Why dont people plan?

[fla4fun]

How the heck to locals, AP'ers etc go to WDW any more? When I had AP's we would decide on a couple days notice to go, sometimes the night before. It wasn't a problem with the old FP system.

As a local AP holder, I often go to the parks solo. This makes it easier to get FP+ for most things. For example, I just made FP+ for Epcot for next Wednesday because I only have to work a half day, and thought I would like to see the original Soarin one last time before it changes to the new one. I did not have a problem getting a FP+ at all.

I don't do a lot of day trips. because I prefer the full vacation experience. But even when I go on vacation, I typically don't make ADR's and FP+ months out. I usually start checking things out at around 30 days or so, and change things around up until the very last moment.

 

[ellie05]

Here is the thing when you are making your resort reservation the CM has ALWAYS asked me if I want to be transfer to the dinning reservations line because they really recommend you get those done. That is a fair warning they usually follow up with multiple emails. Most top rated restaurants in any city have months of waiting list probably not six months but considering you are in a theme park and there are limited options it only makes sense. I think at 3/4 weeks out most of the time you can still find ADR it might not be what you want but that is life.

Well, I am a local and we try for 'Ohana often (just one example). We try up to a couple of weeks out, which should be more than adequate at almost any restaurant in the country other than Disney. We have tried probably 50 times, and were successful once for a 10:00 pm ressie.

MG

That is what is said above. Also if someone has really not done research at all I don't see how BOG, CRT OR OHANA end up in their must do list.

I have worked in resorts where 3 month waiting list in certain restaurants was normal and that is where you literally thousands of other restaurants to choose from.

 

[Delirium]

I don't need a plan. As long as I get to ride Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Magic Kingdom and Body Wars at Epcot, I'm happy.

 

[21stamps]

Yeah I wasn't disputing that fact. I was just saying my local amusement park just got in 2012 and only because the company who owns it launched it to all their parks at one time. Basically I was assuming (and maybe that was wrong of me) that you were saying that WDW is no different than other parks that have a "go to the head of the line" type system because that system is fairly commonplace nowadays.

My point was if Cedar Fair didn't own WOF we likely wouldn't have a fast lane. The company chose to give us this sytem but it wasn't by actual demand. Basically for WOF you wouldn't assume it had a get ahead of the line system. I guess I was speaking about a specific place having a "go to the head of the line" system. Cedar Fair could have determined which parks have the market to buy their passes along with which parks actually need them based on attendance and average queue wait times. However, Cedar Fair decided to launch them to all their parks likely due to profits and logistically speaking easier to just implement it all at once.

Ok sorry, misunderstood.

I was referring to the woman who did not understand why she couldn't enter in the FP line. Maybe she has never been to any amusement park, but there's a good chance that she would face the same "separate line" issue at some point in here life.lol

I don't need a plan. As long as I get to ride Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Magic Kingdom and Body Wars at Epcot, I'm happy.

Awwwww... I miss Mr. Toad's!!!!!! It was actually one of my favorites. I know that I'm probably in the minority there.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Ok sorry, misunderstood.

I was referring to the woman who did not understand why she couldn't enter in the FP line. Maybe she has never been to any amusement park, but there's a good chance that she would face the same "separate line" issue at some point in here life.lol

It's no worries. I guess technically it was introduced to Kings Island in 2011 then expanded to all the rest at once in 2012.

Now as for that woman, unless there was a language barrier (which from the person's story it didn't seem that way at all) then that woman should have easily seen the two separate lines. That is either a person absolutely clueless or someone trying to take advantage of the system. If a person has no idea what a Fast Pass chances are they don't have it and shouldn't even try to enter a line labeled as Fast Pass.

So in that case I'm in total agreement with you

 

[mshanson3121]

I'm going to start working this phrase into conversations at work. That is unless they've figured out they don't need me anymore while I've been on vacation for almost three weeks.

I originally typed vast majority. Realized after what I'd done and replaced majority with minority. I see I forgot to remove the "vast", LOL. Chalk it up to an extremely fatigued brain But hey, maybe you can make it into a "thing"

 

[mshanson3121]

I don't book ANY vacation this way. I always research enough to know what to expect. With some trips, not much of a consequence to not planning. For others there's more of a consequence. Why take the chance that comes with not researching at all? Seems odd to me, but I know it happens all the time!

