Can you Overplan???

[texnmickey]

I'm leaving in less than 10 days, and am starting to panic?? I don't feel like we've planned enoungh for this trip. We've never been in the summer or with children, so this trip is a whole new ball game for us. Are there any suggestions that y'all have, besided following hte Universal guides touring plans??? Can you over plan your day to much by scheduling to ride which rides when and see what shows at what times??? We have all our ADR's already so we are good there. Any advice is much appreicated.

 

[jcriket]

I think you should plan on being a bit flexible, if the line is real long get a fastpass, and move on. If the lines all seem a bit long save some of the more popular rides for an extra magic hour. It's hot in the summer don't rush it, maybe take advatage of letting you children play in the fountains around the parks. Don't get dissappointed if you plans don't work, remember your on vacation with your family, have fun.

 

[cleo]

Yes, and No. You can definitely over plan if you make a schedule you really think you're going to follow and it includes dining every day, lots of extras, etc. You can't over plan if you think of everything you'd love to do, but realize you're gonig to scrap some of it once you're there. Planning is great fun (and part of what I do for a living), but I can't tell you how many times I've seen people have the most unrealistic expectations about what they're going to do while they're at the World. Then they wonder why the rest of the family 'mutiny' by the third day.

It is only my OPINION, but I think the UG's plans are way too structured. But something like that, if taken as a 'suggestion' rather than a 'written in stone' plan, is more than enough to get the most out of your vacation.

Make your 'ideal do-it-all' plan if you must, but make reasonable plans, too. Which park, which day; a few ADR's, a realistic plan of what you can accomplish in a day (with room to 'stop and smell the roses')...then let the magic take you!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I think you should plan on being a bit flexible, if the line is real long get a fastpass, and move on. If the lines all seem a bit long save some of the more popular rides for an extra magic hour. It's hot in the summer don't rush it, maybe take advatage of letting you children play in the fountains around the parks. Don't get dissappointed if you plans don't work, remember your on vacation with your family, have fun.

This is great advice!! don't worry about over planning or under planning! i am the QUEEN of planning! (i have my trips all planned out through 2008) and yet once i get to the WORLD my plans go out the window and we just have FUN!!!!
I think i plan just to make the time go by faster until we are there

Have a fabulous time!!!

 

[MScott1851]

Yes...but I think you really have to do more planning in the summer months (as far as having a touring plan, etc.) It's a necessary evil due to the size of the crowds, you know? The important thing is be flexible and roll with the punches.

Trust me, this evil Disboard made me micromanageplan my honeymoon based on other's posts about vicious mad hordes of people in the parks, you can imagine my surprise when we got to WDW in late September and in the post-Sept 11 travel industry slump, there was NO ONE there! All my plans went out the window, and we slept in everyday!

 

[exwdwcm]

I think 'plan to be flexible' is a great motto. I never plan the order of the rides, other than knowing to hit the biggies first so we don't have to wait in long lines later. Other than that, we plan our morning park, evening park and meals. We plan even our CS meals, but we know we might change anything spur of the moment.

I know i have got so caught up in the planning and anticipation that I was let down when i got there. so don't do that! planning is fun, but be ready for change too. with just me and hubby going, not a big deal to be flexible, but I know it is harder with larger groups or kids. good luck!

 

[DonnaL]

Over the years I planned many "commando" style trips with my family always calling a mutiny by the third day!!! Then..........we purchased our DVC in 2001 and our trips suddenly changed........because we KNEW we would be back soon and if we didn't do something this time we could do it next time, so over the past few years we've become much more relaxed about our vacations and I don't overplan like I used to........and yes, I used to overplan all the time.......now I don't really plan at all unless we have intentions of having a special occasion meal or doing something like Hoopy De Doo. I never make an ADR unless it's for a specific occasion and we've managed to have some great meals spur of the moment, usually with little wait. However, we do tend to travel during less busy times and I don't know if we could manage that during busier times.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

I think i plan just to make the time go by faster until we are there

I think me too!!!

 

[sameyeyam]

I plan the following:

1. Reservations for a nice sit down meal around 8-9pm.
2. What park we will be in that day.
3. We always arrive at the park right near opening time, stop & have lunch and leave for hotel around 1pm when it starts getting crowded. We swim & rest and then come back for dinner, fireworks, a couple of rides.
4. We try to never schedule theme parks 2 days in a row, too tiring for us. We go to a waterpark or hang at the hotel & relax every other day.

We leave the rest up to fate! I used to plan down to the minute, have touring plans, etc... But we threw all that out the window and decided we are on vacaction - not on a schedule! We take time to smell the roses and as a result had a lot more fun this year than in the past.