Does anyone else do daily itineraries

[wirtdog]

I was just wondering if I get a little too excited about each trip to Disney, when I plan out our daily itineraries. Are there other DVC'ers out there just as obsessed as I am? Do your plans usually work out, or they more for fun?

 

[DbleTheFun]

I do them... but not extensive. Just mapping out what park we are going to visit each day, and the approximate time we plan on spending there... any "hopping" planned and our ADRs... I also will put down some favorite CS locations at every park, so we dont stand around mid day wondering where to eat at each location.

I do this for my own happiness. I am the planner in our family. Everyone tends to turn to me to tell them what we are doing, and when... so rather than spend half my vacation planning on deciding for the family on what we will do next, or where we will head in the morning, I can just let everyone know the night before, what are plans are for the following day. It allows me to sit back, relax and enjoy my holiday too!!!!

 

[backyardponder]

It's the two of us now. Other than some ADR's and maybe a tour, we normally get up in the morning and see where the wind blows us.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We have a family vacation coming up in June and July and for that we do have some ADR's and general plans. However, I found a bookmark/scrap paper in a book I'm enjoying that has my plans for my part solo/part with DH trip in September planned out for each of the 5 days. I suppose I have more of a say in what we're doing when it's just me and DH, with the others I just want to go with the flow. If the DGC want to enjoy SAB all day, each day, I'm fine with that (well, except for the fireworks, that's why I'm/we're braving the heat!).

Bobbi

 

[JimC]

Generally around EMH and ADRs. Sometimes if there is a special event we will plan around that as well.

 

[Crystal_27]

We use TGM so we are very schedule-based in terms of having our park plans laid out each day, and having our ADRs booked based on which parks we will be at each day. As to planning what we do once we get into the parks, we've developed a sort of "tried and true" method which we pretty much stick to every trip. I really enjoy the planning aspect (and, so far, the results have been well worth it), so it's a win-win for all of us.

 

[peabody58]

I used to 'try' and plan everything out to the littlest detail. Then I grew up, grew older, and realized half of the journey is the spontaneity. We still plan the major items, a few dining reservations, and a general "this is what we'd like to do" 50,000 foot plan.

 

[BlondeAlligator]

I do a spreadsheet that begins with our travel plans, includes all confirmation numbers in one place, has all of our ADRs by day/date, and all park hours. We like to let our DD choose what she'd like to do each day, and also play it by ear as we watch the weather for things like water parks & sports. Since we eat breakfast in our villa, we do counter service for lunch and usually have dinner somewhere not in a park so we aren't stuck going to a specific park on any given day. That's the extent of planning we do, and it is more fun just doing what we feel like doing rather than trying to convince my DD to got to Epcot just because we have an ADR there!

 

[bwvBound]

I absolutely do these for trips shared with friends and family. When it is just the two of us, I don't bother.

 

[DizGirl20]

Yes indeed I love to plan plan plan!

I have an excel spreadsheet that lists all of our ADRs and recommended parks from TGM (Tour Guide Mike) in one column and TP (Touring Plans) in another. Based on those recommendations I have plotted out the best park to attend for the day. I also enjoy having everything all in 1 place, on 1 piece of paper/spreadsheet. But I tend to use it as a "reference" more than anything else.

We have been known in the past to deviate from "the plan" if dining reservations make the day too stressful or if the kids just want to hang out at the pool. After reading about Bus Bingo or whatever you call it???!!! - i.e. jumping on the first bus to arrive at the bus stop - I do see the appeal of spontaneity. I think my biggest fear is not having good dining options so that is my premise for planning. Maybe next year we'll go more with the "flow"... but half the fun is in the planning!

 

[Sunshine22]

Yes. I love planning our trips. I do a one page (small type) excel spreadsheet for each day and include what times each park opens and closes as well as early or late hours, fireworks schedule, etc. I also include our ADRs and ressie #s. Finally, I list which park(s) we should try to visit each day based on expected crowd levels. I use color coding for easy reference. I consider this one of my hobbies. It works well for us. However, since we enjoy having flexibility, we only follow it about 70% of the time.

 

[meredy338]

Yes. I love planning our trips. I do a one page (small type) excel spreadsheet for each day and include what times each park opens and closes as well as early or late hours, fireworks schedule, etc. I also include our ADRs and ressie #s. Finally, I list which park(s) we should try to visit each day based on expected crowd levels. I use color coding for easy reference. I consider this one of my hobbies. It works well for us. However, since we enjoy having flexibility, we only follow it about 70% of the time.

Can you post a copy of or send me a sample of your Excel file? I am Excel challenged and usually just write out all plans in pencil. I would like a starting point for the 21st century

 

[jelliott04]

I have a spreadsheet that I use. I have EMH on there, park times etc. We use touringplans so I put his crowd calendar info on there too. We don't plan each thing we do but our selected parks for that day are on there as are our ADR's.

We go 2 - 3 times a year so doing "everything" isn't a priority. Each member of the family will pick a few things that are "must do" for them this trip and where they want to eat if they have a specific place to eat or try. I make sure to get these things in but that's it.

If I don't have a general game plan my hubby and I stand in one spot and say "what do you want to do?"
I don't know...what do you want to do
I don't care...whatever. Just pick something
I don't have anything specific...you pick...

etc
etc
etc

If I have ADR's at least we are able to move in that direction.

J

 

[rentayenta]

I make ridiculously planned out daily itineraries. Then I toss them once we get to the park.

 

[TagsMissy]

oh heck no!! I go away to enjoy myself not live by a timed schedule. Sorry not my thing but it works for others and kudos to them if it does.

 

[katmittens]

I love to plan just about everything. I like to be able to see on paper what I have planned. I keep a small notebook for each trip. I estimate costs and keep track of what we spend while on vacation. Even if we are going over budget I still keep spending I just like to know what I spend it on. I write down all of our ADR's, hotel reservations for on the road (we drive) and every other important detail. I am a planner. I get input from DD age 22 and DS age 25, DH goes with the crowd and is easy to get along with.

I think as soon as we get home from one vacation I start the planning for another one. We are leaving in 8 days and I have reservations for DH and myself for Oct for F & W and for a week in Feb to get away from the cold and hope it is warm in Fla for this February(not like this past winter). I am retired due to medical issues and it keeps me busy.

 

[takekyai]

I do a little planning, but not like I used to! Now, I just decide what park we should do on a particular day ... and then let the children guide us!

 

[dzorn]

Usually I have a spread sheet with all park hours including EMH, park planned for the day and our ADRs times with confirmation numbers.

Other than that info we play it by ear.

Denise in MI

 

[DisneySJB]

I also have a loose plan around EMH and ADRs. I don't plan what time we will get to the park. Just know which one we are going to and where dinner ressies are.

One of these trips we are going to do the QSDP so we don't have to have a schedule. My whole life is scheduled. Wish vacation could be non-scheduled time, but you can't get into many restaurants without those ADRs.

 

[RLRDA]

Yes, DH and I plan out an itinerary. It gets us in the vacation mode months before our trip which is fun. We like to have one TS each day whether it is for a late lunch or dinner so we sort of have to know where we are going to be each day in order to make the ADRs we want. We make a spread sheet and include a list of all the park hours, EMHs, our ADR times and conf #, etc. Then we print it out before we leave and it's all on one sheet. We have days built in to the vacation where we don't go into the parks so those are the days we 'wing it' so to speak.