Disney World without a camera.

[epcotisbest]

To sorta wrap up this post, we have an opportunity to back in August, just aren't sure yet if we will because of the heat and humidity then. We have gotten spoiled by off season touring.

If we do decide to go in August, we will try to do this same sort of trip, relaxed, no PS's, go with the flow and enjoy the magic. Undecided if I can do without the camera again though!
Thanks to all who responded,
Ricky

 

[RogueHabit]

This is the best way to enjoy the parks. We got over the rush and push syndrome after about our 3rd trip.

Now we just arrive when we feel and take it easy. So what if an attraction is busy, we just do it next time.

 

[trendymagic]

Most of the time I carry nothing with me. If I see something I have to have a picture of I just wait till nest time and bring our small digital camera. We have noticed so many more 'little things' around each park by just taking our time and enjoying stuff. We even got Pal Mickey when he came out and just walked around and listened to him.

 

[Timekeeper]

fo , banana fana fo fana

Originally posted by blm07
I'm thinking about using one of those pack things (is there a better word)...

They are sometimes referred to as "hipsacks"

...but you asked for a "better" word. Sorry, all I can do is give you an alternative word.

Tk

 

[skipperg]

If I didn't take my camera my wife might die of shock!!!!

She says I should be in the Genius Book of Records for the most WDW photos.

As for an itinerary for our trip. No alarm clocks and no schedules. We did make a PS for the Candlelight Processional in December and maybe a special occassion like her birthday or our granddaughters birthday. But usually we don't have our minds made up of which park we are going to unless there is something special we want to see. We eat when we are hungry and try to make an effort to try something different each time.

I could go there for a week and not go a a thrill ride or go and ride each one 10 times. It doesn't matter to us. If the lines short or long if we want to ride we do. If not no big deal. We just enjoy relaxing and going at a pace that satisfies us. We have waited for 2 hours to hold a spot for SpectroMagic. But it is relaxing sitting along Main Street watch the people. A box of popcorn, a pastry or nothing.

Sitting at an umbrella table with my wife, a fresh pastry and a cup of coffee at the World Showcase just doesn't get any better.

Just 2 more days until we go back for another great week at WDW.

Got to take the Camera. NOT OPEN TO DISCUSSION!

By the way I would estimate I have over 40,000 digital photos of WDW. Nuts Yes, but I have learned so much about photography in the past several years. WDW is a photographer's dream.

A Bad Day at WDW is better than a good day at Work!!!!

 

[wiskband]

COOL........... I did something similar this year as well. although with 4 small kids i had to carry a bag but it was small easy to carry. i posted something earlier along these lines and my adivce was to ride a boat. We have seen it all at disney so I found myself saying "whatever you guys want to do" alot. I really did enjoy myself alot. Even the P.S. times. I have to admit I did make a few but cancel them. we ate when we got hungry wherever we were. I to agree that an itinerary free WDW vacation is alot of fun. Its just planning an itinerary is so much fun. I think the best part about going with the flow is not worrying that the person who was just behind you is now in front of you. Chances are you will herded into another area before whatever attraction it is , is about to begin. Or being behind that same person and not caring will actually put you directly in the middle of a show because they have made everyone move as far down as possible. lol

 

[guwag]

Disney without a camera is something I could never, ever do. One time, to try and cut down on stuff to carry, I took a couple of disposable cameras instead of my usual Chinon SLR, 1:1.7, 1:2.8 and 1:4.5 zoom lenses and was so disappointed when I got the pictures back because they just weren't up to the same standard - now I don't complain at all about carrying my SLR in the parks.

 

[T1nker_Bell]

relaxed? whats that? LOL. In slow times its better to do it that way. When I was younger and went to WDW in mid november or early december it was so relaxed and great. However, dec. 20-27th... everything is planned.

 

[LadyDarling]

No stress, exhaustion, or blisters. Never thought I would do it this way, but during slower times such as mid-May it worked out great and made for a most pleasurable trip. By the way, just my wife and I, ages 42 and 38, no children.

Ricky -
My husband and I ALWAYS leave a day or 2 on our trips for just this! We'll haul all our cameras and stuff around for a couple days, but it's so relaxing at the end, once you've seen everything once, to just take it easy and NOT live Disneyworld through the other side of a lens (I'm usually the camcorder camera woman in our group)! It's nice to just wander around and not "have" to be anywhere or do anything sometimes (We are 27 and 23 and don't have kids as well).

BUT- alas, you can bet this trip we'll have the cameras whereever we can, since my husband and I are taking 2 first timers! We leave on Sunday! Can't wait! :sohappy:

 

[DisneyFan 2000]

The idea is quite good but when I only go to WDW every few years I just can't afford to do this....... I'd like to but I can't!

