-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
Strongly Considering a Trip to WDW: Please Help me plan or talk me out of it
- Thread starter mickEblu
- Start date
Little Green Men
Well-Known Member
What are the parts worrying you most?
socalifornian
Well-Known Member
With how long shoot days are you’re probably a little too experienced with wearing a mask for extended amounts of time
10 hours at WDW has nothing on youLonger lines, but on the bright side it looks like you’re only doing one park per day. There’s generally less to do in each park per day than what you’re used to with DLR, minus maybe Epcot with the world showcase. Then the headliner at the studios park, and the entire resort at that, is something you’ve already experienced unless your sisters family hasn’t been to Disneyland’s I suppose. The holidays are over but the spring break crowds might start creeping up the closer to March you get. I can’t imagine what those long extended queues will be like for you if they’re confusing for seasoned WDW guests. That situation doesn’t sound very Disney-like, need more signs or something
Instead of the potential parking nightmare at Disney Springs you could take a free Disney bus from your hotel, they arrive fairly regularly. Keep in mind that they don’t go directly to the theme parks from Disney Springs, just in case
As far as everything taking longer right now - it would feel like that for DLR people in normal times anyways with how spread out the resort is. Need a little extra patience than usual
A 5G capable phone with service in the Bay Lake area, if that’s even possible, would definitely pull its weight when it comes to everyone having to mobile order on top of regular app usage. Clogged LTE sounds magical
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
WDW (planning or experiencing) is always at least a little stressful and overwhelming, especially for a first timer, IMO.
In some ways, what is happening now makes planning for the resort less stressful than normal (you don't have nearly the resort options, food options, FP, etc., which to a degree simplifies the process); in other ways, it is more stressful (the extra uncertainty the pandemic brings, etc.).
You just have to weigh the options and decide if you're ok with the pandemic-related changes, complicated planning, and uncertainties, or if you'd prefer the NORMAL and TYPICAL planning and uncertainties.
It may also depend on some level how much you personally want to experience their Splash Mountain, as that is the one thing you can be relatively certain to experience if you go now, but who knows how much longer it's going to be around? Everything else (and the new stuff they're building) will still be there if you postpone to a more normal time, give or take some shows that may not come back.
But really, especially as we can't be sure how long it will be until everything is truly normal again, there's no perfect answer.
In some ways, what is happening now makes planning for the resort less stressful than normal (you don't have nearly the resort options, food options, FP, etc., which to a degree simplifies the process); in other ways, it is more stressful (the extra uncertainty the pandemic brings, etc.).
You just have to weigh the options and decide if you're ok with the pandemic-related changes, complicated planning, and uncertainties, or if you'd prefer the NORMAL and TYPICAL planning and uncertainties.
It may also depend on some level how much you personally want to experience their Splash Mountain, as that is the one thing you can be relatively certain to experience if you go now, but who knows how much longer it's going to be around? Everything else (and the new stuff they're building) will still be there if you postpone to a more normal time, give or take some shows that may not come back.
But really, especially as we can't be sure how long it will be until everything is truly normal again, there's no perfect answer.
MoonRakerSCM
Well-Known Member
Concerning the mentioning of the lines being confusing, that was true during our visit. Lines were all over the place and the ends of the lines often somewhere most guests didn't realize and the signs they have to mark the ends are honestly not that noticeable. If you know the layout of the land and have a good idea where the line would naturally extend, you'd do well, but if you don't, yeah, it's confusing to many guests.
When in almost every line we encountered people not realizing the entrance to a line was in a completely different place... line for Peter Pan? Go over to that restaurant... Line for Haunted Mansion? Go to Frontierland... Line for Frozen? Go to China...
When in almost every line we encountered people not realizing the entrance to a line was in a completely different place... line for Peter Pan? Go over to that restaurant... Line for Haunted Mansion? Go to Frontierland... Line for Frozen? Go to China...
Just really the accumulation of all these things and the feeling that nothing will be easy, relaxing or maybe even fun. I knew it wasn’t going to be relaxing going in. But I figured some of the perceived perks from booking at this time (shorter waits and less people in the park in general) would outweighs some of the negatives. When I started planning I wasn’t really thinking of or aware of the fact that even things like mobile ordering food or walking into a store were going to be an issue. With young children I know I’ll have to be patient , COVID or not, it’s starting to feel like the negatives outweigh the positives of going right now. Like you said the question basically is how desperate am I come February? Maybe the take away is that I need a trip but that trip may not be WDW right now.
If anything I’ve learned from this is that I don’t have to wait for the perfect time to go to Disney World. I was always putting it off for when my son got older and then came my daughter. Then I said when they re both older. Or I would say when all the new rides are open.
I’ll be monitoring the wait times in January and February so I can get a better idea. Obviously there was a spike because of the holidays but if I’m not mistaken the real spike came when they increased the capacity to 35% (which would be the same when I go) so we’ll see.
