How do you keep your planning ideas organized?

[Iloveyoumost]

I am starting to plan a big trip for my DD's birthday and first trip next year. I am finding lots of good ideas I'd like to remember and look into later. How do you keep all these things straight? A binder? a Pin board? Bookmarks?
What's the best way to keep all of this organized so I can go through it.

 

[GoofyWithGlasses]

We had a big boxfile that we kept printouts and maps and whatnot in A binder would probably have been a lot more organised, but for the amount of info that we had, our decorated box file trumped it

 

[msd1776]

I have started a google doc. It has my packing list on one tab that I update after a trip by removing items my family didn't need so I can pack lighter. i also update the list as I read these boards to make up for what I removed. . I also have other tabs for my planning including links, lodging, restaurant ideas, whatever Strikes my fancy.

I do have a Pinterest account but I don't use it to organize my planning.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

I have a big binder. I have these sections: budget, transportation, accommodations, and a section for each park day (day 1, day 2, etc.). I also have a Miscellaneous tab,with notebook paper behind it for jotting random things.

 

[maggiedarling]

I use Evernote (to organize everything, really) but its been especially great for Disney planning! It's free web based software (and has apps for desktop, iPhone, iPad, android, etc) that allows you to store and organize notes, photos, audio notes, etc.

I have a 'notebook' created for our trip with notes for dining, ADR confirmations, photos I want to take, souvenir ideas, reservation confirmations, crowd calendars, touring plans, etc. It's always available on my computer, ipad, iPhone or any computer with Internet access. So it's a great way to add to my lists ( or check things off my packing lists) when I'm out of the house.

You can even set up an email address and email directly into that notebook, and it's really easy to add photos of tickets, photo pass cards, etc.

 

[Linleedo]

Maggiedarling, Thank you for the information about Evernote. It looks great. I can't wait to organize my Disney plans.I have used Mouse Memo as an App. But, this App is so much better. Thanks again.

 

[polyesther]

+1 for Google docs. I have a Google spreadsheet which lists our costs/budget, schedules with details of dinner reservations, park hours, etc. I have another one with a detailed packing list.

Google docs are great because they are clouded, which means you can access them anywhere with a computer with Internet access. There is also a Google Drive app so you can access these documents on your phone also!

 

[Myxer]

I'll second the use of Evernote. So easy to organize all your thoughts, and it syncs between all your devices, so I copy and paste all the great tips and ideas while on my laptop from these boards into the proper tab on Evernote and it will all sync up to my phone so I have it with me in the park. Add to the fact that it seamlessly adds photos or set reminders from it (like a time to leave the hotel for an ADR)

 

[xipetotec]

I am starting to plan a big trip for my DD's birthday and first trip next year. I am finding lots of good ideas I'd like to remember and look into later. How do you keep all these things straight? A binder? a Pin board? Bookmarks?
What's the best way to keep all of this organized so I can go through it.

I have an Excel spreadsheet I keep *everything* in. Including everything about our large travel group. Names, birthdates, flight info, reservation info. restaurants we'd like to try, new things since last time, things we haven't done but might want to try. Basically I create a new tab for each "category" of info I'm tracking. Works like a charm and then when the trip is over, I make a copy of it for our next trip.

 

[moralesdavis]

I use Pinterest for keeping up with webpages I like since I can access my account from any wi-fi device I happen to be using (itouch, phone, laptop, etc).

The "My Disney Experience" is GREAT. As with Pinterest, I can access it from any device. It has all of our information about our resort, dining plan, ADRs, etc.

Despite being rather tech savvy, I still use pen and paper for... well, just about everything, including travel planning. I have a small spiral notebook... maybe 5x7 that I use for making lists, notes, etc.

 

[clarkshel]

Maggiedarling, Thank you for the information about Evernote. It looks great. I can't wait to organize my Disney plans.I have used Mouse Memo as an App. But, this App is so much better. Thanks again.

