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...

 

[DisneyJoe]

<flagrant promotion start>
This is why many of our clients say that they use a travel agent....we handle all of this stress.
</end flagrant promotion>

LOL.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

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.

Yep. I resisted cruising at all for many years because all anyone ever talks about when they get back from one is food. Well, for a girl who constantly battles with weight the thought of being on a ship with nothing to do but eat all that fabulous, to-die-for free food all day and night was pretty much a nightmare. When the Dream launched in early 2011 all the pics I saw from her preview cruise really grabbed my attention. I figured I'd go a short cruise so I'd have not so many days that I'd get bored exploring the details. But then there was sooooo much to do! Yep. On a SHIP! Tons and tons to stay busy, so much incredible detail to drink in, so much story behind the mind-boggling details. The service was beyond words. It was a catharsis of sorts. And here I am about to embark on my 5th Disney cruise in less than 2 years. Cruising with Mickey is definitely something I would recommend to any Disney-nerd. If the details and story in the parks/resorts appeal to you, give it a shot. You'll likely end up like me: mind blown.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

<flagrant promotion start>
This is why many of our clients say that they use a travel agent....we handle all of this stress.
</end flagrant promotion>

LOL.

Absolutely! Using a good Disney-specific TA is the way to go! Never have to pick up a phone. Period.

 

[bethymouse]

I didn't have any trouble @ all booking the June/Spring discount in late Feb. I did however have trouble getting the exact ADR I wanted! That is just ridiculous! I am curious too which resorts weren't available for the discount?

 

[Tom Morrow]

If you don't agree with the huge process and effort you already have to make to do the things you want to do (and its only going to get worse and worse) then show them you don't like it with your wallet. It shouldn't be like this. They create the high demand. Stop going. Its not like you'll be missing out on anything new and exciting...

 

[Violet]

It was a catharsis of sorts. And here I am about to embark on my 5th Disney cruise in less than 2 years. Cruising with Mickey is definitely something I would recommend to any Disney-nerd. If the details and story in the parks/resorts appeal to you, give it a shot. You'll likely end up like me: mind blown.

Really? Hmm. I think I would totally like a cruise if it was a hotel on land. Seriously, like something like Atlantis, but with all the Disney stuff and details, but all contained and easy like on a ship. A cruise without the cruise.

 

[Violet]

If you don't agree with the huge process and effort you already have to make to do the things you want to do (and its only going to get worse and worse) then show them you don't like it with your wallet. It shouldn't be like this. They create the high demand. Stop going. Its not like you'll be missing out on anything new and exciting...

I agree Tom, it's my own fault We'll go this year but we'll see from there.
I am really curious how FP+ is going to affect the workload of a Disney vacation.

 

[luv]

I'm not even trying to get my degree in FP+.

LOL!!!

 

[Violet]

Well, I feel better, I just went and canceled a whole bunch of ADRs. Went down from 7 TS meals to one (Akershus for the princess stuff). We'll just do a bunch of QS instead and save a heap of cash. Which the kids will like better anyway lol.

As for the rest of it, I'm just going to let happen what happens. No touring plans, no nothing. I know where we are staying, we have park tickets, let the chips fall where they may. We will still have to get up early to try to beat a bit of the heat, but that's it.

Thanks for listening to my whine!

 

[allgiggles]

<flagrant promotion start>
This is why many of our clients say that they use a travel agent....we handle all of this stress.
</end flagrant promotion>

LOL.

I was going to say the same thing...my Disney trips got much less stressful once I started using a Disney TA. Now I just make my reservation with her as soon as we know we want to go and she does the rest and sends me an e-mail to let me know that she applied a discount. We don't schedule any ADR's -- we eat when we're hungry at a restaurant in the area we're in. We don't plan anything beyond which park on which day (and that's based on the least crowded park predictions) and our top 5 "must do's" at each park. Relatively stress free.

But I have to say, I'm worried about how FP+ will change our stress free trips. We're heading to Disney World in June, so I shouldn't have to worry about it on this trip. We probably won't be back for 2 years, so I'm hoping by then all of the kinks are worked out and I can learn from everyone else's experience.

 

[Violet]

But I have to say, I'm worried about how FP+ will change our stress free trips. We're heading to Disney World in June, so I shouldn't have to worry about it on this trip. We probably won't be back for 2 years, so I'm hoping by then all of the kinks are worked out and I can learn from everyone else's experience.

I think it might be good in some ways, but it is going to amp up the planning pressure before people go.

 

[RedDad]

I honestly don't consider WDW a "vacation" and never have. It's a great experience, but vacations (to me anyway) mean relaxation, and that ain't how we do at disney! If I want a vacation I go to the beach. I go to disney to have fun with my family, and doing so requires a lot of planning and effort these days. usually end up needing a vacation from my disney trip!

