All I want to do is plan!

[BlueGiraffe]

Although I seriously need to get to grips with MDE, I have no idea what I have to do to pick Magic Bands

Once you're signed up and your reservations are linked, you can choose the colour and the name you want on it, just with a few clicks.

 

[Disney Holic]

Once you're signed up and your reservations are linked, you can choose the colour and the name you want on it, just with a few clicks.

So far I haven't even signed up! Never mind worked out how to link my reservations.

 

[jrparkin]

I have small plans for my trip, but not massive ones. My first full day I'm going to Downtown Disney, and my two MK days coincide with my character breakfast at Ohana's and my dinner at WL, but apart from that I'm just going to be very loose and just do what I feel like doing. It helps that I'm a solo traveller so I don't have to accomodate anybody else's preferences.

I haven't even made any room requests for my resort hotel beyond a standard room

 

[LiquidSunshine]

Jumping onboard this thread too!

I booked our first WDW trip last June for this coming September, 2 weeks at Caribbean Beach Resort including the Quick Service dining plan & 14 day ultimate tickets.

This week has really been the 1st week the planning bug has got hold of me!

So far I have customised the magic bands, pink for me, blue for BF, with just our names on the bands - very boring, right?!

Contacted Virgin Holidays and had the Universal tickets added (desperately want to get Harry Potter World fitted in) and admission badges to the Kennedy Space Center - think that cheered up BF!! A change from constant Disney!

Contemplating requesting a water view room, but the CBR thread have said it's a waste of money, so now swayed to request a king size!!!

Yesterday I signed up for the Touring Plans, I bought the unofficial 2014 guide which got me some discount. Really looking forward to getting some kind of plan together and then making use of the Touring Plans!

Getting very excited now!

 

[joolz1910]

Hi there!

You are definitely not alone!

We booked our WDW holiday last May (8 months ago!) and I have been planning since then! Still got 10 months to go (or 42 weeks)!

Our trip is for me, DH and DS who will be 4. We are going on 13.11.13 for 14days staying at Saratoga Springs. We got a really good deal, 35% off the villa and free dining plan which we then upgraded to the deluxe plan for an extra £800. It's lovely knowing that our hotel, flights, tickets and food are already paid for and all we need is spending money!

I keep myself going with milestones! The first one was waiting until the Flight dates / prices were released, which was December, once they were booked then I felt like it was even more 'real'! the next milestone for me is the 120days before when I can make dining reservations!

DS has already been to Disneyland Paris when he had just turned 2 and he LOVED it! Everyone kept telling us we were silly and he was too young to enjoy it which was totally wrong! He was an angel the whole time and ran up to all the characters to hug them and have photos taken, he was even tall enough to do quite a few rides. This time he will (obviously) be much taller and he will be able to ride things such as terror tower and big thunder mountain!

I have downloaded the WDW app on my ipad and I'm constantly looking at the restaurants and the menus! Always reading dining reviews too!

My DH and I came over for our honeymoon in 2008 and, as we didn't have a dining plan, we stuck to counter service meals, with the odd table service meal thrown in! So this time, with the DDP, we get to try lots of places we never even looked at or considered last time.

I'm also booking tickets for universal studios and discovery cove, hopefully booking those this weekend, so another box ticked!

When are you going? I remember when we booked ours, it was 18 months in advance and I was so miserable that I had two birthdays to get through and two Halloweens!! but now here we are at the end of January! I'm hoping to keep myself busy at work and lots of things in my calendar between now and November to make more little 'milestones'.

Anytime you need to scratch that planning / discussing itch, feel free to type away! I'm on here all the time and love hearing other people's plans and sharing the excitement

Michelle x

My youngest had only just turned 5 when we went in 2012 - it's lovely to see it through their eyes. We booked our flights 19 months in advance lol, so it's a loooooong countdown.

