Over Planners Annonamous

[FloridaNative8]

Me too!
You know we are on the same cruise and what bugs me is that our B itinerary navigators won't come out until those cruises start in November.
I can't wait to look at them, hear reports back from those cruisers on what the dining rotations are, etc.

I too color-code my family calendar. I do though know what I am cooking each evening because I make up my weekly menu a week before.

On my computer I have a DCL folder and have different documents in it labeled, dining, ports, menus, packing, FE, etc. As I find info on this site and copy it over to a document. I also prepare a planner to take with me so I don't forget things.

I know!! I am dying to see the Navigators! Also to hear about the San Juan excursions!

I also plan our menu the week before, so I can be a good girl and get exactly what I need at the grocery store.

This thread makes me feel a bit better about being "plan-crazy"!!

And I can't wait to hear other great planning tips on here - I'm already making another list!

 

[rubberbootbunny]

I clean the house before leaving but above all clean sheets. The stark reality is no one will be changing those sheets but me when we get home.

love this one! I'm going to do this now too!

 

[Delrea]

I call each resort where we are having a meal and ask for specific direction from the park we will be at that day and from our restortand the best way to get there, ferry, bus, etc. Then I type up the name, date, reservation # and directions. Then have them all turned into laminated luggage tags at the UPS store, each morning I put the new one for the day on the stroller that way if were running late we know exactly where to go and when.

 

[chateau]

I call each resort where we are having a meal and ask for specific direction from the park we will be at that day and from our restortand the best way to get there, ferry, bus, etc. Then I type up the name, date, reservation # and directions. Then have them all turned into laminated luggage tags at the UPS store, each morning I put the new one for the day on the stroller that way if were running late we know exactly where to go and when.

This link may help you with that, and save you the phone call; therefore allowing you more time to plan!!http: I don't think it's allowed to post the link but it's ourlaughingplace then look under transportation at the top of the page... this gives you all possible routes and the time it takes for every means of transportation.

 

[smmast]

I'm going to speak for all "over Planners" for a second and say that we are also under-appreciated, at least i am. Our vacations go off so smoothly, if i do say so myself, due to that planning, that no one else(in my travel group) seems to be aware of.
I use a travel planning app as well, not sure i am allowed to name it on the boards, but it's a must have for planners and i also use a sort "cloud" storage device where i have scanned our passports, park passes etc in case something should go awry.
Glad i'm not alone, gotta go plan now

 

[Delrea]

This link may help you with that, and save you the phone call; therefore allowing you more time to plan!!http: I don't think it's allowed to post the link but it's ourlaughingplace then look under transportation at the top of the page... this gives you all possible routes and the time it takes for every means of transportation.

oooooh thanks!!!

 

[shburks]

I'm going to speak for all "over Planners" for a second and say that we are also under-appreciated, at least i am. Our vacations go off so smoothly, if i do say so myself, due to that planning, that no one else(in my travel group) seems to be aware of.
I use a travel planning app as well, not sure i am allowed to name it on the boards, but it's a must have for planners and i also use a sort "cloud" storage device where i have scanned our passports, park passes etc in case something should go awry.
Glad i'm not alone, gotta go plan now

I'm dying to know what this is. If you can't post it, can you PM me?

 

[karamart39]

I'm going to speak for all "over Planners" for a second and say that we are also under-appreciated, at least i am. Our vacations go off so smoothly, if i do say so myself, due to that planning, that no one else(in my travel group) seems to be aware of.

Thank you for pointing that out! Our planning does make for smooth trips, yet no one seems to realize that! Thanks to my obsessive planning we've never waited more than 20 minutes (and usually we don't wait at all) to ride any ride at WDW. I don't even think my kids even understand the concept of long lines at Disney, because we've never waited in one.

 

[Tehanna]

For our past couple of trips to WDW, I've made a little booklet that fits in each person's Lanyard. It has all our reservation information, what each park's schedule is for each day (including extra magic hours, parades, shows and fireworks). It also has our dining reservations and times for each day, and a map of the resort is staying in.

I also "cute" it up with some of clipart and graphics.

It's super over planning for sure, but each person in our party has the info easily available, and nobody misses our dining reservations.

 

[jsolar]

I'm dying to know what this is. If you can't post it, can you PM me?

Wow. Can you also PM me the app?
Thanks!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[LemonPie]

I love my lists! When I do something not on my list, I actually add it, just so that I can feel the joy of crossing it off.

Wondering, am I the only one who finds the menus on line so that I can plan what I am going to eat at each MDR? I might change my mind once I get there, but it makes me so happy while I am waiting for my trip!

This is me but it is not just with DCL or WDW. I try to plan where we will eat on most all our vacations and try to find menues so I can plan what to eat. I know what I will be eatin in Las Vegas this October, oh and on my next DCL trip next year Sept,

 

[rosermama]

This is me but it is not just with DCL or WDW. I try to plan where we will eat on most all our vacations and try to find menues so I can plan what to eat. I know what I will be eatin in Las Vegas this October, oh and on my next DCL trip next year Sept,

In vegas I love eating at Margaitaville they have a guava pork sandwich they dont offer in FL also love the mac and cheese at Smith and Wolinskies have fun there

My DCL cruise is in Dec and I printed the menus and planned out what I was going to eat where and what nights I would skip MDR and do Cabanas etc so I do the same

 

[crzy4dals]

I'm so glad someone posted this! I am embarrassed to say these things to anyone I know IRL...

