How in the world do you guys build your itinerary?

[marriedmarylander]

Why am I having so much trouble? I've tried to create one using EMHs or not using EMHs and going by touringplans.com but either way I end up with something that doesn't look perfect. We're going to PI at least one night so I don't want to sleep in the next day so no parks that we HAVE to be up early for (EMH morning) or close early (AK). And I HAVE to see the night shows at EP, MK, and MGM. I have to go to at least one water park. And DH has to go to IOA. And then I want to see Spectro which only plays tues, fri, sat. Then I want to do AK towards beginning of the trip because it sounds cool and I've never been. At first I was going to have IOA at beginning to get it out of the way but now I think I may want to get in few disney parks before leaving disney for the day. Then, I was trying to come up with one schedule with the EMHs... then I tried to use the touring plans and that got messed up because so many EMH days occur when we are there. Then we don't have park hoppers so I have to be sure I cover an entire day with a park, water park, or something.

It's just us two so you think without kids it would be easy right?


I know I've posted like 20 itineraries before. Maybe someone can just make one for me?

Also I swear my AAA agent is an idiot... We have 6 day tickets with 4 pluses... I asked her can it be just 5 with 3 pluses because we might not use them all.. .She says switching to 5 days is more expensive because Disney had to rebuilt a package and it didn't fall under a magic moments discount.. I swear she did something wrong ... technically 5 day ticket would only be about $1 less anyhow so moneywise it's not a huge deal... but I would want to use it ALL if I got the ticket .

 

[kandmwedding]

I usually plan my itinerary based on the order I'd like to see the parks, completely ignoring EMH. Most of the time I'm too tired to get up in time to be there early and am too worn out to stay there 3 hours after closing. Personally, I'd look at when Spectro is playing and make that your MK day, put AK in the first few days since you mentioned that as a priority and just arrange things however you see fit after that. If you're too pressed on getting things just perfect you'll end up spending your vacation worrying about whether you picked the right park for that day. Just pick a few things that are most important to you and worry about them and just let everything else fall into place.

 

[WDSearcher]

I've read all of the itineraries you've posted, marriedmarylander, and I think they've all been great! I think what's happening is that you keep second-guessing yourself. Someone mentions something they do, and you don't have it on your list, and so then you worry about whether you have to add it or not. Or someone mentions how long it takes them to get through a certain park, and you don't have that much time scheduled, and so you worry about that. I think all of your itineraries have been terrific ... in fact, I thought you were done with yours the last time you posted. That one looked great to me!

 

[DisFlan]

You're planning a lot in 5 or 6 days. Yes, it can be done, but I'd suggest getting Park Hoppers. With hoppers, you can hit the parks for the things you want to see without spending all day in just one park. You can get more done if you can go from park to park on the same day.

If you're trying to get a lot in, I'd stay AWAY from parks with early opening. They're more crowded and it takes longer to do things. Crowds in the parks usually start to build by noon or 1 pm. That's when we leave to do something else - go back to the room and nap, go to a water park, shop, etc. Then later, we go back for dinner and/or the evening shows.

AK isn't really an all day park, and even MGM isn't an all day thing for us. The night after either of these parks might be a good night for PI, or back to Epcot for dinner and Illuminations. Or back to MGM for Fantasmic.

Pace yourself and be flexible. Stop to smell the flowers and find the Mickeys. Don't expect to get everything in that you want to do. (We've been going since 1977 and we've never done everything we wanted on any one trip.) It's a vacation, not a marathon. Don't wear yourself out by day three just trying to stay on a schedule.

I don't think anyone can do your intinerary for you as well as you can - it's a personal thing. Only you know your own energy level and exactly what you want to do.

Again, I'd STRONGLY suggest Park Hoppers. If you are having problems with your travel agent, you could upgrade your non-hopper tickets at Guest Services after you get there.

DisFlan

 

[DrTomorrow]

First, take a deep breath and relax. You're going to WDW! You will have fun, and you will NOT do everything. ITA with WDSearcher - don't second (and third, and fourth) guess yourself so much.

But to answer your question, this is what I did before we bought into DVC and didn't have to plan quite as much.

1. Figure out the "Must Do" items on your list. Dinners, parades, shows, attractions, etc. Lay these out in a way that makes sense (i.e., don't plan on a 6PM dinner at Germany then catching the 7PM Spectromagic at MK), taking into account park hours and EHM AM & PM. Once you have this, you've probably nailed down what parks you will be at on what days.

2. Within this framework, take a look at what gaps you have available, and start to fill them in. Want to see "Illuminations" one night? Might make sense to have a meal at Epcot. Going to an EMH morning at the MK? Maybe an afternoon break by the pool.

3. Figure out, within reason, what rides you'll want to do at each park. This will help you either use a UG-style touring plan, or at least give you a general idea of where to run to when the rope drops.

4. Stop now, before you end up with an itinerary that specifies what you'll be doing at 10-minute intervals.

5. (This is most important). Remember that there will be times that you won't / can't / don't want to stick to your itinerary; "No plan of battle survives contact with the enemy". You're there to have fun - so have it!

