Does Anyone Else Do This?

[Ktharee]

My family has dubbed me the vacation Nazi. You tell me if I have a problem.

 

[Karnak]

What do you do?

What do I do? OK, you asked for it. Here's how I do it.

I have on hand: A copy of Sehlinger’s “Unofficial Guide,” and maps of each park.
Web access to: WDW Official Site, and the Steve Soares Site for show times.

1. Use the guide book to determine the best times of the year to visit. I buy an annual pass, and plan my visit so that I can use the pass for at least two visits. For example, visiting the second week of December with a new pass; and using the pass again during the last week of November or first week of December of the following year, before the pass expires. (Then repeating this schedule during subsequent years.) This saves on admission prices and usually gets me a resort room discount as well.

2. Make a chart, using the Disney web site, writing down opening times, closing times, parade and big show times (Fantasmic, IllumiNations, etc.), and AM & PM extra magic hours for each park during the days I plan to be there. I make this chart on one sheet of paper. I then determine the park most likely to have the smallest crowd for each day of the week, using my chart as well as the Info. in the Guide Book. I avoid parks with extra magic hours, and based upon the huge crowds at MVMCP in December, 07, I will avoid the party as well.

3. I make a list of all the attractions I would like to experience for each of the four parks, noting the time it takes to do the attraction (Info is in the Guide Book), as well as anticipated queue waiting time (always allowing more time than I expect the wait to actually be), adjusting for fastpass time savings when practical. (Examples from my planning chart for the Magic Kingdom: Haunted Mansion 9+21, Tiki Birds 16+14, Pirates of the Caribbean 8+27.) I also allow plenty of time to travel from location to location in the parks. (Example: Stroll from Jungle Cruise to Transit Authority:25 minutes.)

4. Using the park map I plan out a route that will take me to each attraction on my list, avoid backtracking, use fast passes only when such use will not make for long backtracking, include meal stops (one hour each), on my planned route, and allow for visiting attractions during parade times while not crossing a parade route. Where show times are needed (for the Studios and the Animal Kingdom especially), I use the Steve Soares web site.

5. The only things left to do now are to make my room reservation; and having planned where and when I’d like to eat, I make table service reservations where needed on the very first day Disney will accept meal reservations. (I have never had any problem with this at all.) I also order my ticket for the Circus at Downtown Disney, if I plan to see it during the current trip; and include any meal reservations that involve special seating such as the Christmas Processional or Fantasmic!.

NOTE: I usually spend six nights on site, arriving at about 11:00 am on the first day, and staying at my resort until I can move my luggage into my room. I plan two days at the Magic Kingdom, two at Epcot, and one day each for the Studios and the Animal Kingdom. I never park hop, and I never take a break in the afternoons. (But my days are well planned, and I’m never in a rush. Easy does it for me.) This plan gives me extra time at Epcot and the Magic Kingdom, as well as a full day at the Studios and the Animal Kingdom. The day I visit the Animal Kingdom is also an excellent evening to visit Downtown Disney.

Works for me.

 

[NMAmy]

No, I don't do anywhere near that. We make one ADR per day and I have a sheet with all the confirmation #'s and times for the whole week on it and I print out the park hours from the DIS boards before we leave.

As we leave for the day, I grab a piece of paper, write down the ADR time & confirmation # and stuff it in my pocket. Aside from that one meal, we really don't plan much and we do rides and parks in whatever order takes our fancy.

 

[Snow Shoe]

We know what park for what day, and where we're eating that night. That's our planning, short and simple. If it gets to complicated, it takes the fun out of a vaction for us.

 

[Grumpy3]

I usually make a written plan on a spread sheet at home and then memorize it; I figure if I can't remember what I want to do and when I want to do it, then it's probably not as imortant to me as I think it is.....but I do put our ADR'S in my PDA just so I have the confirmation numbers.

 

[msr709]

My family has dubbed me the vacation Nazi. You tell me if I have a problem.

OMG, I thought I was the only one called that! Nice to know I have siblings out there! LOL! (I'm also known as the Camera Nazi, but they love it when they see the pictures and videos). I make the spreadsheets and the index cards and put them in my Passporter for each day, I only take the index card I need (of course laminated). I also agree that planning is part of the trip. We hardly ever follow the plans to the letter but use them as guidance.

 

[pied1piper]

I've done it each way.(Without a plan and with a detailed list of events.) And I must admit that I'll never go again without having my handy-dandy list!

