All Planned out, peaked too soon!!

[Paul_Pearce]

Hey

I love planning for trips to WDW and Florida. We live in England and its been three years since our last trip and now its only (LOL only) 11 days away. We booked via a package tour through Virgin Holidays in June 2004!!!

I spent the last 4-6 weeks researching and planning and booking ADRs etc, but now its all done! I have a lovely colour co-ordinated spreadsheet, with a page telling me the dates/times each park is open , when EMH applies, and parade times etc, and a page of suggested parks we might want to attend on what days, and details of all our ADRs, and a shortlist of counter service options that my family would prefer for each park.

I've been through it all with the rest of the family and made amendments to account for their preferences and refinements and improvement ideas they came up with.

Its all printed and protected by a plastic sleeve, man it looks great!

What do I do now? I still have 11 days to wait until we go.

What can I do now to occupy my spare time?
What can I do to stop thoughts about our trip getting in the way of my work?

My usual ploy of getting stuck into reading a fast paced or long book aren't working, I just can't concentrate on it for more than 1/2 hour. I've tried to play the Rome:Total War strategy game (which usually keeps me up into the small hours cos I can't drag myself away from it) but that doesn't work either.

I have a sneaking suspicion, some of you have already experienced this or something similar. Do you have any ideas? I need therapy.

So far, touring this and every other site for the latest news about the weather, crowds, F&W festival, EMH and a hundred other topics are about the only thing between me and meltdown.

Argggggghhh!

 

[henrylovespooh]

I feel your pain. We leave in nine days and I'm all planned out too. I've reread our itinerary, changed some ADR's (again), and read some more posts. I've pored over MNSSHP info to make sure we make the most of it.

I haven't started packing yet other than throwing incidental things (snacks I've bought, books for the plane, etc.) into a small carry on bag. I guess I can start that now.

I got so into it last weekend that I took down the wallpaper in my dining room and repainted it. A nice diversion.

 

[CharmedLife]

Oh my gosh - reading your post was like looking in a mirror. We are leaving in 3 days and I cannot concentrate on anything, even though my work is piled up and I'll be even worse off after vacation.

I almost think I'm planned-out - I have nothing left to do but surf the DIS boards looking for new threads. I have only slightly started packing and will do laundry tonight in preparation for the trip, so maybe that will take up my time at home, but how to get through two more long days of work... no idea!

I wish I could help you with an acceptable diversion - if even the computer games can't pull you out of it, I think you are without hope, my friend!

By the way - I also have a color-coded spreadsheet with all of the exact same info on it! Maybe we are twins separated at birth? I also added a few key phone numbers to mine (resort, dining, general info, etc.) And I laminated it. Scary, huh? I really need some therapy...

 

[steve_rob]

Another one here with a colour coded spreadsheet! I think I actually enjoy the planning as much as the trip itself (of course I won't be saying that while I'm there!)

As soon as I was all planned out from this trip, I started planning next year's (Disney Cruise or California Adventure?)- which considering I don't go on this year's for another 20-odd days, is a new record!

 

[decker96]

We leave in 14 days and we are all planned too (have been for over a month now). I am actually starting to freak out now because I feel like I should still be planning something even though there is nothing left to plan!! And how many times can I replan my kids' wardrobe when I don't even know for sure what the weather will be when we are there!

 

[kelleigh1]

You people are starting to scare me!

 

[Kira G.]

I am (unfortuneately) not in your situation right now, but I have been in the past, and there is only one cure . . .

Read trip reports!

Thank goodness for all the wonderful people who put the time into writing them so that I don't completely lose my mind right before we leave!

Most Disney websites have a section for trip reports if you have run out of reading material on the Dis.

Have fun in WDW for the rest of us who won't be going back for a while.

 

[Paul_Pearce]

You people are starting to scare me!

Naaaw

We're all really nice people who love WDW, who want to get the very most out of their trip for themselves and their family's, but the wait time happens to severely test their normally tolerant outlook to life!

This is because trips to WDW are REALLY IMPORTANT!

Not THE most important thing in life but definately REALLY IMPORTANT!

HEHEHE

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

My spreadsheet isn't color coded because I am too cheap to buy color ink for the printer.

But I am ALL SET! Ready to go! Planned each and every detail! The problem is we don't depart until Friday of NEXT WEEK!!!

