Overplanning the parks??? DIS Anonymous? HELP!

[mousiemom]

I am the planner of the family. If it weren't for my planning we wouldn't get to do and see everything at the parks. I make up itenaries for each room and tape them up where they can read them. Everything runs much smoother when you make list and plan!! Nobody in my immediate family plans and they're late for everything and it drives me crazy!! That's probably why I plan like I do.
Keep Planning. (We already have plans for our 2nd trip in disney next Dec. 06)

 

[alleghator]

My husband is a math professor, and I got him to read the first chapter or two of the Unofficial Guide (the parts that talk about the computer algorithms and how the plans can save hours in line). We're going at a moderately busy, but not absolutely peak time, so I know some planning will be important.

We're going to be relatively commando (with printed-out plans in my pocket) from the time we arrive at the parks (prior to opening each morning), until we break for lunch/swim/nap back at the timeshare. Then, we'll return to the park for an early dinner reservation and tour in a more relaxed-what-haven't-we-seen-yet sort of mode.

I think this will work, as we'll hit the "biggies" early in the am before crowds peak, leave for peak crowds and return for more touring when lots of people will be stopping for dinner.

Thoughts?

--Heidi

 

[can'twait]

alleghater:

I think that is pretty much what we are going to do. Attack early, armed with the UG's info, and then as the crowds grow, take it easy, wandering to whatever we may have missed earlier, hang with the characters, eat at our ADR's, rest up and stake out our spots for the evening shows, whatever. I'm a little concerned that we have plans to hit the parks early AND stay for fireworks, etc, with kids - 5 & 7 - several days in a row, but I think as long as we take plenty of breathers throughout the day, we will be able to make it. The key is to understand and be able to deal with the fact that all your plans can go down the tubes if you or someone else in your party gets pooped and just wants to go take a nap. I think I can suck it up because I worked so hard to plan it, but I'm concerned that everyone else might not feel the same way. I'll just have to go solo and send them back to the room! LOL! I actually am considering having a military style family meeting before we leave, telling them what we are going to do and to trust me that I know what I'm doing and not to even think about questioning me. I can just see myself dragging the kids away from a character autograph session to make a bee line to Space Mountain upon the dropping of the rope!

45 days to go - yipee!!!!!

 

[TammyC]

Welcome to Overplanners Anonymous. We don't have regular meetings, but we do bump into each other frequently at different places like Office Depot picking out special binders for all of our charts and schedules, Joanne's Fabrics picking up lime green ribbon, Home Depot picking up our lime green mickey's...

We live by one motto... No trip plan is ever finished, there is always ways to improve it.

I wish I could have a binder. Instead I write really small on an index card, hide it in my camera bag, and sneek a peek when DH isn't looking!

 

[bigmac5]

I have a binder and index cards. The binder I will keep in the room and the index cards I will take to the park. DH doesn't know about these yet.

 

[quiltymom]

I wish I could have a binder. Instead I write really small on an index card, hide it in my camera bag, and sneek a peek when DH isn't looking!

LOL!!! I guess that I'm lucky since I have convinced DH that I'm nuts (that wasn't very hard!), about Disney. He has learned through experience that as long as he doesn't have to do any of the planning, and if I'm willing to deviate from the plan, he knows he's much better off than if we went in without a clue. So he doesn't mind. Plus, all the planning keeps me off ebay...

 

[babar41]

I wish I could have a binder. Instead I write really small on an index card, hide it in my camera bag, and sneek a peek when DH isn't looking!

The binder is great. When you arrive at the airport you pull out the binder, open to page one... and it is all of your Airline information including e-tickets. When you arrive at Orlando and go to the rental car desk you pull out your binder and turn to page 2 and ...there is all of your rental car information including the $'s you will be charged. (having this page has saved me money when a rental car agency tried to charge me a higher rate than I had signed up for!). Page 3 is a map of how to get from the airport to WDW. Page 4 you'll need when you arrive at your resort.

DH doesn't laugh at me (anymore) about my binder as all of our info is in one place, no need to dig and search. I even put pockets in my binder so I can slide tickets, baggage receipts, rental car documents in so everything is all together.

Trust me, use a binder once and you'll never go back! See you at Office Depot looking for Dis green binders!

 

[can'twait]

Babar41:

I'll meet you in the aisles!!!

I've already got maps of our departing airport, MCO, Orlando and WDW in the binder. Directions from MCO to the resort - yes, I called the resort - and notes I have copied into a Word document from these boards - everything from "bring ponchos" to "must get a passport at EPCOT gift shop" to "bedtime stories on the resort tv" to the location of the AAA lounge in MK. Of course, the notes and the pages are all in chronological order too.

Oh, and I have prepared binders with activities for the kids for the plane ride, bought them disposable cameras and set aside $ for them for pressed pennies.