Am I stressing too much?

We usually don't plan FP+'s in advance, but 7DMT and Peter Pan are at the top of our list, so we have 3 FP+'s for each, planned around lunch/dinner. Most of our vacation will be an adventure because we enjoy "winging it" and enjoying all of the magic around us.

Don't stress; there are many great suggestions here. You'll have a wonderful time and make many beautiful memories.

Thanks, everyone! I'm trying!:mickey:

Stu, hope I can help you with that stress...

It's no secret I don't like the new system... I think it is absolutely stupid to make ride reservations... I feel the money wasted on FP+ and MyMagic+ could have been used better... But let's face it, it would have been used for management bonuses and new Escalades, or a new home in Golden Oak instead... Anyway...

As I posted previously, I made a last second trip July 13 to July 18... I seriously made my hotel reservations maybe 2 weeks prior... Like I said, this trip was a last second decision... And going to the parks was even more last second... originally, we weren't going to do any of the WDW parks... Our original plans were to just do Universal, but a friend of ours couldn't come through... Oh well...

After deciding to do just two days of WDW parks, and picking Epcot and MK, I knew or at least convinced myself I wouldn't be getting any good FP options... But I didn't let myself get stressed out.. I knew I was making very last second plans... Well, for Epcot, I still secured a FP for Soarin... Unfortunately for Epcot, the park has very little worthy of FP... But regardless, I secured a Soarin FP... I was also able to secure, for MK: Splash Mountain, BTMRR, and Space Mountain... Only a week before the trip... I was also able to secure a breakfast ADR for Kona, and a same day ADR for lunch at Nine Dragons (not that an ADR was needed... the place was empty and would accommodate all walk ups I'm sure)...

At MK, after my three were used, I was able to secure a 4th FP for Buzz Lightyear and a 5th FP for Peter Pan... In Epcot, I was unable to secure a 4th FP for Test Track, but did score one for Living With the Land... BTW, I didn't even need a FP for 7D... I waited no longer than 30 minutes, and that was right around noon... May have actually waited 20, not 30...

I would say relax... Don't stress.. Nothing in life is worth stressing yourself out over, especially Walt Disney World... If booking a WDW stresses you out, time to rethink going to WDW...

Thanks! I've been monitoring crowd levels as they relate to wait times on TP, and it seems that even at level 9, wait times are ok, except for the really really popular E tickets. The first half of our trip should have very low crowd levels, while the second half has levels of 8-9 (10 on our last day!) I'm planning to hit the E tickets the first few days, and use the last days as opportunities to redo the best. I guess I should really focus on those last days FP+ the most! I'm even considering getting FP+ for Fantasmic and the Christmas parade. Does that seem like a good idea?

One of the many reasons I like these boards is the honesty. Some of those who post nothing but Disney can do no wrong call it negativity. As a Type A theme park commando, I feel your pain. However, you need to get to the point whereby, you can take a deep breath and say I have planned and done all that I can do. Things will be out of your control while on the trip -learn to go with the flow.

I am sure everyone could provide you with a story (and you probably have some too) when some unexpected happens that becomes the highlight or special memory of the trip.

With that said, here is my post after our trip to WDW last October regarding the FP+ system:

I will give this a shot:

5 of us from 10/3 through 10/13. DW and I plus three of our young adults 26, 24 & 21. We stayed off site.

10/4 AK, 10/6 EPCOT, 10/7 MK/EPCOT, 10/8 EPCOT, 10/9 BB/MNSSHP, 10/10 EPCOT, 10/11 HS and 10/12 AK/EPCOT

Overall FP+ impressions:

1) Overall, neutral to negative and depended on the park.

2) In declining order: MK, AK, EPCOT and HS.

3) As mentioned elsewhere, FP+ really highlights the need for more E ticket attractions. Also as previously noted, there are now lines at attractions that in the past had little or nor waits.

3) Did not like that once you used your 3 FPs, you could only add the next one at a kiosk, in the park you were at. Saw more than one family realize that if you had a FP for Fantasmic or Illuminations, you were done with FP for the day.

4) The MDE app made the crowds move like the old days at Kmart chasing the Blue Light Special. Once it showed a wait time of 20 minutes or less, an entire herd would descend on that attraction.

5) CMs were quite helpful in the Kiosk lines which moved quickly.

6) Found ourselves crossing parks just to use that precious FP.

7) We did appreciate how the green glowing mickey stopped most of the abuse of the system and the CMs. Multiple times a day you would see some group upset that they could not see why they wouldn't be let through the FP line. "So what if our time doesn't start for another 15 minutes, I paid good money to get on this ride."

8) We really did feel over planned.

9) Could never get a DMT FP - had to wait to 11 pm on the 9th (30 minutes) during MNSSHP to ride.

10) Had FPs for Toy Story on the 11th. Standby all day was at least 75 minutes.

11) No, we did not spend any more $$$ because all of the "free time".

12) We were constantly being asked to participate in surveys about everything from food, to shows, special events and attractions. Not one question about FP+.

