Why dont people plan?

[Angel Ariel]

I agree about it not having to do with the time frame. I was focusing more on the idea that ADRs are making it harder to get last minute dining spots while at the parks. Sorry if I misinterpreted what you wrote and that my response wasn't clear.

it's all good Thanks for clarifying!

 

[SBWB48]

I love to plan vacations, no matter where, because for me, all the pre planning makes vacation FEEL like vacation. I think about logistics, among other things, in advance, so that I don't have to deal with those headaches on vacation. It's all been considered and planned around, so that everything just flows much more smoothly on vacation.

I want to relax, not plan, while on vacation, which is why I plan before the vacation.

The bonus is I get enjoyment out of thinking about the vacation during the months I spend planning it.

Very much agree and the quoted poster. While I do pre-plan our potential park days, places where we want to eat, FPs, and things we may want to see, nothing is at all set in stone. I try to let things run its course (certainly not an hour by hour planner) once we get there while working around what we have in terms of reservations and FPs. If I know we have a reservation or FP at noon, I'll decide which land or park we want to be in leading up to it, but certainly not nearly to the degree of "we have to be on and off TSMM by 10:30am". Perhaps, we may try to squeeze in as much as we can leading up to the "planned activity" with flexibility in terms of what to fill in the time in between with. We have priorities and will plan activities and rides we know want to do around them over the notion of pre-planning our entire day and possibly not being able to come back to it because "it may impact another time slot". Those who go into with extensive touring plans, I certainly admire, but it's not quite our touring style.

And perhaps once we have children, that may be the more ideal strategy, but with two adults (just myself and DBF), we (or I at least) feel more comfortable with a loose plan (anchor FPs and our lunch/dinner reservation) and filling in the available time in between with other items on our to-do list. DBF has acknowledged he's glad one of us is so into the planning because while he loves Disney and will be over the moon once we get there, the pre-planning doesn't nearly excite him as much as it excites me. I'm constantly (sometimes I think it's a problem!) reading Disney blogs and lurking on DIS boards both at home and at work leading up to our trip. DBF when he sees me reading will ask "are you reading about Disney AGAIN?"

Which leads to the discussions of the "work" involved in a vacation. I don't find the planning exactly "stressful" or "work" because it's what makes the anticipation, wait, and countdown to the trip bearable and not simply "wishing the time away". It keeps me pre-occupied reading about trips and others experiences and how it can better ours. The planning is very much part of my vacation. It also could be due to the fact that we don't have down to the hour touring plans, rather I know we may have to leave the park by a certain time for an ADR perhaps. Otherwise, the hour or two between our next FP, we will check wait times and get hop on a ride, get a snack, or explore whichever land we may feel like at the moment. The loose planning to me is rolled into the vacation fun, and quite frankly, I also agree that I rather do the logistics planning beforehand (do we drive to TTC or park at Epcot?) and not during the actual vacation when I am actually up against the clock; I rather the spontaneity during the vacation as I mentioned with filling in the time between pre-planned must dos, FPs, and reservations.

We also got FD this year, which I ironically only found out about four days before it was released after stumbling onto the DIS boards (and now I'm a daily reader!) when Google searching about MNSSHP. It just so happened to be during when we were planning to go this year. When I found out about it, my original plans to stay offsite to save money instantly went into reset mode and I was off to the races to plan our first potential onsite trip. I took the advice of the DIS vets and woke up at 4am the day FD was released and couldn't have been more excited. Nothing was stressful about it other than the reservations I would have to scale back on had we not been able to secure a room. Ok, maybe also the prospect of the website crashing as many have experienced, though I had no issue and booked within 15 min of the release. Was so excited to get FD when I secured it that I didn't even go back to bed that morning! Not a coffee drinker either, so it was simply all adrenaline and the excitement knowing I would have more planning ahead of me since it was our first onsite trip and not during the summer months. All the reading to come about our resort, transportation even though we will have a rental car since we just like the flexibility, dining reviews despite having already secured reservations leading up to release day), and tips about staying on site. Two months later and I'm still reading simply because the pre-planning is part of my vacation excitement and makes the now less than four month wait more bearable since no one seemingly understands better than fellow DISers I've realized

The DBF will tell me "that's cool" or "I'm excited to do that", but it's not the same.

