Overplanning - Such a thing?

[Melrosgirl]

I'm planning our family trip to WDW for September. I haven't been there in over 15 years, so this is basically new to me again. I've been reading the books, etc., these great boards, etc., but I really feel overwhelmed! I'm trying to figure out where to go on each day, but my husband feels it's best to just be spontaneous. What do you think? Should I try to figure out what to do each day (MK on Monday, Epcot on Tuesday, etc...obviously I am not pinpointing which attraction to ride at what time) or should we just play it by ear?

TIA

 

[dmslush]

We are going for our first trip this November and I started planning for it late last year. I was just so overwhelmed and honestly started dreading the trip because there was so much to do in such a little time. So, I finally decided what parks we were going to on what days so that I could figure out where we would eat. I picked out one or two can't miss attractions and the rest of it we are just going to wing it on.

I figured as long as we had our ps down and stuff like that, the rest of the trip could just be sent enjoying the fact that we are in WDW.

 

[pippinpuppy]

I def. think it is a good idea to plan. My boyfriend and I took my two sisters last year and they all made fun of me for planning too much. The most important thing is to make sure you don't go to parks on the same day it is scheduled for EE. We went to MGM and walked on all the rides (and this was in the middle of the summer) Another helpful thing was looking ahead at menus and planning where we would eat. That way we were sure that everybody would enjoy something on the menu. I purchased the WDW Passporter book and that had tons of helpful information. Good Luck and have a great time

 

[ceecee]

I would say to plan, so you aren't walking around aimlessly. first you could start by putting the days down, then decide what park to visit on which day. Then add to that the attractions you don't want to miss. On extra days...once you've covered what you really want to do, let those be open days to do whatever. Planning helped us get the most out of oour trips. Since you have plenty of time do a litle at a time.

 

[Kermit]

I think you should make good plans, but don't get too carried away, and don't be completely opposed to change.

When I make plans, I always pick which park I'm going to which days (at least for the first 4 or 5 days) and make my PSs. I also try to remember which rides get the longest lines and which ones have FP so that I can avoid the lines as much as possible. I may list the first 3 rides I want to do in a park, but I don't do that for the rest of the day. You're too likely to miss something if you feel you have a schedule to keep.

 

[BostonTigger]

I would have to agree with pippinpuppy in planning where you will be for eating purposes. I think it's good to plan on what parks you will be at on what days, but deffinately don't plan on what rides....unless you are doing an early entry. If you are doing an EE then it's good, 'cause you can hit the rides you want, and get them over before the crowds hit. Isn't it fun planning for the trip? I think so. Well have fun and have a good time.


Steven,


87 days to go

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

If needed. We switched alot around once we got there.

We had made PS for everyday, but had no problems cancelling them, and switching as needed.

We changed our waterpark day for earlier in the week, when we realized everyone was getting PARKED out.

Some plans simply fell by the wayside. I had plans to go to MK, our last night, to see fireworks, and Spectomagic, but the family voted to have a few last hours, at the hotel pool.

I did not plan what rides, when except with EE. We had a 2, and 5 yr. old, and knew that the fantasy land stuff would be their favorite

Also if your doing a E night, save those rides for then. No need to waste time during the day.

Use fast pass. We would get fastpass, go look at other things in the same area, and then walk right on. We liked it alot.


Have funinkbounc

 

[apagano]

I'm also going for the first time since 1986 and I have decided to plan fairly meticulously for this trip. The big lesson I learned on the last trip (when I was 14) was that planning is very important. At the time I was reading the Birnbaum book and had picked out which days to go where and which rides to hit early, late, etc. My parents OTOH are not planners and decided to go the spontaneous route instead. I won't say that I had a bad time, but I am positive that we spent much more time in line in the hot sun than we needed to on that trip. It was such a waste of time to get there at 11am, have only enough time for 1 or 2 rides before everybody got hungry and had to wait in long lines to eat. By the time we were done eating, it was so hot and humid that nobody wanted to do anything. And that was before MGM and Animal Kingdom! WDW is not the kind of vacation that you can really do completely spontaneously unless you have some experience with the parks.

 

[Melanie1001]

Yes I have to agree with the post earlier that said to NOT go to the parks that have early entry...I made that mistake this past December, and every place that had early entry was just amazingly crowded! and this was in a supposed off time...

next time we will just be skipping early entry and going to the parks as we want to (and whatever you do, don't go to the Magic Kingdom on Saturday!)

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I have to say that even with being what I consider to be a veteran with WDW, 4 trips just last year and 3 planned for this year and too many to mention previously, that if we don't have at least a skeleton plan, we tend to stand around and look at one another and say, well, what do you want to do now.

Your time is too precious and tickets too expensive to stand around discussing what you are doing. Start with a plan and deviate from the plan if necessary, but at least have an idea as to what you are doing.

 

[PhotobearSam]

I will be using the Unofficial guide book's touring plans to see if the itinerary really saves time in line. I refuse to let it all to chance. I worked way to hard to get enough $ to go and come back to say "I really wish we could have seen____!"

I also think that the touring plan will diminish the everlasting ???'s at the end of each ride---What do we do next?

If you don't want to do something on the list, just skip it and go on to the next ride...

Just my 2cents