Last edited:
With how long shoot days are you’re probably a little too experienced with wearing a mask for extended amounts of time
Longer lines, but on the bright side it looks like you’re only doing one park per day. There’s generally less to do in each park per day than what you’re used to with DLR, minus maybe Epcot with the world showcase. Then the headliner at the studios park, and the entire resort at that, is something you’ve already experienced unless your sisters family hasn’t been to Disneyland’s I suppose. The holidays are over but the spring break crowds might start creeping up the closer to March you get. I can’t imagine what those long extended queues will be like for you if they’re confusing for seasoned WDW guests. That situation doesn’t sound very Disney-like, need more signs or something
Instead of the potential parking nightmare at Disney Springs you could take a free Disney bus from your hotel, they arrive fairly regularly. Keep in mind that they don’t go directly to the theme parks from Disney Springs, just in case
As far as everything taking longer right now - it would feel like that for DLR people in normal times anyways with how spread out the resort is. Need a little extra patience than usual
A 5G capable phone with service in the Bay Lake area, if that’s even possible, would definitely pull its weight when it comes to everyone having to mobile order on top of regular app usage. Clogged LTE sounds magical
Lol for sure. Sometimes I forget the mask is even on on those 16 hour days. Thing is when I’m at work I’m in work mode. Gotta make money. There’s no choice. Spending thousands of dollars for a vacation however, is a choice and the mask would irk me more when I’m trying to have fun. With that said, I knew that going in and was ready to deal with it. Side story, I took my family to the LA Arboretum for a couple hours on New Year’s Day just to walk around for a few hours and enjoy the scenery. It was a beautiful clear day, 68 degrees. Basically, ideal weather and ideal weather for a mask. As soon as I put it on I was instantly annoyed at how I couldn’t smell the fresh air/ trees and was just bothered by it in general. Then it occurred to me, I hadn’t worked in a couple weeks so I hadn’t worn one except for a few minutes here and there. By the time we left the Arboretum 2 hours later I was much more ok with it.
Yeah I think I kind of hit a wall and I’m just burnt out on planning. I’m the type of person that can get obsessed with something for a few days or a week and just want to knock it all out. I’ve been living and breathing WDW planning for the last 10 days. It all seems so like so much planning. A WDW trip is starting to feel like work. You may be right that planning is easier right now but I think that the parks experience was definitely easier pre Covid. Between the two, I’d much rather have the harder planning and then just enjoy myself more in the parks.
At first I thought no FP+ might be a benefit to me because it would require less planning and our second party on the child switches could walk straight onto the attractions. However all of that was assuming that wait times were pretty low (like my sister and bro in law had in October) because of the lower capacity and I wasn’t taking into account all of the chaos created by COVID. For example awkward mobile ordering process, having to walk 200 feet in another direction to get into a store that your standing in front of etc. All of this may not seem like a big deal to a party of all adults. But trust me with 3 young ones, these are the last kind of things you need and they will drive you MAD.
So now I’m thinking I would have been much better off with FP+. With young kids and a baby, having those in your back pocket are huge. I could have knocked out all the big rides with little to no wait and winged the rest. Now it appears I’ll be waiting in very long lines for the headliners with my only perk being that maybe the Pirates and the Haunted Mansions of the world have a little shorter wait than pre COVID. When it comes to saving time I’m starting to think it’s a wash or even a loss when it comes to the time we save by our second child switch party being able to walk onto the attraction vs not having FP+ and spending 3+ hours in lines we could have had fast passes for.
It’s also starting to bother me that Disney is really giving Almost no perks for guest staying on the property. At least with magic morning, you could bank on that if you set your alarm you ll have a pretty easy time riding the headliners. Now I have to wake up at God knows what time and hope that the skyliner isn’t too backed up and that all the stars align with the kids.
In short at 20% capacity, it appears the upside was there. At 35% it’s not and Disney isn’t even giving a big enough discount to make it worth it. At least for my specific situation.
With all of that said, I’d still like to go. It may just come down to what the wait times are in February and if the wait times we saw in December were more due to the Holidays or the fact they increased capacity to 35%.
Good point on Splash. It could be my last chance to ride either version - WDW or Disneyland. And who knows, maybe even TOT.
Last edited:
With a party of all adults this may fly. But with a 5 year old, 2 year old, and 5 month old this is the kind of stuff that will just take you over the top. Unless you are really patient, which I am not.
MoonRakerSCM
Well-Known Member
In general, I would say that WDW at any time even at its best is a test of patience. Just need to go with the mechanized flow there and pray to the almighty mouse with the other cult members.
Mobile ordering though, I definitely would say that would be a hassle for you. Have to place the entire order on your phone for the whole family, link your card etc... it was a hassle for me the first time but I quickly got into it. Main issues I forsee would be not knowing what everyone wants (only menu is on the phone) and running low on battery. AFter you place it though and arrive at the destination ~10 minutes later and the app saying your food is ready, you just showed the CMs and getting the actual food was systematic and a relative breeze.
