Does Your Family Appreciate All The Hard Work *You* Put Into Planning?

[devotedchristian]

If it were not for my avid planning and research on disboards.com, my family of 4 (me, DH, SD17 and DS6) would not have known about Downtown Disney, any of the restaurants, being able to budget food by looking at the ACTUAL menu and everything else associated with a Disney Trip.

If we didn't have a *plan* or touring strategy, we would lose alot of precious time and money on a very expensive trip.

DH in particular takes for granted how *smoothly* how our last 2 trips to Disney went. Each time we have gone, (and we are talking 4 days), it took me MONTHS to plan *that* amount of time.

I cannot imagine planning a 7+ day trip. That would stress me out.

When we got to Orlando, I was so thankful I had done my *homework* and had a binder with everything laid out, with a Plan A and a Plan B. Because believe me, there were a couple of times Plan A did not work out and we had to rely on Plan B.

We are taking our 3rd family trip next month (again 4 days) and because we are venturing out a bit into dining at the resorts or just doing a new park...this time, DHS, now I have to learn a touring strategy for THAT Park.

I work on our trip a little bit each day. And my "binder" is slowly coming together. But DH can't understand why my head is about to explode with Disney Trip Planning.

But he will, once we arrive in Orlando and once again our trip goes smoothly and precious Disney time is not lost.

Anyone else go through this?

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I think it is always hard to understand what others do. My dh goes to work everyday. While we both try to appreciate what the other accomplishes, you never really "get it."

If your family enjoys your trips, and you enjoy planning them, you must be doing ok. Their enjoyment is the payoff. It was the goal you were shooting for, KWIM?

 

[It'sWDW4me]

My family gets soooooo tired of me constantly talking about Disney (and this is when we don't have a trip in the works ). But I think my mom is starting to come around and realizing that my obsession really does make things easier/better. When we were planning our 2008 trip, mom thought I was nuts that I wanted to talk in March about where we wanted to eat in August! I stressed how packed the restaurants got during free dining and if we didn't make ressies by mid-April, we'd be eating cheeseburgers and pizza all week. It was like pulling teeth, but we made our ADR's successfully and she remained skeptical. Until we tried to change a ressie in mid June, that is. And there was no availablity at the place she wanted to switch an ADR to (can't remember which one - CM's maybe?). None. Then she understood. We're planning a trip for this August - she just asked me last night when our booking window opens.

 

[littlbugmom]

We didn't do much planning for our first trip(5 days). I thought I had but man, was I wrong. LoL!

I found this board and started planning for our second trip and the difference was so obvious! We did 9 days and everything was so much easier because of the information I got from this board!

DH really does understand that the smoother vacations don't just happen. He knows I spend a lot of time reading and asking questions and planning everything out and we all benefit from a relatively pain free vacation.

 

[xipetotec]

If it were not for my avid planning and research on disboards.com, my family of 4 (me, DH, SD17 and DS6) would not have known about Downtown Disney, any of the restaurants, being able to budget food by looking at the ACTUAL menu and everything else associated with a Disney Trip.

If we didn't have a *plan* or touring strategy, we would lose alot of precious time and money on a very expensive trip.

DH in particular takes for granted how *smoothly* how our last 2 trips to Disney went. Each time we have gone, (and we are talking 4 days), it took me MONTHS to plan *that* amount of time.

I cannot imagine planning a 7+ day trip. That would stress me out.

When we got to Orlando, I was so thankful I had done my *homework* and had a binder with everything laid out, with a Plan A and a Plan B. Because believe me, there were a couple of times Plan A did not work out and we had to rely on Plan B.

We are taking our 3rd family trip next month (again 4 days) and because we are venturing out a bit into dining at the resorts or just doing a new park...this time, DHS, now I have to learn a touring strategy for THAT Park.

I work on our trip a little bit each day. And my "binder" is slowly coming together. But DH can't understand why my head is about to explode with Disney Trip Planning.

But he will, once we arrive in Orlando and once again our trip goes smoothly and precious Disney time is not lost.

Anyone else go through this?

I am planning for our group of TWENTY. I typically do most of the planning as I am considered the "Disney Specialist" in the family. They all love it, but aside from DW and my cousin that travels with us, I don't think they see it as more than "a vacation".

That being said, I sometimes get some kudos for all the planning work. But more often than not, I don't and that's fine. I do it cause I love it.

 

[design_mom]

DH really does understand that the smoother vacations don't just happen.

I think this is true for our family, too. My DH doesn't really "get it." He likes to tease me about my binders and spreadsheets and maps, etc. But I think he knows that my planning makes the trip less stressful on him, too.

And I enjoy the planning (part of the anticipation), so it works out for everyone.

 

[candielips]

My DH rarely acknowledges all the work that I put into our family vacations, not just to WDW. I wish he realized how much research I do, but he doesn't and that is okay. He loves WDW as much as I do, but he is not a planner at all.
Although there have been the few times when he has turned to me and said "wow, you did really good".

 

[mjkacmom]

After we went with my parents, my mom would pimp me out to her friends! Everything went SO smoothly, they loved the whole fastpass concept, and were amazed at how large the crowds had grown by 1 pm, when we were leaving the parks to go back to our resort for a swim, after we did everything we wanted to do.