The first and most important part of the whole thing is for those of us that have kids it gives the entire family something to do while awaiting for that special day. I sat down with my two kids an entire month out and mapped out the parks for things that were MUST DO's. Then a week later we went through and marked the things that we would like to do if we had time. One thing that I might do that most don't is that I go through and see which parks have the extra hours and make sure to AVOID them on those days. They tend to be the most busy parks on those days, and my family tends to not get as much accomplished on those days.(On another side note I always avoid going to MK on Sat., Sun., Mon....these days are usually a VERY BAD idea!)

As soon as I had all of this information I sat down and figured out which direction to travel according to times of shows/attractions/character meetings. My first POT(Plan Of Attack) is to grab that first vital FP and knock out all of the rides/attractions/autographs in that area before returning to use my FP. If you plan it out right you can knock out any area in the park first thing in the morning if you work it out right.(For example in MK I FP WTP then head directly to Peter Pan>Dumbo>Carousel>Snow White>Mickey's>Tea Cups>return for FP. Also the characters start comming out in this area first so you are next to the areas as they appear.)

The thing I found out is when I have my detailed list and know which day I'm going to do what and almost in what time frame I tend to be able to take things much slower because I'm not walking around trying to figure out where to go next or what time a show might be. I know what area of the park I need to be in at what time and what I can accomplish in that given time frame. I actually have a LOT of extra time because if you do things right you tend to usually end up ahead of schedule.

However this is my biggest suggestion as many have addressed already make sure you can be flexible on your schedule, you just never know what might happen. That means even if you plan to go see let's say the Pirate's Tutorial at 12, I'd make sure to still list all of the times that it goes on....you never know if a sudden unexpected rain cloud forces you to make another time! And if you make sure to list all of the show times you can bend in your plans and figure out another POT while standing in line for a ride or while sitting down having a nice Dole Whip!(Sorry had to throw that in!)

 

[letthewookiewin]

I am currently making one like that for our December trip. I will have a master one in the planning book that I am making. I will have one that cover our entire trip in the book. (Each page in the book is in it's own plastic protector.) Then I will have smaller credit card laminated ones just for each day.
My DH says that I am crazily obsessed, but I just consider it being thorough. If I put that kind of effort into a job, I have no doubt I would be promoted.

 

[grumpalina]

Oh, i'm subbing to this thread! I LOVE this level of organization!!!!

 

[mouseaddicts]

Hi - we're MouseAddicts and we are OCD WDW planners!

Unfortunately, this affliction pretty much affects BOTH of us ...... and we're passing the gene along to the kids!

Before our trip, we make a grid on a blank sheet of paper with the dates of our trip at the top (think hand drawn calendar). After that, the column down the side list AM & PM EMH - we chart which park has EMHs that day & the corresponding open/close time.

Then there is a resort block. DH has a personal goal to stay in every Disney resort, so we usually switch during a week-long trip. In July, for instance, we will likely start our stay with 3 nights at the Poly, then we'll be at AKV for 4 nights and then to BWV for the last 3 nights. We allow the resort location to factor into our daily park/dining plans.

Next on this grid is B/L/D (snacks are NOT scheduled ) Based on the EMH schedule and resort location, when then begin to fill in where we'd like to dine for each meal of the day. With this information in hand, we are all set to call CRO at exactly 180 days out and simply write in the ADR time for each restaurant!

At the bottom of this "rough draft" is a blank block which allows us to pencil in the extras for that day ---- parades, fireworks, etc. This is also where we note things like 'Resort Change' so we remind ourselves NOT to be in the MK when we're supposed to be moving from AKV to BWV!

Once the rough draft grid is complete, I then move into Excel. Now is where we get to color-code everything! This makes me very happy!!! On our "final" spreadsheet are things like Park Opening, Transportation (to/from/method), Check-in/Check-out, Parades, Fireworks, Restaurants - Location/Ressie time, etc.

We aren't so rigid that we can't move some things around ..... but the basics are set - meals/lodging! The kids LOVE to look at this spreadsheet before, during AND after our trip!!! They give input too about what they'd like to do each day ....... It's just part of the fun for us!


I will share that we only go on one week-long trip per year, so that is the ONLY trip that we do a spreadsheet for. We are currently planning 5 Disney trips for 2008, so the quick weekends don't get this same time & attention!
We will, however, do this for our NYE trip planned this year which will likely include my parents ....... they already think we go too much, they will freak when they see just how OCD we really are!!!

 

[Verytallallguy]

What a relief...I'm amongst even more fanatical planners!
I plan, which park, which day, order of headliner rides & a target time to complete by.
Then I wait to see, when I'm there, how fast it all goes pair shaped!
For example, on our last visit;
Day 1 MGM; Early entry- Eeyore decided to pose with my daughter, scrap with my son & seduce my wife...that cost me 30mins in line for RnR but its the funniest thing on the home video!
Day 2; Wife hid my watch for the entire vacation!

