How Chat GPT Saved Our Disney Trip
Planning a trip to Disney World is notoriously daunting, even for an accomplished Ph.D. like Ronnie Olesker, government professor and associate dean for Faculty Affairs. The labyrinth of options demands a series of strategic decisions including which rides require fast-pass tickets, how soon to book reservations for special meals with favorite characters, and how to sync up the daily itinerary with opportunities to view parades and fireworks—not to mention budgeting, meal planning, and scheduling breaks.
The prospect was so overwhelming that she initially decided not to go.
“We had booked the hotel, but the planning process was so rigorous and anxiety-inducing that I canceled the trip before we had to pay anything,” Olesker says. “But the kids were eager to go, and so were we. So, we rebooked for May 2024.”
That’s when inspiration struck.
While using ChatGPT for work-related tasks, Ronnie wondered if it could help plan her Disney trip. With her knack for crafting precise prompts, she put ChatGPT to the test.
“I entered a detailed prompt: ‘You are a parent of a 12, 10, and 8-year-old, planning a trip to Disney World on these dates. Plan out the rides to book, the order day by day, the parks to visit, and include a break between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. each day. The kids do not like scary roller coasters. We are staying at this specific hotel,’” she explains. In three seconds, ChatGPT produced a comprehensive plan, breaking down each day by park, listing the order of rides, and offering tips to maximize their experience. Olesker cross-referenced this with her previous research, and it matched perfectly.
“We followed the plan to the T and had an amazing time,” she says. “We got on all the rides we wanted and avoided the long waits and unbearable heat.”
While her experience might make Disney travel agents nervous, it showcases the practical, time-saving potential of AI in everyday life. As she puts it, “It’s not that ChatGPT is doing something you couldn’t do on your own, but it does it in seconds rather than hours.” Her story underscores a broader message: don’t be afraid to leverage AI for both the mundane and
the magical.
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