Confessions of an obsessive planner... Let the countdown begin!!

Hmmm, wondering if you are pushing it trying to do Norway/Malstrom and then get back over to meet for lunch. We don't HAVE to meet for lunch if that makes it easier! We can always meet in WS after lunch??

I'm having itinerary issues right now as well. I must be crazy. :rolleyes:
 
Hi Hope!! Your Tea Party looks like it was a lot of fun!!! I just cannot believe the creativity the two of you have. Your touring plans looks great, as well. I'm not one to go into much more detail other than what day is where. I may regret that later, but it's all good for now.
 
Hmmm, wondering if you are pushing it trying to do Norway/Malstrom and then get back over to meet for lunch. We don't HAVE to meet for lunch if that makes it easier! We can always meet in WS after lunch??

I'm having itinerary issues right now as well. I must be crazy. :rolleyes:

I wondered that too- I have an hour and a GAD FP but I'm not sure. :confused3
 
Hi Hope!! Your Tea Party looks like it was a lot of fun!!! I just cannot believe the creativity the two of you have. Your touring plans looks great, as well. I'm not one to go into much more detail other than what day is where. I may regret that later, but it's all good for now.

I know, I love the planning so that's why I get obsessive! :rotfl:

For us this might be our only trip to Disney so I want to be sure we see and do as much as possible! :goodvibes
 

Hmmm, wondering if you are pushing it trying to do Norway/Malstrom and then get back over to meet for lunch. We don't HAVE to meet for lunch if that makes it easier! We can always meet in WS after lunch??

Okay, I'm going to leave this like it is because I think an hour will be plenty of time since I'm only trying to do Norway. If for some reason it's not I can always call you that day and we can meet after lunch instead of for lunch- but I really don't think that will be necessary.

I emailed you about your itinerary issues but forgot to mention that if you want to do MK Monday instead of on a party day we can move Epcot to Tuesday- I can definately make that work.
 
Okay, still not sure if I've scared half of you off with my relentless changing of plans. :eek:

Something scared my parents off because they have pretty much told me that they aren't going. :sad1: I told the kids and they were both disappointed. I was too but I'm used to it- my parents used to say they were going on vacation every year and every year found a reason not to. We went to the beach a couple of years ago and it was the first family vacation we'd ever had. I think WDW is just not high on my dad's wish list and if we were going to the beach he'd make it work. Oh well, we're going to have a magical time and the kids have plenty of time to get used to the idea of us going without Grandma and Grandpa.

Anyway, back to the touring plans. :goodvibes DHS was tough! Trying to fit in all the shows we wanted to see was so hard. I finally accepted the fact that we just couldn't do it all. Sure we might have TIME to go see every show we wanted but making that work with the SHOW TIMES was just about impossible. I finally decided that we were going to have to give up Beauty and the Beast and Studio Backlot Tour. I could do it if we didn't take a break in the afternoon but that just doesn't seem worth it- I know my family and they will want a break!

We'll have another GAD FP this day :cheer2:

Tuesday September 28- Day 4: DHS
S breakfast @ ASMu, rope drop
• Great Movie Ride
• HSM concert @ 9:30
• Star Tours (FP)
• In line for Jedi Training 10:50, in line by 10:20
• Indiana Jones (11:30 show, be in line 10-15 min early)
• CS lunch @ Backlot Express
• Muppets (check show times, can go to playground or SOA first)
• HISTK/ SOA (can do this on our way out after LMA if we need to)
• Lights, Motors, Action (1:20 show, FP)

back to resort to rest/ swim

when rested go back back to DHS
• TSM (FP)
• CS dinner @ Studio Catering Co.
• Journey Into Narnia
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid (FP)
• Magic of Disney Animation

park closes @ 7, ferry to Boardwalk to walk around/have a sweet treat (take bus to Epcot to go back to ASMu since DHS buses will probably stop running before we're done)


My evening stuff is all pretty much negotiable except for TSM. I figured we'd just walk around Pixar Place/ Mickey Avenue/ Animation Courtyard areas until park closing and fit in what we can.
 
