Oh I agree. I am not saying have everything planned to where it's no fun! What I mean is educate yourself on fastpass/babyswap/making PS's for possible meals you might want so that you don't get there and waste hours and hours of park time in lines that you don't have to!!! To me, that would be no fun!!
I don't ever plan ridemax way, like what ride and when. Just a tentative so you know the hours and such. She had no clue about any of this and if you did no research at all going at a busy time, I personally can't see that being much fun!!
Andrea
Yes, that is me. I use a phrase that my DW hates - but I like - called "planned spontaneity". What does that mean? It means you know all the in's and out's, how to use FP, the difference between slow loading and fast loading rides and which are which, how lines develop, the benefits of getting to the gates early, which shows are good to see and when, which days are better to visit DL vs. DCA, when to park hop and when not to park hop, and THEN you hit the parks. The "plan" is flexible, in that you do what you feel (spontaneous) guided by knowledge. Rather than make a decision out of ignorance and then get stuck in a one-hour line, you make decisions based on knowledge - and avoid wasted time.
Here is an example:
The spontaneous person saves the fireworks show for the last night of their trip only to find out that it is cancelled due to winds at higher elevations (a common occurance at DL - see "HydroGuy's Fireworks Rule"
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199851). So they miss this incredible show.
The "planned spontaneity" person understands that it is best to not let the fireworks be a spontaneous event saved for the final night - and sees them early in the trip. A better show to save for the last night and be spontaneous about is Fantasmic - it is rarely cancelled, and shows twice a night during busy times. So the "planned spontaneity" works in fireworks early in the trip and works in Fantasmic whenever it fits. There is still spontaneity here, but it is guided by knowledge.
Here is another one:
The spontaneous person is at DCA at 9PM at night and decides to park hop to DL. Ooops, there are massive crowds on Main Street and the hub getting ready to watch the fireworks at 9:25. So the spontaneous person wastes time in an extremely crowded situation.
The "planned spontaneity" person at 9PM at DCA says, with the fireworks making things so crowded, we should either stay at DCA until 10PM and then hop to DL after the fireworks are over, or enter DL at 9PM and hop on the
DisneyLand Railroad to take us into the park so we can bypass the massive crowds on Main Street.
Again, both options allow for spontaneity, but it is guided by knowledge of what is happening inside DL.
OK, one more:
You walk into DL and everyone says, "hey, let's ride Indiana Jones first!" Well, that is pretty spontaneous. The person using "planned spontaneity" says "Great, let's ride Indy...
after we pick up our Space Mtn FASTPASSes". This will save time on Space Mtn later in the day and put you in position to get a second FP for another ride earlier in the day.
) they should look for info. I do answer questions, but as someone else said... they get a glazed over look and some of them don't even take your advice. That is why I made the cards, they fit in my purse or wallet and I have a stash in the car so I can hand them out at will. 
I still laugh thinking about that all the time. Tell Tif I said Hi!!
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