What would you do differently on your up coming trip?

[*Fantasia*]

OK...so you didn't make the right choice or decision or things just didn't go your way or somehow things just flopped and made some mistakes and things just didn't go right on your last trip. What would you do differently this time?

My flop was...well...we didn't had a plan of attack. We were just "winging" it. And to top it off.. we didn't wake up early to miss the crowds. We always end up being in the park at around noon and that's when the park gets busy.

This time.. I am looking closely at when/where the EMH, so I can take advantage of that. Write down the MUST Dos, so even if we missed something that is not on the list...it's okay. And learn how to sleep a little bit early so we can get up early enough to get there when the park opens.

What was your flop or mistakes on your last trip and what you would do differently to make the next trip better and more fun?

 

[i12go2wdw]

Take more mid day breaks before someone breaks down. Our kids are not whiners so it is not easy to tell when they have had enough, unless you you count last time when we must have missed all the signals. We had a late lunch then DD7 wanted to ride SM one more time even though it was 100deg out and we had been going since 8:00. Just before we got to the line up DD says "I'm hot and I feel funny" we head towards the bathrooms to the right but only got 2 steps when you know...... anyways now I know STOP BEFORE THEY HIT THE WALL!!!

 

[danny1649]

Rest and relax so we don't wear out so soon,tired and frazzled is not the way to enjoy WDW.

 

[magicmouse2]

get my lazy DH up and out by 8:30 am !!!, a few more sit down restuarants, use the meal vouchers at AK. Be less shy with characters.

 

[MajorDaisy]

We had our first visit in January, got to the cabins on the first day around 4pm. We were very excited to go exploring & play some putt-putt. It was warm when we left the cabin in short sleeves & pants, but by the time we got finished playing we were all freezing & we still wanted to walk on the Broadwalk. Next time I'll know to tie everyone's jackets around their wastes before we leave. Still was a magical night!!

 

[Mysteria]

Well when I went in 2001 I hadn't been in so long I wanted to see everything so went commando. In 2002 I brought my mom who hadn't been in forever, so again commando so she could see everything. Last trip added my aunt and best friend. My friend hadn't been in a long time and my aunt had never been sooooo....you guessed it...commando. I am just starting to plan my honeymoon and I don't want to go commando again. There will be some more downtime!

Myst

 

[LauraAnn630]

Last year we stayed 8 nights, this year 12! You really need time to relax! Especially with children.

This year I am making PS everyday. We waited forever to get seated. Its busy in June!!

I am taking more pictures! Last year a lot of our pictures didnt come out because of one reason or another.

I added stroller rental for both my kids. Our DS (8 yrs) got tired doing all that walking and running in his case. We are bring a stroller for our 2 yr old and renting a double stroller every other day. (Lets try to stay in budget!) lol

We are going to rent a car for one day to hit the grocery store and outlets. Last year we took at cab twice (70.00!) You can rent a car cheaper than that!

I found cute childrens fans in the Easter section at Rite Aid. Its HOT in June!! The Easter baskets will be filled with stuff for Disney...saving me some money!

Not renting a fridge this year. We are sending a box down with a cooler(ice at hotel) for the room. Then sending the same box back with stuff we bought if we need to. Ill fill the box with light stuff and save room for the suitcases! It cost about 20.00 to send. Sending the box is a must do!

 

[cranbiz]

I would have bought AP's for everyone. I'm finding that we are now going more.

Try to enjoy sights outside of the park. We went at christmas time for our big family trip and really needed to explore the resorts more than we did. 6 days is not enough when trying to make the "perfect" vacation.

Remember that what is best for you is not always best for the entire family. Stop and smell the flowers.

 

[sters]

OK...so you didn't make the right choice or decision or things just didn't go your way or somehow things just flopped and made some mistakes and things just didn't go right on your last trip. What would you do differently this time?

My flop was...well...we didn't had a plan of attack. We were just "winging" it. And to top it off.. we didn't wake up early to miss the crowds. We always end up being in the park at around noon and that's when the park gets busy.

This time.. I am looking closely at when/where the EMH, so I can take advantage of that. Write down the MUST Dos, so even if we missed something that is not on the list...it's okay. And learn how to sleep a little bit early so we can get up early enough to get there when the park opens.

What was your flop or mistakes on your last trip and what you would do differently to make the next trip better and more fun?

my big mistake was booking the Fantasmic dinner package, because it rained and I was locked into the dinner when I could have used my time elsewhere. we had to wait over an hour for our PS and when we were done had very little time to do anything, because of the timed nature of the MGM attractions we just missed out. Fantasmic eventually ran, but I spent 5 hours mostly waiting around in the rain, eating a delicious dinner, doing one attraction and Fantasmic. My time would have been better spent if I'd given myself some flexibility.

 

[MommyBoo!]

Last time we stayed at the Poly and we kept passing the boats. Of course, the kids wanted to go out on one. We rented a pontoon boat and had a blast! It was a nice relaxing break from the parks.

This year, we are going to take a lunch with us out on the boat. And do more nonpark things here and there so the kids don't get burned out. We will be there 10 days (more maybe) so we will have plenty of time.

Also, we will do a waterpark. Somehow, that didn't work out the last two trips.

We will have at least one ps a day, maybe two but nothing will be set in stone. This wil be DD1's first trip so it will be very laid back.

 

[minmate]

Different from last trip: Go For More Days!!!! Slow down the pace. Catch more evening entertainment... we only saw Spectro.

