does anyone else feel 'obsessive' about their planning?

[perpetualplanner]

WOW Motherandchild you sure have taken the plunge. Not only a first disney vacation but with 11 people. Here's what I'd do:

1. Take a deep breath
2. Remeber that not everyone can be happy all the time and hey - YOUR planning so YOU should ed be happy.
3. Start a sheet (spreadsheet or plain paper) and day by day label what park you want to start at.

After you figure out park per day you can move on the PS's you might want. It really isn't too bad when you do it ONE STEP AT A TIME. ALSO make sure that the families split up - you don't all have to eat at the same places or go to the same parks every day it'll make you crazy if you do. I have some spreadsheets I've used in the past and some others have given me I can send you if you let me know your e-mail you can PM me.

 

[FloridaCat]

Here is a tip for lunch that has worked for us over the years. Go to Disney's web page, pull up the convenience restuarants.
Print them and make it part of your planner book.
Lets say MK is the park of the day follow the above, and it is lunch time. Stake out a table, any one, you do not have to buy food there to sit there. Part guard the table and part goes and gets what they want. Chicken, pizza hot dog, whatever each one wants. Then the other half goes and does the same thing.
With a party that large, make sure there are some with Cell phones or walkie talkies. Bound to get seperated if the crowds are large.

 

[dznyntnh]

I don't just get obsessive planning my trip, I get obsessive helping other people plan theirs.

I'm in the middle of planning my first solo trip in October (got all my PS last week), helping my Mom plan her December trip (just got her an upgrade to WL with a great rate) and offering advice to various friends who are in different stages of planning.

Is it any wonder that I am studting to get my degree in Travel and Tourism.

 

[BarbaraMB]

I love all the planning. I believe that anticipation is part of the whole experience. I sometimes get alittle worried that with putting so much into this vacation that if something goes wrong I am not sure if I will be able to handle the disappointment. Has anyone else felt that? I have to keep telling myself that life happens.

 

[kimmy8796]

I am obsessed with the Disney boards. I look at pics, menus, and posts every day... I've been planning my Disney honeymoon for two years!!! I am so excited it's only a little while away. (Aug 13, 2003).. I too help others with their planning!!! But, hey, this is what makes me happy... Planning to go to Disney and then planning what to do there...

 

[FloridaCat]

It is the experience in its entirity that make the event worthwhile. The one mistake I have witnessed is the time factor. I have had to re-educate my 2 DD in this area. Return home with we did not get to do everything. Great, then you have a reason to plan another trip.

First step is to have the accomadations planned and confirmed. Second, take each theme park you intend to visit one at a time. Study it until your familure with all rides, shows and events.

Make a list of everything you want to do and see and start puttng it into a priority list. It's best if you work a Disney park plan in a clockwise motion from the entrance. Once we are in the gate, we find a place to sit and go over the plan. Also decide where the meeting place will be if someone becomes lost.

You have to factor at least two hors down time. For lines, transportation and just sitting down and getting your breath.

My Motto, a bad day on vacation is better then a good day at work.

 

[PLibster]

I just got back last Wednesday and I am already on the boards trying to plan another trip!! I just don't think one time a year is going to be enough for me anymore. I love to plan our trips. Now I just feel lost. I know that I will get over it in a few weeks when it's time for Back To School, but what am I going to do before then,LOL! Oh, I am soooo hooked! I need Disney!! It's good to know that others feel the same way. I love these boards. I don't know what I ever did without them! Actually, I think its because of these boards, I am soooo obsessed, .

 

[JLS]

My husband thinks I am a nut and he actually emailed his co-workers copies of my computer itinerary for our trip. It became a joke at his office! So I guess I am a laughingstock..... Oh well. Its nice to hear that others feel the same way as I do, which is that anticipation and planning is definitely half of the fun. I just like imaginging the trip and what we will do. It always gives me something to look forward to. We actually bought DVC when we were there in May, so when we left to come home on that trip, I wasn't really sad because I know now that I have an "excuse" to go back at least once a year!

 

[laurabelle]

In a word - YES!!!
Hubby sees me every night pouring over our (my) Itinerary and asking what I'm doing with it this time?!?! I tell him not to worry - he doesn't want to hear about it anyway- but he can thank me later.
motherandchild: Have you read the Unofficial Guide to WDW? Great touring tips!

 

[FloridaCat]

I have made a habit over the years to go over my plans, what worked, what didn't
I make a journal of what was the most fun, best places to eat or bad.
I make a book of every little detail I can remember, good and bad, and all is filed away.
When you plan the next WDW, or any trip, trip dig it out and you will be surprised what you remembered and forgot.

 

[Sleepy]

I have not had a vacation in almost 2 years. A co-worker of mine just graduated high school and her family just came back from a 10 day stay. All day she has been telling me about their trip and all day I have been telling her how they could have saved money and used time more wisely, etc. I must have sounded like a travel agent . I was so jealous. I was finally starting to not obsess over Disney planning since it will be a while before we can go again, but her trip makes me want to go NOW.

 

[Wyndale]

Well, so far...I've changed my resort, then upgraded view, then dropped air, then changed resort again, then canceled trip all together, and today made reservations again.

But all I really care about, Is....I'm going to Disney World!

Ain't life grand?

 

[annamonte]

I would love to see a sample of some itineraries... I want to make one myself. But, am not sure how time-specific to make it. I want to put enough cushion time in for breaks or crowds or whatever might mess up an itinerary.

Any suggestions would be great! It's our first "real" trip as a family and I want it to be perfect!

Thanks!

 

[bonnie w]

I can relate to the obsessive planning. I am on the computer just about every night researching everything & this is our 5th trip. You would think I would get tired of all the planning but to me it's part of the excitement of the trip.

 

[Minnie1156]

I have been reading the web since Dec. when I found out I was going. I still don't think I am ready. My DH has an itinerary all mapped out the my DD(16) and DS(21) are complaining that it is too structured. I just want to make sure I see it All.

Can't Wait to Go!!!

 

[FloridaCat]

Minnie1156:
God Bless and have the time of your life

 

[Minnie1156]

Thank you FloridaCat

 

[MJames41]

Originally posted by annamonte
I would love to see a sample of some itineraries... I want to make one myself. But, am not sure how time-specific to make it. I want to put enough cushion time in for breaks or crowds or whatever might mess up an itinerary.

Any suggestions would be great! It's our first "real" trip as a family and I want it to be perfect!

Thanks!

Mine are broken down in 15 minute increments. But the most important thing to remember about it, is that it never lasts longer than 5 minutes after we arrive. Literally. It is only a very basic guide - gets us to the different parks.

Also, depending on when you are going will depend on how big the crowd is. Use Fastpass whenever possible. If you can, avoid lines where ever possible (I hate lines).

The biggest thing that can mess up an itinerary is me - if I try to follow it too closely.

 

[EEyorelover22]

In addition to my spreadsheet, I had 3x5 notecards (one for each park) of all the things my DD wanted to see and do. I would have forgotten several things if I didn't have them to look at. There is so much to see and do, you have to have a plan, but we were willing to alter the plan because of rain and moved stuff around and we did everything that we wanted to do....at least for that trip. Now, we all want to go back!!

 

[EEyorelover22]

forgot to mention...I am glad I was obsessive about learning the ins and outs of the transportation system so that when plans did change, I knew what we had to do to get to where we were going.