Can you Plan Too MUCH????

[libinatorsmom]

Ok - we are planning a May 2008 WDW trip... and I am planning and replanning - can you plan too much???? It is our 1st WDW trip... Hubby is worried I wont be excited as I know what everything will look like etc... I disagree and told him I just want to be prepared so we are not lost ducks... so do you think you can plan too much.... HECK I CANT EVEN PICK A RESORT OUT!!!!

 

[sorul82?]

Plan too much? No comprende!

 

[stitchlovestink]

I don't think you can plan too much, but I think the biggest key in planning is to be flexible. Being prepared and knowing that there is "more than one way to skin a cat." (Please no flames from the cat lovers, it is nothing personal against cats. )
Plan all you want. The more prepared you are, the more likely you have alternate choices if the original plan doesn't work or there are glitches at WDW. You will still enjoy your trip. Pix are cool, but IT IS NOT THE SAME AS BEING THERE.
Have a great trip!

 

[libinatorsmom]

Thanks... I have learned so much that I feel if I didnt know we would be LOST when we arrived... (like how to use ME & Travel to the parks etc)

Heck I have teared up watching the planning video - I am sooo excited

 

[TeddyToo]

I prefer to think of it as arming myself with knowledge. Though I suspect I could become dangerous aka obsessive. The things I have learned in my few short months of planning will (IMHO) will make our trip great as opposed to wandering aimlessly through the parks trying to figure them out. I hope you will feel the same way too. I found a great discount on the Swan here and lots of ideas on where to eat and even the P&P party dates. Too much to mention and lots and lots of answers to my newbie questions

 

[Arvandor_Ilfirin]

I love seeing what's there before I arrive! I always sneak looks at pictures or videos of new rides and locations... No, there is no such thing as 'too much planning'! It really helps, and even though my planning usually gives way to improvising once I'm there, it helps to know what you want to do and see!

Have a great trip, I know you two will have a blast!

PS- don't forget to do the happy dance once you actually get there!

 

[lynninpa]

Ok - we are planning a May 2008 WDW trip... and I am planning and replanning - can you plan too much???? It is our 1st WDW trip... Hubby is worried I wont be excited as I know what everything will look like etc... I disagree and told him I just want to be prepared so we are not lost ducks... so do you think you can plan too much.... HECK I CANT EVEN PICK A RESORT OUT!!!!

Can you plan too much? Absolutely! On our first trip, I found most of the planning simply "flew out the window" once we arrived. We now just make our TS ADRs and plan which park to start each day in. Other than that, we just chill out & relax. I know a lot of people will disagree with our "style." Yet it works great for us. We have learned time and time again that sometimes when you just kick up your heels and relax at Disney, wonderful little surprises can be found around an unexpected corner. They call it vacation for a reason! And whatever you miss the first time, it makes the perfect "excuse" to start planning your next trip-which I start doing on the plane trip back home!

 

[lynninpa]

If you know the language used in my screen name, I'll give you a cookie!

...From Dungeons & Dragons?? Do I get a cookie?!

 

[libinatorsmom]

Thats basically All I am doing... planning which park which day... the TS meals and a few other things that I know I have to get a ressie for (ie: BBB for DD) - but I still cant pick a resort... LOL.. I will probably decide as sson as I can book it and just pick it then

 

[lynninpa]

Thats basically All I am doing... planning which park which day... the TS meals and a few other things that I know I have to get a ressie for (ie: BBB for DD) - but I still cant pick a resort... LOL.. I will probably decide as sson as I can book it and just pick it then

On our last trip, my GD went to BBB-it was an incredible experience for her! As for the resorts...have you narrowed it down to Value, Moderate or Deluxe?

 

[libinatorsmom]

On our last trip, my GD went to BBB-it was an incredible experience for her! As for the resorts...have you narrowed it down to Value, Moderate or Deluxe?

Oh I know my princess will love the BBB I even thought about it...

We have narrowed it down to... GF, BC, or WL... So it will be Duluxe or 1st class.... I just cant decide

 

[djm99]

IMHO, you can. In 2004 was going to be the Disney Vacation to die for. We stayed 10 days in the Orlando (both on and off site stays). I planned everything down to the last second. I read books, set a schedule, watch countless Vacation Channel Disney shows, make Reservations, and off to Orlando we went. Then it was time to put all my hard work to the test. Most planned items were great, like my character ice cream social (too bad Disney discontinued this), our character breakfast, etc. But I read and watched so much, NOTHING was left to the imagination. NOT one ride had an element of surprise to it. I felt like I'd done it all. In some cases I found myself disappointed because of all the 'hype' of a ride or show – was below par. I just planned too much. This summer will be my first time really back to WDW for a full vacation (in 05 went to DL, in 06 went to US and one day in MK) so I'm looking forward to this vacation. A whole week onsite. I'm not reading one book, I'm not watching one Disney special, and I'm only on these boards for news and entertainment - not trying to find out which line is best to in at Tower of Terror. Now I understand why the books were vague on the ride description. They gave just enough to get you excited about something. All my opinion.

