Why dont people plan?

[mickeyluv'r]

Yep. And, I think this is probably a big majority of visitors to WDW (and many won't buy tickets until they arrive). I'm sure many people treat a Disney vacation much like other vacations. They go somewhere, probably make some sort of hotel reservation, and figure out the rest once they're there. Even if they read up, it'll be more about "here's the fun stuff to do" rather than "here's what you have to do if you want to plan out your trip."

My parents live in a big tourist area (Sevierville/Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg) -

I agree with your post.

I also wanted to add, up until rather recently- Disney gave guests the same kind of open options. You booked a hotel, bought park tickets (if you wanted to save a little $) and if you added transportation you were good to go.

Many people have a hard time visualizing in advance. That's why big appliance stores bother to make model showrooms, and department stores pay artists to create display windows.

I've helped a number of first timers go to WDW. It's very hard to predict how some children will react. Many adults also suffer hidden anxieties.

It is easy to come on here and judge others if you are healthy, but many families have at least one person with a special need of some kind that makes planning difficult.

It might be a physical disability, ADD, ADHD, anxiety, fear of closed spaces/ghosts/darkness/unknown, asthma, food allergies, diabetes, epilepsy, addictions...

There's any number of reason's why it might be VERY hard to predict endurance/tolerance levels. Scooters and heavy rain don't mix. Illnesses and disabilities are often a huge challenge, especially if the person isn't managing their condition well, isn't willing to use a mobility device, or isn't open to discussing their anxieties.

Many families manage their difficult situation by NOT planning too far in advance.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

There were many WDW trips where I thought we were going to do one thing, but something interfered.

Here's are some examples:
1. flu
2. twisted ankle or other injury
3. absolute downpour on the way to a signature dinner,
4. another time it was BOG- at the BACK of MK- and someone in my group had to use a (rented) scooter, which you aren't supposed to use n the rain, especially rain like that.
5. showed up on time for ADR, but were seated well past our ADR
6. waited an hour for the bus
7. waited over 30mintes for boat that never came, later discovered far off lightning was the cause, despite sun, AND I should add, the dock CM's didn't know, they kept telling us the boat would be along any minute.
8. fog stopped the boats.
9. monorail down, no warning, just down for the day, then the next....
10. almost all the elevators in CR down, all week
11. paid for DDP, but didn't get it (took over an hour to fix)
12. cancelled or very delayed flights
13. One or more family members beg to join a trip (about) one week before departure
14. unexpected large expense at home just before the trip
15. extended family changes mind (whole vacation, trimmed days, added days, skipped an ADR)
16. Lost (different trips): pocketbook, park tickets, car keys, luggage
17. malfunctioning bands, tickets, BIG problems with hotel room
18. stuck inside a stopped attraction (for an hour)
19. MELTDOWNS!


And this is just a few of the times my rough plans went astray.

When WDW, was more flexible, we mostly rolled with the punches.

 

[4leobeans]

I feel the opposite. 2/3 of our Standard FP for MK would be Space Mtn and Splash. We easily ride and cover the distance in less than our required hour. I'll gladly trade 15minutes of walking for 90minutes of standby queue!

I DO, however, wish we could book our 3FP closer together in time.

I feel bad for the folks who squander one of their 3 initial FP on something like the teacups.

This was me - I've been to the parks before, but not so well that I know where everything is. I underestimated the distance between some of our FPs and we were criss crossing parks / running to our meals, because of the sheer size of the park.

It's a fine balancing act now, to plan parks on specific " low crowd days", trying to still hit some parade, coupled with your ADRs, and then FPs, which you might take what you get because you're already booked at a specific park on a certain day

 

[RLGNC]

Yes, I'm not home or else I would take a photo of the cover for you.

It says "The (your last name here) Family's Incredible Vacation!" (With a photo of the Incredibles on the cover). It was the same in 2015 and 2016. So if you ask them about the "Incredible Vacation Booklet" they should know what you are talking about.

Please update after you call! It's so strange that you did not receive it.

The photos I posted last night are only part of it, there really is a lot of great info inside!

