Kind of overwhelmed

[Mom2J&J]

With all the new rides, shows, dessert parties, etc. being announced, I am starting to feel a bit overwhelmed in my planning. I'm a planner by nature, but so many events being "up in the air" has started to take some of the fun away for me. I think I might take a step back and cross some things off the list that have seemed like "must-dos" and spend the late afternoons and evenings just eating dinner and hanging out at the FW campground with the fam. I might miss River of Lights and the new Star Wars show (not to mention the Frozen ride and Soarin') but trying to coordinate so many events is a job!

I think I'm overplanning it and in turn, might exhaust the family and end up sabatoging the trip.

Just wanted to vent that here

MCB

 

[BrianL]

You can make it work. Just come up with a few alternate plans based on certain things being open or not. I think a few extra hours in AK will be worth it for Rivers of Light. You can always deviate from any plans should you feel the need. Good luck!

 

[Mikie]

I understand your frustrations! Planning with so many blanks in your information is difficult. As an encouragement, we have never run out of things to do at WDW, never come home less that exhausted from how much we did, never came close to doing all the things on our maybe list, and yet never have done any of the paid add-ons except character meals. Sounds like you're afraid of over-extending yourselves anyway and possibly looking forward to down time at the resort. You can always pencil in some of your planned activities and then end up at the resort if you change your mind or if the event doesn't open as scheduled.

I get it! Hope your trip is fabulous!

 

[nilla]

I learned a while back to never worry about small things that you can't control. And yes, planning Disney ADRs is a small thing, as much as I love it.

You're probably not going to miss the SW fireworks, RoL, Frozen ride, or Soarin' (if open). You just need to stop stressing out about when you can officially add them to your plans.

 

[ngm]

I'm trying to concentrate on the things I can plan! It's difficult because I can't have every minute planned like I normally would (even though I know I normally wouldn't stick to that!). But I've been planning Tink gifts, tshirts, organizing different touring plan options for different scenarios (knowing that they might all change), ADRs, the reveal to my kids.

 

[ArielSRL]

I definitely felt like you and still do to a certain extent. I have lots of experience with Disney (14 trips) but its been since 2012 so I had to learn all about FP+ and how to basically plan out my day for that. I got a subscription to Touring Plans and had a million (well maybe not a million) alternative plans...lol. We book FP+ in 27 days so I pretty much have started making final decisions about touring. If anything new pops up between now and April 5th, then I'll rework, and again, if something pops up after April 5th, I'll do my best to tweak. But I'm kind of done with the stressing, I think. Well, other than waiting anxiously for these ROL dining packages to become available....

In any case, I can relate. Hope you get all your answers soon!

 

[bbak30]

It is overwhelming! I remember how I felt our first trip. I also have a tendency to overwhelm others when they ask for my help.

However, now that I have it all figured out, planning is my favorite part!

 

[Epcot242]

I hear you! One thing that's always difficult for us is to take time to relax. It feels like we have to fill every minute with something. Depending on how much time you have and if you've been before, I totally agree with your down time plan. It gives you time to process what you've done so far and just feels nice because it is, after all, a vacation! Good luck with whatever you end up planning!

 

[ArielSRL]

I hear you! One thing that's always difficult for us is to take time to relax. It feels like we have to fill every minute with something. Depending on how much time you have and if you've been before, I totally agree with your down time plan. It gives you time to process what you've done so far and just feels nice because it is, after all, a vacation! Good luck with whatever you end up planning!

I am having this very same problem. I think I might be over-scheduling with a 2 yr old and 4.5 yr old and my parents....but I want us to do it all! I am fairly certain we will be back at some point, maybe even 2017 or 2018, but I just want my boys' trip to be great! I am trying to get myself used to the idea that our plans may have to go out the window at a moment's notice for whatever reason. I do have a lot more planned for the mornings than the nights because I figure we can play things by ear and cut things short if we need to. I did make myself plan a midday break every day, usually following a meal, or followed by a meal, so that's kind of an extension of the break.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

I was totally there a week ago with stress and frustration about all the changes. We made the choice to ditch Fantasmic from our plans (it's probably too scary for DS anyway and it was causing problems with scheduling other things). That helped reduce stress because it took a couple alternates off my plate to not have to worry about. Now all I need is SW fireworks announced for May (or definitely not), ROL ADRs or FPs, SW show times and then we can be all set.

If there's anything you can come to peace with skipping, doing so might help. DH would really like me to give up on ROL because it's our last night and he wants to have time to pack up. I'm not there yet. It's hard to give up something everyone is so excited about. But if you can set aside the hype and decide something really isn't for you and your family it might help. You probably won't really miss it (now if only I could take my own advice ...).

 

[1hero2princesses]

I am trying to plan our first trip in 3 years. I think it is really funny you have to plan your meals 6 months in advance and even your rides in advance now....but Disney doesn't announce when things are actually changing in terms of shows and opening of rides nearly that far in advance. I get why they do it as they don't want to overshoot and disappoint but I imagine it is making the average planner a bit insane. I am not that much of a planner and I am annoyed. They want me to book dinner but they can't tell me if Soarin will be open...arrrrgh...

 

[Epcot242]

I am having this very same problem. I think I might be over-scheduling with a 2 yr old and 4.5 yr old and my parents....but I want us to do it all! I am fairly certain we will be back at some point, maybe even 2017 or 2018, but I just want my boys' trip to be great! I am trying to get myself used to the idea that our plans may have to go out the window at a moment's notice for whatever reason. I do have a lot more planned for the mornings than the nights because I figure we can play things by ear and cut things short if we need to. I did make myself plan a midday break every day, usually following a meal, or followed by a meal, so that's kind of an extension of the break.

Mid-day breaks are essential. It comes down to just accepting you won't see it all, and being OK with what you have seen. Sounds like you have tons planned so that's awesome. Even if we plan all this stuff out there's always a handful of things that we realize we somehow overlooked or only saw once or something. You end up paying a ton and you want to really get your money's worth. But yes, mid-day breaks...lifesavers...

 

[Duckiedee]

I over plan - but only I know that... I mean DH knows, but he doesn't really KNOW.

I do it because it is super fun for me and it extends my excitement and seems to pre-extend the trip... it is my way of making the magic last.

That said, I know no matter WHAT happens - Disney will not disappoint. And I over-plan knowing I might under-deliver if necessary and I'm okay with that.

I look at my plans as an outline-only - it makes me calm knowing the who, what, where and when before. But I keep the story-line open for edits as it is actually being written.

I found having a binder set up with the ADRs and rough draft for each day six months out - the rest I fine-tune one vacation day at a time... once I plan the where for park days - new stuff has to fit in as is, or it is not going to be on my radar. By the time I can plug in my attraction intentions with FP+ into RideMax, every should be announced etc. Until then I read and wait and enjoy the process.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

I over plan and then plan some more as well. I made all these great plans, spreadsheets with times, etc. for this past week. Used it once and said to heck with it. Wound up changing ADRs and FPs last second as well and getting new ones.

So don't fret it. Just be patient with it and have fun. Don't let it overwhelm you to the point you're not having fun. WDW is supposed to be fun.