by Bruno95 (2021-11-29 13:24:59)
In reply to: Backroom Guide to WDW Version 2.0: Keeping Genie in a bottle posted by vermin05
Those are the people who need this kind of guidance. It is, in all sincerity, very helpful.
I would just offer an alternative approach. It is not for anyone who wants to get after it at the parks. Rather, it’s a suggestion for those who have already seen it all, or who might have physical limitations, or who simply don’t give too much of a shit and want to decompress a bit on vacation.
1. Book at the best Disney resort you can afford. Pay attention to this, because if you are part of my target audience, it matters. If you are following Vermin’s approach, you may not need a luxury hotel. You may not need much more than covered shelter and a private lavatory. You will be able to sleep no matter where you stay, and your waking hours will not be spent in the room.
I rank the hotels according to the following factors:
A. Proximity to the parks — in my approach, you will spend no more than 2-3 hours a day at a given park, with an exception noted below. No sense enduring a long commute.
B. Proximity to the Epcot World Showcase — you will go there every day, because my approach is heavy on strolling around, passively taking in the scene, and getting drunk.
C. How nice is the hotel. You’ll be on the hotel grounds a lot. Good news is, the rooms are all of fairly similar quality across each class of property.
With that, my favorites:
A. Yacht Club. It is walking distance to two parks. It’s not too hard to get to Magic Kingdom. Note: Magic Kingdom accounts for no more than four hours of time in a six-day trip under my approach.
B. Beach Club. Why is this not Yacht/Beach as one? Yacht Club is a little nicer, less hectic, and I like the rooms there a touch more. But they’re close.
C. Grand Floridian. What the fuck? It’s close to Magic Kingdom, which isn’t supposed to matter in this plan. Yes, but it’s the nicest resort. And you can get to Epcot via monorail. And it’s third overall, not first.
D. Boardwalk. Correct me if they’ve updated the rooms, but the last I knew, they needed it. It’s otherwise great and could be #1 again if it gets some work.
E. Polynesian. This is where you stayed as a kid, if your parents loved you enough. For some reason it feels more fungible now. It used to be one of a kind. It’s still neat, and you can walk to the ticket & transportation center to catch a ride to Epcot. Maybe it just can’t live up to the nostalgia.
That is the end of the list.
2. How to book rides: Buy the genie pass and the lightning lanes as you’re able. Line up a ride or two, at a convenient time, and ride that ride. Or don’t.
3. How much to ride: Not much.
4. How long to wait in line: n/a. I don’t wait in line.
5. What to do all day: get up, have some coffee, stroll around the resort grounds. Shower and make your way to a park, at a pace of your choosing. This will never entail seeing the park open. Upon entering, walk wherever your eyes take you. Stop into shops, grab a drink and watch people scurry past, occasionally take note if you see a hot mom. This won’t happen too often, because even an otherwise attractive person loses some luster when they’re sweaty and wearing a Disney themed family reunion shirt. After riding your prepaid rides, or not, head back. It’s ok if you miss a bus or monorail. There are others. Plus, you’ll generally just walk back under my plan. Epcot has no time limit — feel free to stay all day if you want.
Grab a drink at the pool and hang out. Hurricane Hannah’s at the Yacht/Beach Club pool is good. Supplement with a big cocktail you make in the room and pour into a large insulated chug bottle.
I do like getting dinner a few times. This is the one instance where I’ll mildly inconvenience myself, because the best places are at Disney Springs. Try that a time or two. The newer Mexican place in Epcot is also good. But the takeout places aren’t bad either. People tend to load up on reservations then cancel, so you can sometimes find things if you check often.
If you still feel up to it after a long day of doing very little, and you’re staying nearby, go back to Epcot for a drink. I’d leave before the fireworks, unless you really like fireworks. It gets crowded.
Go back, read a bit, go to bed.
Note: no one in your family will be the least bit happy with you, unless you lay some advance groundwork by complaining a lot. They’ll be relieved you’re doing your own thing.
That’s the basic idea. I have been many times. I’ve ridden maybe 10% of the rides there, and I’ve never seen a show. I don’t have the Disney app.
We’ll see if my wife is up for carting around 3 kids by herself. I tell her it’s Bruno’s idea.
it’s easy. My husband comes for a planned annual trip where we stay at a Disney resort hotel and spend a few days in the parks. He isn’t a Disneyland person, but indulges me and accepts my superfan love of it. Depending on your kids’ ages, if one is old enough to walk all day and not complain about walking, she could being a double stroller and push the younger 2 around. I still bring a stroller and my kids are far too old to be in one. It makes it easier if they don’t feel like walking. I usually park and lock it somewhere for a few hours at a time.
A few times a year. Ditto, if I lived in Orlando or Vero or Ft. Meyers/ Naples.
I doubt I would be the zealot you are but I think it would be a no brainer. If I lived in Denver, I would have annual passes to Aspen/Vail etc.
If I lived in Boston I would move.
would feel comfortable wearing the male version of “athleisurewear” as you would be getting far more exercise. Different strokes for different folks.
Mainly cargo shorts, you want to secure the wallet and phone while on thrill rides.
Fly into fort Meyers, go to Naples for a few days, drive to Orlando, stay off property somewhere else. Spend at most 1-2 days and a total of 5-6 hours on the parks. Enjoy the sun. Oh and grow the fuck up and stop going to kids parks. Sorry not sorry.
It’s very easy to click on “ignore poster” when you see a Disney post. Ignore the author and you won’t have to read stories of how we bring our children endless amounts of joy by taking them to the most “magical” and “happiest” places on earth. Perhaps Bonger abound unlock the Romper Room for you to complain in anytime a Disney post appears in the BR. Joking aside, dude, who cares. We’re a quirky group here and for 99% of the posters, a trip to Disney is a big trip that needs to be planned properly. It shouldn’t be such a fiasco doing so, but it is. Let it go.
...than judging people for how they spend their money.
I actually think it's fascinating. I suspect there is little more revealing about someone than how they spend their excess cash. Yeah, that includes me.
beach in Venice, then five days in Orlando. We will spend a day at Magic Kingdom and a day at the animal park. The rest chilling out at the resort.
There’s a problem, and it’s not my 4 year old.
Come at me.
:)
In about 2 years my streak will come to an end (due to my Princess crazed niece) but I agree single male is creepy. Only face characters I’ve met are Capt Jack, Jack Skellington and some villains at past Halloween parties
Though. And, you’re right about that. Adults who go to Disney solo to do meet and greets with characters are…. Far more bizarre than those of us posting on this board about our trips with tips.
My aunt, uncle, and cousin (an adult) are all cut from the same weird cloth as vermin05. I think it's weird that they go, but not was weird as the line of old men waiting to meet Ariel... That 5% is legit disgust.
carrying a new hat when we were there earlier this week. It’s a pink baseball cap with a famous line that Ariel spoke…. “But Daddy, I love him!” Now if that older dude was wearing that hat to meet Ariel… 😂😂
Lord loves a redhead.
Can I get an “amen” Wooderson?
Anna is 21.
Well, not about the redhead part.
keys...