Haha, we're "unplanners". We decide to go somewhere, book a place, do some minor searching on local attractions, but mostly just go. We wake up and see what we feel like doing. Drive and see what we find Needless to say, once I joined this forum, I had my eyes opened to the other side of vacation planning, wow. In all honesty, I'm not a fan. I prefer more relaxed, spur of the moment vacations, we both do. But, I'm willing to sacrifice that for Disney

 

[Megara5115]

I enjoy planning... It gets me excited for our trip! I like the peace of mind that I will eat where I want to eat and go on at least three of the rides I'd like to go on with a quicker wait. That is pretty much the extent of what I plan. I feel sorry for people who don't realize how much planning is required and as a result, have a poor experience.

There is nothing wrong with just winging it though if that is your style! I am sure it is very relaxing and enjoyable in many ways. I think no matter what Disney does there will always be the "planners" and the "wingers" so this system works for me.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Haha, we're "unplanners". We decide to go somewhere, book a place, do some minor searching on local attractions, but mostly just go. We wake up and see what we feel like doing. Drive and see what we find Needless to say, once I joined this forum, I had my eyes opened to the other side of vacation planning, wow. In all honesty, I'm not a fan. I prefer more relaxed, spur of the moment vacations, we both do. But, I'm willing to sacrifice that for Disney

I get what you're saying! I do enough research to figure out exactly how much planning is necessary for us to enjoy the trip, though!

• For WDW, I plan A LOT. Not every minute of the day, but I do have ADRs, FP, maybe a tour -- and between those things we do what we feel like doing, guided by all that we already know about WDW
• For a trip to NYC, I anchor with a Broadway show or two and maybe a cool restaurant, and the rest we play by ear.
• For the cruise that we just went on (first time ever!!), I planned a couple of excursions and the rest we did what we felt like when the time came.

I don't plan to a tremendous level of detail unless I think it will be necessary FOR US to really enjoy the trip. Just showing up somewhere and then finding out that there are cool things that we would have LOVED to do if only we had planned would be a bummer to us.

 

[mshanson3121]

I get what you're saying! I do enough research to figure out exactly how much planning is necessary for us to enjoy the trip, though!

• For WDW, I plan A LOT. Not every minute of the day, but I do have ADRs, FP, maybe a tour -- and between those things we do what we feel like doing, guided by all that we already know about WDW
• For a trip to NYC, I anchor with a Broadway show or two and maybe a cool restaurant, and the rest we play by ear.
• For the cruise that we just went on (first time ever!!), I planned a couple of excursions and the rest we did what we felt like when the time came.

I don't plan to a tremendous level of detail unless I think it will be necessary FOR US to really enjoy the trip. Just showing up somewhere and then finding out that there are cool things that we would have LOVED to do if only we had planned would be a bummer to us.

Yeah this really sounds like us, that's just what we would plan for those type trips, too. Though we don't care about missing stuff. We tend to be repeat visitors to places we like though, (though never thought we would be to Disney ) so we just keep it in mind for next time

 

[Regan117]

That is what is said above. Also if someone has really not done research at all I don't see how BOG, CRT OR OHANA end up in their must do list.

I have worked in resorts where 3 month waiting list in certain restaurants was normal and that is where you literally thousands of other restaurants to choose from.

I think it's just once they realize the only way in the castle is to have a reservation there...I've witnessed lots of people get angry because they can't go in. They probably didn't know about it ahead of time, but realize once they're there.

 

[maryj11]

I witnessed a British man in Epcot asking someone what's up with the band that everyone is wearing around their wrists. Hello MagicBand!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Yeah this really sounds like us, that's just what we would plan for those type trips, too. Though we don't care about missing stuff. We tend to be repeat visitors to places we like though, (though never thought we would be to Disney ) so we just keep it in mind for next time

That's a good point!! If it's a once-in-a-lifetime trip, I might dial up the planning, depending what it is.

We are in WDW and NYC frequently enough to catch something next trip if we miss it this trip.

BUT... I won't get another chance to see Al Pacino and Susan Sarandon on Broadway in Salome!! Or Kevin Spacey in A Moon for the Misbegotten. I'm glad I researched and planned for those!

 

[maryj11]

It's not a matter of planning - The problem is they don't REALIZE the scope of the problem. Most families have gone to theme parks many a time (like me) and have a tried and tested strategy but it doesn't apply to Disney at all! When I was a kid at the library I'd see all the Disney trip planning books and I couldn't fathom what kind of clueless people would need AN ENTIRE BOOK to plan a trip to a theme park?! Ok, maybe you wanted to squeeze out every penny of value you had paid for and maximize hitting every ride but that still seemed like a lot of overkill to me.

My first time at DisneyWorld I was on a solo trip. I thought I HAD planned things out because I had pulled up a map online and figured out what rides I wanted to ride and when and knew when the fireworks show was and knew the MSEP was just before that. Food? Ehh... I'll figure that out when I get there as I'm sure they have lots of good stuff there and being an efficient business there shouldn't be too long of a wait to get food. Boom I was READY to go! Right? Ooooh no.

