Ok, is there such thing as TOO much planning??

[MakinMagicforBunky]

I can't believe all the effort I've put into the planning part of this trip! First all the research for good prices, hotels, DDP vs. no DDP, etc. That wasn't so bad, but since I booked, I've spent so much time on these boards reading all the tips, etc.

I've even got each of our days planned for which park we'll go to (because I needed to book ADR's) which places we'll go for lunch/cs meals, what time to leave the hotel each day, even scheduled in the 'down time' to hang at the pool! I even have it all written out on index cards, one for each day!

I planned a cool way to surprise my son with the news of the trip (he still doesn't know we're going yet!!)

I've made tons of lists of things to buy before we go, things I need to pack, etc. etc.

Yet with all of this, I still feel like I haven't planned well enough, we leave in 4 days (OMG!) and I feel like I have SO much more to do!!

Can anyone share the things they forgot, the things that you just wouldn't think of, the one tip that makes it a great trip (besides stop stressing and overplanning???)

I realized that I've never had a 'grown up' vacation outside of going to the beach where we know where everything is if we forget something and can hop in the car and go, as opposed to flying to a different state where we know nothing, and are at the 'mercy' of the hotel gift shop if we forget something!

Oh no, it's this bad now, and I have 4 more days to survive?!?!

 

[midwestdee]

You'll be fine - don't overpack - most of us do- just have your check list of essentials - make sure your carry ons have 1 days clothes, meds, toiletries & snacks - you'll be in good shape. How old is this kid you haven't told yet? I know I don't like surprises - I cannot imagine being in the same house with my kid and not mentioning and including them in the planning of the trip - even when they were little they enjoyed the planning and looking forward to part of it - saving their little $'s and all that. Just my opinion - I'm sure it will be wonderful and you will have the time of your life.

 

[HappyLawyer]

No way, never

 

[Jesussavedme]

MAN have you been bitten by the Disney bug or WHAT!
You're one of US! You've morphed into the obsessive compulsive world of planning for Disney!!!!!!! I'm doing the same thing as you and I still have 2 months to go. What will I fill my days with once I've read this entire board?

My DH thinks I'm crazy!!
Ah what does he know, SOME body has to plan this stuff!

You've probably got it all covered and if you don't, you can always get whatever you need at the resort, the park or the local Walmart near Disney.

You go have yourself a blast!!!!!

 

[torinsmom]

Sounds like you will have a great time! I planned the same way and things went great for us. One thing I forgot was to bring some warmer clothes. There was a cold snap when we were there in late March. One thing I am GLAD I brought was a small fan. I turned it on at night for some white noise and it helped us sleep.

Have fun!

Marsha

 

[wdwlvr629]

Don't forget your sunblock, it is HOT @ WDW right now and you can find yourself really miserable if you get a sunburn while you're there. It happened to my cousins one year and they lost 2 days of their trip cause they couldn't even handle being out in the sun! I spoke w/ a friend a day or 2 ago and it was 95 degrees, so don't forget that sunblock!!! Have a blast!

 

[taeja71]

planning what planning?

 

[nephthys43]

i'm just as overplanned as you. i'm going with 3 friends; one of whom is just as bad as i am. the other two are quite happy that we're taking care of everything and don't have to worry about anything.

 

[Leash]

No such thing as too much planning. I still have 7 and a half months left and I am on these boards as much as possible. Not to mention the number of times I have gone through my planning binder, yes a whole binder just for the trip, and gone over everything I have done. I have several different schedules made up for which park on which day and where we will eat and when based on what the park hours turn out to be. I have purchased almost every WDW guide book they have at Barnes and Noble and have read each at least twice. I just called yesterday and added another night to our trip in case I can't get the exact plane schedule I wan't so we won't miss any time by traveling later that expected. So no I don't htink you can plan too much. Have a great trip.

 

[Simba22]

I planned the basics only: The hotel, the flight, the transportation to and from the airports/hotel....but I leave the daily activites for when we are all there. My whole life, every vacation was planned from minute to minute...including bathroom breaks! God help us if someone had to use the bathroom and it wasn't a sceduled bathroom time! My boyfriend and I ended up breaking off contact with the rest of my family when we went WDW in 2004 because it was just too much. We got frustrated because we weren't allowed to take our time doing things that were interesting to us (like collecting the pressed pennies, and actually looking around in gift shops) and my family was frustrated that we were "wasting time." When my boyfriend and I went back last year, we went alone and waited until we got settled into the hotel the first night to decide what park we wanted to do on which day. When we got there, we grabbed a map, and just walked through the entire park, stopping when we wanted to, and skipping over the stuff we didn't want to see. It was SO much more relaxing (and more of a vacation!) when we knew that we didn't have a plan...we were just going to take things in stride.

 

[babywewe]

I'm obsessed with making ADR's! I'm also obessed with this board!

My BF thinks i'm nuts. Once I was asking him if he cared where we eat and he said "no i dont care, but you seem to almost care to much"

 

[Andrea]

i actually had to back away from the planning for a bit... it seemed like to much for me so i walked away for a couple of day and today is the first day i'm not and now i just want to go running up and down the hallways screaming.. i'm going to disney lol

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

From one planner to another, NO there is never to much planning. Looks the the Disney bug has bitten another victim.

 

[MakinMagicforBunky]

Good..I'm not alone! The good news is that I am finally actually PACKING! No more lists, I'm actually putting things in suitcases, lol! We leave on Tuesday, so it's time!

I was planning to not tell my son until Monday night, but decided to tell him last night, as packing without him knowing was just not gonna work, so he is REALLY excited now! Totally cool that he now gets to anticipate the trip along with me, plus, he can help pack now!

I CANNOT believe this is finally happening! As a single mommy, things like big vacations weren't something I thought I'd be able to do, but if you want something bad enough, you make it happen!

Ok, and am I a wuss for crying when I told my son? He's 5 1/2 and he was SO excited when I told him!

Thanks again for reassuring me I'm not crazy!

 

[wdwlvr629]

Good..I'm not alone! The good news is that I am finally actually PACKING! No more lists, I'm actually putting things in suitcases, lol! We leave on Tuesday, so it's time!

I was planning to not tell my son until Monday night, but decided to tell him last night, as packing without him knowing was just not gonna work, so he is REALLY excited now! Totally cool that he now gets to anticipate the trip along with me, plus, he can help pack now!

I CANNOT believe this is finally happening! As a single mommy, things like big vacations weren't something I thought I'd be able to do, but if you want something bad enough, you make it happen!

Ok, and am I a wuss for crying when I told my son? He's 5 1/2 and he was SO excited when I told him!

Thanks again for reassuring me I'm not crazy!

Good for you "Bunky"!!! I know about that whole single mom thing, I was one for a long time, I remember that great feeling when I was able to manage things like trips to WDW when my son was younger. Go & enjoy, you've earned it! Happy packing & have a magical trip!!!!

 

[ckphila]

no theres never too much planning and no your not a sap for crying just enjoy the excitement together!!

 

[byoung]

We plan a lot, but change our plans a lot when we get there. Less than 2 weeks I'll be back in the world.

 

[mommyintn]

Without reading all the answers I have go to say NO WAY!! I am a WDW overplanner (see my ticker over 10 months to go till we go back) and I love planning for these trips. My family never went on a family vacation (unless you count going to see relatives you never see every 5 years!) so although I had been to Disneyland before, I feel in love with WDW. It's an escape from everday and your transported somewhere magical which is why I think there can never be enough planning!