How do you slow down your WDW visit?

[MickeyMitch]

Hey Mitch! First of all welcome, and i hope you enjoy your trip!

Thanks very much for the welcome, and thanks for all of the tips everyone!

Tie your shoe laces together. This way you can only take 6-8" steps.

I'm not so sure I'll be tying my shoe laces together, I don't think I could even if I wanted to, I usually stick to my Havaianas when in WDW, thank you very much! :ROFLOL:

Anyways, I'm just going to try and pay a lot of attention to every detail I see and hear, every bite I take and every thrill I get on the rides! I guess I'm just looking to distract myself so much that I completely forget about my upcoming Mid-Terms after vacay! And even if this March spring break goes by too fast for my liking, I'm heading back to the Wilderness Lodge at the end of May when my freshmen year is all over with, then, I can really bask in the amazingness that is WDW!

Again, THANKS! :sohappy:

 

[ssidiouss@mac.c]

Here's my main way to slow the trip down:

1) Relax at the Poly Beach in the afternoon after Magic Kingdom or Epcot mornings.. napping on hammocks, grabbing dole whips and lunch at Captain Cooks there, etc. I don't stay at the Polynesian but I always find time to relax there as much as possible on nice days. For example, here are 2 days of our upcoming March trip:

DAY TWO:
Magic Kingdom morning
Boat to
Polynesian Relax afternoon
Monorail to
Epcot Countries evening

DAY THREE:
MGM Morning
Bus to
Polynesian Relax afternoon/sunset
Late Ohana Dinner
Cab to Pop Century evening (where we r staying first week)

 

[LoriMistress]

We normally stay in WDW longer. On our first trip, we were there for a week. Our last trip we were there for 11 days/nights. If you can't swing a long vacation in the world, I would suggest taking breaks throughout your stay in the parks. When it starts to get crowded/hot/humid/etc., just go back to the resort and relax. Take a nap, swim in the pool, or maybe visit another resort on property. These small things really do make a difference, and you're not feeling as exhausted.

 

[techiegsy]

Living in the UK we don't get to WDW much so make the most of our time there. A good tip from An Unofficial Guide is to take a break in the middle of the day, go back to your hotel and rest, have a snack, and ultimately avoid the midday sun a crowds. At first I said we wouldn't need long, but we realised the 3 hour break was welcome and let us refreshed for the rest of the day at the park.

Another thing is planning, which may not slow you down at first, but means you can take a slightly more leisurely pace. Have an idea of the order of attractions you want to do, saving you deciding where to go next! But remember to be flexible. When it rained one day we rode pirates, even though we did not intend to until the next day, and saved time then!

And Finally, every now and then, just stop and take it in. One of my favourite moments was when we'd just done Splash and Big Thunder and we thought it was time for a snack, so we picked up some frozen lemonade and sat on the bench in liberty square and ate it, whilst watching stressed out parents dragging screaming kids... And we headed off to Jungle Cruise nice and calmly.

 

[Mikester71]

During our 3rd trip last March, we spent a day just relaxing around the resort pool. We ate supper and hit up DTD or a park later that evening for a bit, but it was kinda nice not getting up and hurrying around to catch a bus to a park before they got busy. Since we drive down, we usually go off property a few times each visit as well to do some shopping and get some groceries and that. We also did a day trip to Siesta Keys Beach last trip and spent about half a day exploring their beaches.

 

[cblodg]

We always say we're going to slow down but we never do :lol:

One tip might be obvious but to plan ADRs for lunch and dinner. Sitting down to eat a table service meal will help you to calm down and take things slow.

^^^
That's my advice exactly. No better way to slow down your trip that to plan with ADRs. If we have dinner ADRs (usually try to schedule for 5:00 or 5:30) we tend to leave the parks around 2:30 or 3:00 and rest back at the hotel. Then we head back to the park to get to our ADR on time.

 

[Jeff456]

Personally I would not want to slow down, when I fly across the atlantic to go to wdw not knowing when I might be back next I want to make the most of every minute of it, they way I see it I can sit around a pool on any holiday. However like most people have said to slow down just spend time around your pool, maybe take a stroll through downtown disney or around world showcase late afternoon?

 

[wdwwdeagle]

During our 3rd trip last March, we spent a day just relaxing around the resort pool. We ate supper and hit up DTD or a park later that evening for a bit, but it was kinda nice not getting up and hurrying around to catch a bus to a park before they got busy.

I agree that taking a day off in the middle of the trip is a great idea. We've done this several times, and it's really refreshing.

One time we were at AKL and just hung out on the balcony watching the animals in the morning, then went to the pool in the afternoon, then the kids did the kids program in the evening while DH and I went out to dinner.

Another time we rode the monorail around to the resorts, looked for hidden mickeys and walked around the lobby and grounds of each resort, then back to our resort for pool time and dinner.

It's a little hard at first not to be at the parks, but I've always remembered those days just as much as the days we went to the parks, if not more, because the park days all just run together. Try it; you won't regret it.

 

[rsoxguy]

Valium?

 

[Matt and Kelly]

It's so tough to try and slow things down. I'm never really sure when I'll be back at WDW next so I try to make the most of every visit. If that means going non-stop for the week or so that we are there, so be it.

