First timer here! Print-at-home planners??

[MollieW]

Hello all. So I decided to get a planner specifically for Disney World, but I need help deciding which one would work best. I've been advised to not over plan, but I need a place to jot down all my first-timer thoughts because the sticky notes are not cutting it. I found two good I ones, I just don't know which one to get.

They are both print at home type things. The first one has a nice color scheme and looks very thorough but it's $32!! It just seems like a lot. It also has 40 pages, which seems like an excess. But if I actually need that many then I'll go for it. I was going to go for this one because it includes Universal, which will take up a 4th of our trip overall.

The second one was the one that showed up in my computer ads and sent me down this rabbit hole in the first place. It's got a nice color scheme and has only 20 pages, it's only $8 for the basic planner, and then $2.50 for a Christmas party planner which would be really useful.

So I guess it's coming down to whether I should have something for Universal or for Disney's Christmas party. Has anyone used one of these before?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Welcome to the dis, Mollie.

Passporter has always been a good choice for a long time now, very complete, nice features, if you are looking to write things..

http://www.passporter.com/home-of-disney-world-cruise-travel-tips-planning-articles-photos.html

http://www.passporterstore.com/store/wdwspiral2016.aspx

 

[imthemamahere]

Wow. I can't imagine spending $32 for a print-your-own vacation planner. But then, I don't think I'd spend $8, either.

I don't do extensive planning, I guess (certainly not 20-40 pages worth!), but I do keep a spreadsheet with my daily dining reservations, park plans, evening entertainment plans, EMH, etc. I thought that was a lot - but apparently not! I use Google Drive, which is free - you can make your own spreadsheets, documents, etc. I like free!

I'm sure there's someone who can give you a specific planner recommendation - I just wanted to put the free option out there for you to consider, if you want to save a few bucks.

 

[Raeven]

My plans and notes change so much it's easier to keep them on the phone or computer's note pad for me. I tried a binder last year that I did myself, and I kept having to re-write/re-type everything, I also needed to keep it compact when we went so it was going on the phone anyway.

 

[MollieW]

I think it's a little complicated for me because it's my first time? I have been using a spreadsheet but I can't keep track of all of the "maybes" if that makes sense. I guess if I knew what to do and what to plan for I could just write things once, but I don't? How does one plan for their first trip? I'm also trying to take my plans with me without taking my computer on vacation and the Passporter book looks SO cool but a bit bulky. (Thank you for the welcome by the way!!)

Here's the type of organization I'm trying to recreate: http://www.cocktailsinteacups.com/2015/02/581-my-disney-world-holiday-planner.html
(Except I would probably type the files into the PDF and then print it out just before the trip).

If anyone who has used a print-at-home planner could give me feedback that would be great!

 

[Mitzicat]

I use an Excel spreadsheet, it's cheap and easy and I can change it any time. I have a sheet for our main schedule and dining reservations, I add additional sheets for items I don't want to miss - specifically food items during Food and Wine festival (waiting for those announcements to start). I wouldn't pay anyone anything that you can do for free. Figure out what works best for you and go with it.

 

[ArielSRL]

I echo Passporter. Great book especially for a first timer. Lots of worksheets!

 

[SaintsManiac]

I made my own planner (for our last trip), which we turned into a scrapbook of sorts. I downloaded clip art and font online and used Google spreadsheets. It was way easier than you think!

There are some free printables online that you can download, too.

ETA: I did use Passporter for our honeymoon and it was fine.

 

[TeamSy]

I'm with those who use their computer. I create a Word file with all my thoughts/ideas/schedules. It works out really well and is obviously super easy to edit!

 

[dkrauss]

I think it's a little complicated for me because it's my first time? I have been using a spreadsheet but I can't keep track of all of the "maybes" if that makes sense. I guess if I knew what to do and what to plan for I could just write things once, but I don't? How does one plan for their first trip?

I say use regular paper and pencil....I guess I'm old school ......To me its easier to make a bunch of changes.........its cheaper that way.......but that's me. At about 2 weeks out.......I take each day on a sheet...........only 1 sheet per day! and I geek out and laminate mine............

Doug

 

[ElizabethG]

I use Excel. Then before the trip I save the documents to PDF files and store them in iBooks on my phone. I also have several apps I use and a TouringPlans subscription.

