How Many Hours? Trip Planning Obsession?

[elvistaco1]

I can't believe all you people have nothing better to do than worry, whine, fret, and generally obsess about a silly vacation. But my DW has recently pointed out that I am beyond the pale Question: how many hours do you spend planning your WDW trips? We leave in two days for our third trip, and I have logged maybe 100 hours on-line, a majority at this site, but about ten others, also. Also, it seems that most of you crazy people are female. Are there other just-as-crazy grandpas out there planning silly vacations with The Grandkids? I do all our trip planning; I guess it's no worse than TV.

 

[tink1978]

I would not say that I spend a lot of time planning...maybe 20-30 hours....but I spend a lot of my time on this website, because I really enjoy talking about anything Disney and it helps me make it and not go crazy until my next trip!!

 

[clonetothebone]

In total I probably spent 10 hours actually planning for the trip but average at least an hour a day on this site cruising for interesting things to check out when we go.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I'm obsessive/compulsive as well. We're going to Disney in December (14-23), and I shudder to think about how much time I've put in so far....and how much I'll probably do. It's our first trip (DH, DD 7 and DS 12), so I want to do it right.....(and my husband's not a planner)

But.......plane tickets are bought (if I was less anal, I would have waited and saved $$), MYW & MVMCP tickets bought, ADRs made (we don't have dining plan, but booked luau, hoop de doo, LTT, and princess tea party -- called just yesterday and got all of my requests first try, although we're probably in the back for hoop de doo at 7 on a Saturday night).

Now I just need to pay off Credit Card (at 0% interest) by November 1 so that I can save for spending $$$.........

 

[suezb]

We decided to go on our trip in March (Trip is in August). Since that time, I have spent over 300 hours planning the vacation, reading the books, reading stuff online, gathering information online, printing out 500 pages of information, and putting together 2 different binders. I'll probably spend another 50-100 hours looking online and gathering as much info as I can before I leave.
I'm an obsessive planner/organizer, in case you couldn't tell!

 

[lovesmurfs]

printing out 500 pages of information, and putting together 2 different binders. I'll probably spend another 50-100 hours looking online and gathering as much info as I can before I leave.
I'm an obsessive planner/organizer, in case you couldn't tell!

I'm right there with ya. Printing and planning specifics (and putting them in binders.....) is next on my list. Maybe I'll try to cool down until September or so....like that'll happen

 

[BlindTyldak]

Total time actually planning was less than 5 hours, most of that on ADR's since we had to plan them by likelyhood we would be in that area and not massively duplicating characters since we have a lot of character meals. Other thanthat the only "planning" I've done was taking notes on special things we want to try to hit, like the candy lady in Japan and such.

 

[anneofgreengables]

After this trip I'm planning, I think I can qualify for a job as a Disneyworld travel agent... Got lots of experience.

 

[Harvest02]

I can't believe all you people have nothing better to do than worry, whine, fret, and generally obsess about a silly vacation. But my DW has recently pointed out that I am beyond the pale Question: how many hours do you spend planning your WDW trips? We leave in two days for our third trip, and I have logged maybe 100 hours on-line, a majority at this site, but about ten others, also. Also, it seems that most of you crazy people are female. Are there other just-as-crazy grandpas out there planning silly vacations with The Grandkids? I do all our trip planning; I guess it's no worse than TV.

Wow, I never really counted how much time I spent planning our June trip. It had to be HUNDREDS of hours with all the time I spent on these DIS boards, looking things up on line, and reading the Birnbaums guide over and over every chance I got. It paid off because I did get lots of good tips and suggestions. I love all the information I get here and I plan on spending many more hours on these boards before our Oct 2007 trip!!!!

 

[The Sweetness]

More than I'd care to count or admit

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Actually planning? at least a few hours a week x how many weeks till my next trip. I usually am only in non planning mode about 1 month after returning (its a rule at my house), then I'm right back into the swing of it. Between reservations, ADR's, travel plans, budgeting, and reading my guidebooks obsessively, not to mentioned hours on the dis and other online forums I would say at least 8-10 hours a week. We leave in 2 weeks, and then again in Oct and again in Jan. Is it worth it? heck yeah! this is what I do for fun!

 

[justkeepswimmin]

This is my very first time planing a trip to WDW and I have had A LOT of learning to do. I seem to spend at least 2 hours everyday researching and planing and another hour a day re-evaluating ADR choices and talking on the phone with dining CMs trying to get the times I really want at the restaurants we are eating at (We decided on this trip late so I am WAY behind the 180+10 reservation plan).

Persistence and obsessive planning can pay off though! I actually got the Liberty Tree Tavern reservation today that I had been seeking for weeks. We now have 4:15 dining reservations b4 MNSSHP on 9/29! I never would have even known this was a great way to start the party if I hadn't been combing boards like these on a daily basis!

 

[bbangel]

I don't think I want to start counting. I thought I was an obsessive overplanner before. Then I found the DIS and went on information overload. It was when I started colour coding for easy cross-referencing that I wondered if I had gone too far. I decided not and kept planning.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

Let's see... how many hours are in a year?

 

[mikesdisneymom]

Probably about 400-500 hrs planning.

 

[jennymouse]

Not a grandPA, but I'm a grandMA and spend a goodly many hours planning vacations for my granddaughters and also for my 82yo father, aunt & uncle in their late 70's. It's sumpin to do.....