Like many others, we've altered how we vacation (it also helps that our kids are grown). We do rope drop, hit all the rides we can before the crowds amass, then head off to lunch somewhere. Usually, we hit park #2 loaded with our FPs and once finished, head back to the room to relax before dinner. We mostly eat out but share plates to cut the cost and because we're not usually heavy eaters. We'll hit the occasional park after dinner depending on how we feel. While we plan a lot in advance, nothing is set in stone anymore save for ADRs of which we have far fewer now. We walk up to lunches (early), and we Open Table for some of our favorite restaurants (Il Mulino, e.g.) in order to add flexibility since we can cancel those without fear of being charged a fee. It's difficult to make the World feel spontaneous, so we do what we can to keep that sense of freedom. That might seem an odd concept given we do rope drop, for example, but even that is full of possibilities. Want to do HM, BTMRR, or Space Mtn first? On to the next one wherever we feel is best (or open). We are finding we spend far less time in the parks, however, given there is no real down season anymore. We occasionally discover slow times (Jan 1 before, say, 2 p.m.), yet the sense we get is that Disney's plan to fill the parks all the time is largely working. We'll likely keep our DVC to its contractual end, but we'll enjoy the pools, Disney Springs, strolls along less traveled paths, wine on the balcony, and meals in the room more and more over the next couple of decades. As others have intimated before, each to his/her own.
Bill