I can't stand the thought that I might miss a detail or not know something. So, while shopping for back-to-school supplies, I picked up a composition book and some fun pens for myself. I have a list (on a sticky note on the front) of places I need to do research for our cruise. I will take notes in the book.

The list includes:
1) Read the DCL site end to end
2) Read stickies here on DIS for planning, A to Z info, packing
3) Google/search about all ports and possible activities
4) Read old Navigators posted on DIS. We are doing the EBPC and there are no recent Navigators about that. Therefore, my list includes reading the older PC-specific Navigators, and the ones from the recent 14-night Hawaii sailing on the Wonder, since the EBPC is also 14 nights on the Wonder

I'm also trying to read a very long book about the Panama Canal. I am trying for 5-10 pages per night in order to finish in time for the cruise.

You are going to have a great time on the EBPC.. We did it in 2008 and had such an enjoyable time. We zip lined in PV, my son swam with dolphins in Cabo and we walked around (Cabo Wabo) Cartagena we did a group tour with others in our VERY LARGE group - I think we had about 5 busses doing variations of the itineraries, We did not do Costa Maya. For the Canal Day - be sure to get up early as Disney pays for early entry. They had a Speaker up at the front of the ship and breakfast pastries. Amazing day.

 

[LemonPie]

In vegas I love eating at Margaitaville they have a guava pork sandwich they dont offer in FL also love the mac and cheese at Smith and Wolinskies have fun there

My DCL cruise is in Dec and I printed the menus and planned out what I was going to eat where and what nights I would skip MDR and do Cabanas etc so I do the same

Mmmm we are eating at Craftsteak and Shibuya. Can't wait.

 

[kimb96]

I'm cracking up reading this! You all would be horrified to travel with me. I lived in thailand for 3 years and we traveled all over southeast asia during that time. I land in a new country with no idea how to even to get to our hotel. No plan at all.

That being said, I actually opened this thread to get ideas to be more organized about our cruise which is Aug 5. Yes, less than 3 weeks to go. To boot I have a kitchen remodel going on that is set to finish just days before we leave. My house is in shambles. I don't have rental car set up yet for returning to MCO. I've been working on lists as I have been reading. It's not too late to pull off a semi organized vacation, right?

 

[rosermama]

I'm cracking up reading this! You all would be horrified to travel with me. I lived in thailand for 3 years and we traveled all over southeast asia during that time. I land in a new country with no idea how to even to get to our hotel. No plan at all.

That being said, I actually opened this thread to get ideas to be more organized about our cruise which is Aug 5. Yes, less than 3 weeks to go. To boot I have a kitchen remodel going on that is set to finish just days before we leave. My house is in shambles. I don't have rental car set up yet for returning to MCO. I've been working on lists as I have been reading. It's not too late to pull off a semi organized vacation, right?

For me the biggest planning for the cruise is
-airfare
-hotel
-rental car
-passports
-any excursions
-remys or Palos

Done the rest is auto pilot figure it out as I go

You can do it have fun and enjoy

My DH thinks I go over board but I spend a lot of time putting together the stuff like excursions because we never do DCL ones and I want things to go well cause he deserves a great time

 

[GrumpyBelle]

I am an overplanner as well. We make lists that turn into spreadsheets. Once this is done, we plug in a variety of different scenarios....cabin category/one cabin vs. 2 all with varying categories....date to fly in and times....various hotels and room assignments...oh and then there are excursions that have to go into our list and subsequently spreadsheets. It is a good thing I have months to plan. Fortunately, I don't have this issue with other areas of my life, just vacation planning. I guess it is because this is one obsession that I enjoy.

 

[C8eOg]

Wow. Can you also PM me the app?
Thanks!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I thought you can mention the name but not use a link - no? I would love to know the name of the app too. My husband laughed so hard when I mentioned this thread: overplanners anonymous - it's so me! He says our first Disney trip I planned every second of the fast too the point that no one was aloud to even use the bathroom. (not true, btw but my family did finally conk out by the 3rd day and we all ended up going back to the room to crash for a few hours)

 

[Skitheboat]

I need one of you over planners to do my planning! I've never been a good planner. Before kids, DH & I would fly to Europe with no plans, a backpack & a "Let's Go Europe" book. Those were the days.

I've gotten a little better at planning after I left both boys ski pants at home when we went skiing in Colorado!!! I had to buy replacements at the ski base $$$$$$. Ugh!!! Lesson learned!!!!

 

[DisneyDream2B]

I'm going to speak for all "over Planners" for a second and say that we are also under-appreciated, at least i am. Our vacations go off so smoothly, if i do say so myself, due to that planning, that no one else(in my travel group) seems to be aware of.
I use a travel planning app as well, not sure i am allowed to name it on the boards, but it's a must have for planners and i also use a sort "cloud" storage device where i have scanned our passports, park passes etc in case something should go awry.
Glad i'm not alone, gotta go plan now

May I have the name of the travel planning app (via PM)?