Final Preparations...What to let go and what to remember

[PirateD]

Well, it's here. The final few days of our countdown that started oh so long ago. Now there are only 3 days left and my list to do still seems incredibly long. I had promised myself that I would not be stressed this final week and would have everything done well in advance. We do have a lot done--matching T-shirts made, autograph books created, travel journal pages designed, little arrival gift bags already shipped to family members in Florida to bring to the resort, and of course FP+ and ADRs set and ready. It's been so much fun, but now it's time to go and no thank you cards for CMs are made, Mousekeeping tip envelopes not printed, spreadsheet with show times unfinished--I haven't even printed Easy WDW cheat sheets. So now I find myself prioritizing. I'm thinking we'll just bring envelopes and some of our Disney stickers and maybe handwrite some thank you's, not worry about printed copies of planning guides and just go with looking up info on our phones, etc. I don't have a problem with letting some of these things go, but do start to worry that I might forget something important. I should mention that we usually don't go to this extent on all of our trips. I have made a little bit of an extra effort on this one because it is extra special to us, and well, because it's fun and I enjoy it.

Just wondering if others find themselves in the same situation in the rush right before you leave. What do you end up letting go or what's the one piece of Dis advice or important item that you try to remember as you make your final preparations?

Still can't believe how lucky we are to be going! We are so excited!

 

[LinderInWonderland]

For me, it's be flexible. We had a lot of the things you mentioned, but most everything was left at the room and what really got used were the Mousekeeping envelopes. In the parks, we used our MDE exclusively for planning and boy, was that handy since it was unseasonably rainy on our last trip. Despite being trapped in Innoventions for hours one day and the ABC commissary another day, we still had the best time!

 

[mshanson3121]

Well, it's here. The final few days of our countdown that started oh so long ago. Now there are only 3 days left and my list to do still seems incredibly long. I had promised myself that I would not be stressed this final week and would have everything done well in advance. We do have a lot done--matching T-shirts made, autograph books created, travel journal pages designed, little arrival gift bags already shipped to family members in Florida to bring to the resort, and of course FP+ and ADRs set and ready. It's been so much fun, but now it's time to go and no thank you cards for CMs are made, Mousekeeping tip envelopes not printed, spreadsheet with show times unfinished--I haven't even printed Easy WDW cheat sheets. So now I find myself prioritizing. I'm thinking we'll just bring envelopes and some of our Disney stickers and maybe handwrite some thank you's, not worry about printed copies of planning guides and just go with looking up info on our phones, etc. I don't have a problem with letting some of these things go, but do start to worry that I might forget something important. I should mention that we usually don't go to this extent on all of our trips. I have made a little bit of an extra effort on this one because it is extra special to us, and well, because it's fun and I enjoy it.

Just wondering if others find themselves in the same situation in the rush right before you leave. What do you end up letting go or what's the one piece of Dis advice or important item that you try to remember as you make your final preparations?

Still can't believe how lucky we are to be going! We are so excited!

I was sitting there reading this thinking, um... wow. Yeah, I didn't do any of that, save for buying autograph books. So... my advise would be to let it all go, because I really don't see any of it being important to having a good vacation, lol. The only thing I think I would do is print your cheat sheets. And then, start packing! And prepare yourself that even your best plans will very likely go awry, and that that's okay

 

[PirateD]

I was sitting there reading this thinking, um... wow. Yeah, I didn't do any of that, save for buying autograph books. So... my advise would be to let it all go, because I really don't see any of it being important to having a good vacation, lol. The only thing I think I would do is print your cheat sheets. And then, start packing! And prepare yourself that even your best plans will very likely go awry, and that that's okay

Yeah, I'm sure you are right! I'm actually more laid back than I probably sound, but I do tend to always plan big (whether it's a family event or a project at school) and then find that I need to scale back a little. It always tends to work out great so I'm sure this will too. And I always enjoy the process. There's just too little time to do it all! I think this post is my reality check, lol! And a way to get that last minute advice! Thank you for yours and @LinderInWonderland!

