DW says "you're obsessing..." I stand accused!

[Dreamfinder2]

Headed for our first trip home (or, at least, OKW home) in less than two weeks. So I've looked like a monk, pouring over guidebooks, the web, tinkering with budgets, planning meals in the villa and in the resort restaurants, etc, ad infinitum.

So DW, who is highly amused by all this frentic activity, says, "You beat everything. I bet no one else plans and plots as obsessively as you!" She's OK with that, but still thinks I'm just a little mad.

Well, heck, I just bet I'm not alone. Let me (and HER!) hear from you! What's YOUR "rituals" before a visit home?

 

[yesdisneyfool]

The 2 weeks before start gathering all paperwork, copies, etc. on things to do - then sort by what to do and what not to do. Make sure all ressie and PS or in order.

The week before leaving start packing. Everything for the trip must be placed in a room seperate from everyday use (so that nothing gets misplaced).

Days before, recheck PS and money situation. The day before, go grocery shopping and make plans for the next day.

Hit the road and don't look back (unless you get back on the interstate heading west instead of east).

 

[yesdisneyfool]

Oh buy the way, if all this is done and we haven't left yet - well let's start planning the next trip.

 

[Mickeydad]

You are not alone! I obsess just as much as you! We joined in May 2000 (during the Disney Cruise!).

I started planning our first vacation, at OKW (this past April), last October! I put together a schedule for each day that included which parks we were to visit, our various dinner reservations, etc.

I started our countdown at 60 days (on our refrigerator chalkboard at home). My DW and DK's think I'm a disney nut. That's ok, I think I'm a disney nut too!

 

[Granny]

Shoot, I'm doing half that stuff right after I make my reservation 11 months in advance!

Right now I'm about 4 weeks away from the next trip to WDW. Keep in mind I just went there last month. I am still working almost every day on what's new, what we want to see that we missed, etc. We don't fret as much over daily itineraries as we used to because DVC allows us to wing it more (after all, we'll be back soon!).

Oh yeah...also I'm spending some time figuring out the various discounts. With American Express, DVC, AP, and Disney Club...I've got 'em all....there are a lot of overlapping discounts. So I'm trying to sort them out to see what's the best deal for any given activity or purchase. That's almost a masters thesis worth of research!!

You are accused of being obsessed, and the verdict is.....GUILTY!!

But you've got a lot of company!

 

[Pumbaa_]

Who would obsess about Disney? Not us, oh no, not the people who belong to a Disney website user group, who go to a Disney user group convention, who join a disney timeshare, is the resident expert at work, plans and obsesses about all the details...nope, don;t see a single person like that around here!

 

[EROS]

The only "planning" that we do is to book DVC at the 11-month window and secure flights. We then just get down to WDW and play it by ear. I know that many of you obsess and plan for weeks/months...............why not try to just go with the flow some trip??? . Sure, you may not get that PS,but the sun will still come up and the birds will still be singing ........

 

[Pumbaa_]

Everyone has their hobbies

 

[LUVDVC]

You sound quite sane to me.

We plan out about two years ahead, book at the 11-month window, reserve plane tickets about six months out, get PSes on the earliest date we can, and pour over guide books and Web sites for at least six months. We're leaving tomorrow. My suitcase has been packed in my bedroom corner for the past month (I guess I'll need to iron). I packed the kids over the past weekend.

I have my PassPorter all marked up, and additional notes that I've collected over the past months stuck in the pockets.

We are so ready!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[larry_poppins]

I am so Disney obsessed that Disney themeparks often play a big part in my nighttime dreams!

Larry

 

[OKWKirt]

I'm the planner in our family. Every time I still make a chart for our duration there and plan daily which parks, where to eat, etc. We hardly ever follow it though, which I learned a long time ago not to worry just go with the flow. Part of the time we let WDW set our itinerary. I bet most people didn't know how WDW does this. You walk to the bus stop and WDW brings you the bus, you take the first bus and that's where you go.