 

[LadyDarling]

Theme Park Commandos!

This is why my husband and I loving refer to each other as. Yup, sitting back and enjoyings is great! We also make plans (plan out where to go each day, except for the last 2 days, what rides to go on in what order, etc), but you know what? When we get there, we end up doings what's fun and available anyway. 1/2 the fun is the planning (builds anticipation) but the other 1/2 is throwing it all out the window!

I hate those folks who are like "You will have fun in 5 minutes! Right now we have to...."

We always remember two things:
1) we're on vacation! Yeah!
2) We're in Disneyworld! Who can be bummed out in Disneyworld!

 

[TinkRBell427]

I usually try not to rush around the parks either, but this last trip, back in May, I took a guy friend and he rushed me around every day. I think we did all the parks in two days! After that I wanted to strangle him because he was making me crazy:hammer: But what I did instead to slow us down was to get him to take pics of me and some characters. He got a little mad and all I said was, "Hey, it's my trip too." So next time I go to WDW I'm takin' it slow!:lol:

 

[Merlin]

On one of our trips, we were there for a week and didn't visit any of the main theme parks the whole time. I can't say I'd want to do it that way every time, but I have to admit we often refer to that trip as being one of our favorites. Instead of doing MK, Epcot and MGM (AK wasn't open yet), we did the water parks on two days, Pleasure Island almost every night, hung out in Fort Wilderness one day (went horseback riding, bicycling and canoeing), pool-hopping at the hotels, and basically explored the hidden corners of the resort. It was really cool!

As far as not bringing a camera, I have done that a few times and have always ended up regretting it. If you don't want to have something big and bulky to carry around, I have a recommendation. I recently purchased a Sony Cybershot U camera. It is smaller than my cell phone and can easily be carried around without being noticeable. It also takes outstanding pictures.

 

[epcotisbest]

Originally posted by LadyDarling - It's nice to just wander around and not "have" to be anywhere or do anything sometimes (We are 27 and 23 and don't have kids as well).


This post was orginally written about a trip we took earlier this year. Our December trip (not during the holidays, a week before the crowds get there) will soon be here, and although we will still use the slow, relaxed, just take it easy and enjoy the parks stlye of touring, I am going to take a small camera for all the Christmas decorations. We will still not make any PS's or plans, just go with the flow and take it all in. Having adopted this method of enjoying Disney, after several years of "trying to do as much as possible in 7 days", I don't think we will ever go back to rushing to cram everything in. For one, it can't be done, and not trying to do so much and enjoying what you do is much better. We used to have to come back home and go to work to get some rest. Not now.
Ricky

 

[Michael72688]

Although I am a local, I never bring anything to the parks, its too much work to carry all that stuff around

 

[NemoRocks78]

Ah, I could never go to the parks without my digital camera. I take as much pictures as possible, so I can always look them up when needed, or when I feel like, and maybe use them if I ever decide to build a Disney website. Of course all I usually do is carry my camera and my wallet, and both are always in my pockets so i'm not bothered at all. We usually don't make PS's either. But we also don't usually take the time to relax and enjoy the scenery, but that does sound nice, maybe i'll get my family to try it next time, cause we're usually just all about riding the rides.

 

[Heyyall]

Originally posted by jaimjaim25
I could never go there minus a camera!!! Thats where all the memories come from.. Looking at pics and thinking "oh i remember that!" I look at my disney world pictures every single day!!

I totally agree about having to have a camera! I even make a Disney World scrapbook that I can look back on all the time. The relaxing thing sounds great, I think I'll try to do that more the next time we go, but I HAVE to have my camera!:xmas:

 

[Heyyall]

Quick Question

Just a quick question for epcotisbest....Maybe you said this, but did you get up really early for early entry and park opening? Or did you just get up whenever you wanted to?
Thanks
:xmas:

 

[epcotisbest]

Heyyall,
I understand that you have to have your camera. I thought the same thing but realized that I have lots of pictures of previous trips and did not miss it at all. It was a real treat not to have to stop and compose pictures.
One of our strategies has been to avoid the park that has early opening and go to a different one. Now, we always get to our park of choice about 30 minutes before its posted opening time, as we are early risers anyway, but don't do the rope drop dash. Instead, we go to the oposite side of wherever the most people are headed (usually SM at MK, ToT and RnR at MGM, and TT and now MS at Epcot) and enjoy the scenery and landscaping along with just a few other folks who chose not to follow the masses. We also always go during the slower times of the year, and will be outta there before the holiday crowds decend.
Ricky