 

[dvc at last !]

You can not plan too much --

it is part of the fun !

 

[libinatorsmom]

IMHO, you can. In 2004 was going to be the Disney Vacation to die for. We stayed 10 days in the Orlando (both on and off site stays). I planned everything down to the last second. I read books, set a schedule, watch countless Vacation Channel Disney shows, make Reservations, and off to Orlando we went. Then it was time to put all my hard work to the test. Most planned items were great, like my character ice cream social (too bad Disney discontinued this), our character breakfast, etc. But I read and watched so much, NOTHING was left to the imagination. NOT one ride had an element of surprise to it. I felt like I'd done it all. In some cases I found myself disappointed because of all the 'hype' of a ride or show – was below par. I just planned too much. This summer will be my first time really back to WDW for a full vacation (in 05 went to DL, in 06 went to US and one day in MK) so I'm looking forward to this vacation. A whole week onsite. I'm not reading one book, I'm not watching one Disney special, and I'm only on these boards for news and entertainment - not trying to find out which line is best to in at Tower of Terror. Now I understand why the books were vague on the ride description. They gave just enough to get you excited about something. All my opinion.

Thank you... I appreciate it... I havent gone as far as planning rides and so on - I just have a park schuedle... I think that if it changes it changes... I am not that bad about it... I know we will have a wonderful time.. Thanks for the advice

 

[dolcezena]

Heck I have teared up watching the planning video

I did too! My DFi has decided I've officially lost it - all because I've watched the darn thing 3 times since I got it 6 days ago! And we're not going until Sept '08.....hmmm maybe he has a point.

I'm finding half the fun is figuring out what to do every day, but I also figure when we actually get there, we'll go with the flow! But, at least I'll have SOME sort of battle plan!

Have a great time!

 

[Rustysmom]

Well, as long as you don't drive yourself crazy with all the planning, I think it's ok. I drove myself nuts. We had the resort picked out, but I did so much research about what restaurants to make ADR's for that my head was spinning. I was so relieved when I finally hit the 180 day mark so I wouldn't have to think about them anymore.

 

[irisbud]

libinatorsmom, I think you are going abut your planning in a very smart way. You are giving yourself a framework to work around and, as a PP mentioned, you are "arming yourself with knowledge". Disney is simply too big to go in blindly; you will miss WAY too much if you do. On the other hand, I don't think it is a great idea to know EVERYTHING. One saying that I really like and that I think is very aplicable to Disney is "the magic loses its luster when you discover it was done with smoke and mirrors".
Let things be a surprise to you, just know what you are getting into. Know that there is something great around every corner, you just don't have to know exactly what it is.
WDW is my favorite place on earth. We just go and expect to enjoy, know where we want to eat and basically what parks we're going to vist when and leave the rest to "faith, trust and pixie dust".

You'll have a fabulous trip!

 

[punkin1763]

I am a planner - I admit it - but yes I do think you can plan too much and especially for your first WDW trip. My first trip was in 2000 - I was WDW deprived until I was 37 and I thought it would be my last trip ever - so we packed each day from sunrise to sunset and ran like our pants were on fire the whole time! It was great - we saw so much and we definitely got our moneys worth! But - it wasn't the one and only trip and every time we've been since - we have a general plan but are open to many spur of the moment changes! All I can say is - have fun and for me nothing compares to that first walk down Main Street in the MK when you see the castle! Happy dance all the way!!

 

[davidlw]

Don't feel bad about lots of planning. I am going Thanksgiving 2008 and have already got my countdown program on the bottom of my screen. We will be there in 613 days, 7 hours 59 minutes and 24, no 23 no 22 no 21 seconds. Have fun with it. I have been bunches of times and cannot wait for the next time to go.

 

[asfarrell]

I plan so much, I actually plan in my sleep. I woke up last night (this morning) 3:30 am, thinking about my ADR's times, got out of bed and wrote down the times I thought would be best (for the 100th time) to make sure we don't miss Wishes and Fantasmic. My DH thinks I have lost my mind.
I find myself thinking "WHAT AM I GOING TO DO AFTER WE GO ON OUR VACATION AND NO MORE PLANNING TO DO"