I also recommend Evernote. I have used this for planning our last 4 vacations. If you install the Evernote desktop software, you can save any web page you want to Evernote. Just click on the send to Evernote button on your Internet browser. Works great.

 

[Iloveyoumost]

I use Evernote (to organize everything, really) but its been especially great for Disney planning! It's free web based software (and has apps for desktop, iPhone, iPad, android, etc) that allows you to store and organize notes, photos, audio notes, etc.

I have a 'notebook' created for our trip with notes for dining, ADR confirmations, photos I want to take, souvenir ideas, reservation confirmations, crowd calendars, touring plans, etc. It's always available on my computer, ipad, iPhone or any computer with Internet access. So it's a great way to add to my lists ( or check things off my packing lists) when I'm out of the house.

You can even set up an email address and email directly into that notebook, and it's really easy to add photos of tickets, photo pass cards, etc.

Thank you! Evernote works really well for us, I've easily been able to send note to DH and let his add stuff!

 

[MrsJ Henry]

I use a binder. decorated of course
I have printouts of reservations..... printouts of menus fro Allears.net
Tips I have cut and pasted and then printed out.... etc.....
I have pockets to slip in brochures etc... also keep tickets in there.
If there are sites I want to remember and keep track of I just put those in my favorites to look back at.
I do a lot of cut and pasting ideas and tips and them put them into folders in "my documents" then when time comes for the trip I just print them off and put into binder.
Now ,,, what I REALLY like about this, is when the trip is over I keep all of this information in there as well as receipts so that I can look back if wanted or needed.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

I use Evernote (to organize everything, really) but its been especially great for Disney planning! It's free web based software (and has apps for desktop, iPhone, iPad, android, etc) that allows you to store and organize notes, photos, audio notes, etc.

I have a 'notebook' created for our trip with notes for dining, ADR confirmations, photos I want to take, souvenir ideas, reservation confirmations, crowd calendars, touring plans, etc. It's always available on my computer, ipad, iPhone or any computer with Internet access. So it's a great way to add to my lists ( or check things off my packing lists) when I'm out of the house.

You can even set up an email address and email directly into that notebook, and it's really easy to add photos of tickets, photo pass cards, etc.

ooooo I have to look into this... I hadn't heard of it before.

 

[RedHeadedFairy]

Hmmm... I have Evernote & haven't taken the time to learn it. Maybe I need to.

I generally save all the docs in a folder on my desktop - packing list, pressed penny list, park recommendations & calendars/schedules. Sometimes I create my own by copy/pasting info from here, etc. I update those docs and only print what I need right before our trip. (like during F&W trips I'll print out the menus for DD & DH to review on our drive to WDW)

I do keep an oversized clear file folder that clasps for any old park maps, AP's, & whatever printed pieces we need to take with us. I like it better than a binder because it is wide enough to also hold rolls of quarter/pennies, my lanyard, pins, etc. And since we always seem to collect odds & ends while there (DD likes mementos like parade confetti, lol) it's a great place to store all that stuff along with any other misc keepsakes we run across.

 

[maggiedarling]

Thank you! Evernote works really well for us, I've easily been able to send note to DH and let his add stuff!

Glad it's working for you! I honestly don't know what I'd do without it!

 

[myzel]

I find the best way to keep organized is to minimize the planning. Make ADR's and then just plan to wake up each day.

 

[sunnkuma]

Definitely the Unofficial Guide. Plus this site. Great info here

 

[Jennybump]

I do better with handwritten stuff, so I just have a notebook where I write stuff down. I subscribe to threads I think will continue to be useful, I bookmark blog posts, and I scrawl in my notebook.

 

[MomofIndigo]

I'm also an Excel person. We have tabs for the hours of the park, our ADR's, hotel info going and coming, I have a tab for food to pack and then a tab each for DH, DD, and I.

As I read stuff on here, I add it to the appropriate list and cross reference with the link so I can click on it and return to the exact thread.

It works for us since DH and I can go back and forth with it to keep each other updated if either of us add stuff to it.