The store lines were a non-issue I would say. For example, walking into stores on Main Street, we would walk along, notice the closed doors saying 'exit only' and then just find the entrance and go in. We never did wait more than 1 minute at maybe a few stores the entire trip (again with the exception of WOD in Disney Springs).
Mobile ordering though, I definitely would say that would be a hassle for you. Have to place the entire order on your phone for the whole family, link your card etc... it was a hassle for me the first time but I quickly got into it. Main issues I forsee would be not knowing what everyone wants (only menu is on the phone) and running low on battery. AFter you place it though and arrive at the destination ~10 minutes later and the app saying your food is ready, you just showed the CMs and getting the actual food was systematic and a relative breeze.
So my wife saw the rooms at Caribbean beach and is really hating those Pirate themed rooms. Lol. I told her those are just in one building. She says she wants to feel like she’s on vacation. Would anyone recommend renting DVC points for a deluxe room? Are their deals to be had?
Little Green Men
Well-Known Member
The Riviera might have a deal since its newer and probably not doing business as it would if there weren’t a pandemic.
So I’m hanging with my bro in law and I think we have decided on a new itinerary. Wanted to see what you guys thought before I moved some reservations around.
What sparked the change was us feeling that it doesn’t really make sense to have a 1/2 day to a certain park before the full day as we re kind of guessing what do as opposed to going back to a certain park to finish what we couldn’t get done the first day. I feel overall this approach offers more flexibility. For example if we get enough done the first day maybe we choose not to back the second day and have a whole day down. The one negative is that it means in our case that we have back to back AK days and back to back DHS days. But we do place both DHS days on the weekend which I understand is the smart thing to do to enjoy the other parks during the week that do see the drop off in attendance. And we avoid doing MK And DHS back to back to start the trip.
New proposed itinerary:
Tues MK
Wed AK
Thurs down: 1/2 day AK
Fri Epcot
Sat DHS
Sun down: 1/2 day DHS
Mon MK
Current itinerary:
Tues MK
Wed down: 1/2 day DHS
Thurs AK
Fri Epcot
Sat down 1/2 day AK
Sun DHS
Mon MK
On another note, monitored the wait times today and they already look a lot better then they did during the holidays. Hopefully it’s not just a post holiday dip.
@PiratesMansion @GrandCanyonConcourse and @ whoever isn’t sick of my posts yet. Lol
What sparked the change was us feeling that it doesn’t really make sense to have a 1/2 day to a certain park before the full day as we re kind of guessing what do as opposed to going back to a certain park to finish what we couldn’t get done the first day. I feel overall this approach offers more flexibility. For example if we get enough done the first day maybe we choose not to back the second day and have a whole day down. The one negative is that it means in our case that we have back to back AK days and back to back DHS days. But we do place both DHS days on the weekend which I understand is the smart thing to do to enjoy the other parks during the week that do see the drop off in attendance. And we avoid doing MK And DHS back to back to start the trip.
New proposed itinerary:
Tues MK
Wed AK
Thurs down: 1/2 day AK
Fri Epcot
Sat DHS
Sun down: 1/2 day DHS
Mon MK
Current itinerary:
Tues MK
Wed down: 1/2 day DHS
Thurs AK
Fri Epcot
Sat down 1/2 day AK
Sun DHS
Mon MK
On another note, monitored the wait times today and they already look a lot better then they did during the holidays. Hopefully it’s not just a post holiday dip.
@PiratesMansion @GrandCanyonConcourse and @ whoever isn’t sick of my posts yet. Lol
Last edited:
The room through Disney is $230 more per night than CBR. Is there a site you would use to rent DVC points? Riviera looks really nice.
Little Green Men
Well-Known Member
I’m afraid I don’t have details on that, maybe someone else might on the DVC section of the board.
I see you plan to only spend half a day at DAK, is there a reason for that? The park is best enjoyed when you slow down and take small things in like the nature trails and little diversions.
Edit: oops nevermind didn’t see you had a full day there already!
Thanks will do !
Little Green Men
Well-Known Member
So Epcot is your only one day park? I guess that makes sense, I usually think you should take a day for future world and a day for world showcase but FW is down in several pavilions rn.
Yeah it seems to make sense considering the state of Future World, lack of options for the kids and just the fact that it has the least amount of Must Do attractions. More specifically, Must do attractions that will have long waits. With the new itinerary however, if we decide we’d rather have an extra Epcot day than a second DHS day we can do that. From what I understand, Epcot reservations are easier to get last minute. Also their won’t be any festivals going on so that helps
Tuvalu
Premium Member
Highly recommend one of the sponsors of WDWMagic.
dvcrentalstore.com
Browse Confirmed Reservations
Booking a confirmed reservation makes the process of DVC rentals even quicker and more efficient. Browse confirmed DVC reservations today!
dvcrentalstore.com
Highly recommend one of the sponsors of WDWMagic.
Browse Confirmed Reservations
Booking a confirmed reservation makes the process of DVC rentals even quicker and more efficient. Browse confirmed DVC reservations today!
Thank you!