Does anyone plan on paper anymore?

[HopperFan]

Totally a visual person and sadly addicted to paper.

I have a color coded "calendar" on computer I can adjust right down to day I leave. It was my original MDE to keep up with everything. I still make one and keep it folded in my bag. Any changes are just done in regular pen ink.

 

[ariane37]

In the past I've been fine with a notebook but did most of my planning in my head or on the computer but this time around I cannot wrap my head around anything but a big wall size planning grid. I hung papers for each day and I have ADRs and events on sticky notes to move around.

I don't know if it is just me or if other people are very visual and plan this way? Curious!

I do nothing on the computer. I use my computer for emails, facebook, and to come here Anything and everything I can do on paper, I do! I might use your sticky note idea next time, though

I have our itinerary on my iPhone, but I also use an old school method that has never failed me. I have an index card for each day with our ADR's, FP+, and any specific 'to do' items for each park. There have been times when issues arise with phones, so the index cards are my plan B.

I might use your index card idea for our next trip too!

 

[scrapquitler]

In the past I've been fine with a notebook but did most of my planning in my head or on the computer but this time around I cannot wrap my head around anything but a big wall size planning grid. I hung papers for each day and I have ADRs and events on sticky notes to move around.

I don't know if it is just me or if other people are very visual and plan this way? Curious!

I have all my plans on MDE on my phone AND in a notebook.
It's probably just me...I don't use the calendar on my phone at all, and I have my paper planner next to me ALL the time. I just can't get organized without writing the list by hand.

 

[Planogirl]

I love my notebooks! I always keep everything in them and then I can go back and relive everything after we get back.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Basic excel spreadsheet for planning. Once ADR's are finalized, I put them on a small index card along with park hours and EMH's. I also have the ADR's in the tripit program on my phone but sometimes I don't want to mess with pulling out the phone and looking it up.

The index card is in my passporter pouch around my neck so no digging for that.

 

[ShayBells]

I do paper and computer. I write notes and ideas throughout the day than I'll screenshot things on my phone I find on here than go through my photos and write down notes than organize it than finally I'll type everything up to print out.

ETA: and if we go outside disney. I like paper too. My desk at work is covered with sticky notes. It's my version of a "to-do" list. Than when I'm done with an item instead of crossing it off I just throw away the sticky. It works well for me. (And back to disney I have a lot of stickys with random thoughts and packing items lol)

 

[clayfolks]

The only way I could wrap my head around the planning for our October trip was by doing what, I imagine, the OP did. I used an extra large post-it for each day and used smaller colored post-its for the daily events, restaurant choices, etc. I will put it all together on one piece of paper for all our guests, once make our ADRs.

 

[senadler]

I do everything in excel. Since I change plans a ridiculous amount of times before finalizing the trip, excel works better for me. Before we finalized where we were staying for our October trip, I had different spreadsheet for each resort choice since we often adjust ADRs based on our location. I can only imagine what all that would look like in a notebook, it would be a mess.

We decided on BCV, and I am finally down to one spreadsheet. Still making changes on a few ADR choices until 180 days though.

 

[jmkjr72]

Yep I still do all my plans on paper

 

[BigMommaMouse]

I do the very same, large roll of paper across the wall. I use a lot of Josh's (over at easy) recommendations so that's writen in one color. TouringPlans I write in a different color. Adr's different color ect. I eventually go to a colorful notebook page and finally index cards.

I love seeing how everyone plans, what great ideas.

 

[scrhsa]

I do all mine in paper. My brain just accepts it better when I can physically write it down. I even color code in different pens I retain info better that way. I may use a printed off calendar....but I print off lots of copies cuz I rewrite on them all the time. The only thing I really have printed is my packing list...of course done in a Disney font

 

[baldy6060]

Oh I make notes everywhere. Notebook, iPhone, scrap pieces of paper, junk mail envelopes, etc. Whatever is near. A lot of it ends up looking like gibberish. If I died and someone wanted to try to figure out my planning secrets they couldn't. How do I know? Because whenever I find my old notes from previous trips I can't even figure out what my scribbles & scratches mean. Paper & pen are still my friends.

 

[emilik]

Paper and pen all the way here! I type everything up at the end for convenience, and I color code. Last trip I printed out each days schedule and notes on index cards, laminated them, hole punched each at the corner and put them on a small carabinier clip attached to my bag for easy visual reference. Best idea ever, it was the smoothest, most stress-free trip.

 

[River Country]

I love the DIS cause we are all alike and different at the same time
I print the touringplans.com crowd calendar sheet for each day. It contains all show times for every park, park hours, and any special events, and EMH. It also gives you the projected crowd level for each park that day. I highlight the park or parks I want to go to that day and I write in my ADR's on that sheet. I then make a master spreadsheet on excel and that goes in my wife's WDW master folder that holds our AP's, MB's, TiW, DVC, and airline tickets, and car rental confirm.

 

[DISNEYD14]

I have our itinerary on my iPhone, but I also use an old school method that has never failed me. I have an index card for each day with our ADR's, FP+, and any specific 'to do' items for each park. There have been times when issues arise with phones, so the index cards are my plan B.

**This is similar to what we do** I have 2-3 versions of daily itineraries with me. Electronic/Paper/Index Card
My app didn't always work in the parks, so I'm glad I had my paper copies

 

[dmband]

I start off with paper and make a big grid. Once we finalized our plans as to when we are going where, I put it into my phone and the MDE app.

Basically what I do too.

I have found since fp+ I need to do tons more planning of course and that trips are not as fun because of it though

 

[nilla]

Carried this into the parks last year:





"A paperless office is as useful as a paperless bathroom." - Anonymous

 

[DISNEYD14]

Basically what I do too.

I have found since fp+ I need to do tons more planning of course and that trips are not as fun because of it though

Everyone is different because after all these years I thought FP+ made our trips more relaxing and spur of the moment fun.
We stay for 10+ days so having our 3 must haves prior allowed us to sleep in more, more pool time, less rushing IMO
I always picked our FP+ back to back hours to allow that flexibility the 2nd half of the day.
Even when we got our FP+ for MSEP and Wishes, we had dinner at BOG prior, didn't know what to do with 3rd FP so prior to dinner we booked M&G with A&E. My DD was thrilled. She wore her Belle dress to meet the beast but met her other two fav princesses prior to dinner all dressed up.

 

[spacefly67]

I have our itinerary on my iPhone, but I also use an old school method that has never failed me. I have an index card for each day with our ADR's, FP+, and any specific 'to do' items for each park. There have been times when issues arise with phones, so the index cards are my plan B.

I also do a separate index card for each day with park hours, parade times, adr times and #s, FP times etc. I also put hints and tips that i learned on the back of the card because in all the excitement, i always forget things I wanted to do. I laminate each card and take it to the park with us each day! I find it easier to take out the card and look than have to rely on the phone and apps and calendars and park wifi.

 

[Crystal824]

Every year I do an excel spreadsheet. It's one page with every day listed with an excel "block" for every hour. Then I color code everything from ADR's, Counter Service meals, Fast Pass times, parades, fireworks, etc. I used to carry a copy with me to the parks, but now I just save this file on my phone to view. Works pretty good and it's easy to see everything at a glance and move things around during the planning stages.

We do this.