I have a terrible secret to confess

[DumboOrBust]

Okay. I have a terrible secret. I haven't been wanting to share it with you guys, but I guess I have to. I just go to Disney usually without any plans. I wake up in the morning, and I decide what I want to do that day and where I want to eat. If I don't get in to where I want, I guess trudge along to somewhere else. Of course, I realize that this is only because I usually go in the first two weeks of January. If I went at other times of the year, I would have to make plans. I thought about not coming to Dis-Con because I haven't planned anything, but then I slapped myself out of it. I'm going to come and have fun despite that fact that I will always be lost. I guess the question is, "Can you accept a Nonplanner into your ranks?"

 

[Towncrier]

Sure. Why not. I have to confess that when we go to WDW, we rarely make plans on what to do each day. We just go with the flow. That way we seem to get more done. Of course our last trip was an exception. We were down at WDW during the Swan/Dolphin Cheerleader meet and had to follow a strict schedule in order to mesh with the group plans. And we still had loads of fun. So either way works for me.

Welcome to the ranks of the DIScon commandos.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Hey, you are not alone.. I love being spontaneous with my Dis trips..so add me to your ranks as well.. Hugs.

 

[helenk]

Usually I plan and I plan and I obsess and I drive everyone crazy! But we always have a good time, and if we have to deviate from my plans I adapt. My 19 year old DS loves that and is always able to get up each morning and go go go!
But for this trip it is just myself and my DD who is 14 and hates my planning every minute, and getting up early for the EE mornings. I had to promise that I would not do that this trip. I have made our dinner reservations for our first night and got tickets for the MVMCP and dinner reservations that night, but other than the included convention functions we are just going to take it day by day......with the understanding that I do want to see all the new parades!
But I have to tell you I miss getting out all my spread sheets and doing all my planning, it takes some of the fun out of getting ready for the trip.

 

[Patinmn]

I am sort of like you helen..half the fun is the planning.

I have only decided on about 5-6 events that I plan on attending and the rest I am going to play by ear.

At least with the DIS-CON Board I can seem like I am planning, with out actually doing alot of it.

 

[BelleMom]

Welcome DumboOrBust! You won't be a bit out of place among our ranks. See, we have all kinds of strange people here: compulsive planners, players-by-ear, pantless meet hosts, secret disers, snickers eaters, even heavily-accented south-american nuts.
I myself love to make detailed plans. Then when I get there, I usually change everything. Isn't life full of surprises?

 

[disneycub]

OK, so I'm fairly obsessive about making plans. But I've always subscribed to the theory that plans are meant to be changed at the last minute, and I pretty much go with the flow. I have some "have to do" items on my plans, but other than that, we'll just have to see what happens.

Welcome DumboOrBust!!

 

[NurseKim]

Hi Dayna! I usually never plan my trips either! I hate being restricted to an itinerary. But this time, I put together a small itinerary. With so much going on, I don't want to miss it all!

 

[luvdsny]

You BIG GOOF Dayna!! Your subject line had me scared!

I LOVE people of all kinds! I really do. I would HATE it if everyone was as 'anal' as I am.

I think Livia said it best........not to mention she didn't miss a single DIS-Con participant in her list.

I love to plan.......but noone ever sticks to it. Winging it is fine by me too! I think if I didn't have young kids, I wouldn't need to plan a thing! But with little ones, everything must be planned so you don't miss anything between the potty breaks, naps, and whining.

Get back on this board girl! Is that why you've been AWOL all this time??? Didn't think we~~Commando-style folks~~would accept you??? Wrongo Girlfriend! Welcome Back.

 

[NancyIL]

I also think the planning is half the fun. I've used the touring plans in The Unofficial Guide to WDW - but that was when we had only one day to spend per park, and we had to get in as much as possible. This time my family will have 5 days at WDW during DIS-Con, and I'll be there 7 days - so there's less of a need to have detailed plans. I think it's a good idea to have at least a mental list of things you especially want to see - like the special holiday events in each park. Other than that, relax and enjoy!

 

[shoes99]

I am an obsessive compulsive planner, who reads Disney Travel Books before going to bed every night. I am married to a "I don't care what we do". Since we were forced into early retirement last year,and have been able to take a few more trips, I have tried the "wing it" routine. It's not bad. Since we have gone on all of the rides, we sleep a little later, eat a late breakfast, and then I slip in "Oh, by the way, I made PS at Coral Reef today, just in case". Works for me. Looking forward to DIS-CON. DH wouldn't even tell me where he wanted to eat for DIS-CON Saturday, so I picked Japan....

 

[FairyGodfriend]

OK, I admit it once again...My name is Jennifer, I am a "Slacker"

The really cool thing about DIS-Con is that there are plenty of obsessive type planners attending who have done a fabulous job of sifting through the plethora of Disney decisions and strategies. And, they graciously posted their itineraries here...here on this board! Copy and Paste! Thanks guys!

 

[glo]

DumboOrBust I have been so many times now, that I do exactly the same thing...So far I know I am doing the Dis Con events, and would like to do the tea at the GF, visit the hotels, and maybe a tour of the tunnels. THe rest will be visiting the parks and hanging out. So, you are not alone!!!!

 

[Patrick IL.]

Well O.K.- My name is Patrick and I have no idea where to go and when to do it Seriously- my May trip with the family was commando style- 4 parks-1 water park-5 nights. This time, being solo will be a lot more relaxed- do what I want- when I want ect...... that's because I am a slacker too.

 

[DumboOrBust]

Thanks, y'all for the welcome. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only slacker/nonplanner. Starting tomorrow I am going to go back through the board and see what I need to be doing. I guess I should make a tentative plan. EEEEEK! I'm starting to plan already. It might ruin my reputation.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I confess, I am obsessive! For me, I love going so much that planning allows me to indulge in Disney all the time! But for actual touring plans, I make plans but not down to specific times. more along the lines of which park which times. I do make lists of must dos and coordinate early entry. Okay, maybe I do overplan! (So much worse seeing it in writing!)

 

[DumboOrBust]

Hey, Pumbaa. I think it's great that some of us like to plan and some of us don't. If we were all the same it would be booooring. Now, if anyone sees me wandering aimlessly at any of the parks during the convention, feel free to grab me and set me on a course.

 

[Barb]

I like to plan, plan, plan. But, like Steve, plans can be changed and nothing is carved in stone. As for DIS-Con, there are some things we need to be at at certain times. If we want to do a mini-meet or event, then we have to plan that. Other than that, what happens, happens. There are things at the convention that I really don't want to miss, so those are "ear" marked in my itinerary. Don't let the commando titles scare you. Mine stands for the fun I'm having making all these great DIS-Con plans, not so much how I'm going to "do the parks" during that time!