Hello, I am an old grumpy person who resists change and technology. I resent having to learn how to use my smart phone to rule my world. I like things on paper. I didn’t mean to become a Luddite, but here I am, getting grumpy about the customized touring plans I’ve labored over for the last four months.
Back in my day, an Unofficial Guide touring plan was on paper and it didn’t say how long I might wait in line. It just said that I probably wouldn’t wait in line as long as people who didn’t read the Unofficial Guide. I would pick out a plan that most closely matched my preferences; I would follow the plan and skip the things that didn’t interest me. It worked well. I liked it. I kept buying Unofficial Guides.
Now I have to create my own touring plan, remember to make time to rest and/or experience magic, add in my ADR’s, evaluate, optimize, and finally, then I can print it and put it on paper? But wait! Something might change while I’m in the park! Don’t print it! Keep pulling out the smart phone, opening the app, hitting “optimize”, check MDE (!!!) to see if the wait times are off, – and – what am I forgetting?! This is too much! It’s too hard! I just want a touring plan that tells me what to do so I don’t have to think about it so hard!
I’m sorry. I know I’m – given to histrionics. (See my meltdown last week when I believed click-baity DFB video about hidden charges.) (Again, I’m sorry.)
Deep breath –
I’ve been worrying about the QR code menus. My DH is way, way grumpier than I am about smart phones. I knew he would be irritated about having to use his phone to do anything on the MDE app, and furthermore, QR codes are not his thing.
Yesterday, I found out that I have problems with QR codes. I went to lunch with the nice temp lady I’m training to take my place for two weeks at work, and the restaurant we chose had a QR code on the table. Yikes. My trainee is even older than I am (hard to imagine, I know), so the hostess brought her the one paper menu they had – the print was worn off the page in places! Meanwhile, I struggled to get my phone to read the QR code. My camera app didn’t give a flip about that code. I finally downloaded a QR code reader, and It Struggled to Read The Code. So frustrating!
At the same time, I was so relieved to be working out these kinks before I get to WDW. Can you imagine having to go through that at Jaleo?! Blood pressure is a real concern at my age!
Anyway. Would y’all throw bricks at me if I ripped a touring plan out of the book? I’m lookin’ at Magic Kingdom Early Entry Two-Day Touring Plan for Adults…
P.S. – I found this letter while cleaning the home office in preparation for allowing a house sitter to take care of my cats and birds. Paper! It lasts forever! (Well, not really, you have to take care of it, but still, it’s nifty paper.)