail on the wilds of the great blue sea, however before that, I like to stop by Indy, to retrieve a fast pass, I also love to ride the horse drawn wagon, that is on Main Street. Then after a good tale by the pirates, I love to visit Master Gracey at his not so humble abode, to wish him and the 999 haunts the best of wishes. Then I revisit those attractions, before moving on to either Indy, or BTM, then get another fast pass for Indy, if the time is right. I love also to visit Jose, and his wonderful choir of fellow feathered friends, and associated songsters, I love how cool too, the room is, I can't stand the heat, so it is a major bonus for me, to set a spell, while inhabiting the most Enchanted Tiki Room, while dancing away, with all of the birdies.
I also like to make it a point, to venture to the forbidden and ever so unyielding Matterhorn, scared by it as a brat, but not as an adult! thank god! I love to go whizzing by the humongo Yeti! he actually has bad breath, I have told him that, countless times, but does he listen to me? no..... he just stares at me, then roars. Like oh please, that has never,ever scared me, so give it up mister, and go find a mate, for on my next trip, I would ever so love to see baby yetis,yay!
When my vacant interior needs tending too, I will have my p.s. already in hand, for dining alfresco upon the Blue Bayou, only thing is, one needs to be aware of scalawag pirates, and privateers, for they are the same thing really, or can be, for they will be spongin not fer rum, but rather yer jewels and any other booty that they may find upon yer person. So far, I have been safe, from said thievery, but my friends were not so lucky, for they ended up not only being pilfered from, but also lost their shoes, for the pirates liked them, nice fine leather they be, they were really quite upset over the entire matter, me, I had my treasure and my shoes, so I was in tip top shape and in bristol fashion. I thought it funny, that they had to walk around like that, until they could replace the shoes that the pirates had "traded" with them. he he! that was just so funny, well o.k. to me it was!
Then I pretty much go in whatever direction the wind blows as it were.


This pretty much has been my format so far, for me not to ride the POTC first, then the HM, would be heresy, or even a kind of sacrilege for me.
Sometimes, I may pick up a little something for breakfast,first, however nothing that will slow me down, and in more ways than one! he he! for I will take my orange juice and chocolate croissant, and venture forth, it is interesting, but I actually have better things to do then to become engrossed in my foodie issues when I am visiting Disneyland, hmm, who knows, if I was to work there for awhile, it might be easier to not only lose weight, but to keep it off too! (maybe not )

 

[disney-inspired]

rides are definitely #1 priority, then food and then shows.

 

[tink2dw]

hhhhhmmmmmmmm....must think that over???




EVERYTHING!!!!




.

 

[samkj]

Rides(we always have several fast passes available!)-Fantasmic and fireworks (once per trip)-dining(we need one sit down meal per day to relax, so its not really about the food) - parades (honestly we could easily skip the shows and parades)- shows are last on the list.

We've never been to WDW so no idea on how we would plan that one.

 

[IASWAM]

For us, I guess it would depend on the particular day more than the trip as a whole. For instance, when we have PS times for meals, we kind of plan our day around where we need to be for that particular meal or meals. On a MM day however, it's all about the rides.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

DL - more on rides for the kids if we are day-tripping or going for the afternoon. If we stay for the night, dinners are usually planned and food comes first.

WDW - food comes first. No question! More great options to have!

 

[CrazyDuck]

At WDW, EMH rules all. To be in the park that has EMH that night is the most important thing! No EMH at DL so at Dl we just wing it!!!

 

[jasy]

I can't really give an "order" of priorities because I don't like to plan I kind of just like to "go with it".

Of course there are things that I want to go on and see during our trip so I just decide while we're there.

First thing is starting out on rides, the train is ALWAYS first no matter how long the line, it's tradition, I don't care if there is a parade on, the train is first.

After that if there is a show I want to see, like Aladdin I'll check out the times and if we're in the area when it's going to play then we'll go.

The only thing I really "planned" for our last trip was Fantasmic. I wanted and needed to see it so DH and I staked out a good spot in the smoking section an hour before it began so we could see the show.

Other than that I like to take it day by day. I've never had any problems this way. Even with dining, I usually just call a day or 2 before and ask if they have any openings, if they do, great, if not, meh, not the end of the world.

Although our next trip I am going to try and "plan" to watch a parade, we usually see them as we're walking through the park, but in all the times I've been to DLR I've never actually sat and watched a parade so this next trip (provided there is a parade going on) it is going to be a priority.

 

[Gisele]

OMG! I actually forgot to add that I love to take safari upon the Jungle Cruise!
Forgive me oh great jungle gods, a thousand pardons, blame it on those rascally pirates for they made me just a bit distracted.

I also enjoy riding the train around Disneyland!

 

[HydroGuy]

I do not have anything to add at this point but I wanted to say I love the title of this thread! I also thought Judy's starting point in her OP was very perceptive.