On the last two trips, I have been able to relax near a ride or something and enjoy a coffee in the morning. To sit for those 10-15 minutes and take in the sight and sounds is really a nice treat. It doesn't happen too often that I actually sit down and am not on the go, but it is something I thoroughly enjoy when I do get the opportunity.

 

[yankspy]

Take a few non park days. Rent boats, get a massage, have a nice relaxing breakfast at the Kona Cafe, go for a swim, walk around DTD and have a sundae at Ghiardelli.

 

[PhilharMagician]

You don't wear underwear?

SShhh don't tell anyone. :lookaroun

Why slow down? Your at WDW so go nuts!!!!!!

 

[bgraham34]

You don't wear underwear?

No it just too hot in the Florida sun.

 

[Laura]

Something that helps me to slow down is to focus on one land or pavilion at a time. For example you choose Adventureland, and no matter how long it takes, you have to force yourself to remain in Adventureland until you've seen and explored every inch of it. Check out all the gift shops (not the merchandise, but the cool theming), the scenery, experience every show and attraction great and small. Though you have to pick a time when that particular area is pretty empty, otherwise the crowds will frustrate and drain you.

On my last trip to Disneyland I focused on Fantasyland attraction signs of all things. It's something that most people would not give a second glance to, but once I started reading them it became kind of addictive and I ended up spending 2 hours just meandering around trying to find and study them all. :lol:

It would be hard, though, to stop and slow down like that without being a local. No one wants to pay 5 thousand bucks to go read signs. :lol:

 

[wm49rs]

I find a nicely aged single-malt Scotch usually slows me down every time.....

As for the parks, stopping at the Moroccan cafe or the pastry shop in France usually does the trick as well. So does a Dole Whip at Adventureland....

 

[blackthidot]

Geez, I don't think there is anything you can really do. It goes by SO fast. One thing that seems to appear to take way more time than it is is the water parks. If feels like I am there for 4-5 hours and its only been 2 hours.

 

[Juliaz3]

For us? We refuse to be Park Commandos. We don't have a list of rides and times.

Great thread! We're an adult couple w/no kids and next week's trip will be our third Disney vacation together. My husband is a slower walker than I am, and on our first two trips I got annoyed that he wasn't moving along, getting to the rides I wanted him to ride and the sights I wanted him to see. I had an agenda, dammit!

But when I realized that he was taking it all in, enjoying the street performers in the DHS, and the little things like signs and statues, I calmed down and began to appreciate those things more. Yet I still rushed him too much.

This trip, I've made only a basic calendar to note evening EHM and the parade times. We will not be Park Commandos either! I want to slooooow down and experience every minute. I'm lucky to be with someone who isn't so keyed up and can take things as they come.

 

[Krack2]

If you're staying on property, I always found that leaving the parks in the afternoon and returning to the hotel was a savior. You can spend four or five hours (1 to 5 PM - when the parks are at its most crowded and hottest temperatures) and nap. If you've got kids, and they've still got energy, nap poolside. It also makes it easier to eat lunch and/or dinner. And when you're re-energized, you can attack the parks until closing fairly easily.

Another thing my family always do (if we're spending a week or more at WDW) is that the middle day is always a non-parks day. You can go to one of the water parks, golf, spend time at Downtown Disney, get on the monorail and explore all the hotels. But stay out of the parks! Just getting away from that ultra-concentration of people for 24 hours will do wonders for your sanity.

 

[GMRO]

Where is Fuego (cigar/bar located Downtown)? I know of the cigar shop near the house of blues by quest...starts with an "S" - can't remember the name – Soba?

I always pack my travel humidor for the WDW trip. Nothing like sitting out in the designated areas on property and enjoying a nice smooth cigar with an adult beverage. Never in the parks...but at the resorts of course.

Just wondering where this place is in DTD. I must have missed it less it's new.

Usually we fly to the world. BUT last trip we drove. And actually the drive we took helped us de-compress a bit. Wife and I can remember when we flew it usually took us 2 days of our vacation to slow down our roll and enjoy it. Last May we drove seeing as the airlines have gotten way too greedy with pricing. For our stay we'd spend way more on just the luggage we take. So the drive was a good savings. And since we rent a car while in FLA...the rental we did in PA for the trip was fine. After the drive we felt relaxed believe it or not when we arrived on property. We enjoyed the trip much more being relaxed. Again we felt de-compressed from the windshield time we put in getting there vs. the flying we did on past trips. The vacation went very well and we had a nice pace, enjoyable! This year we are doing the same - driving back in May10' to the world.

Thanks!

 

[Chrononymous]

In my experience...slowing down on the trip happens because we don't overplan.

For instance, we don't make advanced reservations for every single meal. In fact usually only one for a 4 day trip.
It means we eat some questionable meals, but it also means we eat when we feel hungry, instead of rushing to make reservation times
And in the Spring and Fall, we almost never get turned away as a walk-in. (excpt for Le Cellier)

We also spend some time near fountains. I know this sounds lame, but a few minutes to half and hour just sitting near a fountain or waterfall, and people watching makes us feel refreshed and not too rushed or stressed.