Is it just me??

[TillyDe]

I am a super planner. But this October I am going on a Solo trip and I will only make 1 ADR, no FP+, but I will book Keys to the Kingdom. I want to just go where ever the first bus takes me. That is the plan for now.
May 2017, I will be taking my DGS who will be 5 then. I have about 95% of that trip planned.

 

[MrsSkellington]

I did NOT want to plan at all. I tend to overplan everything in everyday life, and was hoping not to do it on vacation. But, seeing how WDW has changed, I really had to do some planning. I think if it was just my husband and I going, I'd be fine with going with the flow. But with a soon to be 2.5 year old, I know that some things need to be planned out for his sake.

 

[wdwchamp]

I don't normally plan much except for dining when I go to Disney. My upcoming trip in July is a bit of an exception to the rule. I am bring my Wife, Sister, My Niece, and 2 Great Nieces to WDW. Since my wife only has boys, she is taking delight in planning my great nieces. So I there is much more planning taking into account BBB, CRT, spa trip, etc.

Otherwise, normally my wife and I go to Disney to enjoy the site and atmosphere rather than going to the rides.

 

[pigletgirl]

I like to have a pretty solid plan. We have an ADR booked each day, and we know what parks we'll be touring as well. There is a sense of peace for our family when we know there is a plan.

 

[KEVD]

The knowledge and insights you gain by planning are invaluable and make you better equipped to "go with flow" once you're there.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

We plan and talk about the trip incessantly. At the very least we know where we're going to be and where we're going to eat on a given day and plan and make reservations accordingly. With FP+ we just got even *more* obsessive about it, but we love discussing it.

Sometimes I think I enjoy the planning and talking more than the actual trip. As the old saying goes, the best part of any trip is the anticipation and then the remembrance.

 

[DuckyMommy]

On my first visit to MK as an adult in 2003, I went with my soon to be husband, his 4yo boy/girl twins and his parents. We arrived at the park with no plan and my future in-laws were very indesisive about what to do first or even which direction to go! I stepped up and directed what to do and where to go so that the kids would have fun. We only made it 1/2 way thru the park.
The next time I planned a full week staying on site in 2011. I had a general touring plan mapped out for each of the 4 parks based on the now 11 yo twins & our 5 yo (my mom and the baby who was 1.5 were mainly just along for the fun). I made all dining reservations in advance and new where to go to get FP for which rides. We has color coordinating outfits for each day and a reward system for spending $ for the twins to keep the preteen drama to a minimum. Overall it was a great trip, we were flexible as needed but we hit all our must do items and my mom told me it was much less stressful and overwhelming because I had it so well mapped out.
Now we are prepping for a trip in December and I booked it in January. I have all the TS meals picked out and ready for June, I have planned which park for which day and I am so excited to have the MDE to help me organize. I haven't made a spreadsheet yet but I probably will closer to time and I have started with some outfit planning.
To me the planning is fun, so it is definitely not just you!

 

[Luv0fDisney]

Planning is my favorite part of the vacation. lol.
I love booking ADR's (And changing them). hehehe.

 

[LizzyS]

I do a whole lot of research and keep my plans as loose as possible when I vacation. I have a general idea of what order I want to do things in, but do not plan down to the last minute or else I figure I'm setting myself up for disappointment. I'm having a lot of fun already doing some preliminary research for WDW for a 2017 trip, in which I know some things WILL have to be planned stringently in advance.

 

[MataHari22]

I gotta have a plan. I get stressed when I don't. I'm not really a fly by the seat of my pants person. Planning for WDW is a must for me. It's a lot of money to spend, and I want to make the most of my time. That is not to say that I plan every minute of my day down to bathroom breaks, but I definitely have my FP, ADRs, and know where I'm eating and have a general plan, broken down by every hour or two. I cannot deal with the: What do you want to do....I don't know, what do *you* want to do, thing. Gives. Me. Hives. I also adapt and change plans as I go along as things unfold. Have to be flexible and remain open to fun. Cannot be racing to get places and not experience the moment you're in. That's about as go with the flow as I get. Just depends on the type of person you are and what's right for you. I was amazed that a friend went down a couple of months ago, she was with her husband and they were doing part business with the husband, and then some free time at WDW. I think he had a convention down there. Anyway, she was on her way, driving down there, when I texted her and asked what park she was going to first, and didn't even know that there was more than one park. 8| I was about having a heart attack. She had no plans and no clue. She said she had a great time though. Got tickets the day of. I couldn't do it.

 

[EPCOTgrl1]

I don't tend to plan. We have been down so many times that if a line is to long or there are no FPs left we just move right along. There are days were I just hop on the first bus that shows up. With the FP+ it makes it harder to do this, so I am not looking forward to that aspect of it but we will go with the flow when we can.

Our motto is: We have done it before and eventually we will do it again.

 

[kae2disney]

This is my family's first time going. I am having a blast figuring out what all to do. But I have a question, I see many people talking about printing out your itinerary do you then putting into a binder or what do you do to keep from losing it. We will have both a stroller and a wheelchair in the park so keeping to a plan will be helpful!

 

[peg110]

This is my family's first time going. I am having a blast figuring out what all to do. But I have a question, I see many people talking about printing out your itinerary do you then putting into a binder or what do you do to keep from losing it. We will have both a stroller and a wheelchair in the park so keeping to a plan will be helpful!

