How do you keep organized?

[j_lehr]

In the past few days, our Disney trip has gone to barely booked to every minute consumed with finding out everything I can so we have a memorable trip. The last time I was in Disney World was in 2000 and even with all the research I did then (my family thanked me for being a Disney planning "nut") a lot has changed. I have a spreadsheet to keep track of ADRs and Park Hours and a folder where i keep print outs. Wondering what everyone else does to keep from going crazy.

 

[disyady]

I use a Passporter for all my current trip stuff. All my other Dis stuff is another matter. That is stored in several totes in the bottom of my front closet - not exactly ideal!

 

[DanenRox]

We've found that what makes the trip MOST enjoyable is to use your schedules as guides only, not as law. If you can stop yourself, make a real effort NOT to plow through parks to see and do everything on your list. People refer to it as doing Disney "Commando Style", and most of us are guilty of it at least once. The real magic of Disney comes when you come upon things you didn't expect, when you take time to notice the details, when you relax and enjoy the beauty and fun around you. It's really hard to not rush and run around the parks, but just keep telling yourself that you'll see the other things next time you come...and make sure you do come again, and again, and again.

 

[Ms.Mouse]

I'm the "party planner" at my home so I go online to this site, deb's site and a couple of others for dining and such. Then I go to Word in the computer and make out 4 or5 columns.... Day, Restaurant, Time, Reservation # are the headings... Then I make out the plan and print it out for each member of our party. Then everyone does their own thing in the parks and we meet for the meal because everyone knows when we are to be there.... Sometimes I make a 5th column heading of Special Things.... these are IF I feel "anal" and plan each place to go or sometimes it's a "special thing on the disney site calandar and sometimes it's the park with the extra am or pm magical hours... Stuff like that so everyone in the party knows.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We've found that what makes the trip MOST enjoyable is to use your schedules as guides only, not as law. If you can stop yourself, make a real effort NOT to plow through parks to see and do everything on your list. People refer to it as doing Disney "Commando Style", and most of us are guilty of it at least once. The real magic of Disney comes when you come upon things you didn't expect, when you take time to notice the details, when you relax and enjoy the beauty and fun around you. It's really hard to not rush and run around the parks, but just keep telling yourself that you'll see the other things next time you come...and make sure you do come again, and again, and again.

I agree, we plan but only as a guideline. We just figure which parks per day, we split parks each day, plan on our dining in that park half area but if something better or interesting comes up, we deviate and go for the fun. We usually stay 8-12 nights and I have the places to eat and parks on notecards, 8 days, 8 cards, that way there is no guessing whats up for the next day. We take the next days card down to the pool area the night before, we tend to end each night at the resort pool over drinks, rehash the day and talk about the next, the card helps us know what everyone wants and expects. No big deal planning, no minute by minute, very little ADR's, and as stated above, we're coming bakc, again and again.

 

[Fourfun]

I havent been in 19yrs.. so I am getting so many great tips on this board
I have also printed out index cards.. one with adrs, one with must sees at each park, and one with the hours, emh's and best parks to visit on a certain day.. they will be small enough to carry in my pack..
I have my packing list saved on my computer.. I have used it in the past for other vacations.. since we are flying this time.. It had to be modified quite a bit but I have never forgotten anything (knock on wood)
I also am packing the park packs in our boarding bags so we only have one thing to go through security.. Just hope we dont get pulled for the super check.. I would hate to have to reorganize everything.
Oh,, I also keep our bathroom bag packed from trip to trip.. just refill what I need to.. that helps to cut down on packing alot.. Sure do have to pack alot of stuff in that little bag..
Leaving in less than 2 weeks and the only thing I have to do now is the laundry and start putting stuff in the suitcases...