“A plan? No thanks! I prefer to go with the flow... this is a vacation! We don’t need a plan”
Now, understand please that I have no problem with that concept. Relaxing, and enjoying the serendipity in a moment is one of life’s great gifts.
The problem is that in our friends’ case, this ‘Go with the flow’ non- plan is more accurately translated:
“We want to do what we want to do when we want to do it, and we want it all to flow naturally, with no stress”.
Ouch. No really. OUCH. You need a plan!
A Walt Disney World vacation is the number one family vacation destination in the entire world. They employ a world class marketing department that insures Disney hotels are booked, Disney restaurants tables are reserved, and Disney theme parks are full. Time of year, time of day really doesn't have a lot of bearing on the issue. Thousands upon thousands of people are always at Walt Disney World.
Do our friends really think the seas will divide, laying bare a golden path on which they will revel in their their magical, pixie dusted, once in a life time vacation, basking in the glow of all their Disney dreams come true?
Right.
Unfortunately, I can tell you exactly what our friends’ ‘we don’t need a plan’ vacation day will be like. I’ve seen it over and over... and over.
- They sleep in-- because, after all, they're on vacation!
- They arrive at the Disney parks at about 10:30.
- They grab a park map and stand in the middle of Main Street, U.S.A., staring at it.
- They decide on Space Mountain (because it’s always Space Mountain).
- They arrive at Space Mountain. Wait time. 70 minutes.
- They discuss: “Do you want to wait, or find another attraction with a shorter line? Look--- Jimmy’s can't ride this-- he’s too short. Let’s do something we can do together.”
- They decide to try Dumbo. Wait time. 85 minutes.
- They ride Snow White instead. 40 minutes wait for a 2 minute attraction. The witch makes Jimmy cry.
- They spot Mary Poppins! “I’m sorry folks. This line is closed. Mary Poppins will be back in 45 minutes.”
- They are hungry and had promised the kids they could eat with Winnie the Pooh.
- There is no room with Pooh. If they want to wait, they might get in by 3:30.
- Jimmy wines. It’s 1:00. He usually naps at 1:00 and hasn’t eaten anything.
- They are starting to get hot, as it’s central Florida.
I can’t go on. It’s just too painful! It’s sad really. So much effort to do so little. And it happens all the time. Had they done their pre- vacation homework, created a Disney plan, or hired a professional to plan with them, this vacation morning could have been so much more magical.
Disney planning professionals, like Help Around the Mouse, know Disney’s attraction height requirements, how to use Fast Pass, how to tour Fantsyland, the Disney character meet and greet schedules, and Disney’s restaurant reservation policy. Our friends could have done all of Fantasyland, Adventureland, eaten with Pooh and come back to ride Space Mountain twice... with no waiting!
So please-- do yourself and your family a favor. Go to WDW with an itinerary and tour plans for your Disney vacation. You can spend countless hours surfing the web and browsing the many Disney related travel sites, such as AAA and Allears, and eventually, you will put together your best guess for a Disney vacation itinerary. Or, you can hire Help Around the Mouse to create a customized tour plan tailor-made for your family. We can build a plan customized to your family's interests, your taste in food, your favorite Disney characters, your special needs, and much more!
C’mon guys. A Disney vacation is a big deal. You want to give this amazing gift to your family. And, the old saying is absolutely true- He who fails to plan, plans to fail. So, get going! Go buy a book or go hire a planner. But please... go do something!
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