Panic is setting in! Please help calm me!

[vital]

We are leaving in 5 days! I've done my itinerary with TGM, made my ADR's, got my tickets in the mail, crossed off everything on my shopping list and tested the capacity of my suitcases but still feel like I don't know what I'm doing! This is my first time and I'm taking my DS6 and ex-MIL. (Yes, it's my ex, but we get along better now than ever and it's nice to have help with DS.)
I feel like I'm going to screw everything up and freak out if things don't go according to plan! We've made our lists of the "Must do or we'll die" rides and attractions. I've planned on riding all the rides on that list first thing in the morning and kinda taking the rest of the day as it comes. We are also taking a break right after lunch and going back to resort to swim and nap until our dinner reservations. We are planning on taking the night as it comes. The only must do's at night are Fantasmic, which we are doing the last night and Wishes.
Please tell me that once I get there all the stress will melt away especially when I see my son's eyes light up at the sight of the castle. I usually go to the beach or take a cruise for vacation so all this excessive planning is making my head hurt!
Did I mention I'm kinda a control freak?
Y'all have been fantastic and I figured if anyone knew how I felt it'd be at least one person here .

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

I'm so excited for you!! Relax and have a great trip!

 

[Cameo]

I think most of us here are Type A's (or we wouldn't be here!!). It sounds like you have a good "relax for part of the day plan." I know that my kids tend to get overwhelmed (especially the first few trips) and really need some down time.

Words of advice - be flexible. If you get to one of your must-do rides and it is shut down for the day, don't panic. Check on it later. It may be back up again. Also, be prepared for weather and/or illness. In our many trips to Disney, it never fails - something always happens. We've had cancelled flight home, a hurricane (confined to our room for the afternoon/evening), husband with food poisoning, DD6 with respiratory illness (trip to the clinic), DS5 who couldn't have a bowel movement (for 7 days!!! - He finally went at Fantasmic, we will never forget that!!) and me with a ruptured disk in my neck (trip to chiropractor and clinic). Needless to say, it kills me when things ruin my schedule, but I've learned to get past it. And, you know, weird as it is, some of these things are oddly good memories because we look at them with humor now.

One other thought, if Fantasmic is a must-do, consider trying it earlier in your trip (if it fits your schedule). If you get rained out on your last night, you will miss it.

HAVE FUN!!!!!

 

[Sonno]

Beer. Drink lots of beer. Or wine, yeah, that's the ticket. Drink lots of wine. Sleep. Or even better, hot shower and sleep.
No, even better yet, lots of wine, hot bath, sleep.

There ya go!

 

[aunt kelly]

I'm a fellow compulsive planner. Based on my experience, I can assure you that something will go awry with your plans. Much to my surprise, I've found that we had a great time on every trip even though things never worked quite according to plan.

Don't be surprised if your group ends up loving something that the guidebooks deem a
"minor attraction." Go with the flow and let your son and his grandmother enjoy doing what they want to do-even if the guidebooks tell you there is something better around the corner!

Even if things don't go according to plan, your planning will pay off! Have a great time!

 

[Rella Bella]

Plan all you want before you go... (it sounds like you're ready)
but once you arrive take a deep breath and relax!!
There is no way you can do it all in one trip.
So, relax, do what you can, enjoy your family and let the magic happen!

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

Be prepared to go with the flow. It is great that you have your plans. Plans are great just as long as they are not set in stone and you can be flexible if something doesn't go as planned.

I would also include Spectromagic as a must do evening event.

And I second the advise about not waiting until the last night for any of your evening must do's. Nothing worse than getting rained out and you can always do your favorite one a second time then.

I am sure you will have a great trip.

 

[vital]

Beer. Drink lots of beer. Or wine, yeah, that's the ticket. Drink lots of wine. Sleep. Or even better, hot shower and sleep.
No, even better yet, lots of wine, hot bath, sleep.

There ya go!

Thanks alot! I took your advice and drank some wine, fell asleep in the bath tub and slipped and fell when I got out. Now I have to go to Disney on crutches!
Really, that's what I plan to do the night before I leave minus the falling thing . I've already scoped out the bar at the pool for the afternoons when the day hasn't been so relaxing!
I am so trying to relax when it comes to the trip, but everytime I come here I read about something going awry or something I'd like to do that's not on my list. I guess since it's the first time I really don't know what to expect and it's kinda freaking me out! I mean, I usually go to the beach and there's really not a whole lot of planning there .
I really do appreciate all of the advice you can give me. It's just coming down to crunch time and I'm freaking out. Must be the excitement . Kinda feel like a kid again, but isn't that the idea?!

 

[BYC]

I think you are missing the boat if you don't include Illuminations in your night time activities. I think it is better than Fantasmic or Wishes.

 

[my2boys1821]

I can totally relate! I've been steadily planning this trip since Jan. and now we are packed and ready to leave tomorrow night. But in the back of my head I feel panic, like what is going to go wrong. I am a very positive person but for some reason I feel like all my plans afe going to go up in smoke once we get there.