I called and they said the reason I hadn't received it is because they didn't have my address!?! Not quite sure how that happened, but it's been corrected and my booklet is on the way! Thank you!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I booked my last trip at 65 days out. Received that same brochure for that trip as well. This time I went thru a TA, last time I booked directly with Disney. I was looking for it last night to see if it still listed the 180 day mark since I was already passed that date...have no idea where it is though, or if I threw it away.

When did you book? It usually arrives within 2 weeks.

I have read many a posts on here where people have never received their information booklets or they received them after their dates have passed or when they've come home. From what I've read general thoughts are the process for sending out the information could be improved upon. This goes for the ADR window and the FP+ window. I know it's a small sampling here on the DIS but the point is there is def.an issue at times with receiving your information on your important dates and in enough time.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I called and they said the reason I hadn't received it is because they didn't have my address!?! Not quite sure how that happened, but it's been corrected and my booklet is on the way! Thank you!

Makes me wonder if that has happened to anyone else who has discussed not receiving their information. I know for sure Disney has my address. I get mail from them time to time regarding what's in my cart or enticing me to go ahead and book (I've got Sep 2016 dates selected and resort selected on my Disney account though my trip isn't until Sep 2017) though I haven't gotten actual snail mail in a month; likely because I haven't played around much on my Disney account in a while. Once the 2017 resort prices are updated I'll update my account and who knows maybe Disney will send me more mail at that time.

 

[21stamps]

I called and they said the reason I hadn't received it is because they didn't have my address!?! Not quite sure how that happened, but it's been corrected and my booklet is on the way! Thank you!

Oh good, I'm so glad! You're welcome!

 

[helenb]

Makes me wonder if that has happened to anyone else who has discussed not receiving their information. I know for sure Disney has my address. I get mail from them time to time regarding what's in my cart or enticing me to go ahead and book (I've got Sep 2016 dates selected and resort selected on my Disney account though my trip isn't until Sep 2017) though I haven't gotten actual snail mail in a month; likely because I haven't played around much on my Disney account in a while. Once the 2017 resort prices are updated I'll update my account and who knows maybe Disney will send me more mail at that time.

Just so you know, I believe you can call DIsney and make those September 2017 reservations on the phone. Although the online booking isn't open so far, it's my understanding that you can book on the phone 500 days out.

 

[Hikergirl]

I've seen a few posts with people stressing about December's hours. That is another reason I don't like to plan. I don't want to stress about my vacation that's 6 months away. I want my vacations to be stress free and relaxing and I want the time leading to my vacation to be excitement not an OMG I can't do this or plan that feeling.

 

[Jules76126]

Disney does send updates about ADR windows and the incredibles booklet. BUT sometimes they send them too late to be of us. One example is on the day of my ADR bookings, Disney sent me an email at 5:00pm telling me that I could now book all my dining. By 5:00pm all the hard to get restaurants were filled. Thankfully, I knew what day I could book ahead of time, so I was on MDE at 6:00am on the dot. If Disney wants to help the uninitiated, they need to better time their correspondence.

 

[Pigletpal40]

We walked friends of ours through the planning process (FP+,ADRs, etc) last year for their first trip. They were shocked what goes into planning
but thanked us when they got back.
About 10 years ago I tried this with my brother and his in-laws. We're DVC members. He let me know they were going about two months ahead. Thanksgiving week. I said try the week before it will be much less crowded. I called for availability and could get everyone into OKW or SSR for their dates. When he said they rented a house nearby and they'll probably sleep in and head to Disney around 11 or 12, I stopped. When they got back, his MIL said to us, "I don't know how you people do it, I hated Disney 20 years ago and I hate it now." Oh well

 

[21stamps]

I've seen a few posts with people stressing about December's hours. That is another reason I don't like to plan. I don't want to stress about my vacation that's 6 months away. I want my vacations to be stress free and relaxing and I want the time leading to my vacation to be excitement not an OMG I can't do this or plan that feeling.

