Tired of the reindeer games

[Violet]

Called this morning to try to get a room-only discount for our stay in late August. Of course, every room we would want was not included, and every room we weren't interested in, was. I know that they have certain rooms tagged for the promotion, and certain ones aren't.

The whole thing just feels so tiring sometimes. Calling at the crack of dawn for these discounts, failing. Then the whole ADR game. Having to make rope drop, running around for Fastpasses. Getting to a spot to watch fireworks way ahead of time. Crowd calendars. Dealing with the heat if you go in the summer.

It just feels like way too much work for a vacation sometimes. Although I am looking forward to FP+, I know that is just going to turn into a whole new game as well.

I guess I'm just feeling negative on the whole thing because we didn't get anything off our room. Just whining! I love WDW, but I wish it was more simple...

 

[draybook]

I feel the exact same way....until I get home and start having withdrawal.

 

[Master Yoda]

It is the downside of popularity. With so many people going you have to either schedule many facets of your vacation or risk missing out on something you want to do by winging it. Sometimes "missing out" is not that bad of a thing if it makes you relax a little more.

 

[Todd L]

Called this morning to try to get a room-only discount for our stay in late August. Of course, every room we would want was not included, and every room we weren't interested in, was. I know that they have certain rooms tagged for the promotion, and certain ones aren't.

The whole thing just feels so tiring sometimes. Calling at the crack of dawn for these discounts, failing. Then the whole ADR game. Having to make rope drop, running around for Fastpasses. Getting to a spot to watch fireworks way ahead of time. Crowd calendars. Dealing with the heat if you go in the summer.

It just feels like way too much work for a vacation sometimes. Although I am looking forward to FP+, I know that is just going to turn into a whole new game as well.

I guess I'm just feeling negative on the whole thing because we didn't get anything off our room. Just whining! I love WDW, but I wish it was more simple...

At least youre smart enough to realize that you need to stay on top of all this stuff.

Ive been asked for WDW trip advice a few times by co-workers, friends, family and neighbors and None of them can ever grasp 180 days for adr's, Checking attendance estimates and trying to make a Good solid list of things they want to do so far in advance.

They ALL decide there gonna wing it and it almost always ends in disaster and I get to hear about it when they get home.

We decided that the adr's were to much all the time so we do one or two sit downs the entire trip out of pocket.

Its become much more relaxed and we enjoy the trips a whole lot more now.

 

[Violet]

They ALL decide there gonna wing it and it almost always ends in disaster and I get to hear about it when they get home.

We decided that the adr's were to much all the time so we do one or two sit downs the entire trip out of pocket.

Its become much more relaxed and we enjoy the trips a whole lot more now.

Winging it is fine if you literally don't care what you do, as long as you do something. If you go in with any expectations at all and you are totally winging it...different story.

We have a TS schedule for each day (7)...As much as we like eating out, I think I am going to cut about half out, just keep the character ones that my DD loves. Scrounge up some CS! I'll save a bunch of $ too.

 

[Violet]

It is the downside of popularity. With so many people going you have to either schedule many facets of your vacation or risk missing out on something you want to do by winging it. Sometimes "missing out" is not that bad of a thing if it makes you relax a little more.

Very true!

 

[Violet]

I feel the exact same way....until I get home and start having withdrawal.

Yep.

 

[Poofiesdream]

Love POFQ but discounts have been few and far between with little % off!

 

[Violet]

Love POFQ but discounts have been few and far between with little % off!

Yeah, it was actually comical in a way...we were going through the list of available promo rooms and it was the exact opposite of the list of possibilities that I had written down. I will say the CM was really trying!

 

[kane47]

I just updated my reservation and got 30% off the Beach Club for September. Check mousesavers.com. It will give you a source for what rooms are offered with what discount at any given time.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

@Violet, your post could've been me posting. All the crazy work, the mental gymnastics, etc. started out being tremendous fun because of the challenge but then it evolved into work. Work that I loathed. Once I came to despise the work part it started to reflect on my enjoyment of the trip itself. If only WDW didn't require such. Pair that with the constant effort to dodge the ever-increasing herds and dreaded tour groups while there and I'm just not enjoying myself so much. I'm not a morning person so having to get up for rope drops is no kinda vacation for me.

Just commiserating... I feel ya.

 

[Hot Lava]

I agree with you. The alternative is to wing it. Or at least partly. For instance, don't worry about the ADRs. Or just make them where you can get them. I think disregarding the ADR craziness would take a lot of pressure off. But you would really need to change your mindset.

The only thing I would not disregard is which park is the best to go to on any given day.

 

[luv]

Disney vacations are becoming complicated and full of timed arrivals!

Cutting back on the ADRs is a good call. Less "I cant do this, because I must be there at 2:05" to worry about...and will save some money.