 

[agavegirl1]

Because I love to plan my vacations, I do so for all of them. I once won a trip to Florence and Tuscany with a six week notice of going. We were meeting the author of "Under the Tuscan Sun" at Bramasole so my dates had to coincide with when she was in Cortona. One day was planned for us but the rush job I had to do for Florence drove me crazy. I missed a couple of museums because people book online months in advance for them. I still saw plenty in one week but if I hadn't gotten a couple of guidebooks and maps I would have been so lost when on my own.

However, driving vacations are spontanious affairs. The number of guidebooks for a destination is always my first clue on how much planning I need. I agree that you should plan according to your expectations.

I also feel bad when I see someone at the World that didn't realize there are 4 parks or that the monorail doesn't go to all of them. Just "Google" the word planning and your destination and you will get a pretty good idea of the level of planning needed to get your money's worth.

 

[21stamps]

I just don't understand the people that all of "you" know.lol

I have never met anyone in my life who went on a Disney vacay who didn't pay attention to magic band arrival, has some kind of game plan, etc. I do know people who plan Less and those who plan More.

But none that have gone in "blind".

 

[Magpie]

What I want to know is... why does everyone keep saying that people who don't plan ahead will end up eating "chicken nuggets"???

Disney quick service locations offer a heck of a lot more than just nuggets (assuming they even offer nuggets, which isn't guaranteed). Last trip, remembering how delicious we'd found the Teriyaki nuggets, my husband and I went to the Friar's Nook. Only to find... no nuggets! But they did have instead a selection of gourmet mac-and-cheeses that were extremely filling and also very tasty. My husband had the Pot Roast Mac & Cheese, and I had the BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese, and afterward we commented that next time we'd just get one and split it.

I remember going to Canada's Wonderland many years ago, and being upset to find nothing on offer but overpriced hot dogs and potato chips. It was awful. Disney is not like that. Regardless of whether or not you ever make a single ADR, you're going to eat well.

 

[disneyseniors]

I think bumbershoot missed a quote on page 3!

 

[Luvamouse]

I'm going to bite the bullet and do what I dislike: post after only getting through the first 10 of the 19 pages, but it takes soooo long to read as I get distracted!

I got lucky... my first trip to Disney was in 2005 and I picked up The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and read it cover to cover before we got there. Why? Because when I was a kid I used to go into travel agencies and lie, telling them we were planning a Disney trip and my mum had asked me to pick up some brochures.
Basically, Disney has taught me how to plan a successful vacation. I think my whole family has benefited because of it. No matter where we go, I'll plan it like a Disney trip.

(Important caveat - no battle plan ever survives intact. Every plan I've ever made, has had to be adapted on the fly. But being prepared, and knowing what's going on, makes being flexible and spontaneous SO much easier. )

For us it was the 1980's. There were only 3 hotels when we started to go to Disney in the late 70's, and if you were going during school vacation, you DID need to reserve 2 years ahead. I recall my mom calling over a year out and we stayed in 3 Disney locations during the course of the week. Then we bought Steve Birnbaum's Official Guide and we knew what there was and how to do it. Before the Internet, that was the only way to effectively plan ahead. Yes, there were fewer people there, but there were fewer parks, restaurants, shows, etc. I have become (happily) a master planner. I so agree with your caveat. I tell everyone, in all sorts of situations "Make a plan. Then be prepared to throw that whole plan right out the window because you have to or you want to." This goes for vacations, careers, childbirth or a simple dinner. But you have to have a plan, however simple. Even if your plan is to have no plan. Some of the best times we've had were making an unexpected stop on our drive to WDW (1400 miles each way), canceling an ADR for a great QS meal, dumping park plans and hanging by the pool. But we knew what the alternative options were and could choose. Because we already had a plan.