 

[luv]

I honestly don't consider WDW a "vacation" and never have. It's a great experience, but vacations (to me anyway) mean relaxation, and that ain't how we do at disney! If I want a vacation I go to the beach. I go to disney to have fun with my family, and doing so requires a lot of planning and effort these days. usually end up needing a vacation from my disney trip!

Kind of the point I was making about Uni's whole "Vacation like you mean it" thing. You get to have all the fun without all the running around, crossing the park, doubling back to use a FP...no keeping appointments, calling 180 days before you want to have dinner. Just go...sleep in, ride rides, spend time at the pool...do what you feel like, when you feel like it.

Same fun, no effort and planning spreadsheet required.

Go home feeling like you had a vacation during your vacation.

 

[rob0519]

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...

I feel the same way. I can't normally make plans any more than 6 to 8 weeks in advance. So ADRs that we want are few and far between. We booked under the Summer Rate and got a discount on rooms at the Contemporary. It's gotten to the point where we don't go if we can't get a room discount of some kind. Remember, I think it was 2009, where if you booked 4 nights you got 3 nights free? That was a great deal, if you could take advantage of it at the time.

 

[Violet]

I honestly don't consider WDW a "vacation" and never have. It's a great experience, but vacations (to me anyway) mean relaxation, and that ain't how we do at disney! If I want a vacation I go to the beach. I go to disney to have fun with my family, and doing so requires a lot of planning and effort these days. usually end up needing a vacation from my disney trip!

I don't mind doing some work. I think yesterday, after getting up an hour early to sit on the phone to play discount games with Disney and losing anyway, I just hit my breaking point. If I had saved a couple of hundred bucks at least, I might have been in a better mood about the whole thing lol.

 

[copcarguyp71]

Go right ahead and rant away OP!!!

After our trip this September we were looking forward to booking Contempo park view in 2014 but with all the hubub that keeps log jamming the whole vacation experience (FP, DDP, ADR's, discounts, airlines, etc.) and the increasing prices we are starting to think caribbean vacation with our toes in the sand and no cares in the world instead. I am not comparing the two types of vacations in any way but we are seriously starting to doubt if the cost versus rewards are there in terms of ROI for our vacation dollar with WDW. When you have to pay such high prices AND put in so much work it just starts to make the experience dwindle for us. Of course once we are there in Sept I am sure my feelings will be replaced with warm and fuzzy pixie dust inebriation but that feeling has been dwindling more quickly upon our return home with each successive trip .

 

[Violet]

Go right ahead and rant away OP!!!

After our trip this September we were looking forward to booking Contempo park view in 2014 but with all the hubub that keeps log jamming the whole vacation experience (FP, DDP, ADR's, discounts, airlines, etc.) and the increasing prices we are starting to think caribbean vacation with our toes in the sand and no cares in the world instead. I am not comparing the two types of vacations in any way but we are seriously starting to doubt if the cost versus rewards are there in terms of ROI for our vacation dollar with WDW.

I know a lot of families that do those type of all-inclusive Carribean vacations, mostly in the spring obviously with hurricanes. But yeah, that starts to sound good after a while, although I know it's not the same!

 

[allgiggles]

I feel the same way. I can't normally make plans any more than 6 to 8 weeks in advance. So ADRs that we want are few and far between. We booked under the Summer Rate and got a discount on rooms at the Contemporary. It's gotten to the point where we don't go if we can't get a room discount of some kind. Remember, I think it was 2009, where if you booked 4 nights you got 3 nights free? That was a great deal, if you could take advantage of it at the time.

Yes, that was an awesome deal! We were able to take advantage of that in May 2009 (the deal came out in November 2008). Of course, we were there for Monsoon Week, but we still had a fabulous time and the price was awesome -- 2 rooms at Pop, 7-day park-hoppers for 7 people -- $2900!!!! We spent another $1500 on food and souvenirs. That was certainly the least expensive (per person) Disney trip for our family. Though the 2011 trip wasn't bad either -- we got free dining -- but it was still more expensive than the Buy 4/Get 3 Free deal.

 

[Vader2112]

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...

I guess it depends on how frequently you go. I also think sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves to do everything or get what we feel is the prime spot for Wishes or MSEP. I have gone the minimalist approach since we became AP holders. It is so much easier to deal with the crowds, ADRs etc.

 

[Master Yoda]

I guess it depends on how frequently you go. I also think sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves to do everything or get what we feel is the prime spot for Wishes or MSEP. I have gone the minimalist approach since we became AP holders. It is so much easier to deal with the crowds, ADRs etc.

We have done the same and it has helped immensely. At most we might know which park we are going to and maybe have a single ADR booked. Most of the time we go for a special events or to meet up with friends. We do the events and then just take it as it comes.