I think I'll take the advice of the previous poster, while relaxing at the pool have a cocktail or two. While strolling through the World Showcase, have another cocktail. I am on vacation, right.

 

[Amirah95]

You're going to have a great time! Don't worry. Follow your TGM plans and you'll be fine. HAVE A WONDERFUL TRIP!!!

 

[DisneyClay]

Most important just have fun.

 

[drumwebb]

I am right there with you. We leave Sunday night and I am close to panic! I've done all the planning I can do but feel out of control on what I can't foresee. It is our first trip also! Last night I dreamed about being there - the castle turned out to be nothing more than a playhouse, our Cinderella breakfast was not in the castle but outside and I had forgotten our reservation # for the breakfast! I woke up quite panicky! I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that we won't be able to do everything on our list. But it won't matter as long as my girls have a good time!

Hope you have a good trip! We can compare notes when we get back!

 

[vital]

I am right there with you. We leave Sunday night and I am close to panic! I've done all the planning I can do but feel out of control on what I can't foresee. It is our first trip also! Last night I dreamed about being there - the castle turned out to be nothing more than a playhouse, our Cinderella breakfast was not in the castle but outside and I had forgotten our reservation # for the breakfast! I woke up quite panicky! I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that we won't be able to do everything on our list. But it won't matter as long as my girls have a good time!

Hope you have a good trip! We can compare notes when we get back!

Where are you staying? If you are at POFQ, you'll most likely see us at the pool in the afternoon sipping on a beer and cooling off. It'll be 2 ladies and DS6.

 

[vital]

I think you are missing the boat if you don't include Illuminations in your night time activities. I think it is better than Fantasmic or Wishes.

I forgot to post Illuminations! I think we are going to try it the first night since we are eating dinner at Garden Grill at 630!

 

[mmeb144]

I plan compulsively for months before we set foot on the property. We always have a great time, thanks in part to all that planning. My family really appreciates me! But, they also appreciate it when I let one of my plans go, like we missed the Jammin' Jungle parade at AK last time because everyone was so tired. Oh well, not like it won't be there next time we go at Christmas.

Marie

 

[ZoZo]

I agree with the other posters: Plan, plan, plan before you go, but when you get there, do your best to go with the flow.

It will ruin your trip if you feel like you have to rush around everywhere, sticking to a rigid plan. Remind yourself to slow down and enjoy the little things, take some time to people-watch, build in some "down time", be flexible about changing your plans if something interesting comes up! Don't become one of those WDW "commandos" who barks at their family if they dare to deviate from the plan. Sometimes the things that end up being the most fun are the things you didn't plan!

It sounds like you did a good job planning ahead - now make sure you enjoy your trip!

 

[SnwflkCts]

I think it is the FIRST TIME FREAK-OUT cause I was the same way. Do try to go with the flow. Not get too disappointed if you can't fit it all in. Actually your "slipping in the tub" bit was sooo funny, I can tell you have a sense of humor. Have fun, hang loose -- remember ... there may just have to be another trip back if you miss doing something.

 

[snusnu]

When we went on our cruise last year, I planned beyond obsessively for almost a year. No stone was left unturned, no excursion was left unresearched, and about two weeks before we went, I starting having nightmares. I dreamt that I couldn't get my suitcases out the door, that my husband was a terrorist and they wouldn't let us on the boat, that the flights never took off, you name it. Once on the shipIt took me days to calm down enough to enjoy myself without feeling like I was going to wake up from a dream. One night of seasickness actually helped bring me back to earth!

Take a little planning break now and let yourself relax. If you get too worked up, it could take away some of your enjoyment. I've learned my lession!

 

[huey578]

We are leaving in 5 days! I've done my itinerary with TGM, made my ADR's, got my tickets in the mail, crossed off everything on my shopping list and tested the capacity of my suitcases but still feel like I don't know what I'm doing! This is my first time and I'm taking my DS6 and ex-MIL. (Yes, it's my ex, but we get along better now than ever and it's nice to have help with DS.)
I feel like I'm going to screw everything up and freak out if things don't go according to plan! We've made our lists of the "Must do or we'll die" rides and attractions. I've planned on riding all the rides on that list first thing in the morning and kinda taking the rest of the day as it comes. We are also taking a break right after lunch and going back to resort to swim and nap until our dinner reservations. We are planning on taking the night as it comes. The only must do's at night are Fantasmic, which we are doing the last night and Wishes.
Please tell me that once I get there all the stress will melt away especially when I see my son's eyes light up at the sight of the castle. I usually go to the beach or take a cruise for vacation so all this excessive planning is making my head hurt!
Did I mention I'm kinda a control freak?
Y'all have been fantastic and I figured if anyone knew how I felt it'd be at least one person here .

Everything will turn out just right, just jump in and enjoy the ride