Sometimes people just don't want to plan too. I had a friend who was planning a trip to Disney. She asked me a few questions & I went on to explain all about FPs & ADRS, planning which park to go to on which day, etc. But she didn't care or want to know or deal with any of it. She wanted to go, wake up each morning, then decide which park to go to. So they didn't plan at all.

I think this is fine if you are off season or have been before and understand what WDW really is. Otherwise I feel a first timer will be sorely disappointed on ride lines, FP availability, good dining, etc.

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.

Amen, MickyMinnieMom! You have what I consider the answer to it all. Understanding how much planning is required, necessary or just too much for a given situation. And for you.

My last thought is to all the posters here who are commenting that they are happy just walking around grabbing CS for meals (my preference in the parks), getting on a ride or two- no E tickets, and that being enough-- that people overplan and to relax . That is fine if you aren't paying over $100/day. If you have an AP, a longer stay pass with less expensive days or are gladly following grandkids around, that may be enough. I do understand the pleasure of NOT rushing around. But at the crazy prices Disney has gotten to be, I'd like to spend a few (OK, a crapload) extra hours planning to ensure we hit the right parks on the right days, have FP for a few beloved rides, and can best maximize our stay. Even if it means only a few well planned hours in the park and then back to the pool. Never mind if you must travel during holiday times. Planning during Level 10 crowds has given us crazy good vacations while friends who went the very same week hated it.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

[quote}Point 1) LOL!!! Are you really equating tickets to a Jimmy Buffet concert to an 'Ohana ADR???[/quote}
It's easier to get into 'Ohana, and you don't have to buy tickets off Stub Hub.

We just returned from a trip (first week of May - the last was first week of December 2014) and for the second time I ended up dropping most of my plans, and had a much better time as a result. Twice I have had dining reservations for dinner at BOG and twice I have canceled. We had lots of relaxation time and our last day at AK had us all growling at each other until I dropped the fast passes and changed dinner to lunch (doable). Sure, I know the ins and outs of WDW (I know there isn't a fp for 7DMT at the kiosk or the chances of a walk up to BOG is next to impossible) but planning just doesn't make my family happy. I also wrote on another thread that I found only 9 of our fast passes necessary for a 7 day trip - we just didn't need them. There were 2 days we canceled our fast passes all together. I do admire planning and I enjoy thinking about the trip through months of preparation, but it's not for us. We also avoid super crowded times as well.

 

[theme_park_mom]

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.

Bless your heart for helping. It is so heartbreaking when people don't know!
I wished so many times I could give folks a FP I couldn't use, or just swap places with a newbie. has anyone had experience with that?

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Bless your heart for helping. It is so heartbreaking when people don't know!
I wished so many times I could give folks a FP I couldn't use, or just swap places with a newbie. has anyone had experience with that?

Yes, back in the day of paper fast passes, I always got one for me even though sometimes my motion sickness sometimes wouldn't allow me to ride. I always gave them away to someone (a young dad who didn't want to make his family wait while he rode the ToT, a teenager with grandparents who didn't want to wait an hour for a ride, another solo teen for ToT, and last time we walked in with a young dad who wanted to ride 7DMT and my DGD didn't quite make height requirement, so the CM let us walk the guy in through the 2nd band scan). I also canceled my BOG at the last minute. I stood in line behind someone checking (once again) to see if there had been any cancellations and I spoke up that I had one I'd like to cancel if the CM would be so kind, and after a phone call I was able to walk away, and a happy group had a reservation for dinner at 6 pm for BOG. (The kids were just done in and we had to leave the park) I got pixie dusted back because while I was in line trying to cancel BOG my 2 DGDs went to see Anna and Elsa and guess who had the books? The CM was kind enough to take the books back for me and get them signed. (phew! Especially since our backpack with the autograph books inside was stolen on our last trip - 2 trips and no A&E signatures!)

