That's My Opinion: Good Advice / Bad Advice

[MousePlanet AutoPoster]

Good Advice / Bad Advice by Steve Russo

Planning a Walt Disney World trip isn't as easy as it sounds.

Read it here!

[yellowrosedtxn]

Remember that this doesn't have to be your only trip.

Take your time, enjoy your vacation, set your priorities and go early! Take breaks in the middle of the day, so no one has a meltdown. Take a lot of pictures because it helps you to remember what you did.

Do a lot of research: Make a list of the "must do" (rides, food and shows), "would like to do" and "what can wait until next time". Know that you are NOT going to see it all in one trip or even in ten trips! Use your time wisely by using the Fastpass system or child swap.

Take in a show or two or three.

Most of all have fun.

[srusso100]

Remember that this doesn't have to be your only trip.

Take your time, enjoy your vacation, set your priorities and go early! Take breaks in the middle of the day, so no one has a meltdown. Take a lot of pictures because it helps you to remember what you did.

Do a lot of research: Make a list of the "must do" (rides, food and shows), "would like to do" and "what can wait until next time". Know that you are NOT going to see it all in one trip or even in ten trips!

Take in a show or two or three.

Most of all have a good fun.

That is my advice.

Excellent. Thanks, Shelley.

[davidgra]

I actually saw an article a couple of months ago that gave the advice to not waste money on parking and park for free at Downtown Disney, then take the Disney Transportation wherever you need to go. I was stunned that someone would actually give this advice.

This is terrible advice for several reasons, not the least of which is that you can't go from Downtown Disney to any of the parks (the article I read didn't mention that). You can only go to resorts, where you have to switch to a theme park bus. It's bad on a karmic level, because parking is often very bad at Downtown Disney, and taking spaces away from people who want to actually shop or eat there is just bad ju-ju. And is it really worth saving $14 but having to spend up to an hour-and-a-half on Disney buses?

[srusso100]

I actually saw an article a couple of months ago that gave the advice to not waste money on parking and park for free at Downtown Disney, then take the Disney Transportation wherever you need to go. I was stunned that someone would actually give this advice.

This is terrible advice for several reasons, not the least of which is that you can't go from Downtown Disney to any of the parks (the article I read didn't mention that). You can only go to resorts, where you have to switch to a theme park bus. It's bad on a karmic level, because parking is often very bad at Downtown Disney, and taking spaces away from people who want to actually shop or eat there is just bad ju-ju. And is it really worth saving $14 but having to spend up to an hour-and-a-half on Disney buses?

I saw that same advice and I'm fairly certain I disparaged it somewhere... although my memory is too warped to actually remember where. I agree with your assessment. It's bad ju-ju.

[danyoung]

Excellent article, Steve. And I don't disagree at all with your rebuttals from this ill advised post. It's funny for us expert park stormers to read articles in magazines and newspapers, usually crammed full of inaccuracies and half-truths, or maybe something that was true 10 years ago but not true now.

My top tip is one that I know you don't agree with - get a rental car at the airport. Sure, you can get around on Disney busses. But in the time it takes for a bus to arrive, you could have hopped in your car and driven to the park of your choice. The only park this doesn't work so well at is at the Magic Kingdom, where you still have to take a monorail or boat to get back to the parking lot. Having your own car also eliminates the need to have transportation to and from the airport.

Stay at the Disney resort that best fits your budget, and take advantage of going back to your resort and skipping out on the heat and crowds of the afternoon. Get park hoppers and hop after your nap to a different park for the evening.

Get those ADRs early, and make good use of the online system at disneyworld.com. If you can't get the restaurant and time that you want, book something anyway and then keep checking back. If you are able to get what you want, make sure you go back in and cancel the temp reservation (the Disney online system is now smart enough to do this for you).

The first hours of the day are the most enjoyable in the parks, especially the morning Extra Magic Hours. Some folks just don't want to get up early on vacation. But you can do so much more in the first 3 or 4 hours of park operation than you could do in the hot crowded afternoon or evening.

Hey, I could go on forever - this is fun!

[srusso100]

As usual, Dan, you're mostly right ;-)

"My top tip is one that I know you don't agree with - get a rental car at the airport. Sure, you can get around on Disney busses. But in the time it takes for a bus to arrive, you could have hopped in your car and driven to the park of your choice. The only park this doesn't work so well at is at the Magic Kingdom, where you still have to take a monorail or boat to get back to the parking lot. Having your own car also eliminates the need to have transportation to and from the airport."

I appreciate your logic and, on occasion, I have rented a car at WDW. However... as a DVC member whose home resort is the Boardwalk, more often than not we stay in the Crescent Lake area - either Boardwalk of Beach Club. That means that we walk to Epcot and DHS - 2 of the 4 major parks. We agree that it makes no sense to drive to the MK so that leaves only Animal Kingdom and, to be honest, that's only once (maybe twice) per trip. A rental winds up collecting dust in the parking lot most of the time.

Further, it is much more relaxing to leave the driving to someone else at park closing. I just don't need the traffic and discourteous drivers to contend with.

That said, a very nice advantage of a rental car is when traveling to other resorts or Downtown Disney. I remember making it from the Boardwalk lobby to Chef Mickey's in about 15 minutes. That would have been 45-60 using buses and monorails. And for some reason, every time I board a bus from Downtown Disney, I have to sit through a driver change and a needless stop at a water park. I will still rent a vehicle on occasion but only if I can get a really good price.

[worldlover71]

I only need one word: PLAN. I'm not saying you should schedule every minute (you shouldn't) but I've heard too many stories about people who had no idea what they were getting into and who got home and said it was ok but they wouldn't be going back. I enjoy the planning process but even if you don't, you should have at least a basic understanding of where you are going and what is available. It will absoluntely improve your chances of having a good time.

[danyoung]

Further, it is much more relaxing to leave the driving to someone else at park closing.

This is the argument that is just going to be different for different folks. Some people can't imagine driving in WDW, and love the fact that the company ferries them around the property. I and others like me LOVE the driving, even while on vacation. I never even notice any rude drivers, and enjoy both the ride to the park and the ride back to my hotel later in the day. It doesn't hurt if I rent a car that's nicer than my own car!

[howlongtillsummer]

I’m overlooking her instructions to have you hide in your bag

This still has me giggling!!!

[scoobydooby]

My advice. GET UP EARLY. Be at every park at least 40 minutes before official opening and have a plan for the first 3 hours. Leave smelling the roses and sponteneity for after lunch. Or be the family staring aimlessly at a park map and bickering with each other. There's always a choice....

If you take a long 2 week holiday like we do this advice also needs to be coupled with SLEEP IN EVERY THIRD DAY. Plan late nights at the parks to precede your third day lie in rule.

Then enjoy.

This has worked for us the two weeks before and after Christmas, the two weeks before and after Easter, and August. Longest wait in line 30 minutes, four times in four trips. Average wait. Walk on to 15 minutes.