Help! I'm freaking out!

[Stacey2grls]

After 15 months of obsessed planning, we leave in 6 days. You think I would be thrilled, instead, i'm scared to death! I have put so much of my time, money, effort, hours every night on the computer researching my 9 differen't favorite Disney sites, buying and feverishly scanning every new disney book, interorgating friends/family/neighbors who have been to disney for tips, am I CRAZY! Am the only one that goes this far planing their first trip? Are there others like me? My husband thinks I have gone too far since I actually knew a few tips that his sister that has gone to disney 23 times didn't know! Anyone like me, or am I certifiable. Stacey2grls

 

[dejavu]

Just don't do so much over planning that you forget to enjoy yourself. Sometimes the best times are the unscripted unplanned things. IMHO if you seriously overplan then if you have one little thing to go astray you freak out. So take a deep breath and relax.You will have the time of your lives>

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Awww, have a fantastic time!! Everything will be great! Can't wait to hear all about the magic when you get home! OH, and yes...there are plenty of us like you...I plan every one of our trips just like you.

 

[Aidensmom]

Just don't let the plan rule you. If something out of your control causes the plan to go slightly astray, don't let it ruin your time, find a way to enjoy whatever comes your way. For example, if a thunderstorm rolls through forcing BTMR to temporarily close at the time you planned to ride, head over to the nearest restaurant to stay dry and see what delicious discovery you can find.

 

[minkydog]

Time to take a chill pill, mom. It's gonna be fine. A bad day at Disney is still better than a good day anywhere else.

 

[slo]

I love to plan too and I make a colored coded itineray for everyday of our vacation week. But.......try not to stress out to much - remember it's vacation and you need to have fun. Because you planned, your vacation will be great and because you planned, if you run into a situation where you can't do something you wanted, you will know of the alternatives.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[lauran cameron]

relax & enjoy!

 

[dimoe]

I am in the same boat as you . We go in 6 days too for our first trip. I told hubbie tonight a lot of planning has gone into this trip. He will see ! I have already decided that the plan is great but if it goes astray whatever. I think how can you have a bad time at disney!!!!
Have a great trip !
Diane

 

[chatty]

Stacy2grls,
We too leave in 6 days to the Magic!
Have a Great time. Who knows maybe we'll run into each other.
Chatty

 

[MazdaUK]

I had a colour-coded plan too but with a main activity and a back-up/follow up (e.g. MK then chill by pool). Carefully researched character meals, Fantasmic dinner package and made all bookings 90 days out.

As it happened.....

I was really ill the day of our Crystal Palace breakfast and ate only 2 bananas (which didn't stay down long

Younger DS was really ill the day of our Fantasmic DP and I had to stay in the room with him while DH and elder DS went - and waited for 3 hours in the lashing down rain, including watching the performance (no electrical activity so it went ahead). Our days for pool relaxing were pouring so we ended up at Blizzard Beach on a Saturday (obviously too cold for locals as it wasn't too busy). And yes it wasn't as wonderful weather as we'd expected - More like the UK in July, but at least not like UK in MARCH!

But we did have a wonderful time. Before we went DH would not get involved with planning (saying he didn't want to wish the time away as it would all be over too soo) and said he just wanted to enjoy every minute. We planned to go to as many shows as possible and fit in rides we could ALL do (with just a couple of exceptions for DH and elder DS) as it wouldn't be a holiday if 3 of us spent the whole time waiting for him to come off a coaster. I reminded him of the "enjoy every minute" when we were in a particularly long queue - would he rather be at work?

Having a plan is GOOD, having flexibility is better

have fun!

 

[mwerner2]

I love to plan too and I make a colored coded itineray for everyday of our vacation week. But.......try not to stress out to much - remember it's vacation and you need to have fun. Because you planned, your vacation will be great and because you planned, if you run into a situation where you can't do something you wanted, you will know of the alternatives.

This is it exactly. You may be walking down the street in Disney Studios and the street actors will be out. Everyone will of course want to stop and watch. Stop and watch! They are the greatest. This will eat into your plans, but because you have done your research, you will know how to alter the plans to still get the most out of your day.

Understand that you have been bitten by the WDW bug, and therefore, "You shall return" I don't think anyone has ever seen everything in 20 trips, let alone one. If you miss something this time, you can see it on a future visit.

 

[YourMajesty]

After 15 months of obsessed planning, we leave in 6 days. You think I would be thrilled, instead, i'm scared to death! I have put so much of my time, money, effort, hours every night on the computer researching my 9 differen't favorite Disney sites, buying and feverishly scanning every new disney book, interorgating friends/family/neighbors who have been to disney for tips, am I CRAZY! Stacey2grls

Wow, that's an impressive amount of planning! I would feel prepared instead of crazy. Once you get to WDW you will settle down and relax. Not everything will go as planned but you will know what to do when things get off track. I think people plan less as they learn all the in and outs of WDW...why would you need to plan when you already know it all. I'm still a planner but I see I have some catching up to do.

 

[NCDisneyMom]

I do know how you feel...I am always WAY prepared for my trips. I'm really trying to just chill out for our upcoming trip in June, though. It is our second trip with both of our kids (ages 5 and 21 months at the time of the trip). We usually go in the very off-season, so we know this is going to be more crowded than we are used to. I was stressing about our schedule, and fitting everything in. Then I realized, we are going to be there as a family. Our kids are going to have fun regardless of what we see or do...my son is just thrilled to be going back to WDW! We'll be back again, so if we don't see it this time, we'll see it next time. It's very hard, though, to get out of the "commando" mode...it seems to be engrained in me!

 

[gigi1313]

i am very much like you... my only saving grace in the past is that we usually don't decide to go 'til a few months before, so i don't have fifteen months to plan (or save!)... but when i am planning, i am 100% obsessed... always think that once it sinks in that i'm going again i'll relax, but never do! LOL! i check every website daily, read every guidebook cover to cover, watch every planning video repeatedly, etc...

anyway, here's what i learned to do with my obsessive planning and my husband's thinking that i go wayyy overboard... and my family's desire not to be ridiculously commando...

i make a rough outline (no color-coded schedules... dh would murder me!) w/the "must-do-at-a-certain-time" items written in (i.e. pss) and a basic what park what day based on my months of research... after that i let dh be in charge but regularly interject my head full of knowledge (i.e. safari at AK first thing; best viewing spot for a parade; what to order at which counter service; fastpass tips; etc) and it has really become a merging of the best of both worlds... after all the obsessive planning, it's nice to let go, relax and let dh (think he's) in charge!

ENJOY!

 

[Stacey2grls]

Thank you everyone for your very helpful responses. I know I will chill out and enjoy myself. Thank you again.

 

[thepwa]

IMHO, the key to maximizing your enjoyment is good planning, and you have done that! A lot of the fun is in the planning and that part is done. Now, relax and have a good time!

But I agree...don't let "The Plan" rule the day! Be flexible! Be spontaneous!

And it doesn't say if you are going with your kids or just your hubby, but if you are going with kids...let THEM be a little spontaneous! That will create the best memories!

Have fun!

 

[disneymom3]

I would just add something that one of my sisters told me before my wedding--sometihing is bound to go wrong so be ready for that, relax and enjoy.

 

[2gether]

I am an obsessive type-A planner (like most of the people on these boards), so you know wht I do? About a week before the trip I put away the plans, and then the day before, while packing, break out my checklist. That way, I don't miss anything, but I cease freaking out!

Seriously, just relax. Anything that happens now is beyond your control in any case!