Why do you need to do research to go to Disney?

[mrsmiller]

After reading some post specially some at the trip reports I realize that almost everyone advise you on doing research and "homework" to go to Disney I for one usually, just call Disney and if I see any code that they send me in the mail just book and purchase my tickets thru the Disney Website. We almost always stay onsite(but is not a must) and just go to the parks when we feel like, I do not do the PS ahead of time but when we get to the hotel we call and then do the reservations but then again we always go during the slowest time. I discovered this website almost year and a half ago and I value all the insights and advise that I received and learn about. I like the idea of going on vacation without any pre-plan,we know that if we do not get to see it all is ok, there will be other times.But now I feel like maybe I am doing something wrong...BTW each and every time we've been to Disney we always enjoy it, IT'S MY FAVORITE PLACE TO GO!!!For all the disney experts in this board my question is: What kind of research you do when you plan a trip to Disney?How do you organize your trip? Do you plan each and every day ahead or just decide when you get to the parks? We have two trips plan for this year and I just want to make the most out of them.
Thank you all,
Linnette ]

 

[Tissa]

We went for our first time last year during spring break with no planning. Couldn't get into any resturants w/out a PS and had no idea how to use fastpass. So we ate offsite everyday and missed a lot of attractions. I thought EPCOT was just Mission Space, Test Track and the World Showcase was just a bunch of shops. I know I'll give a lot of people heart attacks saying this but it's true. I know you won't have this problem, but going during peak times you have to plan more. Of course for some people planning the trip is as much fun as going on the trip. I know that's true for me now.

 

[crisi]

There are a lot of horror stories (and some like yours). I've heard "I had no idea Christmas would be busy!" and "we had no idea food would be so expensive." We've heard stories like above - people who missed three theme parks thinking the Magic Kingdom was DisneyWorld. I've heard about people who end up in hotels 40 minutes away. People who only eat burgers and chicken fingers - because they didn't know where to find decent fast food and "we didn't know you'd need reservations"

We also go when its slower, but three years ago went in early Feb, we'd thought it would be slow. And it wasn't. And we had a hard time with no PSs.

So now, rather than be surprised, we plan. There are things (breakfast at Cindy's, Pirate Cruise) that need to be arranged ahead regardless of how slow it is.

And we don't plan extensively - I don't have a touring plan - I have some idea of where we will be each morning and each afternoon - which is subject to change. I know where we will eat sit down meals (subject to change). I know what attraction changes have been made and do a little research on the ones my kids may have "grown into" - they are tall enough for ToT, I need to do research to determine if it is too scary for them (basically, showing them walkthroughs and talking about it - I was on it years ago, but its things like the added drops I want to know about). I do dream extensively.

 

[PrincessCandaceMarie]

I think doing research for Disney before going is a great thing, especially for first time visitors! My friend didn't do any research and she flew all the way to Orlando from Scotland and I met up with her and was her tour guide. Lucky for her I was there, because she wasn't aware of the DIS boards or how huge Disney is, and her travel agent didn't tell her anything and what she did tell her was all incorrect information and if it wasn't for me cleaning up the TA's mess, my friend would have missed out on lots of things; EMH, parades, PS, WDW resort transportation, etc., so I agree and think that research is a great and fun thing to do!

 

[disneysteve]

I agree that the "Do your homework" advice is mainly aimed at first-timers. The only thing we plan in advance is where we are staying. Everything else gets done on the fly. But we know our way around backwards and forwards. We don't make PSs and never have trouble eating when and where we want to. We decide what park to visit the nite before and sometimes the morning of depending on the weather, crowds, how we all feel, what else we want to accomplish that day, etc.

But we've all read tons of stories from first-timers who had miserable experiences at Disney because they did zero research before they went. We research our trips in advance no matter where we are going. Would you just book a flight to Paris and say we'll figure out what to do when we get there? Or would you pick up Fodor's and read up on the city in advance?

If you are a repeat Disney guest, you probably don't need to do much research. Just find out what's new since your last visit and be on your way.

