Why dont people plan?

[HollywoodTowerHotel]

It means you're a baboon... and I'm not.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

The planning thing got me today, and it wasn't even Disney. I'm leaving for Washington DC in the morning -- thought we'd take the kids to someplace educational.

Thought we'd take a tour of the White House. Called our Congressman four months ago. Found out this morning we were declined. We didn't schedule days because we were waiting to find about that cornerstone.

Thought we'd take a tour of the Washington Monument. Checked a month ago -- all the tours were sold out for 80 days.

Thought we'd take a tour of the National Archives. Checked about a month ago -- all the tours were sold out until August. Same thing with guided tours of just about anything.

So we'll wait in line and see the stuff we can and not worry about what we can't.

It's not a Disney issue, it's a tourism issue. You want to read fun stuff -- go to a board where they talk about Beaches, and the battles to get a stupid lounger in the morning. Or pay 150 for a lift ticket on President's Day weekend in Vail and get three runs out of it. Limited resources and limted space create demand in places people want to be.

That sounds right for DC, especially over the summer.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Yes... Create the hysteria need for a ressie, put a non refundable deposit on it, and they have accomplished their money making scheme.

MG

Some might call that creating demand... successful marketing... you know...

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I eat out every night of my life. The only place in the last several years I needed a reservation has been Disney.
They create the hysteria.

MG

Depends where you live and what places you choose to eat out!

Where I live there are decent restaurants that don't require reservations. Others definitely do, but not too far in advance. Others you'll need to reserve weeks or months in advance.

Pretty similar to WDW.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Some might call that creating demand... successful marketing... you know...

Indeed, but it's not good customer service IMO. There just is no need for it. A couple years back when they still accepted walk ups it was truly no big deal.

MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Depends where you live and what places you choose to eat out!

Where I live there are decent restaurants that don't require reservations. Others definitely do, but not too far in advance. Others you'll need to reserve weeks or months in advance.

Pretty similar to WDW.

Never needed a dinner ressie (other than Disney) weeks in advance. Ever.
YMMV

MG

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Indeed, but it's not good customer service IMO. There just is no need for it. A couple years back when they still accepted walk ups it was truly no big deal.

MG

I've been going for nearly 12 yrs, 1-3 times a year. It hasn't really changed in that time. Which ADRs are hardest to get has changed some, but that's about it.

And I totally disagree about it being bad customer service! Broadway, The Washington Monument, and cruises all have "bad customer service" by that standard because they have an offering in high demand that they have successfully marketed. Doesn't make any sense to me.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Never needed a dinner ressie (other than Disney) weeks in advance. Ever.
YMMV

MG

That's great! And that also means that you're choosing restaurants that aren't in high enough demand to require reservations, or perhaps that's a function of what the options are.

In WDW there are all kinds of options!!

I've needed dinner reservations MANY times weeks or months in advance for places we wanted to dine at outside of WDW (NYC, DC, Montreal, Paris...).

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I've been going for nearly 12 yrs, 1-3 times a year. It hasn't really changed in that time. Which ADRs are hardest to get has changed some, but that's about it.

And I totally disagree about it being bad customer service! Broadway, The Washington Monument, and cruises all have "bad customer service" by that standard because they have an offering in high demand that they have successfully marleted. Doesn't make any sense to me.

Yeah, I'm probably a bit older than you. My first WDW visit was 1972. Granted I was a kid, but I remember my parents getting to to park early AM to make a ressie at King Stefans Banquet Hall for dinner. That's the way it was done.

MG

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Yeah, I'm probably a bit older than you. My first WDW visit was 1972. Granted I was a kid, but I remember my parents getting to to park early AM to make a ressie at King Stefans Banquet Hall for dinner. That's the way it was done.

MG

Gotcha'. I think it might be the case that most destinations require more planning now than years ago. With the tools at everyone's fingertips (thank you internet!), I think it's the expectation now.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

That's great! And that also means that you're choosing restaurants that aren't in high enough demand to require reservations, or perhaps that's a function of what the options are.

In WDW there are all kinds of options!!

I've needed dinner reservations MANY times weeks or months in advance for places we wanted to dine at outside of WDW (NYC, DC, Montreal, Paris...).

Wifey and I eat out virtually every day of our 25 years together. Wait, early on we are Kraft Mac 'n Cheese often!!!

Anyway, we have searched for the best steakhouses, and seafood houses we could find. I have traveled (for work) to every corner of the country, and still have not needed reservations. When we used to live in Connecticut we visited NYC annually.... Never a ressie needed. I'm sure there are some, but not where we stayed (Times Square).

MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Don't get me wrong.... We have seen plenty of places that suggested reservations, it's just that it's no biggie when you show up without one.

MG

 

[21stamps]

The planning thing got me today, and it wasn't even Disney. I'm leaving for Washington DC in the morning -- thought we'd take the kids to someplace educational.

Thought we'd take a tour of the White House. Called our Congressman four months ago. Found out this morning we were declined. We didn't schedule days because we were waiting to find about that cornerstone.

Thought we'd take a tour of the Washington Monument. Checked a month ago -- all the tours were sold out for 80 days.

Thought we'd take a tour of the National Archives. Checked about a month ago -- all the tours were sold out until August. Same thing with guided tours of just about anything.

So we'll wait in line and see the stuff we can and not worry about what we can't.

It's not a Disney issue, it's a tourism issue. You want to read fun stuff -- go to a board where they talk about Beaches, and the battles to get a stupid lounger in the morning. Or pay 150 for a lift ticket on President's Day weekend in Vail and get three runs out of it. Limited resources and limted space create demand in places people want to be.

Have a wonderful time in DC!!!! It's my favorite city in the country!

 

[21stamps]

Don't get me wrong.... We have seen plenty of places that suggested reservations, it's just that it's no biggie when you show up without one.

MG

For example - Pied a Terre is my I time fave restaurant in Miami..but there are many that I love.. I always make a reservation there, but yes it is possible to walk up and get lucky. BUT- there are literally hundreds of great south Florida restaurants from palm beach to Miami, all within reasonable driving distance, some are better than others, some are more "in demand" than others. But it's reasonable to go to Ft Laud/Palm Beach/SoBe and have a nice dinner without a reservation. (Although I think anyone who does so without researching the area would be crazy and missing out on quite a bit). The main difference- you aren't competing with a few character meals with thousands of other people who "MUST" have dinner in a castle etc.

Like a pp said, if you go to NY, and you want certain restaurants or to see a certain show- you must reserve in advance. But, you can also go to NYC and eat at some terrific restaurants, see a show, and have a wonderful time without reservations prior to arriving- but if you do so then just be flexible. Same applies to WDW.
Most people know this with many destinations if they have a few "must haves" on their list, and most people know it with Disney as well.

If you go on a cruise, and you choose not to do any research on any of the ports, or book any excursions, then you may not have the "best" vacation. Hopefully the people who do this don't end up in bad areas. Luckily- no chance of that at WDW

 

[Maistre Gracey]

For example - Pied a Terre is my I time fave restaurant in SoBe..but there are many that I love.. I always make a reservation there, but yes it is possible to walk up and get lucky. BUT- there are literally hundreds of great south Florida restaurants from palm beach to Miami, all within reasonable driving distance, some are better than others, some are more "in demand" than others. But it's reasonable to go to Ft Laud/Palm Beach/SoBe and have a nice dinner without a reservation. (Although I think anyone who does so without researching the area would be crazy and missing out on quite a bit). The main difference- you aren't competing with a few character meals with thousands of other people who "MUST" have dinner in a castle etc.

Like a pp said, if you go to NY, and you want certain restaurants or to see a certain show- you must reserve in advance. But, you can also go to NYC and eat at some terrific restaurants, see a show, and have a wonderful time without reservations prior to arriving- but if you do so then just be flexible. Same applies to WDW.
Most people know this with many destinations if they have a few "must haves" on their list, and most people know it with Disney as well.

Indeed I'm all for calling ahead a day or two for a ressie, but my whole point is..... Six months?? Waking up at 0600 to get on the site???
Not for me.
That said, I think I'm beating a dead horse here restating my opinion. In fact, IMO, this entire thread has become repetitive.

MG

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

I see a family walk thru the tunnel into the Magic Kingdom....don't make it even past the sidewalk and everyone stops and they
open a map.....and I think....

Why though? When they look up they are going to be amazed by the castle and then "Oh my gosh, there's Pluto! Wow" and then walk by and see the HUGE balloons and they've made it up and now a Castle show is starting. Then they finally make it back and they ride a nice ride. They have a WONDERFUL time.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

This is exactly how I feel too. I am going back to WDW with dh this fall for F&W and its requiring way more planning that I like too do. I am trying to take a couple do nothing but what we feel like when we wake up days, but I'm stressing that we won't be able to. Its really taking the fun out of the anticipation of the trip for me.
I can totally see why first timer, or others in general don't plan. I know there are people who love doing it and thrive on it, I am so not one of those people.