Impending Trip in April: I wish I could have different accomodations. We are staying in 2 connecting rooms at the Pop, which is fine, but I would much rather have a suite! Money is the issue here though! Even to rent DVC points, a suite for all of us would be twice as much! I also wish I wouldn't have listened to my dh who insisted we take the 11 am flight home instead of the 6pm... He just didn't want to hang around with no "Home" or hotel if we didn't get late check-out.... arrggh! Sometimes I listen to him even when I REALLY shouldn't!!!!

 

[mlg32]

My mistakes were the exact opposite of OP--We stayed 7 nights at AKL, DH, DD5,DD3 and myself. I planned some breakfast PS and a PS every night for dinner and it was to much! We tried to do EE every morning and we were tired all the time and my DH and I were cranky with each other alot. We did rest in the afternoon but since we stayed at AKL and spent most of our time at MK the bus ride was a bit much for my 3yr. old. Anyway this time I only have 2 morning PS(PSB & Grand Adv.in Cooking)and a few dinners. So we can be much more laid back in our day. We are also staying at the Poly so the ride to MK will be so much better.

I also planned so much on what to pack just extras like snacks, medicenes, and "incase of " stuff I had so much that I never used and I realized if I would have needed any of it I could have purchased it at the shop in the resort. What I really needed was more clothes(it was August so we chgd alot due to heat).

The final thing that I will do better this trip is have a better tour plan for the parks. I understimated how overwhelming it can be when there is so much to do and what is the best order etc. to do it in--So I am going to buy the Unofficial guide for that--I had the Passporter last year and it was great but maybe a little advanced for a first timer?? All in all it was a great first trip but I am hoping the second will be even better--62 days and counting!!!

 

[WDWLVR]

After 15 years of visiting Disney together and with 5 years of DVC experience DH and I have a comfortable pattern going.

What we are doing differently this time is:

1) going during June - a time we wouldn't normally do. DH has a convention to go to the last two days of our trip which is why we picked this time. With the longer hours and the heat we'll use our normal strategy of mornings in the parks, afternoon back at the resort, and then evenings back at the parks.

2) We'll have the DDE card this time and will take advantage of a few more sit-down dinners. Will most likely make a few more PS than normal but not so many that we are locked into things.

3) It was announced after we had already picked out dates and made our reservations, but since Project X is going on we'll do some of those events. The Illuminations Dessert Party for sure and maybe a backstage tour as well.

We know we'll be back for a few days in September and for years to come so if something doesn't work for us this trip we'll just try again in the future.

 

[ely3857]

Hello,

I went to WDW for the first time in Oct 2002 and had a fab time but I did try to pack too much in and after the first two days we were arguing 'cos jet lag and the heat had caught up with us so the next day we just slobbed around the hotel by the pool to re-charge but more flexible planning would have sorted that out.

I had all the guide books and spent hours planning the perfect trip but didn't make allowances for just been there, definatley a rookie mistake which I won't be making again when I visit again in July 2005!



Ely3857 (England)

 

[KK Cat]

Not to take a lazy day on Day 1 (as we actually had energy at that stage) this time we are going to a park on Day 1.
Take afternoon breaks (easier this time I hope as we have a rental car).
Not lugging a camcorder around the parks (maybe I'll be sorry, but realistically we don't look at the video very often, and I can always look at the 2000/2003 videos if I get the urge).
Go to bed earlier and get up earlier.
Going to Cirque du Soleil as I was sorry that I didn't last time.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Not do MK from opening until close the first day.
I should have known this since I have been quite a few times but we just felt fine and we kept going. Our feet told a different story the next day!!!

 

[Disneyof3]

Not to take a lazy day on Day 1 (as we actually had energy at that stage) this time we are going to a park on Day 1.
Take afternoon breaks (easier this time I hope as we have a rental car).
Not lugging a camcorder around the parks (maybe I'll be sorry, but realistically we don't look at the video very often, and I can always look at the 2000/2003 videos if I get the urge).
Go to bed earlier and get up earlier.
Going to Cirque du Soleil as I was sorry that I didn't last time.

Next time stay longer 6 nights and 7 days should do it. Explore POR better and this time use the pool that everyone says is good there.

The 5 of us praying for either Feb 2006 or Feb 2007

 

[KK Cat]

I don't think I could ever do MK or Epcot all day again, especially Epcot I think. I remember coming into the hotel room (on more than one occasion) and falling onto bed with tiredness (my feet also more than physical tiredness) the thought of having to put weight on my feet again just to go into the bathroom almost made me cry !! My feet have never been so tired before or since Disney, they weren't sore as such as I had good footwear, it was just that they couldn't take the weight any longer (and I'm average size, not skinny, not fat)

 

[missypie]

When we spent a week in Disneyland in CA we were very cheap with meals. WE ate almost entirely counter service. (We also didn't want to spend time on sit down meals.) Ugh! I was so sick of "beige" food. So I have one PS a day for our upcoming trip. I may cancel some of them, but at least I know we can eat better.

 

[Nanabug02]

I have a couple things that will definitely be different for my next trip:

(1) First and most important, I will be in better shape! I didn't realize how bad my weight had gotten out of control until I was on my last trip. I was miserable for most of the time....exhausted and uncomfortable! I plan to be at a normal weight and in shape by May 2006, so I can fully enjoy myself!

(2) I'm not going to stress out as much on all the details for the next trip. Don't get me wrong, I still advocate planning, but I got too worried and obsessed over every little thing, and ended up getting sick halfway through the trip and missed out on a lot of things.

(3) Also, gonna try some new things next trip....we always eat and do the exact same things, which is fun and is a good tradition, but I'm going to add a couple new and exciting things to do.