 

[sunny04]

The kind of research we do is mainly for fun too. Like reading on these boards is fun, and keeps us involved in WDW when we aren't there. However, we learn about things we never knew that we want to do. As far as planning, we kind of come up with the main things we want to do on our next trip and plan around those. We check with early entry days and decide if we are going to use them - if not, we don't plan to go to that park. Are planning schedule basically tells us which park, and any big things we are going to do, such as PS, tours, etc. We research things like restaurants, tours, and the special things disney doesn't spell out to you. I learned last week that Tinkerbell gets woken up every morning in MK -- I would love to see that! There is so much extra magic and special events that people just walk right by if they don't research first.

So in answer to your question - I don't think you are doing anything wrong. We went to WDW with little research the first time and had a great time. However, the research allows you to do extra things you would never have known about that make your trip more special - like waking up Tink or eating with Winnie the Pooh, or taking a tour that shows you the Christmas warehouse (which is way cool).

 

[Brian Noble]

Why do research? You are spending thousands of dollars on this trip. What other thousands-of-dollars purchases do you make? How many without carefully thinking things through? Heck, I don't by *tires* without reading Consumer Reports.

 

[dizagain]

Yikes!! I agree with the previous poster...we're spending thousands of $$ on trips to WDW. I am currently doing my "homework" for our second family trip in May and this is my kinda homework! I love reading the boards and the UG and have learned so many little tips that make the vacation so much more wonderful. I too know a family who went to WDW and HATED it because they didn't know anything about it ahead of time...they also thought the parks were connected like one park.

I guess I just like to be prepared..I research vacations to other locations just as seriously and it always pays. My DH who doesn't want to even discuss the trip until the day or so before is always so proud of me when he realizes how my obsessiveness pays off!

 

[jeepgirl30]

I'm amazed at how little most people plan/research for any trip. I research so I know everything there is to know, I'm spending money and time I want to know I'm not missing anything.

One of my biggest pet peeves is going somewhere and people asking "what should we do, well what are the options?". I like to have a plan, a backup and a backup for the backup!

 

[poohj80]

When we first started going to WDW, we had no idea all there was to do outside of the theme parks. Finding boards such as this clued us into a whole world we knew nothing about. Now, we only plan for the special things we want to do - tours, special meals, etc. Other than that, we just go with the flow.

 

[robsmom]

I think planning has really enhanced my last few vacations. be it to disney or elsewhere. Like a previous poster, I do all the "homework" and I really enjoy it when my husband enjoys choices that I have made for us. I have gotten some hotels where he has had trouble believing the rate that I got or taken us to restaurants that we would never have known about. He pretty much knows now the answer to his question, "how did you find this" is going to be either "on the internet", "in the travel book", or "i asked around out work". I don't plan every minute of everyday and I also try to be open to cancelling or changing plans.

 

[WillCAD]

I'm a weirdo around here.

I research extensively, and plan all my travel arrangements (air, car, hotel, park passes) in minute detail.

But I have never been the type to make advence PS, I never ever plan what park I'm going to do on what day except when I have a meet to attend (like MouseFest) or a tour booked, and I seldom know where I'm going to eat dinner more than 12 hours ahead of time.

I have lots of fun anyway.

I think RESEARCH and PLANNING are two different things. I do lots of research so I know what my options are, but I rarely do any actual planning in advance. The research enables me to make my decisions as I go based on things like wait times, transportation and travel times, and the effects of special events on crowd flow.

 

[djm99]

I think that any and all vacations deserve "research and homework". Whenever you visit an unfamiliar place you should try to find out as much as possible. While you are there you continue to learn and if you decide to return you'll of course know more.

The first time (as an adult) that I visited Orlando I learned soo much. My biggest memory as a teenager was that I wanted to stay on that really busy street (I-Drive) as an adult that really busy street is annoying. I found where certain hotels (that I'd previously looked at) locations (via research). That at Disney, maingate hotels could be as fair as 5 miles, and directly across the street doesn't mean its walkable - could still be a mile away. I learned how convenient onsite property hotels are, that 3 days is not enough to "do it all". Thru research Iwouldn't have ever found out about those Meal Vouchers.

