Are you an OC planner like me?

[LuluLovesDisney]

My famiy was giggling at my hard work yesterday, calling me an obsessive compulsive planner. They also said that people would probably pay for my services, lol.

We're going for 2 weeks and I printed out park hours the day they were released, printed out historical park attendance hours and EMH in order to decide which parks would be best. Then I made touring plans, typed up neatly.

At 180 days out, I called up for my ADR's, typed all my info into a spreadsheet. Over the past few months, I 've made a few little changes, but I finally printed out my final copy. I printed out the daily touring plans and my ADR sheet for my binder.

I added photocopies of our passports, annual passes, DDE card, insurance card, etc. I printed out my plane tickets (1 copy for binder, 1 for check in), limo reservation email, and my hotel reservation email (the Swan).

I also printed out my daily touring plans and cut them out and glued them onto index cards and laminated them. so I can take just one index card into the parks with me.

I am packing and I take pictures of everything I pack in case the airline loses my stuff, I have a record. I also have a spreadsheet of what I'm packing - for insurance purposes and so I know what outfits I have will match.

Are there any other obsessive compulsive planners out there?

 

[DiszyDeanette]

My husband has Excel spreadsheets of our ADRs, plans for table service lunches (we do the DDP) which parks to hit on which days, depending on activities or EMH, etc. I have to say, it's nice to have a plan. And it's not as if once we get there he doesn't go with the flow... but he does bring a paddle to stear with. No waking up and trying to figure out what to do & where to go! Considering the size of WDW, and all your options, you could waste half the day just trying to figure it all out!

 

[DeterminedOne]

You're not alone. Although, I'm not quite as compulsive as you are with photos of what's in my luggage. Good idea, though.

 

[phantom728]

Call me an OC buddy. I print the schedules, read the websites and various books and keep a daily countdown...110 days today I keep a notebook with hints/tips, even though we've been there several times. This trip we are doing the Holidays, so something new. DH and DD love my enthusiasm, but tell me that they'll stop going with me when I start planning the bathroom breaks

I'm a scrapbooker, so I already have a box full of items for my latest Disney adventures and can't wait to put them to use

 

[Nienor]

It's sooooo good to know I'm not the only crazy person who reads obsessively and makes a spreadsheet with ADR's.

 

[disneysnowflake]

I'm another planner.

I've already booked our December 2007 package.

I'm in charge of our Grand Gathering. I made packets with quotes and photos for those in our group without internet access.

I'm now getting ADR ideas together.

I talk about Disney all the time I'm sure people think I'm nuts to go through so much planning for a week that's over a year away.

That's okay. I'm happy.

 

[SnwflkCts]

Pretty obsessive here. I typed all my daily plans, adr times, not to miss shows, etc... printed it on card stock small enough to fit in my lanyard holder with my room key. My DH would just say, "What ride did you want to go to next?" and I would turn over my lanyard and tell him. I have no memory so it was handy to have it that way!

I think planning is all part of the fun!

 

[cocowum]

Another planner here. my laminator is my best friend.

 

[Torontogal]

My husband was telling me the other day that I should plan other's trips since I am really organized. I too print out hours, daily itinerary, which rides have FP, meal reservation numbers, times of shows, etc. I can tell you that we get so much out of our Disney trips because we are so organzied. People think I am nuts but it makes for a better vacation. The number one thing I would tell anyone is to be organized.
I have a folder for each trip called - "our Disney Trip - dated..."
I print out all the relevant information but day and it is great.
Since I do scrapbooking - I use the same folder information to help with my journalling. Otherwise it becomes very hard to remember what we did 5 days before.
Nice to meet fellow OC members like me!

 

[bnf2]

Yep, OC Planner- that's me! Everyone laughs at me, but I think they are jealous Our trip is in 40 days (actually 40 dayas, 23 hours and 40 minutes) and DH keeps teasing me about when I'll print out the "final plans". Hmmmm... think I'll wait a few more days to allow for just a little tweaking!!

 

[tacomaranch]

I do have a folder with all information and I did do a spreadsheet with what park, rest, and time but that is it. Other than our ADR's we will see what happens when we get there. We had planned on the twin 11 yr olds but they cancelled out so it will be just DS, DH and myself so that changes a lot of the planning. DS will like MK the best so we will just visit other parks but stick with MK.

I am try to get in fatasmic and the lights, action show. The rest is just what happens, no OC here.

 

[ely3857]

I am def' an OC planner, I dont get upset/annoyed if things dont follow my plan but I like to have a template to follow and if things do go of course the info gained here on the DIS will enable me to switch tactics asap



Jodie

 

[cindarella]

Me Too! I have two tubs filled with "Disney Stuff" for the trip, lamin. sheets for each day, etc.

 

[extremeplanner]

I'm also with the OC planner crowd......notice my DIS screen name is extremeplanner!!! : )

 

[Becky_Boop]

I am a huge planner. I have a VERY detailed itinerary. Still, everyone hates it, so I try to be flexible

 

[DBarber600]

My DH is the planner. He carries around his notecards in a small photo album he bought at the dollar store. I, of course, made fun of him but it turned out to be helpful as it was filled with tips about how long attractions were and where the best seats for shows were. We used it ALOT ... always had a good seat!

He teaches and everyone at school knows how he planned for our recent trip. They were making fun of him too, but lately, they have been coming to his room asking for advice on their trips ...

 

[phisigprincess]

I have credit card sized laminated schedules for each day that include park hours, ADRs, and which park to be at at which time of the day. And they're color coded. People think I'm nuts.... but do they complain when they have an effortless vacation?!?!! Didn't think so!!!

 

[mrludwig]

You are not alone. I am not quite as organized as you are but you gave me new ideas. I start planning a year ahead and I sometimes think I have more fun planning and organizing the trip than I do going on it. I have friends that ask me for advice for all of their trips to Disney. I am freaking out right now because I want to know when the extra magic hours for July 2007 will be psoted. I want to have these so I can plan where to dine at. I have to make our reservations in January (for the 180 days) and I want to be able to reserve a restaurant at the same park we will be at. I just know I won't be able to get this information in time to make the reservations in January.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

You are not alone. I am not quite as organized as you are but you gave me new ideas. I start planning a year ahead and I sometimes think I have more fun planning and organizing the trip than I do going on it. I have friends that ask me for advice for all of their trips to Disney. I am freaking out right now because I want to know when the extra magic hours for July 2007 will be psoted. I want to have these so I can plan where to dine at. I have to make our reservations in January (for the 180 days) and I want to be able to reserve a restaurant at the same park we will be at. I just know I won't be able to get this information in time to make the reservations in January.

My strategy was to use historical info until I got the official park hours. It turned out to be pretty close to accurate for me. I decided how many days in each park I wanted to spend and then which restaurants and which meals I wanted to try.

The hours usually come out in the first week of the month for 6 months out. In my case, August hours came out around Feb. 3 and I had to make my ADR's starting Feb. 15. In those two weeks, I reorganized, and really planned carefully because once my ADR's were made, I was resistant to change days around (although I did, twice - without a problem, thank goodness!)


D Barber 600 - I am a teacher, too and I was definitely mocked a little, but you're right, I get lots of questions for info on WDW, too!


The dollar store photo album is a fabulous idea, too!

I agree that planning is half the fun!


PhiSig Princess - How do you color code for WDW? I use color coding for all my teaching stuff - student materials are color coded by class period and my materials are color coded by grade level. I love color coding!

Thanks guys, I am glad I'm not alone!

3 more days to go!!! I leave on Wednesday!!