I did hit the rides I wanted to hit but that was only a small subset of the rides available. I didn't know about fastpass at all.

What I didn't realize was how near capacity everything was going to be. I'm not just talking about the rides but the restaurants and dining options. I started thinking about food and like your typical theme park goer figured I'd just grab whatever sounded good at the time. Of course everything was packed at the QS and then I'm passing by all these nice restaurants that I didn't even think about (There's like, y'know, ONE nice restaurant at your typical theme park) and asking for seating and, of course, they've been booked for weeks.

Then I'm over at Liberty Town trying to head down to Pirates and suddenly the streets are being roped off and everyone's sitting down and I'm trying to figure out what's going on and realize there's an AFTERNOON parade. (Whoa I didn't know they had that)

Scrounge around Adventureland after Pirates and start thinking about dinner... golly, shouldn't there be restaurants or something in Adventureland? Make my way back to main street and hit up the Crystal Palace. Sorry sir, we're full up... finally end up grabbing a hot dog at Casey's and after coming out of that restaurant its dusk and people are sitting on the sidewalks all along main street and the hub and I realize they're already grabbing spots for the MSEP and then, THEN my dear friends, is when I realize... I'm am WAY outta my league here!

I end up grabbing a spot at the liberty town bridge from the castle and catch the MSEP from there and start pushing my way towards main street for an awesome view of the fireworks and it's crowded, of course and I'm in front of the CP trying to push my way to main street and I'm hearing music and I'm thinking the fireworks are starting and I realize there's cartoons playing on the castle. *** is THAT?!?! I end up catching most of the Celebrate the Magic show and then try to push my way back to main street except it's already packed. At that point I'm figuring I shoulda just stayed where I was at for the CTM show and head back there and, of course it's a packed spot now and I finally manage to worm my way to the hub and to catch about half the show.

Head over to tomorrowland to ride space mountain (it was on the list dontcha know) and coming back from tomorrowland I see they're doing another run of celebrate the magic... Well that would've been helpful had I known that I coulda skipped the crowds...

Then I'm just walking around main street taking pictures and am working my way out and get to the meet and greet space in front of the train station and am dead center taking shots of main street when some CM walks by me with a rope and to force me onto the sidewalk and I'm trying to figure out why when it hits me they're doing a SECOND run of the MSEP and I happen to be in a perfect spot for it. So I just stayed there until it came through. Awesome. I did about 10% of what was actually possible at the MK but it was still a reasonably decent day.

So I head back to the resort (did I mention I was staying at the Contemporary?) and I'm starving and I figure I'll just grab some dinner at the restaurant there. Oh, it's closed. Huh, I'll check the other resorts here for... hey, there's a cool restaurant at the Polynesian... and one at the Grand Floridian... And a dinner show! And I missed the water parade from the contemporary! Geez no wonder people need a book to plan their trip at Disney!

I ended up having a last call drink at the Wave bar (Magical Star Cocktail, of course, gimme a drink with a glo-cube in it!) and some chips out of the vending machine and began planning for my next trip....

Thanks for sharing. I bet it is kind of funny now that you look back on it

 

[ellie05]

I think it's just once they realize the only way in the castle is to have a reservation there...I've witnessed lots of people get angry because they can't go in. They probably didn't know about it ahead of time, but realize once they're there.

But that is completely unreasonable. Seriously even a mediocre restaurant in the real world has a 30min -2 hour wait on busy nights depending on location. Why on earth would anyone think they are just going to be able to eat at Cinderella's castle in the most visited theme park on earth at their whim. That is totally their fault and being mad just shows how entitled people are becoming.

It will be impossible for Disney to accommodate every guest to any restaurants at their whim and still make money. They will have a ridiculous large staff just waiting there to see how people feel that day, not to mention the space that will take. Even if ADR's window was moved from 180 to 90 days people will still complain and they wouldn't be more likely to get those ADRs without some sort of planning.