Just a piece of totally unsolicited advice, if Disboards is making you worry and feeling like it's taking the fun out of anticipation, you should take a break for a couple of weeks. I've gone on very last minute trips (3 days out) and my husband and I are considering even taking a trip down for July 4th that he's surprise not on duty for and we have NO PART of that planned. Even planning 3 days out, you still get to EAT and have a hotel room and ride a ton of rides and see parades (MSEP 6 times in 4 days; that's the fun you can't plan for) and fireworks.

 

[warrenz1963]

Just got back from a great trip and was shocked to see how many people are clueless at Disneyworld. I dont mean that in a negative way. I just felt bad for people that they spent all this money and dont really know whats going on. Here's a couple examples...

1) SDMT - I saw this couple with their kids ask about the wait time. The CM said its 100 minute wait. The lady said ok where are the kiosk that I can get a fastpass for this ride. The CM said they have been gone for at least 30 days. Further more they debated on getting in line but their youngest daughter was too small. I went over to them and told them about rider swap. The lady was so happy.

2) I also heard a group behing me waiting in line talk about Be Our Guest. They said that looks like a cool place to eat. We should eat there tonight.

3) While at Epcot a couple was getting Fastpasses and asked the CM why Soarin wasnt showing up as an option.

Again I'm just wondering how this happens. There are so many resources out there. I feel that you have to plan to make the most of your trip.

Does anyone else see or hear of these things while at Disney?

I some times work as a seasonal ranger in national parks, and the non-planners are a thing in those parks too. All the same issues, lots to plan for to maximize their dollar and time, but many visitors don't do any reading or research before going. They show up to find that reserved ranger programs are fully booked, campgrounds require reservations and they didn't bother to find that out before arriving, only to find there's nowhere to make camp... I don't get it.

 

[Angel Ariel]

View attachment 172749 View attachment 172744
One such post is mine.

Ok so I thought I remembered this from last time, but I just checked again on our upcoming brochure (the "incredible vacation" one. It tells me my transportation options, resort dining, highlights a few different dining areas in the parks, tells me about the app, about fast pass etc- Here are a few examples-- based on all of this, in the past few years, do you really think it's possible that people completely miss all of this info? Or, maybe some people don't want to plan? . I just can't imagine that they "didn't know"

When we went in 2014, we traveled with a friend of mine. We had reservations at a different hotel than she did, though we were both in onsite hotels. Dates and notifications like you got? We got them, she didn't. Noni deal why. she had MDE, she ordered her magic band, her contact info in MDE was correct, reservations linked, etc...yet a *huge*, unexplainable disparity in the information we each received from Disney.

I hope that was an isolated incident, and not something still going on, but since then I don't just assume that everyone is receiving all kinds of detailed communication from Disney.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I think most any trip/vacation requires research. I just got back from a long road trip that could have been much more enjoyable had we researched more (I kinda invited myself last minute and knew what I was in for when I asked what we were doing and the answer was I don't know we will see as we go along). But I'm the kind of person who will research something new to do for our semi annual trips to the baseball game!!! Why people refuse to research in this day and age of the internet being right in your cell phone amazes me. When you leave your home town things are gonna be different.

I once worked at Starbucks and had a lady rattle of a VERY complex drink order. I asked her to repeat it and she yelled at me that her starbucks store doesn't need her to repeat it. Just because something works smoothly at home doesn't mean it will on vacation.

of course there's value to be had in researching. There is also value in freedom from planning. I've traveled to Europe on very planned out, daily schedule type trips with a large group. I've also traveled Europe with my (then) boyfriend/fiance (now DH) completely spontaneously when he lived overseas. I think we decided to head to Paris with maybe a day or two notice. Booked a small, local hotel and drove there. Nothing else booked. We had a *fantastic* time. Went to the Louvre, incl. seeing the Mona Lisa, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Arc du Triomph, Versailles..there was not one thing we wanted to do that we were shut out of. The only thing I wish we'd gotten to do was go to DLP, but we only had time for Versailles or DLP before having to return. French student that I was/am, I chose Versailles We found delicious restaurants just walking down the streets. It was an absolutely perfect trip.

The group European trips I did? Also amazing, but definitely over planned. It's just the nature of the beast with large groups. I'm glad I had the opportunity to go and be spontaneous whike traveling th ere. it was a completely different perspective, and *so* much fun.