A Year of Planning...suggestions

[shay425]

My daughter, her family and I went to Disneyworld last May and had such a wonderful time. We were already planning our trip for this year on the way home! Well, unexpected things come up sometimes and we had to postpone the trip until next June. Even though we know it is best right now, we cannot help but feel a little dissappointed.

We are trying to think of ways to get us excited for a trip that is a little over a year away. We thought it would be great to be able to do something every month for 12 months in anticipation for our trip. Any ideas?

 

[Focusdude]

I started planning for my next trip as soon as I got home also! These Boards are the best way to stay in the planning mode and to get great ideas! I always keep a picture of WDW as the wallpaper on my computer to remind me of my trip (which is still VERY far off!). I just ordered the vacation planning video, which is another way to boost your enthusiasm for your trip!

It will be here before you know it!

 

[pjlla]

Somewhere in cyberspace there is a WDW calendar with all kinds of anniversary dates and such. If you could find it you could pick a different WDW event/anniversary to celebrate every week if you wanted! I'll look around for it and if I find it I will post again!............Maybe Dan can find it....he finds everything!.....P

 

[mad4themouse]

How about a monthly Disney Film Festival and planning session?

You could break out some of the real oldies like "The Apple Dumpling Gang", "Herbie, The Love Bug" and "The Ugly Dachshund". Movies the kids may have never seen before but will still love.

Pop some popcorn and let the kids watch the movie while the adults go over the some of the plans. Give each night a topic like "Top Ten Attractions in EPCOT" or "Not-to-Be-Missed Restaurants".

It's a way to iron out all the details while keeping that Disney spark alive all year.

 

[shay425]

Thanks for the helpful tips! I'm beginning to feel excited again instead of dissappointed! Keep them coming!!

 

[HenDuck]

I know how you feel.

I start a folder WAY in advance. Research hotels and the special things that I want to do for the trip and make notes.

Then I research DisBoards and other sites for answers to my questions and to make more plans.

Then I start my "to do list" about 6 months out. Usually starting with picking out new luggage pieces or carry-on bags (that alone can take me a month! )

I purchase clothing I might need for the trip as the months go by.

I make up tip envelopes in advance and then fill each one up with "ones" as I have them.

Then of course, you can plan in advance what PS you want to make and calendar the dates to call.

Make your packing list and then edit, edit, edit!

Start shopping for toiletries, etc.

Oh, there are so many ways to keep yourself in the "planning/preparation" mode!

Sometimes I think I would not have as much fun if I didn't have months to get ready for my trips!

Have fun!

 

[pjlla]

Originally posted by mad4themouse
How about a monthly Disney Film Festival and planning session?

You could break out some of the real oldies like "The Apple Dumpling Gang", "Herbie, The Love Bug" and "The Ugly Dachshund". Movies the kids may have never seen before but will still love.

Pop some popcorn and let the kids watch the movie while the adults go over the some of the plans. Give each night a topic like "Top Ten Attractions in EPCOT" or "Not-to-Be-Missed Restaurants".

It's a way to iron out all the details while keeping that Disney spark alive all year.

Along those lines.... for about three months before our last trip, we had Friday Night Family Disney Movie Night!! We watched a different Disney movie each Friday night.

And we spent a few days going through our guide books park by park, making priority lists of rides/attractions within each park. Everyone got to vote and each ride/attraction got an A or B or C or D. Then I made a list by each park, listing first the "A" and then the "B" (I didn't list the C or D or F). I carried that list, along with our PS numbers and times in my fanny pack. I reviewed it in the morning before we left for the park and once or twice while we were there. Once we had done everything on the "A" list and everything on the "B" list, everything after that was gravy!! That way we didn't accidentally miss anything.

And everyone got to have a say in what we saw/did. And the kids understood that if Mom and Dad sat thru Playhouse Disney, that they had to sit through something that was an "A" for Mom and Dad.

We did make a few changes once we were there. For example, originally the Share a Dream Come True parade was listed as a "C" as we had seen it previously. But about 30 minutes before parade time my daughter decided she really wanted to see it (and so did I). So we left the guys in Tomorrowland and we saw the parade. It was a great mother/daughter moment!! So we had a plan, but we weren't commando!

Anyhow, that park by park planning really helped. And it gave us a reason to spend a rainy afternoon talking about Disney!!
.............................P

 

[GoofItUp]

If you have young children in your group, you can plan to send them something from Disney characters before you leave. On our last trip, we had my niece (4). Starting about 4-5 months before we left, I sent her one thing a month from a different character. Everything I sent was stuff I got on sale at TDS on-line or found on sale elsewhere. She got a Cinderella nightgown and note from Cinderella, a set of Disney books from Snow White, a short set from Ariel, a set of trading pins from Mickey.....you get the idea. She would call me to tell me what the character had sent her after each package arrived in the mail. She was so excited and this really got her ready to meet the characters!

 

[bigbabyblues]

I know how you feel, our trip is not until next May, and I've been planning for a couple months already. It seems the trip will NEVER get here!

I've started a notebook of things we'd like to try and do, see, or places to eat. I visit the DIS boards and write down good tips that I find, etc. I also started a budget and a savings account, and I like keeping track of that stuff, that way our trip is getting closer money wise, if not time wise.

Bought the UG, have already read it once, every couple weeks I get the urge to read sections of it again. Lots of time and research to get me through!

Good luck, and happy planning! I have to say, I'm loving the planning part!

Steph

 

[Tiggerkeeper]

When DD was in 8th grade we planned a trip with her two best friends for graduation. Every month I sent them something Disney related. We opened our planning with a brain storming session at a restaurant in June. Then 4th of July I found some patriotic Mickey cards to send them. In October I left on their doorsteps the small stuffed Pooh characters dressed for Halloween with candy bags. Some months were just cards others were things I picked up at the Dollar Store. We also had movie nights with a Disney flick and goodies.

We were really ready to go by the time May rolled around!

 

[canwegosoon]

If you didn't do this already, you could put together a scrapbook for just Disney trips. There are really cute Disney stickers and albums everywhere (Creative Memories, AC Moore and Joanne's)...CM even has a chance to win a free trip, but might be more expensive than either of the other options. In working on the scrapbook as a family, you will have the chance to talk about your great trip, and also make a "must do list". Also you can take time "researching" rides to try and other things that are new on the disney website. Your children can journal what they liked most, and what they want to do again.

Also besides doing the movies(which is also a great idea), you could have the kids pick a country represented at Epcot, and get a movie from your Library, and perhaps make a meal (or go out) from that country. You could get Disney paper products or perhaps you already have cups... Perhaps you could also have a dedicated disney clothing day. Plan 1 day a month for everyone to wear disney clothing and then on your 12th meeting it will be time to go!!!

12 seems a lot less than 365

Good luck.

 

[Texan]

Oh my gosh, I feel human again. I thought I was the only one in the world already keeping a folder and putting helpful hints in it and starting my list, and we aren't leaving until FEB 5, 2005! I thought there was something extremely wrong with me. Henduck, you had some great suggestions I had not even thought about. Thanks! Now I can get even more obsessive. The Dis Boards are wonderful. I can't think of anything to add to these wonderful ideas. It has just fueled my fire even more.

 

[ncbyrne]

DH and I just got back May 12 and I'm already planning the next trip with DD and DGDs for November 6-12! Planning is half the fun!

 

[madison66]

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[shay425]

Thank you all for your GREAT ideas!! I'm going to try and use all of them!!!!