anyone else a compulsive planner?

[AZMickeyfans]

I am such a planner as well. I spend hours on the internet, calenders and menus etc. I talk about it til everyone tells me ENOUGH! I plan the exact time we are leaving and how the car will be packed. I even plan if we are going to take the time to bring our suitcases up to the room before heading to the park. We always leave early like 3 or 4am so we get there when the park opens.

I usually print out the daily calender and take it with us so we have the times for everything. I know they give it to you there but I have copies for all the days we are on the trip plus I put notes next to the times. We've done everything multiple times but theres always something that are "must-dos" the kids have and they are different each time. We also like to mix up our menus. Dh likes to eat at the same places each time but I make notes on the menus of different restaurants and try to persuade him to eat at others.

One time we only had 1 day there. I got pretty bad about trying to get everything in DL done. I don't know why because we go at least every 6 weeks but I was on a mission!!! Anyway, Dh kept going to the bathroom (small bladder ) After he went back to mainstreet to refill the coffee for the 5th time I begged him not to do it anymore practically yelling "We dont have time for you to go to the bathroom anymore. Stop drinking!!!!" After that I realized I had to relax on the planning minute by minute. He likes to bring that up occasionally that I'm a control freak! From then on I plan the big things but not every tiny detail.

For the most part the family likes the planning. They don't have to do anything then!

 

[MATTERHORN]

One time we only had 1 day there. I got pretty bad about trying to get everything in DL done. I don't know why because we go at least every 6 weeks but I was on a mission!!! Anyway, Dh kept going to the bathroom (small bladder ) After he went back to mainstreet to refill the coffee for the 5th time I begged him not to do it anymore practically yelling "We dont have time for you to go to the bathroom anymore. Stop drinking!!!!" After that I realized I had to relax on the planning minute by minute. He likes to bring that up occasionally that I'm a control freak! From then on I plan the big things but not every tiny detail.

For the most part the family likes the planning. They don't have to do anything then!

You sound like me!! I go about 6 times a year, DH goes usually one of those times. I am used to things going my way with the kids, and we did not do well on our last trip with him! We go so much that we kinda have our own rythym going and he messed it all up. He has a different schedule at home so he's not hungry when we are, etc. I really had to make myself not care and it was HARD!! People don't believe me when I tell them my trips without him are easier.


Andrea

 

[abookworm]

My DH told me it works MUCH better when plan last minute trips (or at least less than 6 wks) so I don't have so much time to plan!

 

[disneedee]

i think most people on disboards are obsessive planners. me too.

 

[pumpkinfish]

You could easily substitute me for anyone who has posted on here. I get really into my planning as soon as I know there is a remote possibility that we may have the slightest chance of going to Disney. My DH knows not even to think about it because I can sniff it out and tell when Disney is on his mind. And then that's all she wrote! I am planning obsessive from there!

I get the same as someone who posted earlier...after my trip I am vacant from the DIS. If I try to come on here I get really sad and nostalgic...but you better believe I am full force during the planning stages.

Our recent trips to WDW have been more mellow during the planning stages. Since it is just DH (no kids) we can predict ourselves a little more. We know that no matter how much I plan we end up throwing caution into the wind and doing our own thing. I do ensure I get my dining ressies in and keep them...but everything else we kind of wake up and go, so which parks today??
This next trip we are heading to DL (next month). It will be our first trip together to DL. So of course we want to get the most out of it. We will be there for a week so I am not as stressed as I might be since there are only two parks and I know that is PLENTY of time to just take in the sights and smells of DL.
The best part of planning this first trip to DL for DH and I??? I was able to buy all new guide books! Bought the UG and OG...but I was a little disappointed at the selection available for DL...I didn't have much to choose from but I already knew most of it from here at the DIS

 

[CindyH]

I turn 40 this year and I've been planning my birthday "year" for the past 2 years.

I always plan our DL trip months ahead, if not a year. For our Nov 2007 trip, I've been planning it since April last year.

At LEAST half the fun is in planning, right?

 

[yesmylove]

Finally, people just like me. I love to plan, its so exciting. We are planning our first trip back to disneyland in 25 years. We haven't been since our honeymoon. We normally go to WDW as we live in Toronto and were planning to go there for our 25th, but with our air miles we have enough for 2- 5 day passses at Disneyland, 2-2 day passes at Universal and 2- 1 day passes at Sea World. I found a hotel that is within walking distance that not only has a breakfast buffet everyday, but it also has a full kitchen, for some meals. We only have to pay for our hotel and air fare and some meals and of course all the things I plan to buy. How could my husband refuse! I've been printing out maps, calendars, menus, requesting info by mail, and reading this web site daily. Any advise or ideas, I would love to hear it.
I can't wait to go, I don't need to win anything at the YOMD, this trip is my dream.

