Not a planner, but find myself becoming one!

[Skjhjb]

For those who love to spreadsheet/super plan, how do you keep track of things?

I'm kinda old school (still use a paper calendar for all my work scheduling - I own my own cake business) I'm kind of "out of sight, out of mind".

I'm working out a rough idea for each day we are in California, not exact rides and order and all of that, that I'm content to play by ear, take advantage of MaxPass. But more the dining reservations, and the quick serve we want to hit on certain days while at DL, and then a rough sketch for our Hollywood tour day and then a week driving the coast up to San Francisco.

I have things added to my Wish List on the Disney app, but there is really no schedule to that.

It seems like a lot to add to my phone calendar - is there a better tool out there?

UPDATE - on another message board I go to, somebody suggested TripIt! - and it is working fantastic. I can do all the editing on my laptop and then the app syncs with it. If I have confirmation emails of any kind, I can forward them to TripIt! and they will update the trip. I entered it all on my own though. But this was pretty much what I needed!

 

[smartlabelprint]

I’m sure there’s something better than this... but I use the reminders app on my iPhone. I like that I can check off and remove the items from my list once I’m done.

 

[Skjhjb]

I’m sure there’s something better than this... but I use the reminders app on my iPhone. I like that I can check off and remove the items from my list once I’m done.

That could work - or even if I can find something I can do on my computer with a proper keyboard and then transfer/send it to my phone to have with me all the time....

 

[Luv Bunnies]

The Disney app will start building your schedule as you lock in your plans. For example, when you make a dining reservation, it will appear in the "My Plans" section. Fastpass/Maxpass windows will also appear as you book them.

I am an avid planner and prefer to build my own document for our trips (not a spreadsheet, just a Google Doc). I put a heading for each day of the trip, and fill in details like flight numbers, hotel info, dining reservations, etc. I also look at menus in advance and make a list of places we can eat (son with autism and food issues). There's nothing worse than walking from place to place and looking at menus, only to find there's nothing for everyone to eat.

My method is kind of old school, but I like to have a visual picture of what is planned for each day.

 

[Skjhjb]

The Disney app will start building your schedule as you lock in your plans. For example, when you make a dining reservation, it will appear in the "My Plans" section. Fastpass/Maxpass windows will also appear as you book them.

I am an avid planner and prefer to build my own document for our trips (not a spreadsheet, just a Google Doc). I put a heading for each day of the trip, and fill in details like flight numbers, hotel info, dining reservations, etc. I also look at menus in advance and make a list of places we can eat (son with autism and food issues). There's nothing worse than walking from place to place and looking at menus, only to find there's nothing for everyone to eat.

My method is kind of old school, but I like to have a visual picture of what is planned for each day.

That's kind of what I'm hoping for - some kind of visual, a reminder of where we wanted to eat each day. I see my reservations already, but none of the "wish list" places I've saved show up there. I have a rough idea of where for each day on my list but they are all counter service, so they don't show up in the app.

Even just a google doc I could save to my phone would help!

 

[Whistlebee]

Try the Evernote app.

 

[laugard]

You can create a document or spreadsheet on your desktop and still open/edit it using the Google Docs or Google Sheets app. (Once it's final, you could also screenshot each page if you don't want to have to open the app.) Or if you want to go even simpler, just use either the Memo or Notes app usually pre-loaded on Androids and Iphones. You can create different lists, give them different titles and see all the categories at once.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I use a word document. I have each day as a new page.

The first page I have a basic grid of days, dates and location. Under the grid I have flight information and hotel information. I print a copy of this page and leave it with family.

Then each day is a new page.
I start with the park opening times, then work backwards to what time I need to set my alarm and leave the hotel.
I always start the day in Fantasyland
The next thing I plan is lunch. Each year I eat in a different restaurant for lunch, usually a table service.
Once I have my lunch planned, make a rough location plan for after Fantasyland and before lunch.
In the afternoon I schedule down town, either shopping, or a show
Then at about 5 pm I have a rough plan for a location, which will include evening food at a quick service.
This will bring me up to Fireworks /Fantasmic / World of Color time, and I either go to a show or plan a location to do rides during a show.

Once I have each day planned I print them out. I put each day into a plastic pouch / sleeve and bring it to the parks. I refer to it during the day to make sure I am on track for my Must Dos.

 

[Erin M]

I use a Google Docs spread sheet for a visual of the days, I use color blocks to highlight things that may take up time or interrupt the day some how, special tour, Fantasmic!, etc. I also color block our dining reservations. Below each day I list shows or restaurant we may want to try. Since it’s available on the Google Sheets app on my phone I can pull it up if we’re overwhelmed and trying to pick a place to eat. This is mostly for my DH who must be fed or no one will be happy. Sometimes I never look at it, but it helps me organize things in my head.

We use MaxPass and take full advantage of it so don’t make a ride plan, but I do have a ride tracker. Each night I tick off what we’ve done. I do this for two reasons, I like to see just how successful we are at MaxPass, but it also helps me make room in the following days for anything we’ve missed.

I have another tracker for snacks, used in a similar fashion. If by day 3 I’ve only had dole whip once I march my but back to Tropical Paradise.

Planning is part of the fun for me But it’s always fairly loose, or at least I try to keep it that way. Helps prevent expectation failure.

 

[MrsD.Duck]

I never have a plan except for what ever dining reservations I make, but this last time it was just me and the hubby and we wanted to try different eating places, i just did it all on the notes/memos on my phone

 

[kikismom]

I am thrilled to find you guys on here. My friends and family think I'm crazy for my planning.

 

[azdisneylover]

While you are in the parks and for one reason or another, a place you wanted to eat doesn't work out, the Disneyland app is great to check out. The menus are listed too.
I am old school and write everything down. I do use the Disneyland app to check out wait times, Maxpass, etc.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I make a trip binder, complete with page protectors and separate sections for hotel, dining, entertainment, non-Disney days, etc. Everything is color coded to keep things easy to find. All phone numbers are prominently listed at the top of each section. And any brochures or pamphlets that I pick up on each trip which I think might be good for the next trip get put in the last section, titled "Next Trip" (along with numerous post-its with ideas for the next trip). I keep things on my computer and on my phone, but the binder gives me an easy visual/tactile reference guide and the peace of mind that any tech glitch won't erase all my hard work.

 

[Rayray650]

I use Trello. The only program that seems to work for me with planning and scrapbooking.

 

[livingthedream]

I make a trip binder, complete with page protectors and separate sections for hotel, dining, entertainment, non-Disney days, etc. Everything is color coded to keep things easy to find. All phone numbers are prominently listed at the top of each section. And any brochures or pamphlets that I pick up on each trip which I think might be good for the next trip get put in the last section, titled "Next Trip" (along with numerous post-its with ideas for the next trip). I keep things on my computer and on my phone, but the binder gives me an easy visual/tactile reference guide and the peace of mind that any tech glitch won't erase all my hard work.

I do pretty much the same thing, plus I have spreadsheets for each day. I find if I plot things out ahead of schedule (travel time from one attraction to the next, how long it takes to ride each attraction), then all my thinking is done ahead of time, so I can just relax and follow the plan. And I've done enough research ahead of time that if Plan A doesn't work, I know enough to be able to bob and weave/fly by the seat of my pants because I've read about available alternatives/options.

This type of *over-planning* doesn't work for everyone, but it actually gives me peace of mind when I'm there, so I can then just relax and enjoy. I'm not marshalling my group based on the times in the plan (if we fall behind, miraculously we always seem to make up the time somewhere else) - we're relaxed about it. But we are also not one of those groups standing in the middle of the walkway with a map we've never seen before in front of us saying *now what?* because we don't know what's out there. Our way maximizes time in the parks with little to no pressure at all. We haven't had one family melt down in all our trips because of this pre-planning. (I hope I haven't just jinxed myself by saying that)

Whatever your approach, I hope you have a magical time!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I do pretty much the same thing, plus I have spreadsheets for each day...

I also find that the binders really help with planning future trips because I forget things and like to refer back to what worked and (equally important) what didn't. And when friends ask for phone numbers/addresses/ideas/etc., I can just look things up in the binders.