How do you plan your trip?

[Taratink]

How do you plan your trip and park days without knowing park hours and EE days. I hit 90 days and I don't know where to begin as far as my ps is concerned. We will be there 1/31 - 2/5.
Tara

 

[Magic2000]

When I'm planning our trips, I don't necessarily plan for the EE days. I know our first full day at Disney will be at MK. And I pick restaurants that I think my family will want to try. My kids love the Plaza Restaurant right off Main Street!! Great shakes!!!

Then I just mix up park days and pick restaurants! And I try to fit in any restaurants that I can - including Jiko and Artist Point! Since many of our visits are during the summer, I always plan for a relaxing sit-down restaurant for lunch. It gets us out of the heat and gives us a little break.

If you need to, once the park hours are released, you can always try to move your PSs up a little. Have a great time planning!!!

 

[lovethattink]

We use to plan everything down to the very last minute. Stopped doing that a long time ago. We came home from vacation feeling more exhausted after our Disney trip.

 

[Taratink]

Last year I didn't plan anything. I felt like we missed out on a few things. I would like to have a plan of attack. At least have a daily plan on which park we will be visiting and have a couple ps plans for the week. I would like to avoid the ee days because we are late risers and I would like to avoid the busy days. How do you plan your ps if you don't know which park that you will be visiting that day. Where do you start?
Tara

 

[lovethattink]

I think you picked a good time to go, crowd wise. Just remember when you plan your evenings, that some of the parks will be closing early. I wouldn't want to bet my life on it, but I'd take the gamble that whatever day is early entry now, will continue on the same day when you go in Jan. I would plan EE based on that, Same with PS.

 

[dolphindan1]

Look at last years hours for the same week and you will have a very good starting point....it wont change that much....then when the official hours are realeased you can tweak your schedule....thats what we do....Plus we read the Unofficial, Offical, and Passporter guides and check this and Debs websites regularly....I think alot of people plan real early because its the excitement of thinking your days out but there are only a handful of things that really need to be planned that far in advace.....Hoop Dee Doo, Royal Table and Hotel....I leave in less than a month and am still changing my PS's with no problems....But I cannot for the life of me get a seating at the royal table....I was gonna suprise my wife with it as we have never been but cannot get a seating for any day of the week....so she is gonna have to settle on a massage and carriage ride.....She will be ok I think

 

[Piglet]

I plan using last years hours and mostly EE days stay the same. From what I have found, they really don't change very much unless something special is going on, especially in the value seasons.

I don't really plan much either, just what park on each day and PS's. But they are always subject to change, depending on where everyone enjoys the most. I figure what we don't get to see, that will give us an excuse to plan another trip soon.

Melinda

 

[firen'ice]

I designed a very simple to read chart (if you'd like a blank I can email one) It has a spot for the park hours (when I get them i just plunk the times in) and has morning afternoon and evening boxes. I decide what PS I really want on this trip and then plot them in the chart trying not to go park to park in one day (where possible) When my 90 days comes up I book what I can, if I want the last seating (either before a parade or last seating of the evening) I just ask what that is, they sometimes will be able to give you an idea of park hours. I have been told by numerous newbies that the chart really helped...made it really easy for them. The chart also allows for entries like fireworks, parades and anything else special you might be doing. There is also a smaller chart at the bottom where i put all the confirmation numbers. CM's love this, they take my little chart plug in all the numbers and confirm everything much faster than giving times and places. It's a word document usually around 2-3 pages depending on the length of your trip (I've had everything from 4 days to 14) Let me know if you want it.

 

[Taratink]

I would love a chart like that. Can you send it to me. Thanks!
Tara

 

[mrsschlep]

January's hours are out so I would just think that they would most likely be the same at least for the first week of Feb. I would just go by that.

 

[lorileer]

Dolphindan1 - I sent you a PM.

Firen'ice - Would you mind sending me your chart? My email is info@dreamdest.com Thanks!

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

I always make a photocopy of a page of my monthly calendar, one that I do not have any markings on. I like to go to WDW somewhere during the first 2 weeks of December, so I photocopy December, then cut off the bottom, then I quickly enlarge the first 2 weeks. ( You can just draw one, too. )

I make many blank copies of this, so I have extras in case of many changes or if it starts getting messy. Mind you, my calendar is made up at least 6 months in advance. I just LOVE this kind of planning !

My trips are always solo, and I do not want to be getting up early to the disgusting sound of an alarm clock, so I will not be doing any EE mornings. I get up when my body tells me to get up ! So - all I basically do is to plan "which park - what day "
while I totally avoid all EE parks. For a one week vacation,
I only make one or two PS's for a meal. Other than that, once I am in my park of the day, I play everything by ear. Then I'm just winging it for the rest of the day.

 

[Taratink]

I found out the hours in Jan. It doesn;t tell me the parade times. I want to plan around Spec. magic. Are Wishes and Illuninations done every night? It also doesn't give info on EE days. Help Me!
Tara

 

[dolphindan1]

Early entry schedule

REGULAR DAILY SCHEDULE

Sunday - Magic Kingdom
Monday - Animal Kingdom
Tuesday - Disney-MGM Studios
Wednesday - Epcot
Thursday - Magic Kingdom
Friday - Animal Kingdom
Saturday - Disney-MGM Studios


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ATTRACTIONS OPEN DURING REGULAR EXTRA MAGIC HOUR

Magic Kingdom:

Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Cinderella's Golden Carrousel
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Mad Tea Party
Main Street Vehicles
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Peter Pan's Flight
Snow White's Scary Adventures
Space Mountain®
Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
Tomorrowland Transit Authority
Epcot:

Spaceship Earth
Test Track
Universe of Energy
Mission: SPACE®

Disney-MGM Studios:

Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3-D
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith
Star Tours
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Disney's Animal Kingdom:

Discovery Island® Trails
It's Tough to be a Bug!®
Kilimanjaro Safaris®
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail®
The Tree of Life

 

[dolphindan1]

also if the Hours are posted on the Disney website for Jan.. then just click on the calandae number and it will give you a break down of the events for the park you have selected

 

[yecats]

Best bet is to look at last years hours. I always go in the offseason and use EE days at MK but know where else. The parades schedule is a little different from last years and that did put a kink or two in my plans but I just adjusted for it. IN the end, the way I feel is I don't have any kids (I'm just a big kid) and I have to remind myself that if I miss something, oh well, just another excuse to come back later on.

I've always hated the fact that you can make a ps 90 days ahead of time but you can't see the park hour/parade schedule until 60 days ahead of time.

Unless Jan. is different, Illuminations should run everynight as well as Fantasmic. Best bet to watch Fantasmic is to eat dinner at one of restaurants that offers dinner Fantasmic package. That way there is no waiting in line for it. Spectromagic can change frequently. IN the past two years at MK in December it has been offered on completely different days (2002 it ran on Wed. and Saturdays, in 2003 if ran Tues, Thurs. and Sat. which I think it is basically running this year to). They also fool around with the hours so make sure that you continue to check back for park hours until you leave.

 

[Going2WDW2004]

I would like this form please.