If you have a smart phone you don't need to print it out. You can use MDE to keep track of things.

 

[joannamet]

The planning is a big part of the fun for me but I've learned that my family and friends don't share my obsession. On my first trip I planned everything and expected everyone else to fall in line. When they mutinied, things got stressful. Since then I've learned to plan all I want but not to expect everyone else to blindly go along with me. I'll have my fun for next 6 months and then relax in the parks and let the magic happen.

 

[kae2disney]

If you have a smart phone you don't need to print it out. You can use MDE to keep track of things.

thanks I didn't think of that, I may still make a binder for the room as my mom has some vision problems but not having to take it into the park will help.

 

[DuckyMommy]

I love being able to have MDE to help arange and organize but I still want a hard copy went it is time to go, technology is not as dependable as my folder of notes/schedules and I have heard other peoples issues that just reinforce the idea of having a hard copy, even as a just in case.

 

[peg110]

thanks I didn't think of that, I may still make a binder for the room as my mom has some vision problems but not having to take it into the park will help.

My DW does a phenomenal spreadsheet of our Itinerary. It's color coded and details which park, the hours, the special events (parades, or special shows, Fireworks, etc) that we are interested in, our ADR's and FP+ as well as if we are using the DDP, what type of "Services" are for that day/park. Although most of this info can be gotten on MDE, I still bring a copy of the spreadsheet, but, my being an IT Geek (After all, I work in the field) I bring an "Electronic" copy of it on my Phone. It's one link and doesn't rely on WiFi or other signal, just power to the phone. I can then launch it on my phone and zoom in or out as necessary.

Of course we have the laptop back at our accommodations so if we decide to update it (based on weather or other events) we can and I can get a new version back on my phone.

Either way, lots of tools to help make it great and enjoyable.

 

[HollyM7813]

My DW does a phenomenal spreadsheet of our Itinerary. It's color coded and details which park, the hours, the special events (parades, or special shows, Fireworks, etc) that we are interested in, our ADR's and FP+ as well as if we are using the DDP, what type of "Services" are for that day/park. Although most of this info can be gotten on MDE, I still bring a copy of the spreadsheet, but, my being an IT Geek (After all, I work in the field) I bring an "Electronic" copy of it on my Phone. It's one link and doesn't rely on WiFi or other signal, just power to the phone. I can then launch it on my phone and zoom in or out as necessary.

Of course we have the laptop back at our accommodations so if we decide to update it (based on weather or other events) we can and I can get a new version back on my phone.

Either way, lots of tools to help make it great and enjoyable.

I'm doing what is essentially a step down from the excel spreadsheet. I've printed out my itinerary and added it to my binder that will most likely stay in the room. I used my phone's calendar to add our plans each day. No wifi needed and I can make notes for each event, add confirmation numbers, and set reminders just in case we lose track of time. Plus, I was able to file share it all to my DH's phone via bluetooth so we both have a copy of our plans. MDE is a great app, but I like knowing that I will have a back up of everything if something goes wrong with the Disney tech.

 

[KathyM2]

I'm a planner...but with FP+ it has gone to a new level. Between FP+ times, ADR's...EMH's...and recommended days at certain parks...I think it would stress me out not to have a plan. I'm trying to allow for some flexibility, but with so many "must do's" if you don't have a plan they will never happen. Even with a plan....it's hard not to be over ambitious...I have to work to conciously remove things from the plan and allow for unexpected delays and such. My hubby is making fun of my spreadsheet - I've never used one before...but people here on the DIS have helped me take the planning to a whole other level!! It's part fun, but part stress....

 

[peg110]

I'm doing what is essentially a step down from the excel spreadsheet. I've printed out my itinerary and added it to my binder that will most likely stay in the room. I used my phone's calendar to add our plans each day. No wifi needed and I can make notes for each event, add confirmation numbers, and set reminders just in case we lose track of time. Plus, I was able to file share it all to my DH's phone via bluetooth so we both have a copy of our plans. MDE is a great app, but I like knowing that I will have a back up of everything if something goes wrong with the Disney tech.

I did that last time. I put the entire "Itinerary" into my Google Calendar. (I did it at a computer then synced it to my phone. Much easier). So I had a backup and another backup. Sounds like you are on it.

I'm a planner...but with FP+ it has gone to a new level. Between FP+ times, ADR's...EMH's...and recommended days at certain parks...I think it would stress me out not to have a plan. I'm trying to allow for some flexibility, but with so many "must do's" if you don't have a plan they will never happen. Even with a plan....it's hard not to be over ambitious...I have to work to conciously remove things from the plan and allow for unexpected delays and such. My hubby is making fun of my spreadsheet - I've never used one before...but people here on the DIS have helped me take the planning to a whole other level!! It's part fun, but part stress....

I agree with you on this. If you don't have a plan you may miss out on so much. On the other side, however, you cannot have a plan that is so rigid that a small wrinkle will cause it to collapse. You plan it out and make the best of it. Sometimes you have to adjust. Somethings are more important than others. We have passed on a FP+ that was scheduled because the line for a Restaurant was much shorter but if we went to our FP, we would miss the Restaurant. To me a Plan is important but it's only a guide.

If it were me alone or me and some of my college or army buddies, I might be tempted to "Fly by the seat of my pants" at it, but I also have familiarity about WDW now as opposed to a first time visitor. While I am far from an expert, I think I could muddle my way through without a plan if necessary.