Do you plan your days??

[Clarab]

I have now received and am reading my Disney Paris book (the one by Simon Veness) and he recommends planning your days.

Our first trip is in March and dont know weather to go with the flow or to plan, me and hubby with 3 year old twins.

So to all of you experienced Disneyer's what do you do???

Thanks

 

[aussietravellers]

Whenever we go to any Disney parks we have some sort of plan a very rough plan that isn't set in stone as things come up, lines take longer or less time than expected, a character will pop up and we will wait for a meet and greet, but we will have an idea on which park we are going to, very often this is guided by a meal or meals (tea parties) that are booked. We will usually plan on what night we will see a parade or which day we will see a show, and aim to work meal booking around those bigger things, but if something happens and we miss it, the we just sort of rework the plan. We usually try to look at park schedules ahead of time to get an idea of where and what we want to see and do.

But again nothing permanent and not to much of a full on plan, otherwise you are so caught up in sticking to the plan you may miss things and you don't want to be worried all the time about getting off plan etc, but I think a rough idea on what you want to do and see (and eat) is a good idea.

I am usually the planner, I plan the meal bookings, do the research on where we will want to eat before the trip and so I guess a large part of our day is planned around food that's sad, and then shows, particulary shows that are only on on certain days or once a day, often our meal times will be planned around what time a show or parade ends to go from there to there. We often plan rides too around quite times and busy times, like get some done in extra magic hours when it is a little quieter or do some rides right on opening before the ques get too long. We usually arrive at the park with some idea on where we are headed first up that morning, we usually have a lunch or an afternoon tea booked or dinner booked, have a plan on what shows and or parades we will see that day. But again, sometimes the plan does change, like we may make an earlier or later show etc.

 

[janjanmary]

I love to plan, and got great use of Tour Guide Mike on our trip to WDW Florida a few years back. I know it is not for everyone, but we definitely made the most , of our time without being exhausted.

For our upcoming trip I have not planned much other than the meals, but think I will make a list of a few "must sees" for each morning/afternoon. We are more into the shows than the big rides, so hopefully will fit in most of what we want to do without being too shattered.

Will be interested to see how much others on the forum plan ahead. Please share

 

[torsie24]

I tend to plan meals either on the first day (quiet season) or a few weeks ahead (busy season). During last uyears trip the lion king show was only on for two days out of our trip, so i planned what time to see that in advance, but that was as much as I planned in advance.

What we tend to do is discuss either at bed time, or over breakfast what we want to see, or do that day and then go with the flow and take those bits in.

I'd get too edgy if i had a proper timetable to stick to.

The trip i just got back from had no longer than a 5 minutes queue for anything ever, so it really didnt take any planning which was lovely, but in the summer it was 2 hours for most rides so we had to learn about timing and stuff for the bigger rides, and really take advantage of fastpass.

 

[Rachie B]

with 2 ! 3 yr olds i would be a bit more relaxed.you dont know how much you will get done,and have to slow down to their pace!

we have a loose plan eg what we would like to do / see in that day ,where we will eat etc

but we dont stick to it rigidly, else it takes away the fun IMO.
sometimes its nice just to stroll through the park, taking in all the detail,and seeing where takes your fancy lol

 

[mummyal]

I tend to plan meals (ie make reservations in advance) and also work the day around meals and parade/show or character meet n greet times. I like knowing roughly what we'll be doing on the day but at the same time, just go with the flow (I also have 2 little ones, aged 6 and 3).

 

[renabsa]

I'll be interested in the replies. We're going on our first trip next week (hubby, me, 2 year old).
I have booked meals as we have the HB+ vouchers and I found out some of the places we'd like to eat are closed due to low season. So obviosly doing some planning for those.
We're only there for a short time so am intending to have some idea of which rides/shows to definitely do. Those with scheduled timings I will have a plan of when to do but if it doesn't work out then no issue. We are going to have fun, not work watching the clock all the time

Renate

 

[cap'njack.]