Although pretty new to these boards I am also a planaholic. My November cruise was booked almost a year ago but I have been planning even longer than that. DH got his leave approved for the bulk of our trip last September and I think I booked the townhouse last June!
I have also had a list of things I want to do and places I want to eat, as well as a list of snacks/foods to try for almost a year and a list of websites to sign up to for coupons.
We booked the flights a few weeks ago, and also picked up a few more accommodations in the Jan sales, so ditched the idea of renting DVC for a few nights after the cruise and booked Beach Club for half what DVC would cost and Floridays at 60% off. Still need to bookUniversal Hotel and park tickets. Oh and might be changing car hire, still trying to decide whether to split it and go without while onsite, but use shuttles to move accomm. Also bought new luggage and travel insurance last week.
I started my daily planner spreadsheet last week and I'm glad I did as i learned of a few things which seriously affect our plans.
My DH likes to know everything I have planned, after all he pays for it but he isn't interested in doing any research.
Although I seriously need to get to grips with MDE, I have no idea what I have to do to pick Magic Bands, but my spreadsheet has my ADR dates so on 26th April I will be booking our Chef Mickey breakfast for our first morning

My DH doesn't pay for it, so he can't complain about any of the decisions I make I love how many planaholics there are on the Dis!

I have small plans for my trip, but not massive ones. My first full day I'm going to Downtown Disney, and my two MK days coincide with my character breakfast at Ohana's and my dinner at WL, but apart from that I'm just going to be very loose and just do what I feel like doing. It helps that I'm a solo traveller so I don't have to accomodate anybody else's preferences.

I haven't even made any room requests for my resort hotel beyond a standard room

This lack of planning makes me palpitate lol.



*clears throat and stands up* My name is Juliette and I am a Disney Addict. I have been planning my August 2015 trip since November 2012. I have already planned where and what I am going to eat. I need a 'fix' at least once per day, sometimes more.

 

[LiquidSunshine]

*clears throat and stands up* My name is Juliette and I am a Disney Addict. I have been planning my August 2015 trip since November 2012. I have already planned where and what I am going to eat. I need a 'fix' at least once per day, sometimes more.

I haven't even thought of where and what I am going to eat!!!!

 

[jrparkin]

This lack of planning makes me palpitate lol.



*clears throat and stands up* My name is Juliette and I am a Disney Addict. I have been planning my August 2015 trip since November 2012. I have already planned where and what I am going to eat. I need a 'fix' at least once per day, sometimes more.

I do appreciate some people like to plan a lot, but I've never been that kind of a person, I like just getting up and not knowing what I'm doing that day.

Also my last two holidays were a (non-Disney) cruise and a coach trip, which were rigidly planned, so I wanted to do something less set in stone

 

[Azza1987]

*clears throat and stands up* My name is Juliette and I am a Disney Addict. I have been planning my August 2015 trip since November 2012. I have already planned where and what I am going to eat. I need a 'fix' at least once per day, sometimes more.

Round of applause! (I'd add the Emoji but I'm using my phone!)

I too am a Disney Addict & have spent every spare hour this week setting up spreadsheets to calculate the best use of my budget to get the most days out of trip!

We've gone from 7, to 10 and now considering 12 or 13 nights with changing dates/level of accommodation!

 

[BlueGiraffe]

So far I haven't even signed up! Never mind worked out how to link my reservations.

Ooooh I love it, lol, I'm on it everyday!

 

[Disney Holic]

Ooooh I love it, lol, I'm on it everyday!

I signed up DH and myself last night to MDE, and linked us together. But I can't link our Beach Club reservation I booked it direct with WDW but only got 8 digit reference, so guess I need to call and ask for the 10 digit reference. I can't do anything else until that is sorted, not bought our WDW tickets yet to link them either. We are still 9mths out, so not sure what I can do this far ahead of time. Will be buying our tickets and 1 AP around April time I think, and buying Memory Maker so I should be able to link them all in at that point. Until then I am pretty limited as to what I can do.

For the first part of our trip we are offsite, so when can I book our FP+? Or can I only book FP+ for the last 5 days we are onsite at the Beach Club? Have to admit, this MDE/FP+ thing confuses the hell out of me, and it might all have changed by the time we get there in October.