I have no advice to offer, just thought I'd join the miserable ranks!

 

[Paul_Pearce]

My spreadsheet isn't color coded because I am too cheap to buy color ink for the printer.

But I am ALL SET! Ready to go! Planned each and every detail! The problem is we don't depart until Friday of NEXT WEEK!!!

I have no advice to offer, just thought I'd join the miserable ranks!

Cheers!

I am not alone!!!

Miserable probably doesn't describe it though, no-one should be that with what we have to look forward to. We are, I think, privelidged to have the opportunity. Millions, nay billions don't.

Oh God I have begun to pontificate. No No No No No!

Where is that glass of Chilian Merlot? (PS are they in the FandW festival?)

10 days 7 hours 11 minutes (not that I am clock watching)

 

[kelleigh1]

We're booked for January. And we know a couple of places where we "must" eat. Other than that...I think we'll pretty much have an idea of what we want to do, but I just don't have the time in my life right now to plan it to the same degree that you all do. Heck, I can't even seem to get my house cleaned to my own satisfaction these days. I've got a 3-day weekend coming up and I'm actually looking forward to being able to get some of it cleaned...and I don't even like housecleaning.

 

[Paul_Pearce]

We're booked for January. And we know a couple of places where we "must" eat. Other than that...I think we'll pretty much have an idea of what we want to do, but I just don't have the time in my life right now to plan it to the same degree that you all do. Heck, I can't even seem to get my house cleaned to my own satisfaction these days. I've got a 3-day weekend coming up and I'm actually looking forward to being able to get some of it cleaned...and I don't even like housecleaning.

I managed to keep it right out of my head until I came back from a week in the Swiss Alps at the end of July. Had the holiday blues and comforted myself by saying, "only 10 weeks to WDW". Made a few ADRs, my son is 12 on halloween, and it all snowballed from there.

Housekeeping... don't you have a magical solution? Try Harry Potter for some tips ;-)

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We shall have NO pontificating!!

So perhaps we aren't truly miserable. But the waiting is so difficult!

I will say that this week looks to be quite rainy in Orlando, so if we were there we would be rather soggy. The 15 day extended forecast (also known as "blind guessing") says the weather for our arrival day and the first half of our trip should be clear.

I also haven't packed a thing. I know what I am going to pack, I just haven't done it yet. I almost started packing on Sunday but then I would have been tripping over the luggage all week so I decided not to. As it was I tripped over the cat and wrenched my back while I was carrying laundry to the washer so I thought it best not to add additional obstacles to the path!

Remember, patience is a virtue!

 

[Irishmommyof4]

Anybody care to share their color-coded spreadsheets to those of us who are organizationally challenged? Hmmm?

 

[Paul_Pearce]

We shall have NO pontificating!!

As it was I tripped over the cat and wrenched my back while I was carrying aundry to the washer so I thought it best not to add additional obstacles to the path!

Remember, patience is a virtue!

Who is looking after the cat? We have twins sisters (tortiouseshell variants) who we are leaving in the capable hands of a friend's parents. Aren't they the only thing to look foreward to when u get home?

 

[Paul_Pearce]

Anybody care to share their color-coded spreadsheets to those of us who are organizationally challenged? Hmmm?

I would if I could post attachements!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

My mother is looking after the cats. The ancient one who never does much of anything and the naughty kitten who finds enough mischief for 20 cats! There is also a goldfish.

We had to fill out reams of paperwork to get the silly kitten, and we had to be quite clear about how often we travel and what arrangements we will have for her until we return. Now we see she is part demon and would fare just fine no matter WHAT arrangements we made for her!

Mother will come at least every other day to bring in the mail and visit the cats. I am leaving my car with her so she can use it while we are away. She prefers her own car but mine is newer and gets better gas mileage. Which is important since gas is sitting at $3 per gallon!

 

[Paul_Pearce]

Which is important since gas is sitting at $3 per gallon!

Ours are now 15 months and take on the behaviour of 10 year old lions already (i.e. still life with lots of sleep)
Re Gas prices, sorry to hear of the $3 gallon, we are paying £0.95 per litre which works out to be around $7.50 to $8 per gallon, and thats only gone up 10% this year. We love US driving!!!! (despite the ludicrously oversized and inefficient engines) Oops , more pontificating LOLOL