Am I the only one who doesn't plan out thier day?

[mickeysaver]

I have the park days picked out. I have reviewed the menues for the places that we will be in or near so that I can make a few ADR's and have some counter service choices handy depending on where we are so that I know what's close by when the tummy starts to grumble. I have planned for a couple of sleep in days and a couple of up like normal days. I have worked in the things that we know we want to do, like MVMCP, Scoop's Pin Trader Talk, Wishes, Illuminations, Osborne Lights, Epcot Tree Lighting, and such. As for the whole day, piece by piece....are you kidding....heck no. I consider our plans to be well thought out, but laid back. Maggie

 

[kathyseb]

We are kind of like the OP. We always go to MGM on Monday, EPCOT on Tuesday and MK on Wednesday.

Other than that, we make no plans unless we have signed up for some type of tour. And we always go to MVMCP the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

We have have PS twice in all the numerous trips we have made and both of those were for Candlelight Procession.

We eat where and when we feel like.

Since joining DVC we no longer set the alarm. When we wake up, we get up.
But we still stay at the parks until they close.

We watch the weather and plan our shopping day on a day they are predicting rain. If they aren't predicting any, we go with the flow.

The trip we are making in November, my older sister will be with us. So our non-planning might change a little based on what she wants to do.

I was thinking that if we do not do the Segway tour when we are there in 11 days, I will see if that would be something she would want to do.

 

[rflorek]

I never plan out the day. The only thing I plan is what park we're going to. We just get to that park, and do what we feel like doing. It's a little more relaxing, and we get to see & do what we want.

Robyn

 

[sarahj]

We very rarely plan anything ahead. We are usually up early all the time, so we do tend to get to the parks at opening, but we never set an alarm clock or get a wake up call. Usually before we go to bed, we decide what park to go to the next day. If it's early opening at one park, we sometimes go to another since we assume so many people will be at the early opening. We also try to go in May or September when crowds are smaller. We don't even make restaurant plans. We decide on the go. If we can't get into one, we just try another. We always have a rental car, so frequently we will go off property to eat.

Two weeks from today we'll be at CSR for 5 days! Our third trip in 2005!

 

[Lizzybee]

I'd say we're kind of a hybrid of commando and laid back. I did the planning for Spring Break and we had planned what parks we were going to and what attractions were "must do/must see". It worked out great for us. We did use early EMH at MK and AK, but I will avoid AK on early EMH days from now on. This trip with just the kids and myself (we leave Thursday and it's a surprise shhhhh) I have more ADRs than in the past but we will use the same semi-planned approach. As crazy as it sounds, my kids aren't all that crazy about rides, they like em don't get me wrong but it's the Disney amtosphere and magic they love most and so whatever we get done we get done as long as we are in the magic, we'll be happy.

 

[CharityLynn]

Wow, we don't even do as much as some of you..lol. We don't do ADRs(We have no idea what we'll feel like eating 2 months from now) heck the only thing we have planned thid trip is what night we are going to MNSSHP.

 

[BAST]

I only plan as much as I think is necessary.

I know what rides my kids like and know when it is best to ride them - my DD5 loves Dumbo and Peter Pan, and my DD7 loves Space and Splash Mt. and the best way to ride these are ASAP in the morning. I also know what shows they like to see (and we like to see) so I can be on time for them.

I will also plan out what parks what day - avoid EMH days and it falls into place pretty quickly.

As to ADR's - I reserve several but only for restaurants that I know tend to be crowded at dinnertime - Boma, Le Cellier, etc. Otherwise, we are flexible.

I cannot imagine following a rigid plan - there is too much to see and spontaneously do at WDW.

 

[can'twait]

There is so much to do there, that unless you go for 14 days at a time - and who can afford that? - there will always be something you will miss. If you know this ahead of time and set a few goals that are reasonable, you will be OK. If you do nothing else, you have to decide beforehand what is important and concentrate on that. If winging it is important to you, then that is your "plan"!

