What did you do differently?

[kateh134]

Our first visit in 1999 was on site with 14 days of full on theme parks from opening to closing. We did the Disney parks, plus Sea World, Universal and Kennedy and were absolutely exhausted!

We’re lucky enough to be able to have been back many times since, and every time we do something new so it feels like a very different holiday. It could be staying in a different place (villa, condo or on or off site hotel), try a ride we’ve never done before, eat at a new place or do a tour. We also focus on either Disney or Universal; never both, and sometimes neither. The one consistent thing is we now never do all day in the parks which is much more relaxing and feels more like a holiday.

Totally agree with having a plan which doesn’t feel like a plan. We book FP, but we regularly change our plans when we’re there.

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by grinner82

The key is to have structure and a plan that does not feel like a plan.

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Agree with this.

The "plan" should be loose enough that you can vary and adapt it as you see fit. You should never feel that you need to stick religiously to a plan. I've never followed a plan 100% (I'll be lucky if I follow it 70% of the time). Don't be afraid to change things.

So if on day 3 you feel tired and need to rest but the plan says it's a full-on Epcot day then rethink the plan for that day. Go and rest by the pool or something. Perhaps go to Epcot for a couple of hours in the evening after you've relaxed. Or reschedule it to another day. That might mean cancelling an ADR and some fastpasses but so be it.

[ghints]

Some great tips here for all of us, many thanks.

We are lucky enough to be going for our 18th visit this year and we try to do a couple of different things each time (even if it is just a day trip or restaurant). The things were have recently "discovered" include:

- going to Fun Spot Orlando on a Monday/Tuesday at opening and you have the theme park to yourself for about 3 hours.

- for a bit of American culture, try a baseball game (Tampa Bay play in St Pete) or try it for yourself at a batting cage (we recommend Batter's Box near Lakeland).

- we often have a holiday-within-a-holiday and escape to Longboat Key or Naples for 2/3 days to break up the Orlando madness.

- always get 1/2 nights at Universal hotel if you are doing the 2/3 parks. The front of line passes make it worth paying twice for accommodation and we love the atmosphere of the Hard Rock.

- if you are lucky enough to get 14/21 day ultimate tickets, use them - Disney doesn't have to be a full day (NB better to get there at rope drop and leave early, though).

- this year, we are trying the MNSSHP for the first time, really looking forward to this.

- Fort De Soto was also recommended to us for a day trip and we may also try Bok Tower Gardens this year (thoughts please... ).

- buy "the hidden secrets of WDW" guidebook (Susan Veness) and take in all of the things you never see and didn't know as you walk around the parks.

- I would love to eventually do some of the tours - behind the seeds (Epcot) or backstage MK one (again, thoughts Dibbers, please).

- ultimately, though, we just plan the park days with military precision (fastpasses, ADRs, EMH-avoidance, busy days guides, timing... ) which enables us to please ourselves (pool day, shopping, nice meal) on the days in between.

[Button17]

First visit we had QSDP
Second visit we had DDP. This made a big difference to us as we took time put in the parks to relax and eat. We stuck to our plan less second time too.

[esteeds]

For us it is less WDW each time. As the children get older it is no surprise that they want to go to Universal and Busch gardens for the roller coasters however, we would always make 3 or 4 ADRs like Ohanas and Boma etc. However when I look at the prices and the poor exchange rate I just can’t justify it. We priced up a meal for this year at California Grill for 2 adults and 3 teens and the meal would be in the region of $500 which is nuts. We will still go to Disney Springs but that will probably be it. On the plus side we are spending more time exploring beyond the parks 😁