Overwhelmed with the Planning

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

Our trip is coming up in a few months, we make dining reservations in a couple of weeks, and I am starting to feel oddly overwhelmed by it all. This isn't our first trip, or our first trip as a family, and usually I LOVE the planning phase. I get so excited, love working out the logistics, making packing lists and planning our outfits. This time I'm just..... zapped of the energy this requires. We have a bigger group this time (and I'm the primary planner for all of us), the changes with Genie+/LL are throwing me off, I'm worried about whether we'll be able to get the ADR's we want, and I have zero interest in the shopping/outfit planning/packing process.

When did this go from being something I get excited about to something I don't feel like dealing with? I honestly cannot figure out where it's coming from, and I NEED to get it together because we have to get our details all squared away. Anyone else feeling similarly?

 

[Her Dotness]

I understand your frustration.

We've always gotten ParkHoppers because we like to go to a park other than our first one of the day to eat lunch and then wander about a bit in that park until heading back to the resort to relax.

Really put a bite in our ADR selections last fall having to choose a resort ADR because of that no PH till after 2:00 p.m. thing. We can't wait that late to have lunch for health reasons and don't care for most QS.

We'd always before planned roughly which park what day as we decided where we might want an ADR. Now that you have to make park reservations, we felt really restricted choosing where to book ADRs.

And then, there was the fact that some favorite restaurants weren't open yet.

Your anxiety is how it is anymore, sorry to say. At least, you've past experience to help get things planned. It must be a crazymaker for first-timers as confusing as we thought the whole Genie silliness was.

Good luck!

 

[sponica]

For me, I think I was having problems that I couldn't dust the 2020 plans off the shelf. I had it MAPPED OUT. I needed to reframe it as the 2022 trip.

I think if I was in a position where it was the ONE TRIP ever, I'd be postponing. But as my husband said, we'll be back in a couple years and by then the things we're looking for will more than likely be returning.

We rolled our unspent vacation money into an upgrade and are staying longer at a deluxe.

We're there long enough we can actually slow down and enjoy the resort.

We're there long enough that I told my husband he could book 3 tee times.

I figure my kids will have fun with whatever we do and that's really all that matters.

But I hear you on the lack of excitement on the planning, I'm still having problems with that.

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

Your anxiety is how it is anymore, sorry to say. At least, you've past experience to help get things planned. It must be a crazymaker for first-timers as confusing as we thought the whole Genie silliness was.

I think in some ways it's probably harder for those of us who've gone previously and are used to planning a certain way. I loved Fastpass+ and the control it gave me over our trip. I knew ahead of time what we were doing and when, and I could plan it so that we wouldn't be wasting time traipsing back and forth across the park. I could plan it so our ADR's timed out right. I could plan it so that our vacation worked best for us (and especially for our littles). But if you're a first timer and never had that option, I guess it would be hard to miss what you never had. I just think having that control made me feel more confident going in with the kids, that we had our bases covered. With the Genie+ and LL things, it feels way more up to chance. Probably part of my disinterest is stemming from that.

I figure my kids will have fun with whatever we do and that's really all that matters.

But I hear you on the lack of excitement on the planning, I'm still having problems with that.

I totally get where you're coming from with having to adjust - you had a non-Covid trip all planned out, and now instead you're planning a trip riddled with changes and restrictions. Our situation is a bit different because we booked last year - we truly believed that we'd be beyond this by now, but also knew there was a chance we'd still be dealing with covid restrictions and other covid-related fallout. I had hoped that by now we'd be footloose and fancy free, and I guess I'm feeling a little bummed that that isn't the case.

You're right though - we're all (meaning your family and mine!) going to still have a ton of fun regardless. I've made the decision to just go in with a positive attitude and roll with the punches. After being cooped up for so long, we're really just grateful to get to go anywhere at all. And we have sort of approached it the same way you have, really doing it up since we haven't been anywhere in so long. There's a lot to be excited about. I just need to get excited about PLANNING now lol.

 

[lostprincess_danie]

But do you HAVE to do the planning you used to do? I was a super planner too, but our last trip I just wanted to go and enjoy myself rather than having to relearn everything because of all the changes in the last 2 years. And we had a nice time. Not perfect, we didn't do everything we usually do, but we had fun.

I'm assuming this isn't your last trip since you mentioned going many times before. So why not just plan a little instead of a lot? Give your mind a break this time and by your next trip maybe you'll have learned a new way to enjoy WDW.

 

[sponica]

My 5 year old has made it clear we're going to the pool EVERY day. I think we're there long enough that we should be able to get all the must dos done at least once. And the things that aren't back yet should be back in a couple years or whenever we go again.

Part of me likes Genie+ as I much preferred the old paper fast pass system. I figure if it's worth its weight in gold if I don't have to wait in a hot outdoor line for slinky dog dash or get stuck in that jungle cruise line (I hate that line, I don't know why).

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

But do you HAVE to do the planning you used to do? I was a super planner too, but our last trip I just wanted to go and enjoy myself rather than having to relearn everything because of all the changes in the last 2 years. And we had a nice time. Not perfect, we didn't do everything we usually do, but we had fun.

I'm assuming this isn't your last trip since you mentioned going many times before. So why not just plan a little instead of a lot? Give your mind a break this time and by your next trip maybe you'll have learned a new way to enjoy WDW.

You know, there's a lot of logic in that I'm really not doing as much as I had to previously, which is actually kind of a nice thing. But I do have to figure out the ADR's, and for us that goes hand in hand with which parks which days, etc. And I do unfortunately have to figure out the packing. Beyond that though, maybe you're right and I should just stop worrying. Which of course goes completely against who I am as a human, so we shall see!

 

[Cadiewampus]

But do you HAVE to do the planning you used to do? I was a super planner too, but our last trip I just wanted to go and enjoy myself rather than having to relearn everything because of all the changes in the last 2 years. And we had a nice time. Not perfect, we didn't do everything we usually do, but we had fun.

I'm assuming this isn't your last trip since you mentioned going many times before. So why not just plan a little instead of a lot? Give your mind a break this time and by your next trip maybe you'll have learned a new way to enjoy WDW.

We are the same way. We are going March 8th and About the only thing we've planned is which park we are going to on which day, well that and what time we will get our first Grey Goose Slushie

 

[Anna131517]

I know what you mean. All the new rules and prices are stressful to navigate and the new “fast pass” (Genie+) doesn’t permit as much planning. It’s disconcerting. Watching a bunch of YouTube videos by Disney reviewers have gotten us back in the mood. We’re focusing on trying new restaurants this time.

 

[nonnadisney]

I'm simply not planning like I used to do. I remember it was years before I would even try to use fastpass so what difference does it make if I just don't bother now. I booked at a deluxe to make use of the extended evening hours. That's my plan on getting on rides. Otherwise I'm staying at a nice resort so we'll enjoy it and eat there and use their rec activities.

 

[Feberin]

We had a trip in April 2020 that we're hoping to do in May. I am finding planning less fun too. We rescheduled our 2020 trip so many times part of me is still nervous that we won't be able to actually go so that's makes it hard to get excited about planning. Our 2020 trip we had everything all ready with all the fastpasses and dinning that we wanted so I like the idea of forgetting that trip and focusing on a new trip.

 

[bsmcneil]

I felt very similar to you (and the lack of planning was super hard for me). I hope you enjoy your time, though!

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

I felt very similar to you (and the lack of planning was super hard for me). I hope you enjoy your time, though!

Did you have your trip yet?

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I didn't mind some of the planning. As years gone by, I started disliking all the planning because I started to feel it was getting to be too much....overload. And now I just dread it. Haven't used Genie+ and I'm not looking forward to it at all. We are DVC Members and already committed. But I can see us going to WDW less, going for less days, doing less park time and not getting park hoppers. I remember a couple of years ago (pre Covid), calling Universal (I've never been there). Just wanted to speak to someone, get the lay of the land and see how to book things. Asked about rides, dining, etc. I didn't mention Disney at all, saying things like I'm used to this at Disney.....The CS service person said there was no need for dining reservations and most of the other questions because, as she stated, "we're not Disney."

 

[Jen81NYC]

Right there with you! Although this will actually be our first trip. I had our first trip to Disney mapped out so well for April 2020 and now I just feel…lost. We’re going in two months and I just have no idea what to do. I’m scared of the crowds, how my kids (and husband, unfortunately) will deal with lines and heat and just generally not that enthused. Really hoping I get it together soon!

 

[Juliet25]

Our trip is coming up in a few months, we make dining reservations in a couple of weeks, and I am starting to feel oddly overwhelmed by it all. This isn't our first trip, or our first trip as a family, and usually I LOVE the planning phase. I get so excited, love working out the logistics, making packing lists and planning our outfits. This time I'm just..... zapped of the energy this requires. We have a bigger group this time (and I'm the primary planner for all of us), the changes with Genie+/LL are throwing me off, I'm worried about whether we'll be able to get the ADR's we want, and I have zero interest in the shopping/outfit planning/packing process.

When did this go from being something I get excited about to something I don't feel like dealing with? I honestly cannot figure out where it's coming from, and I NEED to get it together because we have to get our details all squared away. Anyone else feeling similarly?

YES! I’m taking my kids to Disney for spring break. It’s their first trip in four years, and I am so stressed thinking of it. Genie+, the price of everything…it’s all so overwhelming. I’ve been going consistently since 2000 and I’ve never felt like this.

 

[Juliet25]

And one big part of the stress is that I have to start the day trying to get a LL instead of taking care of it 60 days in advance. I’m not relishing the early morning stress.

 

[Jen81NYC]

And one big part of the stress is that I have to start the day trying to get a LL instead of taking care of it 60 days in advance. I’m not relishing the early morning stress.

This is exactly my issue. All the uncertainty! The one trip we planned before (that got canceled due to Covid) had a lot legwork but once it was done, i felt solid about our dining plans and FP rides. Now it seems like availability could be all over the place and don’t relish the hassle of 7am stress every morning while app glitches and kids whine for who knows what