Did we have a great time? Of course. Did we feel rushed and waited in longer lines? Yes.
___

Our most recent trip was two days and we did all four parks. This was the first trip for one member of our party and he had an absolute riot! We had FPP and ADR all planned out but got caught up doing things we loved and missed some of our fast pass plus selections - no big deal! I wish I had known that you cant book more fast passes once yours expire over the mydisneyexperience app. I wasted time trying to get more fast passes through that so don't bother! Overall I would say not much has changed for us. Of course if you want to get on toy story mania or seven dwarfs mine train you are going to really want fast pass unless you want to wait forever in line. But that's up to you!
You do your trip the way YOU want too.
Have fun :mickey:

Nope.
Higher prices
Meeting more time dead lines.
The whimsical Disney vacation is no longer an option.
The best part is the vacation is for your
children and they won't feel your stressed.
Take bunches of photos b/c at the end u will
have awesome memories!!

Can't offer any better than the great advice that's already been given! Just wanted to say that I'm an anxious person too and tend to stress over trips, no matter where we're going. Keep up those deep breaths! You will have a wonderful time!

I haven't read anyone's responses, just looked at the title of the thread. My answer would be:

Yes, because it's not life or death. It's vacation. Just enjoy it.

I felt the same way before our last trip. New system. I'm a planner. It really was fine. It will be great. It's Disney!

WiltonJohn;2465835 wrote: I think the general atmosphere on this forum has unfortunately been impacted recently by all the 'Disney Naysayers' a lot, and if you spend much time reading all the negativity, that tends to stress you out about what you might experience.

My family is going shortly...... and I was getting a bit stressed from all the negative stuff I read here. But then I realized....... a lot of people like to complain... and the complainers can often be loud and very persistent. Their comments end up in a lot of threads... and the feeling of doom just seems to be "everywhere".

But when people are relatively happy...... unfortunately they don't spend a lot of time sitting there and writing posts that express that. They are busy enjoying themselves. They don't feel a need to "vent" someplace.

Given the VAST number of people Disney deals with almost 24/7/365, who often have expectations created in their heads which are difficult to fulfill, and given the complexity of running the operation,.... they do a pretty darn good job.

Does Disney have issues? Sure. Nothing is perfect. Can you have a blast at Disney World? Yes.

Your vacation will have GREAT moments. Will there be some disappointments? Yup. But those disappointments only affect you as much as you LET them impact the trip. If you expect it to be "Perfect" ..... with a capital "P"...... you for sure will be disappointed.

When you go looking for problems, you tend to find them. When you go looking for the good stuff....... you tend to find that also.

Last trip my wife and I had a couple less than "Disney Moments". When they were alerted to that fact when we returned, Disney Customer Service made "nice-nice" about it very generously and professionally and politely. And because those "Not Disney Moments" actually happened last time....... a couple spectacular "Disney Moments" happened right afterward as a consequence to help deal with the situation right then.

John Lennon was a wise man with his "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans" comment. Lay out a basic ground work in your planning... and then "go with the flow" of the moment. If you feel like it at the time.... for gosh sake..... skip a bloomin' FastPass+........ it won't kill anyone....and if you didn't WANT to do that particular thing right then....... then you are not missing anything. If that particular attraction is important to you later.... then maybe show up early or late to get on it without a Fastpass+. If you HAVE to do it...... you CAN find a way.

It might even mean standing in a line....... but if after all it is THAT important.... you can stand in a line.

After all, it is really all about you and the FAMILY and being together (and particularly the grandkids!). Enjoy the family moments. Use as your yardstick the # of smiles and laughs... not the # of attractions visited. Let the kids play in the water sprinklers. Interact with the street performers. Eat cool stuff. They (and you) will have a blast.

best,

.................john

This! I was a bit worried myself after reading all the complaints on here, but we've had two trips with fp+ and it was fine. Don't sweat it! Make a general plan for where you want to be each day, make some fastpasses, but know that you can change your mind and wasting a fastpass isn't the end of the world.

Another thing I've learned after organizing many an extended family trip is to not accept responsibility for planning everything for everyone. I go with the, here's what I have planned, you are welcome to join me or not, attitude and it's worked well!

We've taken a lot of folks down for their first times at WDW.

My personal expectations were what caused me the most stress. I know it is easier said than done, but try not to stress out about making sure that everyone enjoys it as much as you do. I felt personally responsible if someone didn't seem to be having fun or wanted to do something different. Your grandkids may enjoy hanging out at the resort and swimming rather than going to a park for all that you have set up. First timers have no concept of what you have gone through with planning up to this point.

Either way, I hope you are able to take a deep breath, remember that you are all together in a magical place and be in the moment - whatever it is. :thumbsup:

try to relax.. easier said than done.. I know.:blush: However, it is what you make of it.

My kids are 16 now, but someday I hope to plan a trip just like you are doing for the kids/grandkids. We know there is so much that you want them to enjoy, go ahead, and plan what you can. Like other posters have said... to some degree let them lead the way! They may see Pooh and want to run to him even though you are on your way to a reservation. Stop and take the time. You won't regret it in the long run. I have pictures of bouncing with Tigger when they were 2 and I remember how freaked out I was that we were going to be late to the Indiana Jones show. I now look at those pictures and smile because it made them so happy to be bouncing with Tigger. Well worth the last minutes seats at the show.;)

We are lucky enough to do all the crazy planning and make all the reservations and quite often, miss out on a few FP's and cancel a few dining reservations with no regrets.

Still love going to WDW every year and will continue to go back. I wish you a very enjoyable trip and hope everything works out the way you want it to. Stay positive!!:mickey: