Hello Heather!
Welcome to planDisney! There have been so many new things happening this year that I'm sure it has been hard to keep up. It's also hard to process when planning for a trip next year! It almost makes one wonder what new things will pop up.
I'm sorry about your frustration with your planning. This is supposed the best part about a Walt Disney World vacation- the planning!
Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Single Pass, and
Premier Pass are totally optional investments you can make toward your trip. However, you don't have to buy them and can still have a great time in the Parks waiting on a Standby line or using
Virtual Queue when available. If you have not done so already, make sure to download the
My Disney Experience App. There is a chance you won't be able to download it until you arrive in the United States but it will be very helpful. You can track wait times and map yourself to where you want to be.
Having good Park strategies is very important no matter if you pay for extras or not. May is one of my favorite times to visit the Parks as the crowds can be pretty manageable. It's also during the
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. During this time I make sure to
not visit EPCOT on the weekend as it is usually very crowded with festival crowds. Wait times will be too high. I also like to visit the Parks right at opening and enjoy it for a few hours before taking a break before the crowds pick up around 11:30 AM. I save all of my shows and less crowded attractions for the busy afternoons. I have also found that during parades and nighttime spectaculars, wait times go down quite a bit and it's a great time to ride an attraction. Watching fireworks from
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is still one of my favorite moments ever. Just an FYI, it will be closed next year for your trip due to some refurbishments but I bet the view will still be fabulous from
Tiana's Bayou Adventure!
Waiting in line is not time wasted if you use it for planning, good conversation, exploring the themed queue areas, or even reading a book. I also love using my wait times to order my next meal or snack via
Mobile Food & Beverage Ordering with the My Disney Experience Mobile App. It's lovely to know a delicious treat awaits me as soon I leave the attraction.
Heather, I hope this helps and that you find your trip to be still magical and full of fun. We are here for you if you have any questions!
Happy Planning!
-Nimmy