Yearning for old times :)

[Tony Bush]

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm really looking forward to 9 weeks time but.... I enjoy all the planning, I've loved researching the restaurants as this will be our first time on the dining plan. I've sat down tonight as we are now 59 days out and started looking at fastpasses...........

Aaaaaargh !!! How nice was it when you booked your holiday, read up a bit, then went and enjoyed it.... the airline would always sit you together, restaurants didn't need reservations and when you went to a park you wandered round did the rides you liked and if there was a big queue grabbed a FP for a little later.

Now I'm tied to a calendar for certain days to grab a seat / reservation / FP - Is it just me or has planning gone MAD !!!!!!!!! I looked at FP and for some rides you can't get one unless you get up at 5 am 60 days before you even leave for Orlando!
I can barely decide which park to be at, let alone which ride at which time


Anyone else feel the same ? Or am I just being nostalgic and looking back through rose tinted spectacles

Tony

 

[scoobydooby]

I don't think FPP is an improvement really. But I don't hate it as much as many others seem to and it does have the advantage of allowing you three decent rides on sleep in days, so our days of 14 consecutive rope drops are gone. My teenage son does like that. We often eat a TS lunch in the parks, so FPP can be worked around that quite well really. We also plan park days in advance so adding in the FPP isn't too big a deal. I have done traditional and new FP now and overall, prefer the old system. But it's not a deal breaker for me. I just need to learn how to manipulate it better.

 

[disneyholic family]

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm really looking forward to 9 weeks time but.... I enjoy all the planning, I've loved researching the restaurants as this will be our first time on the dining plan. I've sat down tonight as we are now 59 days out and started looking at fastpasses...........

Aaaaaargh !!! How nice was it when you booked your holiday, read up a bit, then went and enjoyed it.... the airline would always sit you together, restaurants didn't need reservations and when you went to a park you wandered round did the rides you liked and if there was a big queue grabbed a FP for a little later.

Now I'm tied to a calendar for certain days to grab a seat / reservation / FP - Is it just me or has planning gone MAD !!!!!!!!! I looked at FP and for some rides you can't get one unless you get up at 5 am 60 days before you even leave for Orlando!
I can barely decide which park to be at, let alone which ride at which time


Anyone else feel the same ? Or am I just being nostalgic and looking back through rose tinted spectacles

Tony

i am right there with you...
what ever happened to spontaneity?

we like to decide the night before, where we're going..
or even sometimes on the morning of...
we prefer 'walking up' to restaurants..
i would rather do the old fashioned FP running i used to do..

all this hyper advance planning and locking myself into specific parks on specific days is for the birds..

so much so in fact, that i turned down a trip in november..
i can't deal with it..

 

[Jacqui8374]

I so agree in fact I havnt done it yet and I don't think I am going to until I get there. One of the reasons is I have to renew my annual pass which expires as I arrive and I don't see why I should give disney the money earlier. Secondly I am not going to tie myself down to which park which day so if I cant ride something so what I am there for over three weeks plus a week on the fantasy first and is very much not the first time I have been - 32 years anyone!!!!
I really hate this, yes its a good idea if you have never been before or have limited time but as a vet its bad enough I have to decide six months in advance where I might want to eat but have actually scaled that back to absolute must haves this time around.
And don't start me on magic bands I don't want to be wearing a lump of plastic on my wrist all day long either. Thankfully I can get a linked card with an AP
Convince me otherwise by all means
Jacqui

 

[Kath2003]

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm really looking forward to 9 weeks time but.... I enjoy all the planning, I've loved researching the restaurants as this will be our first time on the dining plan. I've sat down tonight as we are now 59 days out and started looking at fastpasses...........

Aaaaaargh !!! How nice was it when you booked your holiday, read up a bit, then went and enjoyed it.... the airline would always sit you together, restaurants didn't need reservations and when you went to a park you wandered round did the rides you liked and if there was a big queue grabbed a FP for a little later.

Now I'm tied to a calendar for certain days to grab a seat / reservation / FP - Is it just me or has planning gone MAD !!!!!!!!! I looked at FP and for some rides you can't get one unless you get up at 5 am 60 days before you even leave for Orlando!
I can barely decide which park to be at, let alone which ride at which time


Anyone else feel the same ? Or am I just being nostalgic and looking back through rose tinted spectacles

Tony

The olden days are called Universal Studios

The above is exactly why we are less and less inclined to do Disney.

 

[lgp1]

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm really looking forward to 9 weeks time but.... I enjoy all the planning, I've loved researching the restaurants as this will be our first time on the dining plan. I've sat down tonight as we are now 59 days out and started looking at fastpasses...........

Aaaaaargh !!! How nice was it when you booked your holiday, read up a bit, then went and enjoyed it.... the airline would always sit you together, restaurants didn't need reservations and when you went to a park you wandered round did the rides you liked and if there was a big queue grabbed a FP for a little later.

Now I'm tied to a calendar for certain days to grab a seat / reservation / FP - Is it just me or has planning gone MAD !!!!!!!!! I looked at FP and for some rides you can't get one unless you get up at 5 am 60 days before you even leave for Orlando!
I can barely decide which park to be at, let alone which ride at which time


Anyone else feel the same ? Or am I just being nostalgic and looking back through rose tinted spectacles

Tony

I hate the need to plan. I know some people really like it, but for me it's pure stress. Over the last three weeks I have altered our days at the parks and our FP+ that many times it has completely stressed me out. At the moment I can honestly say I am not excited about going. I preferred the way it used to be, just turn up at whatever park you fancied on the day, queue for some rides and use the fast pass for others, but that's just my personal opinion, each to their own

 

[cliveywolves]

Still not sure it was nice today having 3 FP's safely booked for Epcot but by 12pm when I could then get a 4th.. Nothing left to book then apart from space ship earth , all rest gone for whole day and standby lines all one hour plus

 

[Elise79]

I was a rebel that didn't book all my days FP+ in advance - I didn't know what we would want to do.

On these days we got acceptable FPs the day before (I didn't try mine train or A&E -we had already done them) or even the morning of.

Booking ADRs drives me more nuts! I don't like most of the 1TS restaurants and I don't like be tied to a reservation every evening. With free dining you need to make the most of the TS credits to get any value so I suck it - we tried more character breakfasts but we got fed up with those too.

Next year I think I will take a chance...

Not being on the DDP in December will be great we have 2 ADRs - one at Teppan Edo for CP and one at YS

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

We didn't go to WDW last time but went to SW, Busch and Universal - no planning. Just got there early and enjoyed

 

[disneyholic family]

by the way, does anyone know of a number to call at WDW for help?

and not IT help, general help.

i'm not going in november, but DD and her husband are.

we haven't been able to make them any ADRs at all.

the only ADRs left are at restaurants no one wants to eat at (like tony's in MK and that chinese place in epcot).

i don't know what they're going to do.

how can all the ADRs be booked 3 months out?

 

[Tony Bush]

The olden days are called Universal Studios

The above is exactly why we are less and less inclined to do Disney.

Ha ha - too true !!
I've always loved Universal parks especially with FTOL access whilst staying on site.

We've just had a day in DLP and that was like old times - paper FP etc. And we walked up to Rainforest Cafe at lunchtime and booked for 6pm that evening without any problems at all !

Tony

 

[Tony Bush]

by the way, does anyone know of a number to call at WDW for help?

and not IT help, general help.

i'm not going in november, but DD and her husband are.

we haven't been able to make them any ADRs at all.

the only ADRs left are at restaurants no one wants to eat at (like tony's in MK and that chinese place in epcot).

i don't know what they're going to do.

how can all the ADRs be booked 3 months out?

Try : 0800 028 0778 - general WDW help number. This just goes to prove my point ! - Its ridiculous - apparently its the explosion of free dining that is to blame !! If its only the two of them I'd suggest try walkups as they can usdually squeeze in tables for two !

Tony

 

[disneyholic family]

Try : 0800 028 0778 - general WDW help number. This just goes to prove my point ! - Its ridiculous - apparently its the explosion of free dining that is to blame !! If its only the two of them I'd suggest try walkups as they can usdually squeeze in tables for two !

Tony

that's what they're going to try - walk ups everywhere...

 

[Elise79]

that's what they're going to try - walk ups everywhere...

What dates and what restaurants Beth?

 

[wayneg]

Totally feel the same.
We have done the free dining, ADR's, FP+, Magicbands etc.
Yes we have had good times but still can't get my head around booking a meal months in advance.
Can't see me staying onsite again, offsite is just a far more relaxing holiday, quiet little hotel, no stress eating when we want.