 

[LinderInWonderland]

Have a fantastic time! I will be there in 5 months, so I make fantasy itineraries when I am bored. I know it will all go differently when we're there, but it's fun to daydream.

 

[bc7ate9]

You really don't need thank you cards and mousekeeping envelopes...or, really, any of the things you listed. It's fun to plan and nice to keep busy, but none of that stuff is worth worrying about.

 

[kj2mom]

Not sure how you are traveling, or how long, but could you do some of the things in transit? I know it is not the same as using a printer but you could decorate envelopes or write thank you notes while on the plane/train/car ride. Depending on cell signal/wifi you could research then hand write touring plans or type them out as notes on your phone while you are traveling. It could really help pass the time!

Have a great trip!

 

[ksueboo]

Don't stress! All of us on the boards are planners to some extent or I would guess we wouldn't even be on the boards! Just make sure you have your phone charger, that is what I usually forget.
Have fun!

 

[gap2368]

Well, it's here. The final few days of our countdown that started oh so long ago. Now there are only 3 days left and my list to do still seems incredibly long. I had promised myself that I would not be stressed this final week and would have everything done well in advance. We do have a lot done--matching T-shirts made, autograph books created, travel journal pages designed, little arrival gift bags already shipped to family members in Florida to bring to the resort, and of course FP+ and ADRs set and ready. It's been so much fun, but now it's time to go and no thank you cards for CMs are made, Mousekeeping tip envelopes not printed, spreadsheet with show times unfinished--I haven't even printed Easy WDW cheat sheets. So now I find myself prioritizing. I'm thinking we'll just bring envelopes and some of our Disney stickers and maybe handwrite some thank you's, not worry about printed copies of planning guides and just go with looking up info on our phones, etc. I don't have a problem with letting some of these things go, but do start to worry that I might forget something important. I should mention that we usually don't go to this extent on all of our trips. I have made a little bit of an extra effort on this one because it is extra special to us, and well, because it's fun and I enjoy it.

Just wondering if others find themselves in the same situation in the rush right before you leave. What do you end up letting go or what's the one piece of Dis advice or important item that you try to remember as you make your final preparations?

Still can't believe how lucky we are to be going! We are so excited!

wow most of this I never do and I will be living in 2 days for my 8 trip since April ( I only live 4 hours a way)

I do not follow any of the WDW cheat sheets as I go so often I know what I like and when things get busy I will not go and the fact that I go so often its not like I will not be back if this is your first and only trip or you only go once ever year or so then I think that having once will help ( just know you will not see and do every thing and even if it says this is happing at this time it dose not always I have even seen parades start a little early to beat the rain)

thank you notes for CM I would go with out if a CM goes way beyond what they should have done then a thank you so much for doing ___ to that CM and a stop at GS where you can write a not to there manager ( or if you can find there manager and tell them) I think this dose more for them

I have never tired housekeepers but I think a nice thank you note with a tip ( and remember there could be a different one every day) would do.

and one last thing you are going to disney if you forget something then there are a lot of stores near by and there are taxi now disney dose not like there guest to leave the disney bubble and will do a lot to keep you there including giving you things for free ( I got a 60 earphones for free but I would not count on this)

I have about 39 hours until I leave and I have not even packed one thing so happy packing and have a great time.

 

[siskaren]

I was sitting there reading this thinking, um... wow. Yeah, I didn't do any of that, save for buying autograph books. So... my advise would be to let it all go, because I really don't see any of it being important to having a good vacation, lol.

This. All the stuff you've done is extras that won't do anything to make your trip go more smoothly. One thing that would is printing out the cheat sheets, and that's something you haven't even done yet.

 

[Accident]

also mde can go down (and it was all of yesterday). Have some copy of your ADR and fastpasses so you don't have to try to remember them if needed.

 

[gap2368]

also mde can go down (and it was all of yesterday). Have some copy of your ADR and fastpasses so you don't have to try to remember them if needed.

This happens to me I could not get the app to work I went to GR and they printed me a copy of my plans

 

[bumbershoot]

no thank you cards for CMs are made, Mousekeeping tip envelopes not printed, spreadsheet with show times unfinished--I haven't even printed Easy WDW cheat sheets.

