What's Different When You're a Local

[Rgonzalez79]

For those that moved down to Florida; what, if anything, has changed when you're touring the parks, shopping, or just planning for a weekend of park days?

We've been down here for about two months now (work) and it was very strange that first crazy packed day at Magic Kingdom to look at my wife and say, "we'll just come back tomorrow, this is nuts today"

I've also been able to slow down and just enjoy the parks more and enjoy capturing photos of the different aspects of the parks (rides, cast members, other guests, etc).

Do you still plan out your park day in the same way as when you vacationed? How far in advance do you plan to go to the parks? Is it less enjoyable as a local because some of the thrill is gone or the "scarcity" is no longer a factor (we only have 5 days here!)?

Thanks everyone

 

[SureAsLiz]

I live close enough that I can hear Illuminations from my apartment.

My biggest change is that I am perfectly content going to the parks for just a few hours at a time.
Do I want to watch the parade today and nothing else? Do I have a sudden urge to ride Space Mountain? Am I really craving a mickey ice cream bar? Then lets go for an hour and half, do what I want to do, and be done with it.

I do still have marathon days. I have done MK open to close (8am to midnight) just to meet all the characters. Tomorrow I am doing another character challenge that I literally just booked FP for. (If you can't tell, I really like meeting characters).

As far as planning, I will sometimes plan a month out for a special day (if a group of people are getting together and the only day we can do it is a month from now), but often most of my plans are made within the week.

One thing I did when I first moved down here is make a list of everything there is to do - rides, shows, characters, restaurants, everything - and am working my way through it. This way I can say I've tried everything and feel no guilt when I don't want to do something (Muppets and Splash are two things I have done exactly once since moving and have zero desire to do again). I also like making little personal challenges - how many FP can I get in a day, riding outside rides during the day and at night, things like that.

I also have my go-to attractions. I will always stop by and see Tiana and Naveen (if he's out) when I'm in MK, and I always watch at least one showing of Festival of the Lion King when I'm at DAK.

As to whether or not the parks become less enjoyable, that's really a personal thing. I joke with my friends that I was bathed in super glue before getting pixie dusted, so the parks haven't lost their magic even after 9 months. But others I know could care less about going. If you can find what it is about the parks that are magical to you, then they will stay that way.

 

[Rgonzalez79]

I live close enough that I can hear Illuminations from my apartment.

My biggest change is that I am perfectly content going to the parks for just a few hours at a time.
Do I want to watch the parade today and nothing else? Do I have a sudden urge to ride Space Mountain? Am I really craving a mickey ice cream bar? Then lets go for an hour and half, do what I want to do, and be done with it.

I do still have marathon days. I have done MK open to close (8am to midnight) just to meet all the characters. Tomorrow I am doing another character challenge that I literally just booked FP for. (If you can't tell, I really like meeting characters).

As far as planning, I will sometimes plan a month out for a special day (if a group of people are getting together and the only day we can do it is a month from now), but often most of my plans are made within the week.

One thing I did when I first moved down here is make a list of everything there is to do - rides, shows, characters, restaurants, everything - and am working my way through it. This way I can say I've tried everything and feel no guilt when I don't want to do something (Muppets and Splash are two things I have done exactly once since moving and have zero desire to do again). I also like making little personal challenges - how many FP can I get in a day, riding outside rides during the day and at night, things like that.

I also have my go-to attractions. I will always stop by and see Tiana and Naveen (if he's out) when I'm in MK, and I always watch at least one showing of Festival of the Lion King when I'm at DAK.

As to whether or not the parks become less enjoyable, that's really a personal thing. I joke with my friends that I was bathed in super glue before getting pixie dusted, so the parks haven't lost their magic even after 9 months. But others I know could care less about going. If you can find what it is about the parks that are magical to you, then they will stay that way.

That's awesome! I think you're absolutely right about finding what makes the parks magical to you. Lately I've found myself lighting up inside when I see other people either meeting a character for the first time (I can only imaging the looks on people's faces when i freaked out as a 35 year old man finally getting to meet Mickey!) or just the look of awe on their faces as they walk around any of the parks. I've start doing "street photography in Magic Kingdom just to capture some of these.

I really like the idea of making a list of everything there is to do, sort of like a Disney bucket list (I'm not a fan of the Muppet either but Splash Mountain is one of my favorites). It seems that my biggest challenge now is planning at all now that we live so close (not hear illuminations close, but still about 25 minutes). I'm a "live in the moment" type, just pick up and go to the park to see what's going on. Wait times too long? So let's catch a parade and grab a hot dog.

My wife is the planner and when I let her know the we haven't spent an entire day at a park since moving she's been setting up an itinerary but hasn't settled on a day yet, I'll keep you posted on how that goes as a non-vacationer.

