Overplanning the parks??? DIS Anonymous? HELP!

[can'twait]

OK, I've made my ADR's and rescheduled them around the park hours, parades, fireworks and shows we want to see. Next are touring plans for each park. How far should I take this? Should I really write down which rides we want to go on 1st, 2nd, 3rd. take a break to look at the flowers, lunch, etc? This sounds really tedious to me, especially because I haven't been there in 10 years and I will have to look at the maps and write directions on how to get from the gate to #1, from #1 to #2, etc. Yes, I'm a woman and I'm directionally challenged, so I can't just look at the map when we get there and go. I'll end up in the parking lot! I've read all the ride descriptions so I know which ones I want to go on. I've just been dreading mapping out the touring plans because it sounds like so much work and this is supposed to be fun, right?! I have the Unofficial Guide but the samples they give are not quite right for me, so I will have to tweak them. I'm too cheap to pay for a customized guide. Sorry Len! Maybe I will give the map to DH and tell him, OK, get me here next. I also want to try not to be too "commando" so that we can get our money's worth out of our trip, but enjoy it too. How do you all convince the rest of your group that you know what you are doing and they should go where and when you say so? I can see my kids wanting go chat with characters while I have visions of the lines for Buzz Lightyear snaking around the park... I have been on this board night and day for weeks... HELP! Is there a DIS Anonymous?

 

[MonkeyPants]

I've never been able to stick to a plan...seems after the 1st ride or attraction things just fall apart for me

 

[InsanelyMickey]

You sound like me planning my first WDW trip almost three years ago. I was on these boards until at least midnight for months before our trip. We were only doing four days in the parks because we did the land/sea package and I was trying to figure out what all my must-sees were so I wouldn't miss anything while I was there. DH had been to WDW before so I at least had someone familiar with two of the parks (he hadn't been since pre-MGM and AK days). Now, here's the funny part... once we got there... I was more spontaneous and relaxed than either one of us thought I'd be. I was really flexible and by doing so, got to see a lot of all four parks when in the planning process I didn't think we'd make it to AK at all. Moral of the story... don't overplan and try to do too much because you may forget to plan the fun into your schedule. I think if you get your group together and decide on the top choices that each person wants to do then you can do what's necessary to see/do those things and everything else you see/do will be a bonus. DH and I even managed to fit in a quick nap at the resort each day which I think made all the difference. (Oh, did I mention I had my annual week before Christmas cold during that trip?) So, relax and don't stress too much more over the planning, it sounds like you've done a great job. Have a magical trip!

 

[babar41]

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.

 

[MLBelle41]

You mean you can't just have a PS or two and a vague idea of which park on which day and play the rest by ear?

I guess I really am a newbie But I can easily see how planning can become addictive. I'm seriously thinking of bringing along a printable, portable version of the "secrets" thread and maybe a couple of menus from the restauraunt index. I've mentioned this to my friends who will be traveling with me on my upcoming trip, and they make fun of me for overplanning, so I guess this means I'm well on my way I just haven't quite achieved the zen-like focus and attention to detail you seasoned DISers seem to have...

 

[Viki]

Here's what I do: I plan everything including, yes, which rides we are going on within the same area, but included in this meticulous plan is planned FREE TIME. So, for example, if we are out late one night and expect to be likewise the following night, then everyone has free time - written right in the schedule - until mid-afternoon. (They also have fair warning about what they want to do with the free time because they can see on their printed schedule how late they'll be out that night).

To date, I've gotten a family of ten, four generations, through a wonderful 1-week stay and am planning on doing likewise with friends and family in December. The first group followed directions beautifully. We'll see about the second group!

 

[Bill From PA]

We stumbled around WDW clueless our first trip there and enjoyed ourselves, but planning allows you to get more enjoyment out of the experience. We simply have two or three rides/attractions we want to hit first in each park, we do those, then we've got a list of other things we want to do that day in no particular order. Once the park we hit early in the morning gets crowded, we hop to Epcot and finish the day there. At the end of every trip there are always thingS we wanted to do but never got to. These go the the top of the list for next time. We're flexible. This Jan. we planned to have a snack in all the Epcot countries we missed in the past, Le Cellier, Morocco, etc. We ended up eating full meals in each instead because we were having too much fun to break for a light meal and needed a full dinner by the time we ate. If you're having a ball doing one thing, no sense in stopping beacuse a schedule say to. Also, if something you scheduled bores you, move on. Enjoy!

Bill From Pa

 

[DisFlan]

Planning can drive you nuts! You've already gotten some good advice. Go with at least an outline in mind. You WON'T be able to do everything in WDW, so don't wear yourself out trying. Go forth and enjoy!


DisFlan (a zen-like traveller)

 

[can'twait]

Thanks everyone. I think I have a pretty good handle on it. The best thing is to be informed, which I am, thanks to you guys! I'm planning to make lists of the rides to go on "first thing" and the rides to do "whenever", and then schedule "wandering" time, resting time and meal time when everyone else is in line for the rides!