I think it looks GREAT! you have lots of shows there and they might be "showed-out" by the end of that anyway, I wouldn't worry about trying to fit it all in. You will have a great full day there and I think they will love the stuff you have scheduled!!! I have to admit I'm slightly concerned you will be tired and not want to go back to the park, but hopefully that GAD for TSM will keep you motivated! :laughing:

and won't you have THREEEEEEEEEEE GAD's so you can just ride it 3 times in a row?!?!?! :dance3:

I finally have my itinerary worked over again...ohmygosh, WHY do I keep doing this to myself? Every time I think it can't get better, it does. :p
 
Yep, we have no interest in ToT or RnRC so that leaves 3 FP for TSM!! :cool1:

I'm not too concerned for being too wiped out- when we start to get hungry and bored it will be time to go back. Heck if we wanted to lay around until 5 we could and we'd still have time to do the important stuff and one or two extras. This is our usual vacationing style, we like to have a busy morning, followed by a break, and then heading out again for a more a more laid back evening. The only day we don't have that is MNSSHP and I think it's definately worth the exception. :thumbsup2
 
Oh my, you ladies are too much with correlating trip reports and all these plans! :goodvibes

Yesterday I read Karen's PTR, so today naptime was all set aside for yours! And luckily, both kids are napping at the same time! The stars were aligned!

I love all the plans. I'm going to just read your plans and Karen's plans and come up with my plans, since we're going at the same time. So thanks for doing the research for me! :rotfl2:

I am jealous of all the shirts. I spent a long time obsessing over designs and DH wasn't crazy about the idea of iron-ons, so he just burst my bubble. Oh well, we'll save lots of money on transfer paper! I can't wait to see pictures of your shirts though!

The movie days sound so fun, I'm going to have to do some. Question though, I assume you put something between the iron and the wax paper to make the aquariums? Or not? I know nothing about using an iron. But I do have one (*ahem* somewhere...) and DS would LOVE doing this!

Anyway, now that I'm all caught up, I can't wait to read more!
 
Love the new AK day 2 plans. I think it is a great idea for your family to split the park with so much to do!! You do not want to rush around and forget to enjoy everything. Also, with you loving photography, there is so my visually interesting you would miss a lot if you rush. That is part of what makes Disney so spectacular.

EP--45 mintues may or may not be enough in the WS countries. For some, I could easily spend and hour or two looking. If you want to take in any of the performers, that cuts into the 45 minutes. Also, there are characaters spread out among them (GB, Morocco, France, China especially) that you might run into lines and either have to skip or get behind. The detail in the countries are amazing and CM are so much fun to talk to that you might feel rushed. That is my 2 cents, so it is up to you and is best for your family!! Supposedly those Kim Possible missions can take a good hour or more just as a head's up.

DHS: I like that you are sticking to what you know is best for your family! That is what I am making sure I keep in my mind as I plan this trip too. I know with all the others who are going with us, that there are going to be some who are bored or unsatisfied but all I am considering is what is good for my family. :thumbsup2 Again, since you like photography, try to leave time for Streets of America poses and finding the Singing in the Rain umbrella. :)

Are you all early risers? Just wondering because I know you really want to make RD or shortly there after for all the days you have posted thus far. Unless you are really big Muppet fans, that is something you could trade off for B&B or Backlot. It is just ok and seems really dated. Just my opinion. ::yes::

:lmao: You have not scared me off--just really busy with school right now and I had a playdate here at my house this morning for a group of moms.
 
Oh my, you ladies are too much with correlating trip reports and all these plans! :goodvibes

Yesterday I read Karen's PTR, so today naptime was all set aside for yours! And luckily, both kids are napping at the same time! The stars were aligned!

I love all the plans. I'm going to just read your plans and Karen's plans and come up with my plans, since we're going at the same time. So thanks for doing the research for me! :rotfl2:

I am jealous of all the shirts. I spent a long time obsessing over designs and DH wasn't crazy about the idea of iron-ons, so he just burst my bubble. Oh well, we'll save lots of money on transfer paper! I can't wait to see pictures of your shirts though!

The movie days sound so fun, I'm going to have to do some. Question though, I assume you put something between the iron and the wax paper to make the aquariums? Or not? I know nothing about using an iron. But I do have one (*ahem* somewhere...) and DS would LOVE doing this!