 

[Elise79]

I signed up DH and myself last night to MDE, and linked us together. But I can't link our Beach Club reservation I booked it direct with WDW but only got 8 digit reference, so guess I need to call and ask for the 10 digit reference. I can't do anything else until that is sorted, not bought our WDW tickets yet to link them either. We are still 9mths out, so not sure what I can do this far ahead of time. Will be buying our tickets and 1 AP around April time I think, and buying Memory Maker so I should be able to link them all in at that point. Until then I am pretty limited as to what I can do.

For the first part of our trip we are offsite, so when can I book our FP+? Or can I only book FP+ for the last 5 days we are onsite at the Beach Club? Have to admit, this MDE/FP+ thing confuses the hell out of me, and it might all have changed by the time we get there in October.

Try the 8 digit reference if it is AAA12345 format otherwise the 6 digit reference on your invoice.

You can only pre-book FP+ for the days you are onsite. At the moment when you are offsite you will have to book on the day

 

[BlueGiraffe]

I emailed them and said I couldn't link to MDE with the 8 digit reference number and they replied and gave me the 10 character alpha-numeric one (which the CM on the phone referred to as the "American" reference number).

We booked a second stay during our holiday, and that time I filled in the extra details, such as name and the other things they requested, when trying to link. It showed up after a couple of days (but I'd emailed again and asked for the new reference in the meantime, so not sure if they linked it their end).

 

[LiquidSunshine]

Had a little result today with adding tickets to my booking with Virgin Holidays.

I had originally been quoted £130 (£260 in total) for 1 adult Universal 2 park bonus ticket (want to get the tickets through Virgin Holidays for the early admission to Harry Potter World) they have now said the 2 tickets will cost £246.80 in total (small saving of £13.20 )

I also wanted to add on 2 tickets to Kennedy Space Center with return transport. Originally they quoted £59 per ticket (£118 in total) and now they have said the tickets will cost £90.24 in total!!

So a saving of £40.96! Think I will put the savings into my "Florida Spending Money Fund"!

Now to begin the epic planning! Have bought the 2014 Unofficial Guide, so my plan is to list my top 5 Absolutely Must See/Do Attractions for each park, and build my plan from there!

 

[zippy99]

I really am looking forward to planning our October trip - I lost my job last year and whilst we were still able to go on our Aug trip (redundancy + claiming over £2k from Virgin in delayed flight compensation helped) the uncertainty did worry me this was coupled with the horrific stress we had when a convicted sex offender moved in the flat upstairs and literally made our lives hell.

Planning the holiday is just as much part of the fun as the trip itself!! this build up was taken away from me last year. This year I have an extra special trip booked - 2 deluxe resorts & a Disney Cruise, I have a new job which I love and pays well, my DD just got straight A grades in her mock GCSEs and aforementioned neighbour is securely locked away again for various offences including the trouble and threats made to our family.

Whilst I loved our holiday last year - I always knew I was returning to no job and uncertainty - this time I am in a much better stress-free place and excited beyond comprehension!

 

[BlueGiraffe]

I really am looking forward to planning our October trip - I lost my job last year and whilst we were still able to go on our Aug trip (redundancy + claiming over £2k from Virgin in delayed flight compensation helped) the uncertainty did worry me this was coupled with the horrific stress we had when a convicted sex offender moved in the flat upstairs and literally made our lives hell.

Planning the holiday is just as much part of the fun as the trip itself!! this build up was taken away from me last year. This year I have an extra special trip booked - 2 deluxe resorts & a Disney Cruise, I have a new job which I love and pays well, my DD just got straight A grades in her mock GCSEs and aforementioned neighbour is securely locked away again for various offences including the trouble and threats made to our family.

Whilst I loved our holiday last year - I always knew I was returning to no job and uncertainty - this time I am in a much better stress-free place and excited beyond comprehension!

Wow, you've really been through it! Glad it all worked out well. There's nothing like planning a Disney holiday to keep the spirits up.

 

[LiquidSunshine]

I really am looking forward to planning our October trip - I lost my job last year and whilst we were still able to go on our Aug trip (redundancy + claiming over £2k from Virgin in delayed flight compensation helped) the uncertainty did worry me this was coupled with the horrific stress we had when a convicted sex offender moved in the flat upstairs and literally made our lives hell.