Be well!

 

[marriedmarylander]

Thank you. I think I do stress over what other people do - some say "yes do an EMH" or someone else will say "no never go to park oh EMH". Right now Dh does not want to do park hoppers. I think he would like to go to a park and take our time. He agrees I am stressing too much over this. I guess I do try to throw out any EMH schedule or any "best days" mentality and then start thinking "but EMH is included I should use at least two" or something like that.

Thanks guys. I'll make my order of what I want to do and hopefully make a better plan

Also, are the night fireworks at EP a must-see? I hear many people talk about Wishes and Fantasmic but not as much Illuminations.

 

[BostonRob]

Thank you. I think I do stress over what other people do - some say "yes do an EMH" or someone else will say "no never go to park oh EMH". Right now Dh does not want to do park hoppers. I think he would like to go to a park and take our time. He agrees I am stressing too much over this. I guess I do try to throw out any EMH schedule or any "best days" mentality and then start thinking "but EMH is included I should use at least two" or something like that.

Thanks guys. I'll make my order of what I want to do and hopefully make a better plan

Also, are the night fireworks at EP a must-see? I hear many people talk about Wishes and Fantasmic but not as much Illuminations.

You have to get hoppers, ESPECIALLY if you're stressing over EMH hours and catching evening shows and things like that. Your husband doens't want hoppers because he wants to take his time? Hoppers give you the luxury of taking your time, because if you don't see eveything in one day, you can always "hop" back on another day. Do you two plan on staying the the parks for the whole day or will you leave to take a lunch/pool/nap break? If you're leaving the parks for mid-day breaks, then there's ABSOLUTELY no reason not to hop.

If you had park hoppers you could easily put together a schedule you'd be happy with. GET THE HOPPERS!

 

[marriedmarylander]

I think I may have accomplished two itineraries - one where we go to PI twice and one where we go to both water parks. I guess I feel obliged to use all my 4 pluses rather than three

I guess both water parks versus PI depends on how hot it is

 

[disneyjunkie]

I've read all of the itineraries you've posted, marriedmarylander, and I think they've all been great! I think what's happening is that you keep second-guessing yourself. Someone mentions something they do, and you don't have it on your list, and so then you worry about whether you have to add it or not. Or someone mentions how long it takes them to get through a certain park, and you don't have that much time scheduled, and so you worry about that. I think all of your itineraries have been terrific ... in fact, I thought you were done with yours the last time you posted. That one looked great to me!

ITA


Only you know what type of trip you'll be happy with. The Smith family vacation my not work for the Johnson family.

My son and I rarely miss a park opening. I plan to take advantage of each EMH during our trip. We'll visit a major theme park each day. Some days we'll do a major theme park and Disney Quest or a water park.

We're doing US, IOA, and Mardi Gras all in the same day. The next we'll be at MK when the gates open.

We hardly ever take a break during our trips. This may not work for others but we love our commando trips.

I don't believe there is a right or wrong way to do WDW. You just have to find what works for you and go with it.

 

[Ilovestitch]

Go for 10 days- its much easier to see everything

 

[marriedmarylander]

Go for 10 days- its much easier to see everything

I wish we could !
Next time for sure.

 

[Eeyore2003]

Yep, you're doing JUST what I do when I really want people to have a good time. I don't do it with DH and myself anymore, but like in July and October when brother and sister's families came along I wanted it to be "perfect"!!! I discovered that as long as everyone was having a nice time, it WAS perfect!!! AND all my planning ALWAYS works out wonderful!!!!! BUT BOY was I stressed ahead of time worrying if my "plan" would work AGAIN!!!

BIG LESSON!!! Learn to trust yourself!!! Hard, but true. I know just what you're going through, but you really must stop and realize that you'll do fine and you'll have a MUCH better time if you just stop and smell the roses and relax. What doesnt' get done this time, will get done next!!! No problems!!!
If you don't have PHP's, I'd opt to not use EMH. I usually hit EMH in the AM, take a break, and then go to the "historically least crowded" park for the evening show that night. It's definitely not the EMH park!!! So you would need Park Hoppers to do that.

Without park hoppers, I'd look up what historically is the least crowded park for that day of the week and that would be my decision usually. Same thing with PI, which day is it the least crowded. But you really need to just come up with the best plan you can for all your reasons, and then go with it. Tweak it if you want, but there's SOOOOOOOOO many ways of "Doing Disney" and still accomplish bunches, that you'll do fine!!! There's absolutely no right or wrong thing to do.

 

[marriedmarylander]

Thank you for the advice. I've tried to go by the "best days" plan and that screwed things up a bit for some reason. I think because I have PI and water parks. I don't know it got messed up.

We never planned actually go to a park for the morning EMH, but maybe for evenings.

 

[WDSearcher]

Also ... for what it's worth ... I'm a huge fan of "IllumiNations", but not so much of "Fantasmic!" or "Wishes." In my opinion, Illum is the best fireworks show on property! (Of course, I used to work on it, so I suppose I could be somewhat biased ... )