 

[familyoffiveAZ]

My obsession pretty much ends with which hotel to choose, and it ends up being a mostly price-driven choice because I'm cheap like that.

Regarding everything else, I prefer to say I arm myself with information. Even if we didn't have the little ones who require flexibility, we still wouldn't want to be tied down to any rigid schedule.

 

[AskTheChief]

I don't plan what rides we're going on and when, we just play that by ear. So maybe I'm not that bad...right? RIGHT?

 

[ericamanda01]

I admit it! I'm crazy when it comes to vacations! I want to know everything that's available, what's going on, and where things area. I love to pour over guide books and these websites. Seeing all the Disney info has me excited for this trip that we weren't even planning on !
I can't believe all the great info I can find here on everything from the park to motels to dining-and the pics are so helpful!
I even got some great sales at Disneyshopping.com so the kids will have shirts to wear each day at the park -I know-I'm a geek
I don't plan hour by hour or anything but I like to have a general idea for each day.
My Dh on the other hand loves spontaneity (sp?) and tolerates my compulsiveness...just barely.
Anyone else love the thrill of the hunt?

I swear you just described me! And my DH!

 

[Danauk]

I'm a compulsive planner too. I have been planning out trip for August 2008 since last October!! I have a plan of what I want to do each day, what hotels we are staying at etc. I have my Passporter pockets ready and have read several guide books for both DL, Las Vegas (even though I have been twice before - but they have built new things since my las visit!) and Hollywood. I have even decided what restaurants we will eat at on which nights!
As for the parks, I'll probably have a rough idea of the order of rides, but I might play that by ear a bit. But knowing me I will end up buying Ridemax anyway (I used TGM for our last trip to WDW over Christmas and New Year and it was brilliant!)
I guess I love to plan as these holidays cost us a fortune so I want to make the most of things whilst we are there instead of coming back and regretting missing out on something.

 

[JDietz40]

Add another compulsive planner to the list. My DW thinks I'm nuts. I make lists and go through all of the guides and web sites. A couple of years ago we decided to drive to WDW instead of flying as we usually would and I had a 3 ring binder that included lists of hotels at the areas where I expected to stop for the night, radio stations throughout the trip and speed traps on the highways that we were going to travel. DW took the binder to work so everyone else could have a good laugh. They may laugh at me but, they sure know who to call with questions on WDW and DCL. W leave for DL in 90 days for our first trip there so I have had plenty of "new" things to learn and study.

John

 

[kelmac284]

You can add me to that list Up till a few years ago we only went to DL about once a year and I have always said that I have to go AT LEAST once a year but last summer we bought an annual pass and we went 3 times in 06 and have plans for 4 times in 07!!! They are all specialized trips for different things though. We went in December but only for one day and we took my daughter to the happiest birthdays and did the holiday tour so between those two things and the crowds we hardly did ANY rides.

So my mom and I mad plans long ago to go BACK in February as the girls get a whole week off school for president's week and that way we have 4 whole days to enjoy ourselves.

I usually plan every day out and even lately with all of our trips on crowded days we even map out a plan for rides and fast passes lol but this trip in February is going to be laid back.

The ONLY thing I have planned was desert at the blue bayou. I have NO ps's and no other real plans. WE are going to actually just wing it for once!

WE are going to visit friends in Oregon in March and then back to So Cal in June.

We are actually going to San Diego first though so I am REALLY looking forward to that and I am sure as it gets closer I will obsessively plan those days too LOL. I haven't been to SD since 04 and I have never been with DH (he was deployed to Iraq when we went in 04) so we are very much looking forward to that.

And of course since we have our AP's we are going to stop at DLR and do a day at each park as well as one day at Knotts which I have not been to in over 10 years. So I am VERY much looking forward to that trip!!

Then in Oct we are going to the Halloween treat one weekend and then DH and I are going ALONE for a weekend in Dec to see CP. I can't wait!!!!

And what's even better is we are going back to DW in Nov of 08 so by Nov of 07 I will be starting to plan THAT trip. AHHH I love it!!!

I think to me going to Disney just makes me so happy and when I am NOT there I HAVE to be planning some future trip. It makes all the crappy things in life so much more bearable and it gives me something to look forward to!