Anyway, now that I'm all caught up, I can't wait to read more!

You have been busy! :surfweb: I'm glad my craziness isn't making people run away screaming! :rotfl:

My dh wasn't crazy about the shirts either but agreed to wear one or two 'for the kids' (ha, I've got him fooled :laughing: ). So just one family shirt and then the kids and I will have some. I haven't asked him about the tie dye yet so we'll see if he's willing to hippie it up with me. :hippie:

I actually tied putting a towel between the wax paper and the iron and the stuff just wasn't melting. Maybe a thinner cotton dish towel would work but I'm not sure. I ended up just putting the iron right on the paper and cleaned it when it cooled. The iron is no worse for the wear and it worked really well.

Love the new AK day 2 plans. I think it is a great idea for your family to split the park with so much to do!! You do not want to rush around and forget to enjoy everything. Also, with you loving photography, there is so my visually interesting you would miss a lot if you rush. That is part of what makes Disney so spectacular.

EP--45 mintues may or may not be enough in the WS countries. For some, I could easily spend and hour or two looking. If you want to take in any of the performers, that cuts into the 45 minutes. Also, there are characaters spread out among them (GB, Morocco, France, China especially) that you might run into lines and either have to skip or get behind. The detail in the countries are amazing and CM are so much fun to talk to that you might feel rushed. That is my 2 cents, so it is up to you and is best for your family!! Supposedly those Kim Possible missions can take a good hour or more just as a head's up.

DHS: I like that you are sticking to what you know is best for your family! That is what I am making sure I keep in my mind as I plan this trip too. I know with all the others who are going with us, that there are going to be some who are bored or unsatisfied but all I am considering is what is good for my family. :thumbsup2 Again, since you like photography, try to leave time for Streets of America poses and finding the Singing in the Rain umbrella. :)

Are you all early risers? Just wondering because I know you really want to make RD or shortly there after for all the days you have posted thus far. Unless you are really big Muppet fans, that is something you could trade off for B&B or Backlot. It is just ok and seems really dated. Just my opinion. ::yes::

:lmao: You have not scared me off--just really busy with school right now and I had a playdate here at my house this morning for a group of moms.

Glad to know that it was RL keeping you away and not my crazy obsessiveness. :lmao: I really appreciate all your thoughts and input! :goodvibes

You are so right about wanting to be able to take the time to get good pictures- I'd be so dissapointed if I couldn't! I just keep reminding myself that Disney wants people to be able to have a unique experience every time they come so there is NO way to see it all- and that's a good thing! :thumbsup2

I'm not sure 45 minutes is going to be enough for touring countries either but it's what I'll have if I want to see them all- I won't know until I get there if it will be more important to us to see some of them really well or all of them a little bit. I know that by myself I'd probably take my time and look at all the details. But I also know from being in Europe with dh that he just isn't as enthralled by just being and seeing as I am so we'll probably find a happy medium. :rolleyes:

Dh is an early riser, Jace and I fluctuate and Kya is not at all. :rolleyes1 I'm hoping the fact that its WDW will get the kids up and moving. This is also one of the reasons I plan to have a small surprise for them each morning- it will be like Christmas and they won't be able to wait to see what they got that day so they'll bound out of bed. That's the plan anyway. :rolleyes1

I honestly am extremely flexible when it comes time for the actual vacation. The touring plans let me see what's possible with the time we have. I won't rush them from one place to the next if we see their fave character or a line is longer than we expected. I certainly won't push them to keep going when they're tired because I KNOW how that will turn out. :sad2: It's okay if we don't get to everything on our list as long as I know that we missed out because there was something we wanted more, not because we were ill prepared. KWIM?

Oh, and The Muppets were my fave as a kid! The kids enjoy them too so that's higher on our list than BatB, which is not one of my fave Disney movies. As for Backlot we're already seeing two stunt shows and doing GMR so it seemed easy to let go. It was definately next on the list but just didn't quite make the cut. :rolleyes:
 
You haven't scared me off! I've had a tough week at work and then AI last night. Tonight I won't get home until 10pm-ish.
I'm like you - I plan in advance but then go with the flow. It's fun to plan!!!

