Bashful WDW Trip Tips

Without some planning, WDW can be overwhelming for even the most adventurous and outgoing types. However, for the *bashful* traveler, it can be almost crippling. During busy season, the crowds are unbelievable, and lines for attractions can top 2 hours. Even during the slow season, you will be confronted with overly friendly Cast Members, and huge mice and ducks roaming the parks. 🙂 Some attractions include "audience participation", and some restaurants will make you part of the entertainment.

Don't get me wrong – it's worth the effort! There is no more magical place in the world, in my humble opinion. A little advance planning, though, can make a world of difference in your vacation experience. Knowing what to expect is really half the battle. The following tips are some of the things I've found most valuable in creating a memorable vacation.

Know what you're getting into. Many people go to Walt Disney World without really having any idea what's there, and what's involved. They aren't prepared for the weather, the crowds, or the shear size of the place. While the excitement of discovery counts for something, WDW is such an overwhelming experience that for the "less adventurous", I really think there are some basic things you need to know:

When to go. This is the *most* important tip for anti-social folks – go during the "off season"! In fact, I really believe that this is the reason that my hubby and I continue to go every year. If our first trip had been during Spring Break, I'm sure it would've been our last trip, too. Avoid the holidays like the plaque, and if you must go in the summer, try to go as soon as school lets out. Spring Break and Christmas through New Years are probably the absolute worst. Walt Disney World is *always* crowded – don't let anyone tell you differently – but for us anyway, it's tolerable in the off-season. (I'd tell you when we go, but then you all might follow, and then it wouldn't be so quiet anymore!) Okay, okay, I will say it's between September and December.

Relax! Okay, this is my second most important tip – for everyone, not just the bashful-type. Throw out that wristwatch, and just go with the flow. There is so much to see and do at WDW that it's very easy to slip into "commando" mode and run, run, run until you collapse. It's not worth it. You could stay for 6 months and not see it all. That's why you plan ahead. Decide on one or two "must see" attractions and make those your priority. Everything else you see and do will just be icing on the cake.

Take breaks. I mean it. Naps aren't just for kids. We do a park in the morning, take a 2 to 4 hour break around noon, and then do another park in the afternoon/evening. It makes a HUGE difference. I can't say that enough. No matter how much stamina we think we have, we've found that WDW just "takes it out of you" (or out of "us", anyway). It's total sensory overload – just impossible to keep up 12 hours straight, day after day. This is much easier if you're staying on-site, but there are many ways to "take a break". If it's not convenient to go back to your room, you can plan a long sit-down meal, or just find a nice, cool place to sit and people-watch for a while. (And if you think this wasn't a bashful tip, you should see how fast "Bashful" becomes "Grumpy" without her afternoon break! I've found that I become much less "people tolerant" when I'm tired. Well rested and energetic, I have the courage to face those crowds.

Make a trip-planning notebook. I spend one week a year at WDW, and the other 51 weeks planning the trip. For me, planning is *almost* as much fun as actually being there (or at least that's what I keep telling myself, since I haven't been able to move into Cinderella Castle). Now, if you hate to plan, then this tip isn't for you… but for those over-organized types (like me), you might find this a lot of fun:

Every year (usually just after we return from WDW), I buy a new spiral-bound notebook. Any kind of notebook will do – a three-ring binder, or just loose sheets that you bind yourself. (I'm currently happy with Mead's smaller spiral-bound notebook – 9-1/2" x 6",with two pockets.) Whenever I need a Disney fix, I'll sit down and make notes in my notebook – menus from restaurants I want to eat, notes about entertainment to see, tips I've found on the Internet, Disney "snippets" of all sorts. I also add pictures I cut out from Disney catalogs. Let your imagination go wild. I take this with me on the vacation, and add notes for my trip report. Later, it becomes like a scrapbook of my trip.

(And for those who like the idea, but lack the time or creativity to make their own, you might want to check out The Passporter. It's the ultimate guidebook, complete with pockets for storing receipts, and places for taking notes about your trip.)

Buy a guidebook (or 2, or 3). Okay, I admit it. I'm a bookworm. I love the Internet, and the amount of information available here is just mind-boggling, but, there's just something warm and fuzzy about an ink & paper book. There are some wonderful guidebooks out there – many are enjoyable to read, even if you don't need any planning help. There are also some simply awesome books about Walt Disney and Walt Disney World that can really put you into the Disney mood – so many, in fact, that I'm setting up a new page just to share my favorites – see my Book Reviews for suggestions.

To rent a car, or not. (This, of course, only applies if you aren't driving to WDW.) This is one of those "hotly debated" topics, with no one "right" answer. If you're staying "off property", then you will be much better off with a car – don't expect off-site hotels to have frequent, convenient transportation to the Disney parks. However, if you're staying on-site, then it's very possible to make do with Disney's fleet of buses, boats and monorails (free to all Disney resort guests). Yes, some destinations may require a transfer and some may take longer than driving yourself, but with some planning , any location on Disney property can be reached.

Now, do I recommend a rental car? From a bashful standpoint, renting a car will help you avoid squeezing onto buses with strangers. All of the Disney transportation can get crowded from time to time. Here's my take on it, though: if you are always the one offering to drive at home, the one that likes to be "in control", someone who has no difficulty navigating in an unfamiliar place, than go for the car. If, on the other hand, you are the one looking for someone else to volunteer to drive, if maps drive you crazy and "getting lost" is one of your biggest fears, then sit back, relax, and let Disney do the driving.

Getting from the airport to your resort. If you're flying in (or taking a train), you'll need a way to get to your hotel. The three most common methods are: rent a car (see above), use Disney's Magical Expresss (DME), or rent a towncar/limo. Price plays a part, but I urge you do some homework. Many people use DME simply because that is what has been suggested (both Disney and many travel agents push this) and it's free. However, if there are 3 or more people in your party, a Towncar can actually be worthwhile, and far less stressful. (Most towncars charge by the "car".)

Bashful has used Tiffany Towncar 4 times now, and couldn't be more pleased with the service. It's a bit more than Mears for two people, but worth every penny. A friendly driver will be waiting for you at baggage claim when you arrive, will help you collect your bags, will run and bring the car up to you, then will whisk you straight away to the front door of your resort. (They will even stop at a grocery store on the way, if you'd like.) Mears, while I haven't tried it, does pack several families into a large van or bus, and stops at any number of resorts on the way to yours. Yes, the towncar driver may try to engage you into conversation, but at least you'll have the whole backseat to yourself, and won't have to contend with a crowd of other travelers.

Special occasions. Celebrating a birthday or anniversary? Is this your honeymoon? Sshhhh, don't tell anyone! Disney just loves to celebrate, and the Cast Members will go out of their way to make you feel special. Sure, that's great, if you're an extrovert. For us bashul folk, though, the last thing we want is to be singled out. Go ahead and blab if you want to, but don't say I didn't warn you. 😉

Cameras and photos. If you're traveling with others, be sure that you are the one that carries the camera. If you're taking the shot, then you can't be in the shot. If that doesn't work, learn to hide behind things. Opening a park map in front of your face works well. And fortunately, hats and sunglasses fit right in at WDW.

Characters. Yes, those people in big animal costumes can be frightening to us non-sociables. Not to worry – for the most part, if you ignore them, they will ignore you. This is especially true of the big ones like Mickey and Donald. (In fact, most people complain that they can't find them.) The face characters (ones that don't wear masks) can be a bit harder to avoid. If you have children, use them as shields. Otherwise, just don't make eye contact.

(The only character I've actually had a run-in with was the Mad Hatter. We just happened to resting on a bench in Epcot, all alone, just hubby and I, when he just appeared from nowhere, and made himself at home on "our" bench. At the time, I was very uncomfortable, but in retrospect, he was rather funny. I'm sure that if there had been anyone else around, he wouldn't have approached us. I suppose that could be the only small downside to "off-season". Sometimes it's easier to hide in a crowd.)

What to wear. Okay, so what do your clothes have to do with bashul vacationing? Perhaps more than you'd think. We found out (the hard way) that some clothes really can gain you some unwanted (for us, anyway) attention. There are obvious things, like the "It's my birthday" buttons, or the Mickey and Minnie bride and groom mouse ears (his has a top hat, hers a veil). Otherwise, Disney clothes are generally safe – almost everyone there is wearing a Disney t-shirt or hat. However, "hometown" clothes can actually be conversation-starters. When hubby wore his Ohio State Buckeye cap, lots of Cast Members felt it necessary to say "so you're from Ohio, huh?". His Bluejackets sweatshirt was even worse – everyone had to ask "what are the Bluejackets?". (Not so new now, but at the time, Columbus' just formed NHL team.) Also, be prepared to take some abuse if you wear a Universal, or Sea World shirt – it's the perfect excuse to harrass you for advertising the competition.

Tipping. While not specifically a bashful tip, I find as a bashful person that I feel much more at ease if I know what the "expected procedure" is, in any given situation. I can relax when I know what I'm supposed to do. Now, tipping is a very personal "opinion" sort of thing, but in the hopes of alleviating some stress, this is how we tip: