Leaving for Disney in 16 days what have I forgotten?

[bless7ings]

We are leaving for Disney in 16 days and today was the first day I felt like "Oh, no we are leaving for Disney I have to do this and that and oh what am I forgetting to do research on for the perfect trip?" Can you help me out?

What do you need to do and know before going to Disney:
1. Advanced Reservations Planning Report http://pscalculator.net/psreport.php
2. still working on schedule and rides line up!
3. photopass details http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disneysphotopass/
4. working on my photo list of must pictures
5. detailed packing list
6. menus for family to look at for counter service meals http://www.allears.net/menu/menus.htm - have cut and paste in word processor to bring
7. Epcot passports for kids http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=429399
8. Animal Kingdom passports for kid?
9. Journals for kids day in the parks http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=429399
10. Oh yeah, can't forget my reservations paperwork!(I think it is on my packing list)
11. Can't forget snacks list! http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1683477

What else? Any tips? Secrets?

 

[mrstomrice]

Sounds like you have it under control. Remember to relax and enjoy the trip. Go with the flow and don't try to overdo it or you and your family could get worn out. Take time to relax and have a dole whip in MK
Remember to cancel your newspaper and put mail on hold. I was able to both online. Have fun!

 

[proteus]

Some spontaneity also makes for a good time, it is often those unplanned moments that make for the best experience.

Best advice I can give is enjoy the moment and don't fret about what has to be done next, change the schedule if you feel like it.

We usually plan 2-5 activities per trip like renting a boat, scuba diving, riding bicycles, horseback riding, etc. Because many restaurants are full we book 2-3 of those. The rest of the vacation is entirely unplanned. I don't know how old you are but I grew up in the 60's when it was still possible to stay outside all day with friends and do whatever you feel like. Those endless summers I will never forget. I think if I were a kid today it would not be the same, what with all the planned "playdates" and monitoring that goes on now.

 

[bartleby1]

Sounds like you are a wonderful planner and probably have everything under control! We leave at 4:00AM on Saturday and I really need to do some planning and packing myself. I feel like our trip has really snuck up on us this year!

Just don't forget to be flexible. It is great to have a game plan - you really do need it. However, if your plan falls apart, just go with it and don't let it stress you out.

Have a great trip!

 

[LoveTheEars]

I see that you have a detailed packing list - Hope this includes Rain Gear!
Every time we go to WDW we are caught in a rainstorm... of course, they only last for a short time... but now, our rain gear is the first thing in our bags.

 

[jnzimm]

We are leaving for Disney in 16 days and today was the first day I felt like "Oh, no we are leaving for Disney I have to do this and that and oh what am I forgetting to do research on for the perfect trip?" Can you help me out?

What do you need to do and know before going to Disney:
1. Advanced Reservations Planning Report http://pscalculator.net/psreport.php
2. still working on schedule and rides line up!
3. photopass details http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disneysphotopass/
4. working on my photo list of must pictures
5. detailed packing list
6. menus for family to look at for counter service meals http://www.allears.net/menu/menus.htm - have cut and paste in word processor to bring
7. Epcot passports for kids http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=429399
8. Animal Kingdom passports for kid?
9. Journals for kids day in the parks http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=429399
10. Oh yeah, can't forget my reservations paperwork!(I think it is on my packing list)
11. Can't forget snacks list! http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1683477

What else? Any tips? Secrets?

I dont see relax and have fun anywhere. I am sorry, I go to have fun and let the chips fall where they may. My daughter doesn't miss anything she doesn't know about. We have zero expectations, they seem to get in the way, and we are never disappointed. I have found common sense and enjoying the moment is what works best for us. ENJOY your trip.

 

[bless7ings]

I dont see relax and have fun anywhere. I am sorry, I go to have fun and let the chips fall where they may. My daughter doesn't miss anything she doesn't know about. We have zero expectations, they seem to get in the way, and we are never disappointed. I have found common sense and enjoying the moment is what works best for us. ENJOY your trip.

If my MIL read your reply she would say, "Who are you talking about , not my DIL!!!!! She flys by the seat of her pants!"

My style is different. She doesn't see the planning part just the fly by the seat of her pants side. For something that means a lot to me I plan, research, plan. I try to find out everything and then make the best plan of attack. Once the event actually happens I have something to keep me on track and have things run smoothly because I am so spontaneous and sanguine! I always go with what seems to be the "funnest" at the time or logical. But fun is in my vocabulary most often. Fun, fun, fun, let's all have fun!!!!

I learned in high school that I had to have a different approach or nothing would get done. So I try to keep a balance. The last trip we had was so awesome! My husband on the trip mentioned that he could tell we wouldn't have had so much fun if I hadn't planned things. There's no way we would have the experiences without the research on this board or the price of our vacation for that matter!

I have thought and thought and tried to come up with a solution for the picture memories. The only thing I can think of is to hire a few professional (invisible) photographers and video tapers! Wouldn't it be awesome to have this birds eye view of of a tape of your trip with all the expressions!?! And spontaneous photographs! That would be my dream! It is so much work to get pictures, but when you see them at home it is so worth it! Especially with the young kids(actually everyone), it relives everything and brings back all the feelings, moods and memories. I find if I journal our memories when we get right back, how precious! I forget and my kids have even commented of the forgotten memories until they looked at the pictures and read the journalling and it brought the flood of memories back! So cool!

btw my husband is the one I call "Mr. Responsible". I am always having to lighten him up! So when I saw that this was the best family vacation he had(not frugal and being on the dining plan was huge part!) and I could see him relax, lighten up and enjoy(not always worrying about this or that) and see my fun loving guy I married I knew I had done my job good and that is why we are going again.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Ok you got me beat!!! I thought I overplanned things...but a list of "must take photos"???? Yup, you win!

BTW, there are no "passports" for AK. But there are characters so if your kiddos haven't outgrown that, you could bring autograph books.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

OK...I just realized that you have 7 children. No wonder you are such a planner

 

[bless7ings]

Ok you got me beat!!! I thought I overplanned things...but a list of "must take photos"???? Yup, you win!

BTW, there are no "passports" for AK. But there are characters so if your kiddos haven't outgrown that, you could bring autograph books.

Yeah, I know. There is one you can buy, I saw it somewhere. I was just hoping maybe someone would come out of the wood work with an homemade AK passport like people have done with the Epcot one! I would love to create one, but it's not on my top priority list and I have too many other things I want more. But I would find that fun to create.

And the photo's, well, I just can't help it, I love photos! And I love unique fun ones!! So I try to get creative ideas from other people along with my own creative ideas to come up with fun, neat, awesome family albums! I'm all about fun family memories and that means photo's too! So I do know that if I don't have a list, it isn't getting done because I'm having too much fun in the moment to remember until we are driving off the Disney property and then I say, "Oh, David I forgot......can we just go back and get that photo, that one photo?!?!?! "It's just in the lobby!" (or another case it would be a park or who knows where?) I am very visual and live in the moment, so if it's not on the list(or at least somewhere in the back of my mind) it doesn't get done!!! So unfortunately with this personality it wouldn't get done!(or thought of!)

 

[bless7ings]

OK...I just realized that you have 7 children. No wonder you are such a planner

Yes, unfortanately I can't always just live in the moment. Sometimes I get in trouble! Sorry, I couldn't just take that "just let things happen", or "let the chips fall where they may" there would be chaos! I grew up in a big family and an even bigger extended family. I learned quite a bit! There were many times where there wasn't a plan!! There were many fun times!! Where do you think I got the laid back personality?(course you couldn't see that in the post, just the planning part) But there is a balance too. There were many times without a plan and kids got tired, things could have run smoother etc.. I've found what works to get me to do what I need to get something done,(just something!! ) And well the mate plays a big part!! You do have to live with him and the kids! It all washes out and we "have fun!"