 

[nmmom95]

My family takes for granted that things will go smoothly. They don't realize all the planning that goes into each trip. I don't mind, though, because I love planning trips! My parents, who have never been to WDW, tease me because I have color coded spreadsheets.

 

[BLAMBKY]

My kids and hubby have all voted ME the best planner ever!
(Shhhhhh, they know nothing of binders!)
My Hubby loved all the extra B-day attention and was blown away w/diver @ CR! I told him that I expect just as much thoughtfulness for MY Bday in a few years!
My kids enjoyed the short wait times and knowing where to go next.

Yes, they do admit it and are thankful for it....

BUT it (planning) does NOT work for Beach vacations! You must wait to check the weather. Man, my kids hated not knowing what we were going to do!

I think everyone chose WDW again, just so it would all be planned out again!

 

[zeferjen]

Do they appreciate the planning? No.

Do they appreciate the results? Yes.

 

[indimom]

Yep! I'm lucky, my DH doesn't want anything to do with the planning, he LOVES that all he has to do is follow 'the leader'!!!!
The kids have never complained either.

 

[frtchr]

My kids are too little to understand the concept of true appreciation, but my DH is awesome! He knows how much I love to plan our WDW trips, and he really does appreciate all the work that goes into making a vacation go as smoothly as possible.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

My kids and Dh teased me endlessly about planning out last trip, but they were bragging to our waiter about my laminated index cards at 50's Prime Time Cafe, lol.

Dh does appreciate my planning, but he helps me with it alot, too. Especially if I need some help making a decision, we work it out together.

 

[scrapbookmommy]

This trip will be my true test for how well the planning works. Last time we went in '96 it wasn't too enjoyable. We just showed up for one day with no planning or research in July mind you. We where hot, miserable and overwhelmed by the crowds. After doing all this research for our upcoming trips I keep thinking to myself that we must have been idiots to not plan anything before. This previous experience is one of the reasons it has taken me years to talk DH into returning. So for this trip I am planning and researching everyday and every aspect of our trip. I am really hoping to make this a fun and enjoyable trip for everyone so that we can go back again. So long story short DH doesn't pay that much attention to the planning part but for him planning what you are going to do this weekend when it's only Monday is to far off for him. He's happy with letting me plan out what I think is best and just going with the flow. I am a little dissapointed the kids aren't more interested in the planning. They give me input when I specifically ask them about things but other then that they don't pay that much attention to it either.

 

[Derby]

Well, it is only 22 month old DD and DH, but DH is very appreciative. Our most recent trip was the only one that I have really researched or planned (he had the attitude that we had both been quite a few times, let's just do what we feel like, not make ADRs, etc) and it really made a big difference compared to our first trip with DD. DH was really impressed and now tells me that I should be a Disney travel agent.

 

[PixiePlanner]

I planned & planned & planned for our trip for our trip last summer w/ the inlaws.

When I suggested having water delivered to our resort, I was told that wasn't allowed. When I was asked how I was going to carry rain ponchos, sunscreen, etc and stated I was bringing a backpack, I was told that wasn't allowed. Every question they asked, my answer was incorrect. Just because I had never been, I knew nothing. I told DH that I was done answering questions "because I am going to give the wrong answer" and he agreed.

DH appreciated all my hard work. DD & DS don't realize all that I did that is part of the magic.

FYI, they were all pretty grateful we had that water delivered! We had 5 cases delivered for the cost of 10 bottles. We went thru 10 bottles the first morning easy.

DH & I are looking forward to a return trip: just the four of us. Then, all of my planning will be appreciated.

 

[perpetualplanner]

I have always been the planner (hence the name) but the last few trips haven't been as planned out because we're much more relaxed now that the kids are older. DSis actually turned to DH at MK when they asked where next and I said "Where do you want?" rather than naming an attraction - "What have you done to my sister!!". They appreciate it but also think I'm nuts.

 

[JUJU814]

Oh my dh doesn't get it and my 18 yo thinks I'm nuts with all the planning.

I do the planning for MY sanity! LOL I want the family to have a good time, the kids to all experience everything that interests them, and to avoid the long lines, crowds and heat for my sanity and my ds's wellbeing (adhd, sensory issues etc)

They don't appreciate the planning...but well, being a mom is a thankless job sometimes! eerrrrr, most of the time.

I love the planning and for me, it's for self preservation so I'm not a raging lunatic. I am not a commando planner, just common sense, practical stuff to ensure a smooth trip.

 

[PHXscuba]

I do think of it like my "job" -- DH earns the money, it's up to me to maximize what he brings home. That means planning ahead, couponing, discounts, etc. Travel planning is a natural extension -- if I research when to go and where to stay, we can save a lot of money and get more enjoyment out of the vacation.

I get a general idea of what DH wants out of our trips and then plan around that, even if it's not exactly what I would have picked. Sometimes when I tell him we're going to wait to do something until later, he doesn't get it, and I just have to tell him to trust me. Later he gets it.

I really don't think any of us "planners" would be appreciated unless our families went on vacation without us.

PHXscuba

p.s. DH and I's first WDW trip was a last-minute 4-day trip planned with less than a week's notice (a replacement for a hurricaned-out trip). I devoured the UOG on the plane and made it work! No TS was the only big concession.