Does anyone else not like to schedule?

[LeahA]

I understand the Extra Hours are a great perk for staying onsite, but, does anyone else not like a rigid schedule?

I like to have an inkling of what I'm doing but, I feel too much stress, when I schedule every day in such detail.

I was just curious if some of you like to just wing it and do whatever works, or do you plan and schedule like crazy!

 

[TrickyFish]

I don't necessarily let EMH dictate my plans, but I also have more flexibilty as an AP holder.

We go so far as to plan what days at what parks, mostly because we go for SWW and those are set dates, and so we know when to make our PSs for. As far as what we do when we get to the park tho, its free and clear!!

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

We always decide which park we will be heading to during breakfast. I don't like planning out a complete itinerary. The only thing we do know for sure on a daily basis is where we will be eating for breakfast and some dinners.

 

[LakeAriel]

The only thing that is "set" in advance is the PS. Therefore if we have a PS at Boma at 7 that evening we will do Animal Kingdom in the afternoon for convenience, or Epcot the night we have a PS there. Other then that we wing it! Fantasyl can't be too dictated! It will lose some pixie dust!

 

[PratersloveDW]

Well, I plan and plan and plan. However, I don't make any PS generally. There are times that I may make one or two but that's it. Because, for our family, as soon as we get there, everything that we had thought about and decided, changes. Once there, we will make PS's in the morning for that day. But that's about all we do as far as making reservations.

 

[SusanDK]

We wing everything. We don't have any idea what we'll feel like doing on any given day until we've been up and had our showers. I usually have a lot of ideas of things that would be fun (many tips from these boards) that I would like to manage IF we happen to be in a certain place at a certain time.

For example, I read about eating at the Rose & Crown around time for Illuminations, so when we happened to be in the area, we snagged a table. I heard that Off Kilter was a great band, so I steered DH in that direction at the appointed time -- and he loved it!

DH is totally spontaneous and would never follow a planned schedule, but I try to steer us to some of the right places at the right times.

Susan

 

[4greatboys]

We used to just wing it but then I found how addicted actually planning out a trip was
We dont have a rigid itinerary just make a few ps and sch our park days accordingly. I like to eat at the park Im in. We dont really park hop very much. So just a few ps here and there.

 

[kimwim8]

We usually know which park we're going to for which day...and that is determined by EMH or PS's. I know DH usually has the plan of each park in his head, but I don't really want to plan that much!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

We have been five times since 2000. For the first couple of trip swe were moer into the planning. Now we are more into just "being at Disney World". We make only one PS per trip (for a character meal), just so we can be as flexible as we want to be. We always know that we will go to MK on the first day and the last day (always 4-5 park days per trip). We also know we will go to Epcot and MGM sometime in between. The only planning we may do any more is to be aware of any specific events we may want to be sure to do (parades, fireworks, Fantasmic, etc.), and be sure we are in right place at the right time.

 

[crcormier]

I didn't schedule my last trip at all, and it was great! (Granted, I was going solo, so it makes it easier as well.) Not planning anything for the upcoming trip either. Know the things I'd like to see, but no itinerary. Just see where the days take me.

 

[impsmom]

When DH and I went on our honeymoon, we had no plans. It was in July and we just went where we wanted when we wanted, no problems. It was great
This up coming trip however, we'll have 3 kids in tow. Still not much of a schedule but we do have a PS for every day there. We think we know which parks we want to do on which days but other than that we'll just play be ear and see what the kids want to do.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

MK is always the first park I visit. That's my schedule. I've never even made a PS. I prefer flying by the seat of my pants.

 

[ms.ojo]

First time I went w/ children I was SURE we would do the early mornings as they were such early risers.....well not at Disney!

Then last time I thought ok, avoid all early mornings....and of course, they were up and ready to go early!

So here's what I've done and continue to do. There are a few places we really like to eat...for each day I have a PS for lunch & dinner at diff't parks assuming EE or not. I then draft up a rough schedule including SOME early mornings and one w/ NO early mornings. (avoiding late nights as w/ young children we just couldn't stay out late and function the next day)

Then, at Disney, dh & I make the dec'n in the morning when we wake up where we are going...EE or not. I call to cancel the PS we won't be using that day...and off we go, w/ our plan....but flexible...and at least one planned meal we know we don't have to wait for each day! It's certainly worked for us! And probably makes others happy when a great restaurant opens up that day!

 

[ktglads]

I don't think that I could ever plan my day out like some people do. I prefer to go wherever and not be tied down to a specific plan and then get all worked up when that plan doesn't work just right. Besides, it never plans for double or triple riding something when the line is short or stopping to see a street performer or a character.

 

[LvsTnk]

We always decide which park we will be heading to during breakfast. I don't like planning out a complete itinerary. The only thing we do know for sure on a daily basis is where we will be eating for breakfast and some dinners.

Same here, I was freaking out because we decided on a last minute trip over Easter weekend but we were still able to get some good PS's for our main meals.

 

[worm761]

i decide which park to go to by asking DS where he wants go that day while eating breakfast. and we have been known to decide to park hop in the middle of the day. just for the fun of it! LOL

 

[Turner5]

Last year was our first trip to Disney. I planned everything to the T. I was so rigid for the first two days that I made us all miserable. Never again. We are winging it this time. We are going in 18 days!!!! Now that I know more about Disney, I think we can handle much more flexibility in our schedule!!!

Can't wait!

 

[LeahA]

Thanks for all the great responses! I'm happy I'm not the only one that likes to wing it once in awhile.

23 more days!!!!!!

 

[allisonwonderland]

for our first trip..we had one day PLANNED and the second day we didnt,,,just to see,,,,sufice to say that the second day did NOT go smoothly at all..I mean we still had a great time*cuz we were at WDW" but the first day went sooooo much better.so for us....planning is essential.But I cna understand for some its not the best,,,we are too flaky..we have to..otherwise I would wander off and end up staring at Tinnkerbell for an hour ya know?LOL

 

[cthetulips]

Things can change so rapidly at WDW. Someone could get sick, or the weather, or transportaton breaks down, or whatever. We make only one or two PS that we really want before we leave home and the rest takes care of itself when we're there. We familiarize ourselves with maps and the things we want to accomplish before we ever leave home, so when we are there, we just "wing it" towards everything falling into place. And should we miss something, we keep in mind that it is impossible to see and do everything in one visit!--then we have a reason to come back again!

We don't even decide which park we want to go to which day until the night before or the morning of. We found that too much planning just sets us up for disappointment and unfulfilled expectations. Watching the clock and worrying about being in certain places at certain times isn't fun for us!

Take it easy and let the Magic happen is our philosophy!