I'm sorry your parents aren't coming. We get that from our families, too. :rolleyes:

Amanda
 
You haven't scared me off! I've had a tough week at work and then AI last night. Tonight I won't get home until 10pm-ish.
I'm like you - I plan in advance but then go with the flow. It's fun to plan!!!

I'm sorry your parents aren't coming. We get that from our families, too. :rolleyes:

Amanda

LOL! I figured people were busy with RL. :laughing:

I agree, planning is fun. In fact I just read an article that stated planning for vacation brings longer lasting happiness than the actual vacation. Of course they said planning takes about 8 weeks but they've obviously not visited the DIS. :rotfl2:
 
I'm going to just read your plans and Karen's plans and come up with my plans, since we're going at the same time. So thanks for doing the research for me!
:lmao:

I think your attitude is so healthy when it comes to this! This is what I tried to do. I have all these lists and plans, but they are just a guideline basically. I did have to remind myself a few times when we got REALLY off course (ahem...or when I was sitting there WAITING still to leave when I knew rope drop was happening as I SAT) :rolleyes: but for the most part, I could just roll with everything and let go and enjoy.

Rey completely doesn't understand this. He plans and plans at work, which route to go, what avoids an expensive toll, where the cheapest gas is, etc. and says that planning takes all the fun out of it. He wants to just go and do whatever. THAT stresses me out! If I have a solid plan and know how to go about doing things, then I don't feel so lost and confused as to where to go and what to do. That doesn't mean that if something else comes up, someone wants to do something again or get ice cream, that I freak. Ooh, I must be in ramble mode again! The girls are going to get an earful in co-op today if I stay in this mode! :laughing:
 
I haven't always be so 'healthy'. :rolleyes1

I think the more you travel, especially with your family the more you learn to go with the flow. The first time I traveled I went an hour in the wrong direction on the autoban and on another trip we didn't realize there were two towns by the same name and went to the wrong one. :confused3 After a couple of minor meltdowns that did me absolutely no good and coming home to see that they really made funny stories I figured out that plans going awry is part of the experience. ;)

Robbie doesn't have any objection to my planning but he'd think I was nuts if he knew how much time I spent doing it- just don't tell Rey and make it seem spontaneous when you walk right instead of left. :rolleyes:
 
just don't tell Rey and make it seem spontaneous when you walk right instead of left.

Heehee, yep, sometimes I would say "how about we go over here?" and made it sound like I was being totally spontaneous, when really, I had it all planned out! :thumbsup2
 
I'll be gone most of the day but I wanted to post my touring plans for MK before I go. :cheer2:

I'd like to get back to the resort for a break by about 2ish. I've put a * next to the things that we'll easily skip if it seems like we are short on time- those decisions will have to be made in the moment since there's no way to predict for everything. That's part of the beauty of things right? (That's what I tell myself when I get frustrated because I want to KNOW how long it will take.) :rolleyes1


Wednesday September 29- Day 5: Magic Kingdom
rope drop, S breakfast @ ASMu

Fantasyland
· Dumbo
· Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (FP)
· Tomorrowland Speedway
· Mad Tea Party
· Snow White’s Scary Adventures
· Cinderella’s Carrousel/ Sword in the Stone Pic
· Mickey’s Philharmagic (FP)

go across bridge to hub- could be a good time for photopass pics- then into AL


Adventureland/Frontierland
· Jungle Cruise (FP)
· Magic Carpets of Aladdin
· Pirates of the Caribbean
· CS lunch @ Pecos Bill’s
· Splash Mountain (FP)
· WDW Railroad back to MS

back to resort to relax/swim, when rested catch bus back to MK
· WDW railroad to Frontierland for Tom Sawyer Island
· Haunted Mansion
· Peter Pan (FP)
· CS dinner @ Pinocchio Village Haus
· Spectro/Wishes
· get S from MS bakery for tomorrow’s breakfast


All right, lets hear it- Are these plans realistic or am I overly ambitious about what we'll be able to accomplish? Anxiously waiting your responses. popcorn::
 












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