Sorry you didn't get the room you wanted.

This is why Uni is running commercials that say, "Vacation like you mean it," I think. Disney is now to the point where it demands more scheduling than a normal work day. People who haven't tried going to Uni and staying in their hotels should give it a shot. Ride what you want, when you want, as many times as you want. No need to call 180 days before you go to have dinner at Pastamore (which is better than Disney's Italian restaurants)...you get to RELAX and have FUN. (Vacation. Like you mean it.)

 

[Zipadeelady]

Called this morning to try to get a room-only discount for our stay in late August. Of course, every room we would want was not included, and every room we weren't interested in, was. I know that they have certain rooms tagged for the promotion, and certain ones aren't.

The whole thing just feels so tiring sometimes. Calling at the crack of dawn for these discounts, failing. Then the whole ADR game. Having to make rope drop, running around for Fastpasses. Getting to a spot to watch fireworks way ahead of time. Crowd calendars. Dealing with the heat if you go in the summer.

It just feels like way too much work for a vacation sometimes. Although I am looking forward to FP+, I know that is just going to turn into a whole new game as well.

I guess I'm just feeling negative on the whole thing because we didn't get anything off our room. Just whining! I love WDW, but I wish it was more simple...

Sounds like this year you should just take a nice relaxing beach vaca and lay back on your beach chair with the sun warming your face while your listening to the surf. Hell...that sounds like a good idea. I just may have to do that myself! Great Lakes here I come!

 

[Violet]

Sounds like this year you should just take a nice relaxing beach vaca and lay back on your beach chair with the sun warming your face while your listening to the surf. Hell...that sounds like a good idea. I just may have to do that myself! Great Lakes here I come!

Honestly, if the kids didn't already know about this trip, that's exactly what I would do at this point

 

[Violet]

Disney vacations are becoming complicated and full of timed arrivals!

Cutting back on the ADRs is a good call. Less "I cant do this, because I must be there at 2:05" to worry about...and will save some money.

Sorry you didn't get the room you wanted.

This is why Uni is running commercials that say, "Vacation like you mean it," I think. Disney is now to the point where it demands more scheduling than a normal work day.

Thanks luv. I think cutting back on the ADRs will help, and will also help save some money which will make up for the room discount that we didn't get, grr

I'm looking forward to Uni at some point. My kids aren't quite old enough to enjoy it, but I think within the next two years or so they might. Or maybe some all-inclusive somewhere quiet lol

 

[Violet]

@Violet, your post could've been me posting. All the crazy work, the mental gymnastics, etc. started out being tremendous fun because of the challenge but then it evolved into work.
Just commiserating... I feel ya.

Exactly, it's such an awesome place, but all of the games...ugh. I have this feeling FP+ is going to make this all so much worse too. I see you have switched to cruises?

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Exactly, it's such an awesome place, but all of the games...ugh. I have this feeling FP+ is going to make this all so much worse too. I see you have switched to cruises?

I'm not even trying to get my degree in FP+. Too much work and I've got enough on my plate with life. KWIM?

Yep, switched gears to cruising with Mickey. Love love love it. It's as active as you want it or laid back as you need it. Fits our family well these days. Hoping to get out west sometime, too. I want to see Walt's park and find some contrast to the parks I've known.

 

[Violet]

I'm not even trying to get my degree in FP+. Too much work and I've got enough on my plate with life. KWIM?

Yep, switched gears to cruising with Mickey. Love love love it. It's as active as you want it or laid back as you need it. Fits our family well these days. Hoping to get out west sometime, too. I want to see Walt's park and find some contrast to the parks I've known.

My degree in FP+ LOL!

The cruises sound cool. My best friend is really into them, she says they are awesome and very relaxing at the same time.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Called this morning to try to get a room-only discount for our stay in late August. Of course, every room we would want was not included, and every room we weren't interested in, was. I know that they have certain rooms tagged for the promotion, and certain ones aren't.

The whole thing just feels so tiring sometimes. Calling at the crack of dawn for these discounts, failing. Then the whole ADR game. Having to make rope drop, running around for Fastpasses. Getting to a spot to watch fireworks way ahead of time. Crowd calendars. Dealing with the heat if you go in the summer.

It just feels like way too much work for a vacation sometimes. Although I am looking forward to FP+, I know that is just going to turn into a whole new game as well.

I guess I'm just feeling negative on the whole thing because we didn't get anything off our room. Just whining! I love WDW, but I wish it was more simple...

Just curious which resort you were trying to book. I have to walk my dad through this and while I was ready for the games...he's already bothered without ever picking up the phone. Mind you, it's fully justified as some of this is really becoming a royal pain, but I want to prep him as best as possible. Mine was fairly effortless .... well, after changing resorts because discounts bite for where I was booked, but not sure what he'll encounter.