Honestly, I think I said it early in the thread. This is the WORST trip I have ever planned. I don't like being this far out, there is nothing relaxing about planning 6-7 months in advance. All it has done is stress me out.

I just told my TA yesterday that I'm almost regretting adding the WDW portion to our cruise. The Fantasy was our main destination, then I decided "I'll add 3 nights at WDW". 3 nights has now turned in to 5, with a VIP tour in the mix, and I may add another night if we fly in Thanksgiving evening (but for that night I would stay somewhere much cheaper off site-arriving @ midnight). My ADR day is Sunday, and I have been obsessively figuring out and revising schedules/ asking for input/ researching every detail. It's exhausting. The DCL portion has been taken over by WDW planning-- and the entire point of DCL was so I would NOT have to deal with ADRs etc again. That obviously didn't happen.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Just so you know, I believe you can call DIsney and make those September 2017 reservations on the phone. Although the online booking isn't open so far, it's my understanding that you can book on the phone 500 days out.

Yeah you can make reservations up to 499 days in advance via phone but for budget reasons we want to know the exact price (we're 4 adults splitting the price equally). But thanks for putting that out there so others know

 

[momimouse27]

We have a group of 17 who will be going to the parks the week of Thanksgiving. I am the planner for the group. It's difficult attempting to explain "why" we need to plan everything to the gnats rear to the group. We could pay for a year at a university with what we are spending on a few days as a group...I believe that deserves forethought. The rest of the family thinks I am nuts.

That's frustrating. That's an awful lot of people so applause to you for taking it on! And on Thanksgiving week...bravo! I remember when we first started taking our family to Disney, when my kids were little. Even then, my husband couldn't understand my need to plan so much, and that was before computers. After a trip where I threw caution to the wind and didn't plan anything except where we would stay(kind of to teach him a lesson ) he stopped complaining. In fact, from then on, he encouraged me to plan-I don't think he realized how much he liked looking forward to places we ate and the experiences I planned out.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Here's one way to summarize this thread: Disney is trying to figure out the best way to deal with the crowds...and so are we.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

This is what is confusing to me. And what I didn't believe until your statement.

How did you not know?

Disney emails you, they send you magic bands, they show you on MDE, and they send you booklets.

I'm so curious to know how it's possible.

Little judgemental???

 

[21stamps]

Little judgemental???

No, not at all.
Just extremely curious. I kept reading people say it, and didn't really believe it until I read a first hand account.
I just didn't/don't understand bc Disney sends so many emails/regular mail/etc.

If you're not staying on site then it makes a little more sense. And makes sense several years ago, but now there is so much info by just doing one Google search.

 

[skateshome]

Then I feel sad for you, .

LOL!
A few of you have taken my comment WAY out of context....I was simply being funny using an example.
That's all....nothing more.
I'm in no way trying bash small children. Your post did make me laugh however.

 

[epcotty]

I think in a lot of cases it's probably people who were used to the old FP system and either don't know about FP+ or don't understand how it's different. After the first time realizing that they'll improve their planning

 

[annadreamsofdisneyworld]

I was just having this conversation with my Dad and Husband a week ago. A co-worker of my Dad's approached him, knowing that he is a Disney fan and told him that his family was headed to WDW in 3 weeks! Exciting right? He told my Dad where they were staying and that they had gotten the dining plan. My Dad asked where they made ADRs and they had no idea that they needed to make reservations for sit down restaurants in advance. My Dad asked if they had their FPs and the guy was like, "we get those there, right?" People just have no idea. I don't understand how you could go on vacation anywhere without doing some research. But, I am a planner. We came to the conclusion that people think going to Disney is more like going to Six Flags than like going to a major city. It makes me sad though, because I feel like those are the people that come back and HATE WDW. They complain about the lines and crowds and food, etc. But, had they done some research ahead of time, even basic research, they could have had a much better experience.

I agree with this. My aunt and cousin went in March one time during spring break and had a terrible tine, due to crowds. First, I would never choose March. Second, they didn't know about fast passes. They said they hardly rode anything. Why didn't they research it more??