 

[cornflkgrl]

Prior to finding these boards I would never have known anything about having to plan so much so far in advance. My entire viewpoint of a vacation is: it is for relaxing and doing the opposite of what you do in your every day life and at home. At home I'm constantly having to have schedules and be on phones and look at computers and be here at this time and there at that time. My idea of "vacation" is to NOT have to do those things. So, naturally, I would assume (if I was the non-informed Disney traveller referenced here) that: if I spend $5000-6000 bucks on a vacation spot I'm going to get maximum relaxation time. I'm going to be able to wander and explore and relax to my heart's content. Maybe I'll get on a ride or two. Those Disney vacation videos show people happily walking up Main Street and riding Dumbo and 7 Dwarfs Mine Train. 3 hour lines? Didn't see anything like that in the video. I'm going to see Mickey and run into his arms because he will be freely walking around as he always is in EVERY advertisement. A line for Mickey Mouse? Didn't know about that. And, as previous poster stated, reservations for fine dining 3-4 weeks in advance should be MORE than sufficient. Or, because I'm staying "concierge" I'll just tip the concierge and they will get me the reservations I need...because in the real world that is how that works. THAT is how people come and have no idea what the heck is going on. I can see how they SHOULD be informed about some things but a combination of marketing and not knowing and having vacationed other places where things work completely differently. I mean, I don't know anywhere else I've been that functions like Disney World in terms of the amount of planning required.

 

[Regan117]

But that is completely unreasonable. Seriously even a mediocre restaurant in the real world has a 30min -2 hour wait on busy nights depending on location. Why on earth would anyone think they are just going to be able to eat at Cinderella's castle in the most visited theme park on earth at their whim. That is totally their fault and being mad just shows how entitled people are becoming.

It will be impossible for Disney to accommodate every guest to any restaurants at their whim and still make money. They will have a ridiculous large staff just waiting there to see how people feel that day, not to mention the space that will take. Even if ADR's window was moved from 180 to 90 days people will still complain and they wouldn't be more likely to get those ADRs without some sort of planning.

Yes, it's totally unreasonable. But I don't think everyone realizes it's a restaurant. They just want to see the Beast's castle and can't.

 

[cjbcam]

Thanks to the DIS our very first WDW trip was awesome. My sisters family went just before us and I had told her some of the things I had learned on here. She went during Christmas time and had no ADRs booked. She didn't know you had to pre book BBB. They ended up only getting one ADR at CRT at 9:30 or something like that. She was unhappy and their trip was just ok. We went and had a blast.
She is going again and calls me about everything because now she understands what I was telling her.
We are going with friends in November. I'm so glad we have gone a few times now because it is all very overwhelming. My friend just keeps asking me how do you know all this? She has also stated quite frequently, as we've been planning, how their trip would have been horrible if she didn't have me telling her what she needs to do.

 

[ellie05]

Yes, it's totally unreasonable. But I don't think everyone realizes it's a restaurant. They just want to see the Beast's castle and can't.

Again that is totally their fault. It is a restaurant and not an attraction. If they would have invested 30 min looking at the Walt Disney website they could have realized that or if they would have listen to that CM asking if they will like to be transfer to dinning reservations, or when if they would have done it when they received the 1st, 2nd email suggesting they make ADRs, or when they received the phablet in the mail. The informations is out there now more than ever. You can google stuff in your phone and quickly find answer, reviews, menus, prices, etc online. I don't understand the mentality that people should be handed everything otherwise it is Disney's fault. Where is the personal responsibility. That is not just with Disney trip but with everything in life.

If you sign a contract and then find out you agree to pay extra for something is it the fault of the person that created the contract or that you didn't read it? If you get pulled over is it the cops responsibility to teach you the traffic laws? No so why would people expect any different.

 

[pens4821]

I think most people just don't understand it, and some don't care. Of course i don't know how you could actually figure this out, but I'd venture that ultimate planners are an extremely low percentage of the people that visit. I'd bet most at least make a couple dining reservations and FP's, but even most of those know very little about the other ways to save time.

As for as not understanding, I mean, what other vacation destination do you plan you're meals out 6 months in advance? How about then planning what you'll do while you're there a month or two beforehand down to hour increments? I just think most people think they can make decisions as the day goes on, and while you can for sure, you're not going to get to do everything you want and you'll have to wait longer to do some things. As someone else said, when I used to travel to various cities I maybe had a small idea of what I wanted to do (maybe a ball game or a dinner), but most of it was on the fly. I surely didn't plan out my meals for every day, and what I would do at certain times (unless as I said a ball game or show or something at a specific time). I feel bad for these people, the ones that just truly don't know just how much planning goes in if you want to do alot.

As for not caring, just because we are like this, doesn't mean everyone is. Heck, my own family doesn't really care. If it were up to them, there would be a couple ADRs made, and a FP here or there, but other than that they'd just go with the flow. They make fun of me for planning so much, but they did admit this last time that they do like it this way. As they say, if they were on their own they'd get to do things, but not the long wait things multiple times like we do now. They also like how I kind of plan to be in a certain area where it'll fit with little backtracking. I'm not even as big a planner as most, I have a general idea of things we want to do, but not a schedule or anything. However, if they went without me, I bet they wouldn't put too much effort into the planning.