does anyone NOT plan??

[jswalker1981]

I am lucky enough to go to disney often, and I was wondering if there are anybody who doesn't plan every action for their day in a park. I went to MK a week ago, and my friend brought her 5yr old daughter who has never been to disney. The first thing we were going to do is go to Tom Sawyer's Island but instead, she wanted to meet Mickey. So we headed to Toontown, and got pictures with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Pooh, Eyore, and Tigger. We still got to do almost every ride, but we had to leave early. I had strep throat and a horrible cough, so by 7p.m. I was fighting for each breath. I actually hated to leave, we still had space and thunder mountain to go on, and wanted to hit HM a second time. But still, I was wondering if anyone ever goes and just let the day dictate what they do. I know there is some form of planning that goes on each day. But I know I don't diagram a whole map of the day's events two weeks prior to my trip. I am not firing against planners, because I know if you drive down here from another state or even from up in the panhandle, a trip to disney is rare and that you want to get the most out of the day as you can, so I understand why you plan, just wondering if anyone else doesn't plan.

 

[ksjayhawkfan]

Well yes and no. We are going for the first time and all I did was plan our PS and what day at what park. I started out planning every single minute, but I think that would be a horrible vacation....for us at least. So we are going to do what we can and then catch what we miss next time.

 

[disneyaddict121784]

My family and I have been to WDW about 7 times in the last 9 years, so we've done just about everything. We will be down there June 12-17 and we hardly ever plan what we are going to do each day. The last time we were down there, we went to the park of the first bus that arrived at the bus stop. This works b/c you never know what park you are going to start at. We usually park hop so we get to do whatever we want to do the most first then go back on the other days.


8 DAYS!!

 

[EthansMom]

We don't plan each and every minute. We usually go for 5-6 days. I have a plan for which park on which day for the first 4. I make PS's for lunch for each of those days and PS's for a couple dinners. Also, tend to have an idea of which part of the park we want to hit first. But otherwise, we let our plans be dictated by wait times, Fastpass availability, desires of the kids. Anything we don't hit the first time is something we might go back to on day 5 or 6. I'm definitely not a Commando, but I do like to have something of a plan.

 

[sugermouse]

We never plan. We arrive and our mood decides in which direction we head. No stress because we have no agenda except have fun.

 

[MommytoMJM]

Us, we plan very few things.....but we are there everyweekend and my daughter's sensory needs dictate a lot of what we do. She also has some standard faves at each park (Spectro at MK, Tarzan Rocks at AK, SSE at Epsot, and Stars and Motor Cars at Studios) We call it the Marjorie Touring Plan

 

[Stitch Inside]

Well yes and no. We are going for the first time and all I did was plan our PS and what day at what park.

We've done the same. But we're thinking of doing fewer PSs next time so that we'll have more flexibility.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I don't plan every minute. I do plan what park to go to on what day because I like to avoid EMH parks so we do plan to go to the opposite ones. I also make PS's and have a general idea of how we will go around the park, but everything is subject to change if something else strikes our mood. I've never used a touring plan or anything like that, but I think you have to have a general idea of things or you miss stuff you really want to do. Plans are great, but the key is be flexible.

 

[Storminator]

We plan very little, but we also travel to WDW frequently and have already done all of the must-do's. There have been many times we waltz (sometimes literally ) to the bus stop and get on the first bus that comes. It makes for a much more relaxing trip, imo.

We're doing MVMCP in December and already have arrangements for LTT and we'll also do the CP package, but other than that we'll wing it and be just fine.

 

[Disneyrsh]

"I had strep throat and a horrible cough, so by 7p.m. I was fighting for each breath. "

Please tell me you had been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours before going into the park? Strep is VERY infectious, we've actually had to take our kids to the doc in the box down there when they've come down with strep throat after being in the park a few days!

Really irresponsible of you to go to the parks and expose so many people to a really rotten illness. Let's hope you never catch typhoid...

 

[mrouch]

Well yes and no. We are going for the first time and all I did was plan our PS and what day at what park.

We go down to WDW almost every year. We meet my 2 brothers and their families there. We like to make dinner arrangements for all of us to be together since we do our own things during most of the day. Since we go so often those are the only "plans" that we make. We do what we feel like when we get up in the mornings.

 

[Danauk]

On our first trip a few years ago we didn't plan too much. We decided which parks to go to on what days but didn't stick to the plan on a few of the days. We made a few PS before hand but made several either on the day or the day before. We were lucky that it was not busy and we were able to go with the flow a lot of the time. Our next trip is at Christmas and I have planned a lot more this time, but not to the point of planning every minute of the day. This time we have booked tours and will make a PS for dinner each night. We have also planned which parks to go to on which days and have a list of a few rides and attractions we want to do in each park. I will do some research to find out which order is the best to do the rides in, but if that dosen't happen it is not the end of the world. I have also already looked into the best place to stand for parades etc. I am not going plan minute by minute as I don't want to get too dissapointed if things do not go according to plan. I guess I just want to plan more this time just to be better informed for when I am there.