 

[PamNC]

We are planners, but not quite to that extent. I do a written itinerary by day that lists the ADR's, what parks or activities we plan on doing that day, the hours of the park(s) we plan on visiting. If it's EMH mornings for a park I put an asterisk and if it's EMH evenings I put a check mark...or I'll color code it.

I don't take the itinerary with me - but I have it in the room and I consult it before we leave out. I can remember where and when we're going if I just look it over the night before or in the a.m.

That's all we do as far as planning - and we often change our minds and switch things around, even ADRs. We stick to it about 80% I'd say.

PamNC

 

[carone0318]

As others are called the vacation Nazi, I am referred to by my family (including extended) as "Tour Guide Jane."

I have a spreadsheet that has park hours (EMH hrs are color coded, based on morning and evening, so I know what's going on at each park). My spreadsheet also includes all parades and fireworks/shows schedules. I also add all ADRs to it. I do not laminate, because I am a folder. I fold my plan and it goes in my "essentials" bag - personal choice I guess .

I also bring with me a list of where all the characters are for each park and also I like to have a separate list of the shows at AK and another one for the shows at HS, so I can plan our days accordingly.

I do not schedule rides and I do not have formal plans of what we are doing other than the parks we will visit each day and our TS plans for the day. We hit our big rides using FP, but we like to fill our time with characters - hence the special list that I create. We also have to schedule in time for mini-golf (very important to ds.) The kids would rather spend their last day playing mini-golf than going to the parks to ride the rides. Go figure .

Tomorrow I will be making my last ADR for our trip, so for the most part, my spreadsheet will be complete for this trip, but don't worry - the planning never ends....

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I plan a daily itenerary the minute a trip is scheduled. In the Summer we like to go to the parks with early hours to beat the heat. I plan out the day, making sure to input reservation#'s for pre-scheduled activites. I also input must haves and must see by family member (1 or 2)

Disney is great fun but it's no longer the spontaneous place it used to be. Without reservations and pre-planning you may not get to eat where you want or book a Illumination Cruise. It all takes planning.

Of course, I and I only carry a copy, the rest just depend on me (Mom) to tell them what to do, where to do it and for how long!

 

[Kumquatmelon]

Oh, I am so with you.
We make a spread sheet with parks we go to each day, the ressies to all the restarant (all color coded for ts and cs). What park we are going to each night, and what firework show we want to go to each night. Then it is nicely lamenated, and placed on the fridge so that we won't forget it the day of the trip. Once we forgot it, and we all felt so empty.
The sad part of this is, is that I do all of this. Not my parents. They love how crazy organized their daughter is because without me they would be doing it all themselves.

 

[Tinker74]

I make a little book that consists of my printed itinerary and my clip out touring plans from the Unofficial Guide. I also keep record of my reservation nubmers for our meals and -get this- little headless drawings of my OUTFITS for every day! Yes, that's right. I plan MONTHS in advance what I'm going to wear and make little drawings of myself wearing said outfits to include in my planning book.

SO don't you dare call yoruself obsessed!

OK ..we have a winner! ...Iam in awe of your dedication.

 

[Ktharee]

OMG, I thought I was the only one called that! Nice to know I have siblings out there! LOL! (I'm also known as the Camera Nazi, but they love it when they see the pictures and videos). I make the spreadsheets and the index cards and put them in my Passporter for each day, I only take the index card I need (of course laminated). I also agree that planning is part of the trip. We hardly ever follow the plans to the letter but use them as guidance.

They laugh at and mock us, but the trips are unforgettable because of us. Stay strong sister!

 

[kmk1180]

I make a plan too, not that detailed but that's ok.
I've heard of worse. There was a famiy on a Disney Travel show.
I saw, he planned out each day to the park and what rides they will be doing in what order.
That's a bit too much for me but
whatever works for you as long as everone is having fun and it works for you.

 

[DizzDoll]

They laugh at and mock us, but the trips are unforgettable because of us. Stay strong sister!

Absotutely!!! The first thing my kids reach for when they're completed are my photo albums and scrap books - followed closely behind by the videos. They may laugh at us, they may shake their heads at us, yes - even refer to us as Vacation/Camera Nazis, but by golly SOMEone has to be in charge of THEIR memories!!!

 

[phisigprincess]

I color code the restaurants based on location. Blue for MK, Red for MGM, Orange for Epcot, Green for AK, Black for resort. I also laminate and cut them into credit card size so they fit in my zip lock with my important papers.