 

[dkrauss]

I use Excel. Then before the trip I save the documents to PDF files and store them in iBooks on my phone. I also have several apps I use and a TouringPlans subscription.

This sounds interesting.........especially the iBooks piece...........I need to look at that

Doug

 

[luvgoing2disney]

I use Excel and color code for each park. For each day I list park hours, parades, fireworks, ADR's, and any special note ore reminder for the day. Before I leave home, Just send it to my phone and I have everything already there.

I also use Notes as I keep track of everything on our trip, almost like a little journal. What time we leave the house, when we arrived at the airport, when we land, how long to get to the park, where we eat, each attraction and the time we rode it. It drives my DW a little crazy, but it is fun to look back to see how long it took to do this or that, and actually helps plan future trips.

 

[kittyab]

I just do ours on Word (free)

 

[MHSweb79]

I have an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of our park days, FP+'s, and dining ADR's. I also show any parades or shows (like Fantasmic) that we might want to hit up as well as the most/ least recommended parks from Easywdw.

I print out a couple of copies and keep one in the hotel room and one in our park bag.

I can send you my template if you pm me.

 

[tomatecerise]

Over planning kill The fun.

Tomatecerise over planner anonymous, refrain by her Sister...

 

[mickey1968]

I know exactly the kind of planner you are talking about. There are similar ones all over etsy. There are some good resources in old threads here on the Dis. And, you don't have to pay for them!

I have done a lot of different planners for Disney trips over the last few years. I find it fun and like SaintsManiac said you can use it as sort of a scrapbook too. I love this aspect of the planning and have almost as much fun with it as the actual trip!

Here is a link to one I made using a composition book and Disney-themed stickers and scrapbook paper. This was fun and I added photos later.
http://disneyscrappers.ning.com/photo/albums/disney-2012-smashbook-2

http://www.disboards.com/threads/my-disney-planning-binder.2115381/
http://www.disboards.com/threads/disney-planning-sheets.2903292/
http://www.disboards.com/threads/disney-planning-spreadsheets.2524111/

Here is the Disigners Forum found at the bottom of the list of Disboard forums (there are also forums for Universal down there)
http://www.disboards.com/forums/creative-disigns.105/

There is also a Facebook group for people that use planners IRL (it's a huge thing these days) and they share how they set up their planners for their Disney trips. There are also a lot of etsy shops that create stickers for these planners too.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/disneyecplanning/

You may end up with a combination of methods. Track the more complicated stuff in spreadsheets, then as they get finalized you can print those to put in a full binder, or you can shrink them down to go in smaller binder, or like ElizabethG said, save them all as PDFs and send them to your iphone or ipad. I have done both too. Just make sure you have them uploaded and working properly before you leave. Other people take their final plans and copy them onto index cards as the final step and that is what they carry to the parks with them.

One last link that I think would help you as a first timer, is the ************** site. http://**************.net/

Keep reading the boards and asking questions (but always read a little upstream on a long thread before asking) and don't get sucked into the ones where people are moaning and groaning. There are lots of changes going on at Disney right now that have long-time repeat visitors in fits (myself included on some) and the recent delays with the whole River of Light show has been very disappointing and has created havoc for those of us that were planning around it. The Dis can be a very supportive community, especially if you get on one of the threads for a specific resort you want to stay at, or for a specific event like the Christmas Party or MNSSHP Party (although both of those groups are kinda antsy right now too because Disney hasn't released prices yet for this year!).

I could keep babbling on this stuff all day, but hopefully this will help you!

 

[bababear_50]

Hi
my name is Mel,,I am one of the DISigners on the Creative DIS Design forum(second last forum on this page)
I have some planning pages that you can download --look in my Photobucket
link in my signature
Hugs Mel

 

[MainMom]

I use google calendar. I saw a DIS poster's pic of how they used google calendar and loved it with all of the colors. I didn't end up using it much during my trip, but it helped me plan out a nice itinerary before we left that I had in the back of my mind as we toured.

 

[bigbabyblues]

There are some spreadsheets you can use on Pinterest too.

I start out with a notebook and pen and then start a Word document to make my touring plans and other notes. I do a simple Excel sheet for park hours, ADRs, shows, food budget, etc. I have looked at the Passporter several times, but after 10 trips, I really can't justify it.