Do you commando plan and not tell your family?

[kmermaid]

I am finding that I am doing this. DH would flip if he knew how much time and effort I am putting into this trip! He is going to play tennis, which is fine. But me and 2DD aren't going to miss stuff waiting for him to get back from the court! I'm not going to tell him about all the PS either. I'll just suggest hey I think Chef Mickey's might be found tonight . The last trip I made this mistake and he was not happy before we left, this time he won't even know.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

You are one clever and patient woman, I like your style!

 

[Micca]

I am a recovering park commando I used to do intense planning and scheduling but DW gave me so much grief for it, I eventually stopped. When we started going to the parks a couple of times each year, the planning became less critical. Never a bad idea to have some PSs though

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I'd actually gotten better at not over-planning, but am losing control for my upcoming trip with my DH. He hasn't been in a few years and I want him to have a good time so that he will either want to go back soon or will be able to experience a lot in case he doesn't want to go back. Also, we're going for the first time without any kids, so we're trying to pack in a lot. We've talked about some things that we want to do, but I'm making most of the decisions about when to do what we've decided on. I love the planning, but am stressing too much about this trip.

T&B

 

[HollyJoy]

Sometimes I feel like I'm being a commando. I'm trying to cover the basics... just which parks to do on what days, and we have 2 PS's planned. Other than that, I'm going to make a list of things that will interest us, things we must see, and all the times.

 

[mickeysaver]

Well, we don't have kids. We both love Disney. I am starting to get my ducks in a row for our December 2005 trip. I am going to move heaven and Earth to go next year. I love the planning aspect. I love making itineraries. I love figuring out how to work things into our schedule that are off the regular beaten path.

I find that Gabby appreciates how smoothly our trips go too. She knows that my hard work/addiction to the Dis pays off. She certainly wouldn't do all this research. lol Maggie

 

[kilee]

After our last well planned out trip, DH was pretty much fed up. He didn't like the constant watching the clock, or the down the 1/2 hr plans. He said "we needed a break from Disney". I burned him out. That was back in March of this year.

Anyhow, I was able to score our trip at the end of the month by promising to not overplan. No over PS's (we have 3 for the whole trip). It's been hard, but I'm resisting the urge to pull out my planning folder. For the sake of our Disney vacationing future I'm gonna try our trip this way.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

That's the nice thing about going at a slow time of the year. For most restaurants priority seating can be gotten the day of without all the advanced planning. I think that I am overplanning in some respects for this trip, but as far as what we are going to be doing once inside a park, I'm planning very little. I'm also leaving the day of departure wide open so we can return to whatever park(s) we want from opening until it's time to head to the airport (2:30pm or so).

T&B

 

[Skylarr29]

I over plan and don't tell dh !!! he doesn't mind that much as I always know all the little tricks and tips and our trips run exceptionally well.This year he told me not so much planning and I actually plannned more than ever in the way of ps's and activities. I did include a 3 hour rest period in the room for naps or swimming and I left the plan open for what we actually do inside the parks. I also made a list of what we have never done in each park that way we can get them done at some point during our trip. We are going for 8 days though so we do have plenty of time for everything. And it's in sept too.

 

[CoolBreeze]

I am guilty as well, BUT...

In my defense and in the defense of all us Disney crazies, would you, OR could you, have it any other way? Seriously, how can you make a trip to WDW without planning far, far in advance? With all the attractions, dining options and shows that are available during your stay, inadequate planning could hinder a great vacation!

I hear all the time from friends and co-workers "why do you keep going to Disney?" And I just nod and laugh, but under my breathe I say to myself, "if you only knew".

Have fun all.

 

[Goofyzgurl]

I love to over plan!!! I have gotten better at it though because I know we'll be back. That's dh mantra to me whenever he sees me going overboard, "honey, we'll be back." The first trip we ever went on, I not only overplanned, but I tried to make everyone else follow it. Trying to to do all the parks in three nights and four days, just isn't a relaxing vacation. Now that we've bought dvc and go about twice a year, I'm not so bad about making everyone follow through. I still over plan, it's part of the fun for me, but I don't make everyone follow it.

 

[bigbabyblues]

DH thinks I'm overplanning this trip, but really I'm not!!

I have one PS for each day (our kids will do better this way, they are both good eaters), I know what parks on what day because of the PS, of course resort ressies, towncar, DH took care of the airline (that's the extent of his planning) and that's about it. I do have a list of what things I think we'd like to see and do, and a list of what might be scary for the boys.

DH thinks I have a minute-by-minute itinerary, boy is he going to be surprised!!!!

 

[luvsTink]

For me the planning is part of my vacation. I enjoy reading the books and posts here at the DIS. My oldest DD (16) makes fun of me, but I reminded her that she was the beneficiary of all this planning. After our last vacation I think that my children don't know that there can be lines at attractions!

My hubbie thinks I am wacky, but on the night before our cruise when we finish our dinner at Chef Mickey's just in time to go out on the observation deck and see and hear wishes I will be sure and whisper in his ear that this didn't happen by accident!

I get a lot of joy over watching my family react with glee as our well planned days unfold. I do not have a minute by minute itinerary while we are in the parks, but I do have an order of attractions. Last trip I pointed to a family, gathered in a huddle in the middle of adventurland, eyebrows furrowed, children whining, clearly baffled over where to go next. I told DH that I figure most familes spend WAY too much time doing that and my planning helps us avoid the trauma of being overwhelmed with the possibilities.

How is that for a justification for outrageous obsessive compulsive planning!

Anne

 

[DrTomorrow]

Well, I'm a DH and the Disney planner in the family, and while I admit to being an over-planner in the past, we're empty-nesters now, and go during slower times, so I leave the camo paint at home.

As for the OP - you know your DH best; is there a possibility that finding out when you're already there that dinner tonight, and tomorrow, etc. is already planner might annoy him even more?

Have a great trip!

 

[DepCor0311]

Before our first trip together, DGF teased me about being an "over-planner" and commented that she thought our trip would lack spontaneity. After the trip she commented on how smooth everything was and how much we got to see. She also liked how we always just "seemed to be where we needed to be" for a lunch or dinner PS. She learned quickly that planning is an important part of a WDW trip and now likes being involved in the planning of our Nov.- Dec. trip.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

For my family I've learned that planning is wonderful as long as I plan time every day to relax, especially during peak times.

We had one trip from you know where. We went the end of January, so very slow season, and I had everything planned out. My oldest and youngest (13 and 1yo at the time) did fine, but my two middle kids (7 and 10yo boys) were horrible. They complained about what we were doing and when we were doing it. They fought with each other and basically ruined the trip. I never wanted to return, but we'd bought APs so we could go back that next August. We did go back and I really let the kids understand my expectations, how we all have to give and take, especially with such a wide range of ages. Every afternoon I planned for us to be back at the resort to swim and relax. That was a wonderful trip and I learned that a plan is wonderful, but planning what to do every minute was terrible.

Basically, plan to be flexible became my motto.

T&B

 

[DavefanBen]

Did anybody read this thread title and think it was about not wearing underwear at WDW?

Haha, I guess I am just weird.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Now I have a dirty mind, as was just pointed out on another thread , but I haven't a clue what you are talking about...

T&B

 

[DavefanBen]

Originally posted by Tigger&Belle
Now I have a dirty mind, as was just pointed out on another thread , but I haven't a clue what you are talking about...

T&B

You've never heard of "going commando"? It's just a phrase that means not wearing underwear. Guess it's not as common a phrase as I'd thought.