OK none of those things are necessary.

it's fun and I enjoy it.

OK, but if it's causing you stress right now, none of those things are necessary.

I have never tired housekeepers but I think a nice thank you note with a tip ( and remember there could be a different one every day) would do.

The biggest thing with housekeeping is that you are either tipping on day 2 for what was done on day 1 (which could mean that you're tipping a person who wasn't there day 1) or you're pretipping for that day's service. A note for them is the same. Saying "more shampoo please" is fine (though I just hide the current shampoo if I want more and it seems to work) but thanking them for the previous day could easliy be inappropriate.

We use a slip of paper, write "for Housekeeping" on it (they don't call themselves Mousekeeping), and put the tip right there in an obvious place.

As for thank you notes, why? The gold standard of thanking a cast member is to get yourself to Guest Services, stand in line, and have them write up a thank you. That goes into the CM's file and causes nice things to happen for them. It's much more official than a note. So even if you're going to hand them a note, you're also going to want to go turn in that kudos officially.

This happens to me I could not get the app to work I went to GR and they printed me a copy of my plans

Sometimes it ALL goes down, though. Accident has it right; you want that list of ADRs etc.

 

[sachilles]

Relax, have fun. Enjoy whatever company you have on the vacation. You can't control crowds, weather or rain. The worst day on vacation is better than the best day at work. Best of all, get some quality sleep leading up to your departure, because you probably will sleep poorly the night before you leave....and I know we walked about 10+ a day on our last vacation, and that is with a 6 year old.

 

[siskaren]

OK none of those things are necessary.

The easyWDW cheat sheets may not be necessary, but are at least helpful. The rest I would agree with.

 

[rainboots]

I totally get you OP! I have a box already packed and we have 45 days to go! I have itineraries printed (I've promised myself not to tweak our days now that they are planned), and will run off copies for each room (4 of them). I've got special little supplies for each of us too - anti-bac hand wipes, tissues, band aids, Motrin packs, etc.
I still have to pick up glow things for the kids & ponchos!

It is fun to me, I will be crushed when t is over!

 

[Ladyfish77]

As others said, it's great to have a plan, but be flexible. I think having your ADR's and FP+ and know which park on which day are the most important. I would have liked to arrive earlier most days at the parks but I knew who I was traveling with, and knew it wouldn't happen. The one thing I did was make a printout of ADR/FP (I had an excel spreadsheet with it all in there) and just cut out that day's information and slid it in the back of my phone case. My case is clear so I could just read my slip of paper to check times for FP and ADR's. That way if MDE was down I still had my information with my phone. I used that slip of paper more than MDE.

Also remember you can change FP's while you are in the park. We missed several FP times due to not getting to the park at the correct time. Since they were the original 3 FP, I could go into MDE and change the FP experience (you can change them even when the time of the FP has expired). Sometimes I was able to get the same ride at a later time, sometimes I had to change it to a different ride, but it still allowed us to save time on a ride wait! This worked well for us.

 

[bc7ate9]

I take a screen shot of my plans on MDE. No way I'd keep track of print outs or cards or slips of paper - and no way I WOULDN'T keep track of my phone!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

On our first trip with my stepsons, I did the matching t-shirts, bought them all new "Disney" outfits, designed autograph books, bought pin trading set, made custom luggage tags, mousekeeping envelopes, etc. etc. etc. On my last trip with DS8 this past August, I brought enough clothes (that we already owned) to last half the trip and did laundry mid-week. No autograph books, no pins, made FP+ and few ADR's. Every morning I would leave a tip for mousekeeping and, along with it, a quick thank you note written on the stationary provided in the resort room. Both trips were fantastic! I guess my point is - you can't really "forget" anything (ok, so I wouldn't recommend forgetting ADR's and getting hit with a no-show fee, but otherwise!). Vacation as you wish - uber plan or no plan. You'll be ok if you "forget" something.

 

[Laura353741]

I have never heard of doing the TY notes or the pre-printed housekeeping envelopes. If they're causing you stress dump it and don't sweat it. HAVE FUN!!!