I don't like to wander aimlessly, so I like to have some kind of plan. I have changed my ADR's twice for our upcoming October trip, but I think I'm all set now. I planned what parks we will go to in the mornings to avoid EMH's to maximize our "ride time", then made lunch ADR's if there was a restaurant I wanted to go to at that park. I built in rest time at the resort in the afternoon so we can go back out and stay out late without being wiped the next day. We have plans each night - everything from dinner shows and dinner reservations to "planning" to grab a counter service meal before SpectroMagic. Some things are flexible, like rest times and parades. The best part about planning and doing research is that I feel knowledgable. I KNOW that there is only one time we can see Spectro during our trip, so that day if we decide to go on rides instead of staking out a spot to watch it, at least we will be making a knowlegdable decision that we can live with. As far as going "commando", we have a list of MUST DO rides that we will try to do first thing in the am, but after that, we can wander until lunch or re-do the rides we liked best, or fastpass them while we eat lunch, etc.

I wish I could be more flexible, but I can't. If you go to WDW often or live close by, then you can afford to wander and see what strikes your fancy, or spend a day at the pool. If you can only afford to go once every few years, or if you are a first-timer, or going with one, you feel obligated to get the most out of your time there, considering how much $ you spent to get there and the fact that you have no idea when you might be able to come back.

One thing is for sure, you will definitely want to go back!

 

[tjevans]

Now you guys are making me feel like the oddball! I love planning and making a list of which attractions and what order to see them. That being said, I don't consider myself "commando" because I leisurely walk and take time out to "smell the roses." I have even been known to deviate from my list.

Having toured without a plan and without a plan, I'm much more relaxed with a plan. But of course, different strokes for different folks.

BTW, I'm this way with my non-WDW vacations, as well.

 

[sugermouse]

The only thing that we plan is to have fun, everything else depends on our mood when we get up. aw:

 

[daisax]

I think the number one consideration in whether you have to plan is whether you already know what you're doing. If you've been to Disney 6-10 times, of COURSE you don't need to plan. You already have the layout of the parks and the concept of distances, wait times and payoff of different attractions internalized.

For somebody going on their first trip, however, who thinks they'll start off on a leisurely clockwise stroll through the MK and do Space mountain by 1 pm... planning and research will prevent a LOT of bewilderment.

Don't underestimate what you know about Disney and how it factors into every leisurely stroll through the parks

 

[Kim In NC]

No - you're not the only one! I do make ADRs in advance but we also leave those subject to change (we do cancel if necessary in plenty of time) but we usually just make a plan as to which park we are going to and leave it at that! I can't imagine commando type touring at Disney. We have a 4 year old and love to take it nice and slow and see it all through his eyes!

 

[klofan]

Yeah, we should go when we go, Usually don't get out of the hotel by 10:30, 11, haha. But we always finish everything we wanna do.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I don't plan out my itinerary by the minute. But I do have in mind to hit the park early and hit certain things first. Though I won't be criss crossing the park to do it or anything. I also have my Adr's already done.

I also have certain principles to go by such as never hit a ride near a show that is just letting out. So though I have no touring plan per say, I have an Idea of the things we want to do the most.

 

[JRawkSteady]

Haven't read through all 4 pages, but I like to get the most out of my vacations...and for my fiancee and I that's doing all we can in the short amount of time we're there. We don't need a plan...But we sure aren't going to sleep in...that could be 2 or 3 hours that were wasted sleeping. I don't sleep much as it is, so it's not a change for me. After paying good money for this trip, I'm not going to just aimlessly walk around the parks...

I plan out shows and Priority Seating. But I don't usually sit there and plan out which rides we're riding. I suspect when we have kids, it'll be a whole different ballgame and we're going to have to do more planning to suit the kids' needs. But for now, I wake up early and spend the whole day playing in the parks, b/c that's what I'm there for: a great time