Plus now that we have AP's and we started driving instead of flying it is so much more doable and I forsee us taking LOTS more short trips!!

LOOOOVE IT!!!

 

[michellelovesthemous]

Okay so we are quite a group eh? I'm so bad the minute we got back in December I had a new countdown on my computer for both the October trip to Disneyland and the November trip to WDW this year! They say to get out of the post disneytrip blues is to plan another well I'm doing both coasts this year for my DD9 who will be 10, you know double digit b-day 2 trips to disney to celebrate, or at least thats my excuse!!! I have books,notes,guides,old maps everywhere you know just in case I need to looka at something while I'm doing something else! I could have worse vices like shopping.......oh nuts I love that too!!!!!!

 

[AJA55]

Hi…my name is Amy and I am a compulsive planner. OK… I am an obsessive compulsive planner. Nice to know you all are in the same boat with me. Didn’t think I was paddling by myself.

We’re lucky enough to travel a couple times a year. We travel the end of March through the beginning of April and late September. When on vacation we pick a state out of an envelope and that is where we go the next year. Last year Louisiana and Illinois came out of the envelope. I made air and B & B ressies months ago for the spring trip. I bought books, troll web sites a few times a week, sent for info from the tourist centers and got people to copy fliers from when they visited. I take most of the info that I’ve gathered with us on vacation.

The more you know about a place the more choices you have when you visit. I’ve each day listed and what we’re going to do that day. Do we ever stick to it? Pooh no….. I have another list with other things that sound interesting.

I do this for fun….I think half the joy of travel is in the research.

Oh and we usually go somewhere locally for July 4th. Disneyland is in the west and so are we so…. That’s local isn’t it??? Airplane ressies…done…hotel ressies done….looked at and printed out menus…visit the Dis most every day done….. and doing…

Oh…second Oh… and we spend every four years during the presidential election at WDW. So in 2004 we knew we’d be back in 2008. And yes part of that is planned already.

 

[abookworm]

I think all the Washington people should have a planning party LOL-we are quite populous here

 

[HydroGuy]

Compulsive information gatherer, "yes". Compulsive planner, "no". I like to know about things, what options are available, when is the best and worst times to do certain things, etc.

For example, many of you know I am a Fastpass gatherer. I do not plan every single Fastpass pickup. I know in my head which ones are better to get at which times, and based on how we are visiting the parks on any given day I use that knowledge on the spot to decide which ones to pick up first.

Another example is the ability to ride with the Captain of the Mark Twain and steer the ship. I gathered that piece of information on Disney forums, but did not "plan" to do it at DL. Because I knew about it, when we boarded te Mark Twain I asked about it and we got to do it. See http://hydroguy.smugmug.com/gallery/934438/4/42784122

A lot of the info I gather is like this, giving us options and the ability to make informed decisions when opportunities arise. If I tried to plan out every minute of the trip I would get shouted down pretty quickly.

 

[tracer]

What cracks me up most about this thread is that THERE ARE SO MANY OF US COMPULSIVE PLANNERS on here!!!

 

[AZMickeyfans]

You sound like me!! I go about 6 times a year, DH goes usually one of those times. I am used to things going my way with the kids, and we did not do well on our last trip with him! We go so much that we kinda have our own rythym going and he messed it all up. He has a different schedule at home so he's not hungry when we are, etc. I really had to make myself not care and it was HARD!! People don't believe me when I tell them my trips without him are easier.


Andrea

I completely agree with you. While Dh loves to go to DL, we do more things when he doesn't. The kids and I have our own rythym too so I completly know what you mean. He likes to stare at the plants and landscaping. Now I think it's beautiful. Do not get me wrong and every now and then I stop and look how they sculpted that plant or tree into such shape but he stares. His favorite tree is the one at the Alice and Wonderland ride. He was looking at it and told us to wait. Dd6 asked him if he could look at the tree from the line as we were wasting TIME. It was funny. Every ride we got off last time he had to go to the bathroom. Ds3 was even rolling his eyes by the 7th time or so. When we eat lunch or dinner he takes so long the kids are jumping up and down yelling "lets go lets go!" I'm trying to not act as anxious as they are but all I can think about is getting to do the next thing!

 

[kc10family]

DCP? (Disney Compulsive Planner)
Who Me?

On our last drive home (7 hours) DH and I did an after action report so we could make our next trip better.

I am always updating things to make them better for the next trip. I read all the time to keep up with what will be going on during our next trip etc. It's wild and I love it.