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

[djm99]

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:

All of that is soooo perfectly said!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I'm a researcher but not much of a planner. Generally speaking my worst trips are when I am traveling with someone who hasn't done any research and who is likely to roll out of bed late.

Never mind Disney. Research allows you to spend more time actually enjoying a trip ANYWHERE rather than spending a lot of time just trying to figure out where you are going, where to buy tickets, where to go after that blah blah blah... I have a ski friend who has a hard time getting out early, won't eat breakfast and then once we've gotten one or at most two runs in will say she's hungry lets get a bite. This drives me NUTS...lift tickets cost the same as gate passes at Disney...unless of course you've researched them! In Orlando I have similar problems with relatives. They won't get up, they won't move with any kind of organization...I eventually learned its best to not let them make any decisions because they haven't bothered to research anything other than directions to WDW.

 

[LoriMistress]

For my first trip, I did research. I went to many disney sites and got tips, and advice on how to save money, where to go to the parks on which day, etc. and it made my trip easier. My DH was worried that I might PLAN our trip, but all the planning we did was pretty much which rides to hit first and which park to go to first. That was basically it. This next trip I'm going to plan a few thing like making reservations at some restraunts. If I didn't do my research I wouldn't have known when to go to WDW (we went in November because of the time available to us, weather, crowds, and price wise), it would have been hell for us.

 

[SusanD]

I believe a huge amount of my vacation enjoyment happens before we leave the house. I research, I read, I organize and I plan. It is a joy for me to figure out how to maximize our time and money. Even my children (now 18 & 16) recognize that it makes our experience richer. The oldest even thanked me for my efforts.

That does not mean that we lack flexibility. We usually just have one sit down meal together each day and the kids often will go there own way. We just don't waste as much time figuring out where to go or where to eat. Fewer long lines and bad meals.

 

[lindsey]

Even before I found these web site, I would usually buy the Disney info books. I enjoy the research and planning. There are lots of things I found out through the books and/or internet - KTTK tours, how to get PS for CRT, when CP dinner packages are available, E-Nights, IASW closed (even though I was the only one in the family that was sad), and I'm sure more that I just can't remember right now. Many of these you find out when you get there, but it's nice to already know alot of the info so I can help make decisions.

Some of my pre-planning is rubbing off on my teen. He checked out the schedule for HOB before our June trip and found out a group that he really liked was performing while we were there. He pre-purchased his tickets and didn't have to worry about sell-out.

 

[louise1928]

It can be a lot of work, depending on where you are going, case in point, Disney. We spent 70% of our time at Universal, and one full day at Epcot and I planned our entire day, with a few exceptions. It worked out great, and we were able to do exactly what we had planned to do, with one minor flaw; we did not plan where to eat our lunch, and walked around for an hour truying to decide. There were so many places to choose from, and we knew we wanted to eat at one of the restaurants in World Showcase, we just did not know which one. Otherwise our itinerary worked out!

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I research and plan because I love it! It is sort of my hobby and I am usually unhappy unless I have a trip to plan (be it WDW or some other destination). Research is how you find out about that new restaurant you want to try, or what special events are going on during your stay. It is a lot of money to spend without trying to make the most of it.

 

[djm99]

I am usually unhappy unless I have a trip to plan (be it WDW or some other destination).

Oh my, I thought that was just me!!!

 

[bajanswife]

Oh my, I thought that was just me!!!

And me too! I always have to be planning a trip to anywhere, I don't care .... I just love vacations!!

 

[georgina]

Another compulsive planner here. It's not just Disney - I'm planning a trip to several National Parks this summer and am in the midst of planning - where to stay, what sights to see, etc. I can't just go somewhere without doing research. I enjoy knowing about where I'm going.

 

[YetanotherMouseFan]

Put us in the club! DH and I work to support our vacation habit! We're not happy unless we have reservations for somewhere! (Me-WDW, DH-a cruise or the beach)

Maybe we're crazy, and sure, we could have fancier cars, clothes, etc., but our vacations are the high points in busy, stress-filled lives. We research and plan, but not to the nth degree. Mostly, what days at what parks, whether to do EE or avoid that park like the plague., maybe one or two PS's if we're going in the busy season. Same for anywhere else. We work hard for the money, and don't want to waste it by not knowing what there is to do, where to eat., etc.

 

[summersfam4]

I'm a BIG planner. In fact in the evenings right now when I come inside from riding, I feel so restless. Yep, I play & read with the girls and I love it, it's important, but we can't take a trip untill this fall because we are refinancing for a new roof on our house (also very important lol). I am starting to plan already but I'm at a place where there isn't as much to do as I would like to do (does that sound confusing ?). It's a hurry up and wait peroid of time. I plan all of the PS's that I would like to get, which parks have lowest attendance on which days so that if we decide we don't really want to go to MGM that day, I have other options. I'm open to change in every way, I just want to make sure that any options we would like are open to us, then we go and just wing the rest of it! Half of the fun is planning it helps us all get excited and prolongs the joy so that instead of 10 days the girls are ready and talking about it for months!

Kelly