Do you ever stay on-property for a few days as a local? Just wondering if I'm nuts for even considering

Thanks @SureAsLiz

 

[bryanb]

I overheard a couple of friends talking and it sums up how I feel when I am at my home in California visiting Disneyland.

They were craving some ice cream on Main Street and one said, "I'd have to get the sundae with three scoops and all the toppings. But now that we live here, I have to remind myself that we aren't on vacation so I can't eat that way"

I guess you can make exceptions for big sundaes when it's a special occasion, but it's not a good idea to eat like every day is a special occasion.

 

[SureAsLiz]

That's awesome! I think you're absolutely right about finding what makes the parks magical to you. Lately I've found myself lighting up inside when I see other people either meeting a character for the first time (I can only imaging the looks on people's faces when i freaked out as a 35 year old man finally getting to meet Mickey!) or just the look of awe on their faces as they walk around any of the parks. I've start doing "street photography in Magic Kingdom just to capture some of these.

I really like the idea of making a list of everything there is to do, sort of like a Disney bucket list (I'm not a fan of the Muppet either but Splash Mountain is one of my favorites). It seems that my biggest challenge now is planning at all now that we live so close (not hear illuminations close, but still about 25 minutes). I'm a "live in the moment" type, just pick up and go to the park to see what's going on. Wait times too long? So let's catch a parade and grab a hot dog.

My wife is the planner and when I let her know the we haven't spent an entire day at a park since moving she's been setting up an itinerary but hasn't settled on a day yet, I'll keep you posted on how that goes as a non-vacationer.

Do you ever stay on-property for a few days as a local? Just wondering if I'm nuts for even considering

Thanks @SureAsLiz

I usually just pick up and go also. Since I go solo most of the time, it makes doing whatever pretty easy.

I haven't taken a few nights on property just by myself yet, but I have stayed with my family when they were here. And I know a lot of people that will make a weekend and stay on-site (there are always central Florida resident discounts to be booked)

I overheard a couple of friends talking and it sums up how I feel when I am at my home in California visiting Disneyland.

They were craving some ice cream on Main Street and one said, "I'd have to get the sundae with three scoops and all the toppings. But now that we live here, I have to remind myself that we aren't on vacation so I can't eat that way"

I guess you can make exceptions for big sundaes when it's a special occasion, but it's not a good idea to eat like every day is a special occasion.

This. I always want to spend and eat more than I should when I am in the parks because it feels like I should be on vacation. I actually have a sort of Disney fund that I load every paycheck that is my limit. That way I'm not spending all my money in the parks all the time. With Food and Wine coming up, I am especially careful about spending money so I can sample the different stations without spending a fortune.

 

[staceyrhood]

We visit often (live in Celebration)...usually we go over in the morning and spend a few hours at a park once a week or so. My kids are 2 and 8...we ride a few rides then head home for lunch. If it is too busy or one of them acts up we just come home. I am looking forward to F&W to start next week because during that time we just go to EPCOT for lunch! Being local has its perks...we do not go during spring break times, or President's day week, and Christmas and New Years week we go over one day just to watch the parade at MK. It is very nice to wake up and say "gosh it's nice out lets head to EPCOT!"

We also have a camper so we will spend a weekend at Fort Wilderness once every few months. When we go bowling or to a water park or putt putt, it is always at Disney.

 

[wuzzy6]

When I was growing up, we lived an hour away from WDW - all we ever did was day trips, and it was usually for my birthday. My parents and I would get up early in the morning and head out, always stopping for breakfast at McDonald's in Clermont. We would be at the MK for rope drop, and we would go go go all day long until the park closed... then make the trip back home.

The first time I ever stayed on-property was well into adulthood with my husband and our four children. We were there for a few days, but it was during Spring Break and miserably crowded! We weren't used to dealing with those kinds of crowds, and we vowed never to go during that time again. LOL We had to move out of state for DH's job for a few years, and we never traveled back home during the years we were gone just to vacation. Once we moved back, though, it was game on!

Since we've gotten APs, and although we live close enough (2 hours away) to make a day trip, we prefer to go down for a few days at a time. We really enjoy taking our time and not feeling like we HAVE TO do everything in one day! We've stayed on-site when we could get a really great deal on a room, but more and more, we are choosing to stay off-site in a suite hotel that is very close to Disney property. The novelty of staying on-property has worn off quite a bit, simply because our dollar stretches twice as far when staying off-site, and we'd rather spend the money on other things than a room that we're only going to sleep in. The other bonus is the off-site hotel gives us separate bedrooms and a full kitchen, so we save even more money by having some of our meals (good, home-cooked food) in our room. DH and I have plans to stay at all of the Deluxe hotels at some point in time, but those will be special trips when we feel like splurging.