 

[mello]

Both times we've gone to Disneyland, I've planned, say, to do the main park the first day, CA the 2nd, and a park-hopping day on the 3rd. I'll note if one park is open later with a parade that we want to go back for, for ex. But beyond that we just let the days happen.

I'm trying to do the same with planning for WDW, but it's so much bigger, and there's so much more to do that it's almost overwhelming! I'm feeling like I need to make dining reservations for each day, but I don't yet know where we'll be or what time we'll want to eat!

: ) melinda

 

[FanOfStitch]

I hardly ever plan for a trip to WDW. The only thing I "plan" is to make sure we get 1 day at MGM and 1 day at Typhoon Lagoon. Other than that, I play by ear. On our first trip there in 2001, I bought into DVC, so I know if I don't get to do everything, I can always come back "home" and try again.

 

[disneyfreak74]

Very little planning here. Just basically what parks on what day and a ps here and there. We know what we want to do and generally we do it. But with a 6 year old and a 2 year old sometimes they are WAY out of order!!! Sometimes across the entire park just to fend of a screaming fit for BUZZ!!!!

 

[C.Ann]

I am lucky enough to go to disney often, and I was wondering if there are anybody who doesn't plan every action for their day in a park. I went to MK a week ago, and my friend brought her 5yr old daughter who has never been to disney. The first thing we were going to do is go to Tom Sawyer's Island but instead, she wanted to meet Mickey. So we headed to Toontown, and got pictures with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Pooh, Eyore, and Tigger. We still got to do almost every ride, but we had to leave early. I had strep throat and a horrible cough, so by 7p.m. I was fighting for each breath. I actually hated to leave, we still had space and thunder mountain to go on, and wanted to hit HM a second time. But still, I was wondering if anyone ever goes and just let the day dictate what they do. I know there is some form of planning that goes on each day. But I know I don't diagram a whole map of the day's events two weeks prior to my trip. I am not firing against planners, because I know if you drive down here from another state or even from up in the panhandle, a trip to disney is rare and that you want to get the most out of the day as you can, so I understand why you plan, just wondering if anyone else doesn't plan.

------------------------------

Me.. Getting a PS for a Character Breakfast is about the extent of our planning.. When (hopefully) we go back in late Nov./early Dec. we'll do the same and also plan on MVMCP.. Other than that, it's "anything goes..." Much more relaxing that way and my granddaughter doesn't feel like she's being rushed from one thing to the next, without being able to take the time to enjoy being "in the moment", so to speak..

 

[chipmunkfan]

This is a great thread ...Does anyone use the park touring plan from the UOG? This will be my first time and I'm not sure if I should follow the attraction guide or not. I just have this picture of the rope drop in MK and everyone turning to the right going to Buzz or Space. Experienced veterans...what is your take on this?

 

[Madi100]

We have decided that for this trip we will plan a couple of meals and the Christmas party. The rest is going to be played by ear. I think if we don't have things planned we will be able to relax a little bit better.

 

[pjynx]

I've only planned a little bit. Since this will be our first trip to WDW, I don't know what schedule will work best for us, so I'm just going to plan as I get there. I've read all sorts of planning books, read posts here, etc. But it's just so overwhelming, espcially since I have a hard time "picturing" some of the attractions, how far it is from one side of the park, etc....again, since I've never been there, I'm clueless. Obviously I know that it will be hot and crowded, but other than that....nothing.

I've got PS's for 3 character meals plus a Boma PS and Ohana PS. I imagine that our PS's will help guide which park we visit that day, but since we got the park hopper option, we may jump around a bit.

There are 26 of us going and while we do have 2 big "grand gathering" events (a Wishes cruise and dinner at Ohana), we won't be spending every day together. Having said that, I do know the "schedule" that BIL/SIL have put together for themselves and we may use that as somewhat of a guide. But my biggest "plan" is to bring a couple of my books that have park and restaurant info in them, the notes I've made here reading the boards, and then each night dh and I will discuss what sounds good for the next day. I'm fairly certain that we'll spend morning and part of the afternoon at one park, go to our cabin and rest for a bit and then go to a different park in the evening.

So no, I don't plan every minute or even every day. Just bits and pieces of them ;o) I'm a bit relieved to know that I'm NOT the only one who doesn't plan everything. It's just too overwhelming when I don't know anything about the parks.

 

[jswalker1981]

"I had strep throat and a horrible cough, so by 7p.m. I was fighting for each breath. "

Please tell me you had been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours before going into the park? Strep is VERY infectious, we've actually had to take our kids to the doc in the box down there when they've come down with strep throat after being in the park a few days!

Really irresponsible of you to go to the parks and expose so many people to a really rotten illness. Let's hope you never catch typhoid...

Yea, but it was still taxing on me to be running around grabbing fastpasses.