Best Tips To Avoid Bad Experiences At Disney World

I'd suggest checking the crowd blogs at www.touringplans.com, checking for those weird "Monday off" holidays to be sure you're not going over a long weekend, checking online and with hotels to see when the dreaded cheerleader or Jersey weeks fall, and, finally, checking other major school calendars to be sure you're not headed to Orlando when there are major school breaks.

I'd have to give the advice to always confirm your flight and hotel reservations (remember what happened to Shelly?!?). Those are things that you assume are in order, but you never know who keyed in a date incorrectly.

Also, I like to check any dining or activity reservations I made--especially the ones that take a credit card hold. Those usually require a 24-hour cancellation, so I want to be sure I have my dates and times confirmed and correct.

Good point, Brad. In fact, make your ADRs about three weeks to a month before you leave home, for the most popular restaurants. Even better, if you schedule your meal times for earlier or later than "traditional" meal hours, you have a better chance of getting the reservation.

On November 30, 2005, when I arrived at WDW after landing at MCO, I checked into WL and then immediately went to the bus stop for Epcot. I had a reservation for a 1:50 pm EST lunch at my favorite eatery, which was booked solid for the rest of that year. I had a French Dip with Canadian bacon on top. Delicious.

On a more serious note, sometimes bad experiences are unavoidable. I have never had one as a result of a cast member's poor behavior or rudeness (in fact, I have been treated with the utmost respect and kindness by cast members), but from other guests.

As many of you know, I have a mild case of cerebral palsy, which is a birth defect in which there is damage to the parts of the brain that control muscle function. As a result, I have problems keeping the saliva in my mouth (which means that I often drool and sometimes slur my words); and I walk with a limp (especially when I am exhausted).

I had eaten dinner at Cape May Cafe (a decent but not great meal) and had walked outside and sat on the step to rest. I was totally beat and was limping worse than usual. As I sat there, a family rode by on a surrey bike and one of the men looked at me and then turned to one of his companions and said, "he's drunk".

When I'm tired, my cerebral palsy does make me walk around like I'm drunk, but I still thought that guy was an ignorant posterior orifice; but I was too tired, and thought he wasn't worth it, to respond. I think I would've "flipped him the bird" or invited him to do an anatomical impossibility. I guess some people take paying a lot of money for vacation, as permission to act like human garbage. Instead I got up, walked to the dock, got on a Friendship boat, walked through Epcot to the bus stop, and caught a bus to Wilderness Lodge.

Jim

Agreed 100% on both counts.

Yes--absolutely make your dining reservations as early as possible (there's no cost, after all, and you can always change them!).

And, yes, people can be horrible sometimes. I find that this is amplified when folks are irritable, tired, and stressed out--all significant possibilities when you're spending a LOT of money on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation that won't be justified unless you do *everything* and it's *perfect*.

So I guess one of the best tips to avoid disappointment is to simply go with the flow and don't let other people (who aren't having as lovely and relaxing a vacation as you are) get to you. I've had a tough time of this in the past...going to try to take my own (and Jim's!) advice on the next trip.

I think Jim hits on another key reason I try to avoid crowds. Not only do people keep me from getting on rides as quickly as I like and getting ADRs, but they are a much bigger nuisance in and of themselves. The most likely thing to bother my vacation is obnoxious kids and their obnoxious parents. Hence why I like going off-season!

I do think you could have a completely enjoyable WDW vacation without ever actually entering a park. Obviously you can have more fun by including the parks, but there really are a ton of activities (many of them free) that people often overlook.

I agree with all the PPs tips.....I think the most important thing is to do your research and plan. You definitely need to make adr's in advance. Also, plan park days so that you are going opposite to where the crowds will be. I am not a "commando" tourist and I don't plan every second. But I have read enough to make a good decision on the fly....for example, dinner took longer than expected and the usual good spots for Spectro were full full full.....I remembered something I read on Tour Guide Mike and found a decent spot with very little time before the parade. So I guess my advice is to read everything you can before you go so you know what to watch out for and how to handle vaious things when they come up. Prioritize attractions and events, and RELAX. If you miss it this time, you'll just have to come back!
BTW, I do recommend TGM. I believe it is well worth the money.

Yes, even for the well worn visitor! (Tho' I will try to come up with a more complementary term.....how about those with more Disney miles? That's not any better.....I'll keep thinking..... )

I like TGM's least crowded parks charts, as well as the plethora of other articles and the forums there. I tried the undercover tourist site but didn't feel as comfortable with it for some reason. The touring plans were too specific for my taste (tho' I know some folks prefer that and don't care for TGM because he does not provide a step by step, do this attraction and then that attraction-type plan). I figure an extra $20 bucks is a small investment when planning for WDW.

Definitely a small investment! If he doesn't do the step-by-step, what kind of recommendations does he make? Is there a "sample" on the site?