I learned theres so much more to Disney than just the parks, but probably the most important thing I learned was that Disney is really magical and all those people that I met who were Disney nuts (prior to my own obsession) - are actually sane people. Heck, I even learned about this board looking for information about Disney.

With all that said - I don't think research is just for first timers. Just think if you went to Disney just last summer and booked your next trip for summer 05 (a Dream Maker Package) and with all this new MYW packages out there you could save lots of money doing research. Just think about all those people who don't get room only codes and discount codes from no research - you paid $79 for a moderate using a code (posted on mousesavers - as an example) and your neighbor paid $144 for the same room at the same time. So research is important for saving (time and money)!

 

[Madi100]

I love knowing the minute little details. In my opinion, the best part about WDW is not the rides. It's knowing what goes on behind the scenes. Imagine how different Haunted Mansion would be if you didn't know any of the story behind it. How about knowing the best place to see certain characters. For example, the Incredibles. You can currently see them in MGM. But, from what I read it is in an enclosed building, and unless you stumble upon them, you'll miss them. We would have never known anything about parasailing. We would have never known anything about the Illuminations Cruise, which is our all-time favorite thing ever at WDW. There are so many more details to be concerned with besides just the parks, resort, and transportion. Sure, you can have an excellent vacation without the planning. But, compare your vacation with someone who has done extensive planning and research, and I bet they have the more unique experience.

 

[JodyTG]

I am a planner. I think it must be in my DNA or something. I had been to WDW 6 times before taking my husband for the first time in 2003. I had everything planned out to the letter to make sure he and our daughter got to do everything. That included scheduled days at the parks and PS's.

On the flip side, July 4th weekend in 2003 my husband just annouced that we were going to Colorado Springs for the weekend instead of camping. It about drove me crazy all the way there! I didn't have any hotel reservations, I'd done no research on what there is to do in the area. My husband laughed at me and said to "just go with it", but I think I'm not a "just go with in" type of person .

The way I look at it, if I can plan for a trip, I can do so much more (and save money doing it).

 

[calie_j]

I am a huge planner and get laughed at alot for how obsessive I can be but it all started because of my first adult trip which happened to be to DW. Me and a friend of mine went down for spring break and decided to spend 2 days at the parks. We had no idea what we were doing and were bored after a few hours and ended up leaving early to go back to the pool commenting on how we should have spent the day at the waterparks we had driven past. I know many will laugh at this but to give you an idea of how clueless we were we didn't even know there was a space mountain much less where to find it and that pretty ball at epcot in all the photos, who knew there was actually a ride in it we thought it was just a decoration.

So trip number 2 yrs later 3 adults and 3 boys (7-8yrs old), I bought a book and poured over it listing all the must see shows/rides/attractions, I had a PLAN. We left feeling like we saw all the must sees and had a great time.

On to trip number 3 this time to disneyland. I found the joy of discussion boards and was able to add the magic of character meals, dole whips, the best spot for viewing fireworks & fantasia, fast passes, among many other great tips I picked up.

Now I'm planning trip number 4 back to DW again. We're even staying onsite which is something I never thought I'd do until I heard about discount codes and the other benefits on a board (who'd be crazy enough to pay that kind of money, lol). Because of the boards I have added to my knowledge birthday buttons, how to get PS at CRT, and many other things that will make this the most magical trip of all. This is why I've become a planner, it would be different if we were able to go all the time but we can't so I want to make the most of my $$ spent and know what is there and see all the top priorities.

To answer your questions: What kind of research you do when you plan a trip to Disney? When I plan a trip anywhere I spend hours online and ordering brochures researching what is there to see & do, where to eat, weather, etc. I usually start this a minimum of 6 months before the trip to allow plenty of time. I want to know everything so I know I'm not missing any options before the next step.

How do you organize your trip? Then I narrow down the must see's/ not interested/ maybe if there's time. I sort them into days (for disney do a list for each park if it was our trip out east I sort it into a list for our day in Boston/our day in Salem/our day on the cape, etc)


Do you plan each and every day ahead or just decide when you get to the parks? I usually have each day's list on a seperate piece of paper to carry with me but we always plan 1 down day and I try to be flexible so I'll make a plan to monday do #1 but if we get there and the weather isn't looking good or we're tired we could switch monday with #3 (and we had to do that on the cape for weather).

We have two trips plan for this year and I just want to make the most out of them. Are both your trips to Disney? Since you're a regular there a little planning to try something new would be enough, you wouldn't need alot of time. Whatever you do to research and plan have fun with it!!!!

Calie

 

[canwegosoon]

I love to plan anything that I can. The experience for many things only lasts a short time, and the planning can last a lot longer. I try not to let the planning consume me though, so I don't get upset if things have to change.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I don't plan a ton of things, not every minute of the trip, but for our last trip (my 2nd trip ever), I planned what park on what day so I could make PS for meals, I made one PS for each day, and of course planned where to stay. Because of the research I did, I got a discount code for part of our nights at Disney, and for the other nights, I got the 7 for 5 package--things I wouldn't have had a clue about before I started researching. I had a list of things we wanted to do and see, just to make sure we didn't miss anything we'd be upset about missing, and that's about it. I did plan a budget, but we have to do that wherever we go.

Steph

 

[kerry34]

I have gone in the past with extended family, most of which were not big on having a plan, and we wasted more time trying to decide what to do and we missed out on so much. I don't plan everything down to the minute but at least like to have some kind of plan, so we can get to see as much as possible during our stay. Who wants to spend all that money and miss out on things. I find that researching ahead of time only helps to make your trip all the better.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

While there's no "law" that dictates that one must plan their WDW vacation to the minute, doing a little research before you go can make the difference between a miserable vacation and a success. Whenever I meet someone who jsut went to WDW and they had a so-so (or worse) vacation, they usually had the following complaints:

After we got our luggage together and found our shuttle bus, it took forever to get to our hotel. The transportation stinks!
My friends at the DIS would have steered you in the direction of a towncar service that would have picked you up at the airport, handled your baggage for you and driven you directly to your resort for the same price or less than you paid for those shuttle transfers.

It was so hot and crowded and it rained every afternoon!
Yes, you went in July. Had you done any research, you would have known that it is a peak attendance month with average daily highs in the mid-90s and an average monthly rainfall of 8.25".

I had to stand in line forever to just buy my tickets and my jaw just dropped when I saw what they were going to cost!
People who research ticket prices know how to order them ahead of time and how to get the best prices. They went to the same parks that you did, for less and they didn't waste part of their morning waiting in line to buy the tickets.

The lines were so long and we didn't want to pay extra for that FastPass Thingy. We hardly got to see anything.
Well, that "FastPass Thingy" is free with your admission to the park. Using the FastPass would have given you the opportunity to visit another attraction and then skip the standby line at the major attraction in order to maximize your touring. You also could have done an E-night if you knew what they were. But you didn't, because you didn't want to do any planning or research.

The food was so expensive and we couldn't even get in some of the restaurants.
A PS would have helped you out a lot. You would have had the next available seat for your party, in front of the people who didn't make a PS. And if you had asked me, I would have told you about meal vouchers and other dining discounts that I know of, including restaurant.com and the Clear Channel GCs for Orlando area restaurants.

How can anyone afford to stay onsite with the cost of those room?
The people who know what they're doing, research the prices on the web. They know that Disney has seasonal rates for their hotels and they know when those seasons begin and end. They also know what the discount codes are for the rooms so that they can save up to 40% off of the rack rates. That makes it more affordable.

To each, his own. But if I'm going to shell out thousands of $$$$ for my vacation, I want to make sure that I'm getting the most for my money. Some people don't care and some people just like to complain about anything that they can. My feelings are that if you don't research your trip (and not just WDW, btw), then you'll get out of it just what you put into it.