 

[theme_park_mom]

I stood in line behind someone checking (once again) to see if there had been any cancellations and I spoke up that I had one I'd like to cancel if the CM would be so kind, and after a phone call I was able to walk away, and a happy group had a reservation for dinner at 6 pm for BOG.

AWESOME!!! YAY YOU!!!!

 

[xipotec]

I hope this does not come out too mean.....

There are people who think.....and those that do not.

I work in a place where calling ahead would CONSIDERABLY lessen problem and waits....but every day we get people who come is totally clueless about there own lives, and the lives of others, who get very upset the world does not work the way they "think" it should.

Similar to people who ;
Show up to a restaurant on a Friday night, without reservations and complain about waiting for a table.
Get upset at TSA because they showed up 30 minutes before a flight on a holiday weekend.
Go to a sale the last day and complain about limited quantity items being out of stock.
Wonder why they have nose bleed seats at a concert or sporting event when they purchase tickets at the gate night of the event.

Its pure ignorance and lack of worldly knowledge.

As previously stated.....the resources and common sense should tell you something....sad that the little ones pay the price.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Amen, MickyMinnieMom! You have what I consider the answer to it all. Understanding how much planning is required, necessary or just too much for a given situation. And for you.

Awe, thx! Yeah... I just think it's specific to the trip and to the people traveling... not A RIGHT ANSWER for all, but there are right answers for our family that are trip-specific!

 

[ChloesDaddy]

I also canceled my BOG at the last minute. I stood in line behind someone checking (once again) to see if there had been any cancellations and I spoke up that I had one I'd like to cancel if the CM would be so kind, and after a phone call I was able to walk away, and a happy group had a reservation for dinner at 6 pm for BOG.

We picked up a same day reservation for 50's Prime Time on Tuesday this way. Thanks to Beth E. If you're out there reading.

 

[mshanson3121]

What about going on your own or with a friend?



Why not? It's all about "things an individual really wants to do".

We don't have a lot of money for extras like that, so if I'm going to spend that amount of money on a trip, it's going to be a family trip

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

I often see even experienced wdw travelers recommend checking out a guide book from the library! I can only imagine how old those must be.

Our library carries a ton of travel books and the Disney ones are updated yearly...
They sell the outdated copies for $1.00.
Libraries and librarians have some of the most updated info available!

 

[RLGNC]

There;s now a $10 per person cancellation fee for cancelling reservations less than 24 hrs in advance. Still an option, yes, if you're willing to pay the fee.

Good to know, I wasn't aware of that! Is that for all restaurants?

 

[JimmyV]

There is no "perfect place to eat". If you're hungry and you check MDE and a place sounds good, THAT'S the perfect place to eat. Deciding 6 months in advance that Be Our Guest at 6:10pm on the third day of your trip is going to be the "perfect place to eat" is just setting yourself up to be disappointed. You and your family may be tired, hot, not that hungry, etc. when that time rolls around. I think that accounts for a lot of the criticism of the WDW restaurants. People are forcing themselves to eat when they may not really be hungry or in the mood for that kind of food. Seemed like a good idea 6 months ago, but the reality of it when there is different. In contrast, when you're actually hungry, you can browse the options on MDE to see what's available, and something will sound good because you're hungry. That meal will likely be very satisfying.

I think we have an entirely different view on dining while on vacation. A great many of my vacations are planned around culinary exploration where "good enough" simply isn't. But I admit that not everyone takes the same approach.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Oh my Lord....

http://www.disboards.com/threads/180-days-and-adrs-done.3515146/

 

[SaintsManiac]

Oh my Lord....

http://www.disboards.com/threads/180-days-and-adrs-done.3515146/

?????