Originally Posted By Loreigh Ok so this may not be the best place to post this topic and if so, sorry ADMIN. Ok, with that said lets get to my question. I am always asked for my trip reports from Disneyland but I have trouble writing them becuase I dont know how much detail to put in, what to say, what not to say, what people are interested in reading about and what they could care less about. Ive read some great reports here on LP and I know there are a few people out there who are famous for their reports so I know that if anyone can answer this question is an LPer. So any tips for writing a really good trip report?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I've read great trip reports in many different styles and like them all. I guess the style I like best is very detailed... if you're interested in writing about it I'm interested in reading it. That is just one guy's opinion... others may prefer summary reports.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 Personally I like detailed reports but I'm not always so much interested in a "we rode Pinnochio, then Snow White, then Casey Junior" as I am the interactions of those on your trip, your adventures, your family/friend jokes, your observations about DL, the rides, the people. What made the trip fun, bad, interesting, funny, etc. ;> Have fun and do a report!!!
Originally Posted By danyoung I agree with Lisann that it's not so much fun to read "I went here then rode this then we went there and then we rode that". If there's nothing special about what you were doing at any given time, just cover that timeframe with "we hit a lot of rides in Epcot during the morning". Make notes during your trip about outstanding events, interactions with cast members, excellent meals, changes to attractions, etc. We all know what the inside of the Haunted Mansion looks like, so a detailed rundown of which hitchhiking ghost you got doesn't add that much to the story. Detail isn't a bad thing, as long as it's interesting detail. I also like it when people finish up with a wrapup of what they liked and what they didn't - high points and low. It puts the whole trip into perspective. Also a description up front as to who the players are is most helpful. Good luck!
Originally Posted By alexbook Short paragraphs: Some people write trip reports that look like one paragraph that runs for several screens. I'm usually too overwhelmed to even start reading. Trip reports are a good place to express opinions. It means a lot more when someone writes "We rode this and didn't like it" in a trip report than "It's no good" in DL General. I'm a big fan of pictures with captions. Sometimes I'll look at somebody's pics and say, "Well, that's a nice-looking shot of a group of people. I wonder who they are?" Just my opinion, of course.
Originally Posted By pleddy36 I prefer to read reports that go into detail of important happenings. Say you were on Space Mountain and it broke down. Then writing detail of what it was like to walk back to the loading station would be interesting. Not everyone has seen the ride with the lights on, so decribing that would be interesting. the "boring" or average stuff can just go into a short summery to build up to the exciting stuff.
Originally Posted By berol Type it as if you're e-mailing a friend who was dying to go with you, but couldn't.
Originally Posted By Loreigh Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll let you know when i have some to review and you can all let me know how I did
Originally Posted By Ursula For the record, I once wrote a trip report and it was: I went to DL and saw a bunch of my friends. I've also written photo-journalism style reports using my captions to tell a story. I've done quick overviews. I've done step-by-steps, too. I guess my advice is: make the report fit the trip. Write what you know. Tell us something funny and the lead-up as to why it is funny. Have fun, though. That's the best advice. Make it fun to write and it will be fun to read. And ignore length. If it takes three short paragraphs, so be it. If it takes four different entries made up of short paragraphs, then that's good too!
Originally Posted By Tiggirl I made my WDW trip report (here: <a href="http://wdwjubilee.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://wdwjubilee.blogspot.com /</a> ) as something I could go back and read later and really enjoy myself. I almost made it a "scrapbook" of sorts and figured others might enjoy reading it as well. Make sure to keep a copy of your trip report yourself... you'll enjoy looking at it later! ) ~Beth
Originally Posted By Tiggirl Thank you Disney Joy! My traveling compantions and myself still like to go back and re-read it to relive the fun. ) ~Beth