 

[WaltD4Me]

First....when are you going?

If you aren't going during a peak/very busy time, I really don't think planning what ride you will go on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, ect...is really necessary.

I always go to Disney off season and use a general plan, but nothing as specific as a ride order list and it works out FINE.

I use a general plan of what parks on what days -- because I avoid EMH parks -- and have a general list of what land/section we'll go to first and list of things I want to be sure to see and do in each park and go from there.
My plan is flexible and I don't get upset if we get off track...alot of times, getting off track makes for the most memorable moments!

I don't think it's a good idea to go to WDW clueless, but I also don't think I would enjoy commando touring at all. I worked out something in between the two and always have a great time.

Don't make yourself nuts!

 

[edingerc]

If you pack your own towel animals at home, you might be overplanning your visit
If you schedule time for bathroom breaks, you might be overplanning your visit
If you attempt to make an ADR in your resort's food court, you might be overplanning your visit
If you take your children to the playground and tell them, "you have 10 minutes to have fun," you might be overplanning your visit
If the words "be romantic with husband" appear on your schedule, you might be overplanning your visit
If you check the wakeup call schedule to get your favorite character, you might be overplanning your visit

 

[missypie]

Thanks everyone. I think I have a pretty good handle on it. The best thing is to be informed, which I am, thanks to you guys! I'm planning to make lists of the rides to go on "first thing" and the rides to do "whenever", and then schedule "wandering" time, resting time and meal time when everyone else is in line for the rides!

I defintely had a 1st, 2nd, 3rd ride plan. Those first couple of hours after the park opens are too valuable to spend walking around. It would also be great if you could memorize or have a list of the "whenever" attractions. If you use Fast Pass wisely and always have one going, you may still be faced with an hour to "kill" before your FP time comes up. It's great to be able to walk straight to Country Bear Jamboree while waiting for Splash, for example, or see the Tiki Birds and have a Dole Whip while waiting for the Jungle Cruise FP time to come up.

 

[can'twait]

We are going October 1-8. 46 days to go, but who's counting?!

 

[WaltD4Me]

Nevermind!

 

[murcor]

Our plans are which area to go to when the park opens and then get on the ride with the shortest line

 

[quiltymom]

Well, I overplanned, but it was the best thing I could've done! I was so thrilled to be finally going to WDW that I couldn't help myself! I had daily itineraries made up which included our PS's, which rides to get FP's for, which rides/attractions/shops/etc. we wanted to visit in each park, including tips I found here on the DIS -- EVERYTHING that I could think of. I put everything into a chart, times included, then printed out each day's itinerary.

All I had to do was fold up the list, stick it in my pocket, and that's it! No passporter or guidebook to lug around and then try to find what I needed. All I had to do was look at what we'd like to do, decide what was the most important stuff, then did what we could or wanted. It was a godsend! We ran around "almost" like commandos, but we had a plan. If we missed something, fine. It's just something we'll need to do our next trip! At least we knew what we were doing.

The benefit of doing all this research was that I felt comfortable with what we could do, even though it would be our first trip there. It was a very fun trip.

A funny note: My DD(5) just asked me when our next trip to WDW would be! They got it on the brain, just like their mommy. Unfortunately, it won't be for another two years. Sigh....

 

[bigmac5]

We are generally "go with the flow type of people" However the more I started to plan the more I liked planning(and the more I found out). We have our ADR's and I know what parks we will be at and I told my hubby that we will be there before the parks open and rush around the first couple hours to do the most popular rides, then we will have lunch at 11/11:30 and then relax and see what ever we want. I have a plan but I am flexable. I think that is the key.

 

[ladylucca]

I am the only one in the family that likes to plan. In fact my planning drives certain people crazy. Even if I just try to plan a basic outline they most likely ignore me, until we get there and they realize we do need to do something other than wander around aimlessly.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I am the only one in the family that likes to plan. In fact my planning drives certain people crazy. Even if I just try to plan a basic outline they most likely ignore me, until we get there and they realize we do need to do something other than wander around aimlessly.

I hear ya! I planned a trip for 10 family members in December...everyone thought I was completely NUTS and I didn't even plan all that much...just PS's and what park to do what day and a list of MUST do's. They made fun of me endlessly, but boy, they were glad when we got there!

My big thing about planning is I can't stand when everyone stands around trying to decide what to do for the day or where to go next. It's such a waste of time, it drives me crazy!

 

[Goofy4]

In the process of overplanning, I recently realized:

a) I now know what I really want to see
b) The plan can fall apart, but I know the parks so much better now that "a)" won't be a problem.
c) The family will not be standing around, 2 or 3 maps unfolded, with different ideas on what to do next (one map and different ideas, but not 3 )
d) I can now make a very good case for why our day should begin before lunch.