I have put some of my feelings in an email to Disney, after 21 years and 35 visits to WDW we are not renewing our tickets, this last trip in July we came across overflowing bins and too many tour groups chanting (rumours they were actually fighting thru the world cup games) I have had one reply from someone called Michael Levine, says he will get back to me within 4 days.

Septembers visit will be SW, Busch & possibly Universal, only Disney will be to MNSSHP. We will be back to Disney but not for a while.

 

[Pootle]

Can't see me staying onsite again, offsite is just a far more relaxing holiday, quiet little hotel, no stress eating when we want.

Ah but staying onsite and not doing the DDP (or even the parks!) is also very relaxing - you know what I am getting at Wayne, we were in our forties when we bought into DVC - not right for everyone, but you and Karen seem like a 'good fit' for a small OKW resale contract: haven't quite given up on you yet

I have put some of my feelings in an email to Disney, after 21 years and 35 visits to WDW we are not renewing our tickets, this last trip in July we came across overflowing bins and too many tour groups chanting (rumours they were actually fighting thru the world cup games) I have had one reply from someone called Michael Levine, says he will get back to me within 4 days.

Septembers visit will be SW, Busch & possibly Universal, only Disney will be to MNSSHP. We will be back to Disney but not for a while.

I'm sure you'll tell us about the reply; they are great listeners and expert at making statements that don't promise anything (apart from passing on your comments) but I know you'll be ready for him

 

[zippy99]

My troubles seem to centre around the lack of information - there are many variables - 14 day tickets v MYW tickets, split stays etc and no real definitive answers.

In terms of our touring - something we really enjoyed was spontaneity in the morning - whichever bus arrived first ... that would be our park! We would then hop to another later in the day.

We have had many debates at home about the best way to use our FP+ and at the moment we are looking at doing rope drop do a standby on a few major rides and then do some other minors in SB - we will save our FP for later in the day/park 2. I have ready so many FP+ ticket strategies but they all seem to be focused on getting the most out a park with a goal of getting a 4th FP.

But I agree wholeheartedly - it does become too much.

 

[disneyholic family]

What dates and what restaurants Beth?

there is a detailed schedule (which park on which day), but basically the two weeks in the middle of november.
they can't get a single day at sci fi (their favorite restaurant, believe it or not) or at BOG. I checked every single day they're there for sci fi and BOG - nada. not even one time available for either of them.
And not at Y&Y on the days they're at AK. (i didn't check the other days for Y&Y)

they might be able to walk up at sci fi, since they have those umbrella tables at the back. They're perfectly happy to sit at the umbrella tables, as long as they can sit somewhere.

BOG, i don't know about how possible walk up is (they only want dinner, since what they eat isn't on the lunch menu).

Once we link up her reservation to MDE, we'll go through it all again and see what happens.
Otherwise, they're going to try their luck with walk ups.

i have a feeling this whole visit is going to be stressful for them.
First we don't even know if they'll be able to get the DAS card.
Even with the DAS card, her husband has to take long rest periods where he has to lie flat on his back (on his special bed that they have to carry with them on the plane). He has terrible terrible pain (regardless of whether he sits/stands/or walks)...so all this setting everything in stone is really tough on them as they don't know how he'll be feeling. (he broke his back a few years ago when the vehicle he was on fell over a 50 foot cliff, he went over the 50 foot cliff and the vehicle fell on top of him - it's a miracle he's alive)

They wanted me to come with them so that DD would have someone to be with in the parks, if her husband isn't able to be in the parks. (but i said no)

anyway....it's a bit nerve wracking not knowing how it's going to turn out..

 

[Bonesdodisney]

Know exactly what you mean, we went in 2006 and booked and just went planned nothing and had a great holiday.

We booked in Jan this year for September and although I am super excited I'm also super stressed about not being organised enough. And hubbie things I'm crazy booked restaurants 180 days and FPP at 60 days.

Oh well I know we'll have a great holiday and that's all that matters

 

[scoobydooby]

Disneyholic keep trying for BoG. I got it about a month before we travelled. Party of two. This did involve checking availability about six times a day for about 8 weeks but it worked for this and Cindy's. I have checked the dates you have and there are still plenty of places I consider nice available, although not the three places you list.