Our last trip was over Labor Day weekend - we went kid-free with another couple, and we had a blast! We slept-in every morning. We ate a few overpriced meals in Signature restaurants. We went to DHS just to ride ToT and RnRC. One day, we didn't even go to a park - just went to Poly for an impromptu dinner at Kona Café. We relaxed in the pool and hot tub. It was so easygoing and not once did we feel like we had wasted the weekend! We did "plan" park days, but I use that term very loosely.

Oh, and we avoid the super-busy times - we don't go during Easter week, June/July/August, Thanksgiving, Christmas/winter break. However, we chose to get the regular FL Res AP instead of the SP, because we don't want to have any blockout dates in the event we DO want to go during those times. Next year, we might add on the water parks - not sure yet.

In a nutshell, we feel like we enjoy WDW far more as local-ish folk than we ever would if we could only go for a week or two at a time every couple of years. I feel like we can plan as much, or as little, as we want, without feeling like we're missing out on anything. Having the option to do something "next time" is fantastic, because we know "next time" is probably in a couple of weeks or so.

I'm distracted at the moment, and I feel like I'm rambling, so I'm going to stop here.

 

[winterface]

I live in Celebration, Its been pretty fun because there's no pressure to "Get it all in or ELSE!"

Its been fun to eating at all the restaurants, we can just go over after work and grab dinner at Kona or lunch at Wave, no big deal.

Sometimes the crowds are a pain, like the Publix here in celebration gets absolutly bonkers. Its hard to do all that normal "everyday life" sort of things.

Also, you can go to events too much and get sort of tired of it. We've been to downtown disney so many times this month I could probably do inventory at the stores and be 90% accurate.

 

[cranbiz]

I lived about 45 minutes to an hour away when I lived in FL. We would go for a few hours some times and all day sometimes. Then I started working there, I would hit the parks after work for an hour or two some days or meet the wife in a park after work.

No hurry, stop and take in all the little details that you miss when on vacation and trying to get the most for your buck. Made for very enjoyable visits. It was nice to be able to hit up EPCOT at 7, ride a couple of rides, get a school bread in Norway and watch illuminations.

 

[Feralpeg]

I live five minutes from WDW property.

I no longer do marathon touring. I go and do what I can. I leave when I get tired because I can go as often as I want with my AP. That's the good side.

The bad side is that I don't plan months, weeks or even days in advance for a visit. This usually means I am out of luck getting ADRs and FP+ for the more popular restaurants and rides. I have yet to get into BOG. I haven't been able to get into LeCellier for the past few years. The idea of spur of the moment trips to the parks sounds great, but the system doesn't support that type of visit well.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

We live about on hour & a half away on the coast & have been AP holders for years. We still do about 3 onsite stays a year but love the ability to get up & say - lets go to AK for the day or MK. I usually get FPs on the way there. We do what we want, if we want to &,then head home. We have the Sun Pass so we can zip over pretty quickly. We have friends that will run over for the afternoon too. We don't do commando anymore. We are older & love to people watch too.

 

[yeheyprincex2]

These local stories sound nice. My DH is currently in the position for a promotion at work and a transfer to the Orlando area is a big possibility. We have talked about it and I said I wish it were closer to the beach ( I have always wanted to live close to a beach), but that I would welcome a move.Being close to Disney, touring Disney causally is exciting to think about. Going to the MNSSHP, MVMCP, all the other special events that go on year long. I have also wondered if being close to Disney would take away some of the magic.

 

[AGoofykindagirl]

I live in Winter Garden (about 20 minutes driving). When we moved here in 2010, I could go out to our sidewalk out front and watch the higher fireworks at MK. Alas the trees at the end of the street are too tall now. But I listen to Wishes every night (unless the winds from the north are very strong). As far as visiting strategy, I am very much like others- I like to go for a few hours. For me, I like rope drop until about 1, then go home and eat. Would like to go more often, but I am the driver for my family and have to juggle dr's appointments for my dad, my sister, and me as well as lab work, other tests, and work. Sometimes I make it every other week, sometimes only once a month. Every now and then, we will all spend a couple days at a resort (Food and Wine). I see what I want, and even get some of the FP's I want just a day or two before I go. It takes a lot of pressure of "I won't be back for a couple years, so I have to do everything" away, so it is definitely a plus! My only must do is seeing Goofy for a hug! And I don't always accomplish it, but it feels good to try.

 

[CindySwims]

I live about an hour and twenty min. away. I'm not "in town" local, but close enough that we head over and are fine spending 3-5 hours in a park and then heading home. We do plan a few overnight stays each year and this past year we rented a condo for a week so we could spend plenty of time at Star Wars weekends.