How much time do you spend planning?

[MomAbout]

Our Christmas 2021 Disney/Universal trip has just been booked, and now I feel that all of my spare time goes into the planning! From pre-departure testing, airport hotel reservations, plus all of the park reservations and dining, it just seems like a lot.

How much time do you spend planning for your vacation? Do you let things fall as they may or do you like to plan all of the small details?

 

[MamaLema]

I spend as much free time as I can. I’m an OCD planner. I am working on being a bit more relaxed about it.

 

[SaraMc]

I used to plan like mad. Now that the kids are older and we know we are coming back we just plan a bit and go with the flow

 

[SaraMc]

I used to plan like mad. Now that the kids are older and we know we are coming back we just plan a bit and go with the flow

 

[hdrolfe]

I normally do a lot of planning... but I have a trip coming up in two weeks that I planned last minute, and other than making sure I have everything booked (resort, park ticket, parks booked, covid testing booked for coming home, flights), we have no real plans in the parks. Now I may have to figure out a new plan after Genie starts next week... but I am really hoping I don't have to do any more planning

 

[nuttynatty]

Um.... a lot. I just figure it's always good to know as much information so the trip is less stressful. I also don't want to eat burgers 3 days in a row so having rough ideas of where we are eating is just helpful. And then I can plan rides around that meal time too so that I don't have to walk 30,000 steps.... 20,000 is enough lol. I just also love to plan. However I don't stress if things don't go to my plans but at least I will know great back up ideas if needed.

 

[musika]

I plan a lot because I enjoy planning. I also like knowing in advance what all my options are because I find that helps me be more spontaneous - so rather than sticking to a schedule, we can say oh we know there are two options for food here we'll like, let's hop on this ride with the shortest wait then go to place A for lunch. That sort of thing.

 

[tlcdoula]

I like to plan and gather info so we can have a fun trip and get to do all the things we want. This trip I find that I am stressing about planning because of the testing, and bigger crowds, masks etc. I hope that all this worry before we go is worth it when we arrive and I can just take a deep breath and enjoy my time in the parks. I know this trip will be nothing like previous trips but I hope it will just be enough for me to be in the parks and enjoying our first trip away since covid hit.

 

[dvcdisney]

A lot....sometimes too much.

 

[Jrb1979]

We plan very little. All we do before hand is book my flight, hotel and rental car if needed. Its why I Iove Genie+. No more advanced planning, no spreadsheet needed

 

[Adora]

Well with covid it's been 3 years of planning lol. And I can honestly say I feel like at this point the only thing I don't have researched up the yingyang is Genie because well I have to wait a few more weeks to get all the details.

 

[Aug2020distrip]

We have a general idea of what we want to see on what days, but that’s about it for us usually. We are not Disney dining people and are there for the rides. Have actually never had a sit down fancy meal there, just counter service. So at least we don’t have to plan around meals which is nice. For our trip when we eventually go, goal is to have everyone write their top 3 rides to see at each park and make sure to get all those in!

 

[Chickinvic]

I hate planning everything to the n'th degree. This is part (but not the only) of the reason I have always way preferred DL over WDW.

 

[bankr63]

Umm, I'm willing to guess that for the vast majority of regulars here on DIS if we aren't talking about past trips, we're planning for our next trip. I don't think I ever really stop! LOL

 

[samsteele]

I love planning my trips. Not having my attractions planned out well in advance will be a challenge. Will watch and wait to see how Genie+ unfolds. I'm up early in the morning anyway but still always loved the idea of planning in advance and then being able to relax and go on autopilot once I was in Orlando. I'll probably only buy Genie+ for one day in each of MK and HS and compare with my usual touring plan that I'll prob stick with for the rest of my vacation. Don't see the utility of Genie+ for me at all in AK or Epcot. Cringe at the idea of using lightning lanes. Will see if rope drop or jumping in line for FOP 10 mins before park close will work. I might have luck in stand by at Rise or may actually have to break down and buy it once. At least I can watch and learn over the next 10 months or so and find out the best tips and tricks to cope.

 

[BlancheNeige7]

I am usually a super planner when it comes to any vacation. The kind of planner that would prepare a binder... lol!

That said, last vacation to Disneyland was last-minute and barely had a week to get things ready. I really enjoyed the spontaneity and surprises... not knowing what our days were going to be like and just go with the flow. No set plan, schedule or check list of things we wanted to do. Loved it! We might not have maximized our days or eaten the absolute best snacks... but we were relaxed and had so much fun!

Hoping to do the same for our March 2022 trip to WDW. I will read a few posts on the DIS... especially those pertaining to Genie+, but will not be planning out our days months ahead as I have in the past.

 

[bfost87]

Well... I'm currently trying to book for the end of 2022..

 

[explorer1977]

I spend months planning but for the most part to find cost savings and deals. I try to best use rewards to maximize savings and budget like crazy. I set important dates for booking items and have potential plans so that the booking day can go smooth. For our last WDW trip in Oct 2019 I starting planning everything out over a yea in advance. Right now I have been working on a Alaska DCL cruise for August 2022 and a WDW or Aulani trip in 2023. With being a DVC member I always book at the 11 month window so plan out early usually. I usually have ADR at where we want to eat and then list of snacks or counter service location we want to get to.