We only really plan around the season shows/parades.

The rest we do as it comes really.

 

[mommy2ash]

I'll be interested in the replies. We're going on our first trip next week (hubby, me, 2 year old).
I have booked meals as we have the HB+ vouchers and I found out some of the places we'd like to eat are closed due to low season. So obviosly doing some planning for those.
We're only there for a short time so am intending to have some idea of which rides/shows to definitely do. Those with scheduled timings I will have a plan of when to do but if it doesn't work out then no issue. We are going to have fun, not work watching the clock all the time

Renate

sorry for going o/t but i am going next week too. could you please tell me what restaraunts you found out were closed. im still thinking over the half board plan

 

[mommy2ash]

my last trip i tried to plan. i made reservations but got sick so missed them all lol. and all my bits of paper ended up in the bin. my dd was only 22 months and i found it so much more fun to go with the flow rather than plan everything. i still know where i want to eat and i always keep my schedule with me (much to my familys amusement it was like my bible lol) and just work from there

 

[DLPdaft]

The first trip I took to DLRP, I didn't plan at all, we just wandered from here to there, did some rides etc. It was lovely, and made me want to return, but I missed loads and loads of stuff .

Now I plan, like Cap'n, around the things that I really want to see and do. I don't worry too much about when to eat, as we have our main meal of the day when the parks are closed anyway.

I don't have a rigid minute-by-minute plan - more 3 or 4 things each day to aim for, and fit everything else in around that.

 

[busnae]

hi sorry for hijacking! But i too am interested in the planning aspect - i have a nearly 6 and nearly 4 year old when we go in march (yippee first time ever!) how do you know about shows, parades etc.

thanks

 

[mommy2ash]

hi sorry for hijacking! But i too am interested in the planning aspect - i have a nearly 6 and nearly 4 year old when we go in march (yippee first time ever!) how do you know about shows, parades etc.

thanks

you can check out the calander section on dlrp magic.

 

[busnae]

thanks, just off there now! also is it worth buying the book above? what info does it have in

 

[mommy2ash]

thanks, just off there now! also is it worth buying the book above? what info does it have in

i havent bought it to be honest because ive have learned more than anyone needs to know about dlrp on this board

 

[Aristol]

I'm a plan addict, so I don't feel comfortable if I don't have any plan.

I'll check the show/parad/meet and greet dates and times, then print out a map of each land and number them, even draw lines from ride to ride with diff colours

Also plan the food and activity like card games or movie for the evenings

I have to be felexible though if there is a technical problem or long queue so I always have plan B,C or even D.

Don't follow me though, I'm really addicted

 

[wideeyes]

I used to plan however after going to WDW I enjoy not having to plan at DLRP, I have booked us some meals and that is it for the planing.

 

[Rachie B]

I'm a plan addict, so I don't feel comfortable if I don't have any plan.

I'll check the show/parad/meet and greet dates and times, then print out a map of each land and number them, even draw lines from ride to ride with diff colours

Also plan the food and activity like card games or movie for the evenings

I have to be felexible though if there is a technical problem or long queue so I always have plan B,C or even D.

Don't follow me though, I'm really addicted

OMG !!!

 

[Clarab]

The book is ok, but I have learnt more tips from this website

I am tring to find the calendar so can look at times of parades etc but cannot find it!! Can someone direct me please?

Thanks

 

[peajay18]

The "Brits Guide" book is good if you've never visited before, but there's not much info you can't find online.
(Even if you have to dig for it much more than you would WDW info )

I find it useful to book a few key meals in advance, know the opening times and Extra Magic Hours of the parks and decide which park we'll visit on a particular day.

For me, it's a delicate balancing act between being organised enough to relax but not turning into a Clark Griswold-style theme park commando.

You can find info on the parades/shows/meet 'n' greets times at the official DLRP site (I think it updates almost weekly)

http://news.disneylandparis.co.uk/UK/EN/Neutral/Images/ShowsAndParades.pdf