Planning the holiday is just as much part of the fun as the trip itself!! this build up was taken away from me last year. This year I have an extra special trip booked - 2 deluxe resorts & a Disney Cruise, I have a new job which I love and pays well, my DD just got straight A grades in her mock GCSEs and aforementioned neighbour is securely locked away again for various offences including the trouble and threats made to our family.

Whilst I loved our holiday last year - I always knew I was returning to no job and uncertainty - this time I am in a much better stress-free place and excited beyond comprehension!

Wow! Glad you are in a better place now! Planning your Oct trip is just what you need to help perk you right up!

 

[DLPDreams]

I really am looking forward to planning our October trip - I lost my job last year and whilst we were still able to go on our Aug trip (redundancy + claiming over £2k from Virgin in delayed flight compensation helped) the uncertainty did worry me this was coupled with the horrific stress we had when a convicted sex offender moved in the flat upstairs and literally made our lives hell.

Planning the holiday is just as much part of the fun as the trip itself!! this build up was taken away from me last year. This year I have an extra special trip booked - 2 deluxe resorts & a Disney Cruise, I have a new job which I love and pays well, my DD just got straight A grades in her mock GCSEs and aforementioned neighbour is securely locked away again for various offences including the trouble and threats made to our family.

Whilst I loved our holiday last year - I always knew I was returning to no job and uncertainty - this time I am in a much better stress-free place and excited beyond comprehension!

Oh bless, you sound like you have been through it, but glad things have turned around now. Really pleased you have your planning and holiday to look forward to - it sounds lovely .

 

[joolz1910]

I really am looking forward to planning our October trip - I lost my job last year and whilst we were still able to go on our Aug trip (redundancy + claiming over £2k from Virgin in delayed flight compensation helped) the uncertainty did worry me this was coupled with the horrific stress we had when a convicted sex offender moved in the flat upstairs and literally made our lives hell.

Planning the holiday is just as much part of the fun as the trip itself!! this build up was taken away from me last year. This year I have an extra special trip booked - 2 deluxe resorts & a Disney Cruise, I have a new job which I love and pays well, my DD just got straight A grades in her mock GCSEs and aforementioned neighbour is securely locked away again for various offences including the trouble and threats made to our family.

Whilst I loved our holiday last year - I always knew I was returning to no job and uncertainty - this time I am in a much better stress-free place and excited beyond comprehension!

Wow, you have been through a lot.
Planning for Disney keeps me (relatively) sane.

 

[BlueGiraffe]

Booked the first of our ADRs today, yay! Character lunch at Hollywood & Vine.

Is breakfast and dinner (on different days) at Ohana too much?

We'd planned breakfast for the kids, so they can see Lilo and Stitch. DH wants to go for dinner too. If it wasn't for Lilo and Stitch and it probably being the only chance to meet them, I'd just do dinner at Ohana and another character breakfast somewhere else (got Crystal Palace planned, and have done Tusker House).

 

[stephensmum]

I really am looking forward to planning our October trip - I lost my job last year and whilst we were still able to go on our Aug trip (redundancy + claiming over £2k from Virgin in delayed flight compensation helped) the uncertainty did worry me this was coupled with the horrific stress we had when a convicted sex offender moved in the flat upstairs and literally made our lives hell.

Planning the holiday is just as much part of the fun as the trip itself!! this build up was taken away from me last year. This year I have an extra special trip booked - 2 deluxe resorts & a Disney Cruise, I have a new job which I love and pays well, my DD just got straight A grades in her mock GCSEs and aforementioned neighbour is securely locked away again for various offences including the trouble and threats made to our family.

Whilst I loved our holiday last year - I always knew I was returning to no job and uncertainty - this time I am in a much better stress-free place and excited beyond comprehension!

Oh my goodness Zoe, what a year you've had. So glad that this year as much more to offer already. Here's to a fantastic 2014 for you & the family.

Looks like you have a fantastic holiday planned, Ive been looking at adding nights at akl on to our stay in August. Have you booked a savannah view?