Park plans/OVERWHELMED

[Cbrtls5]

I am so overwhelmed! I have studied and studied. We just got our park tickets so I went to make FP today. I'm trying to remember all of the do's and don'ts and I'm completely overwhelmed. How do you remember what order to do events in? I did join touring plans and had a plan made for me. But, I just feel lost as trying to decide what to make a fast pass for, which order to tour parks and what to do!

Anyone else feel this way?

 

[Chippy4]

The fast pass sticky thread at the top of this forum was so helpful to me when I made fast passes for my first (recent) trip. I found the list of suggested fast priorities to be especially helpful (it's one of the first few posts in the thread).

 

[larsonb74]

I am so overwhelmed! I have studied and studied. We just got our park tickets so I went to make FP today. I'm trying to remember all of the do's and don'ts and I'm completely overwhelmed. How do you remember what order to do events in? I did join touring plans and had a plan made for me. But, I just feel lost as trying to decide what to make a fast pass for, which order to tour parks and what to do!

Anyone else feel this way?

Take a breath and relax, everything will work out. Remember this is supposed to be fun. First know who your traveling with and their limitations. Download the my experience app if you haven't and use it. We've hit rides on our way between FP's by checking wait times on the move. Remember each FP is good for 1 hr so maximize that to your advantage. (FP @ 9, next at 10, means you have until 11 to get there. Leaves time for other stuff) We try to knock out our first set of 3 fp early, depending if we are there at rope drop or not. Mornings are usually less busy so book FP's starting after 9:30-10. Once your in line at the 3rd schedule your 4th. Try not to spread your FP locations too far apart, saves running back and forth in the park. Stagger your lunch and dinner times from the norm helps as ride lines get shorter due to people eating at 12 & 5. Im sure others will have more helpful tips.

 

[TXDisneyFan1]

It's okay...it does seem like a daunting task, but once you start making progress you will get on a roll and things will fall into place. I can only tell you my routine:

1. Look at a couple of trusted websites and see the park they most recommend for my days and choose a park for each day.
2. Plan my ADRs (some coincide with our park for the day and some don't)
3. Make a list of our top 3 rides in each park
4. For rope drop days, make my first fast pass for around 10:30 am. Sometimes, we do 2 before lunch and one after or vice versa. Sometimes, we save fast passes for the night. (but, not often)

Have fun planning! You can always go back and tweak your plans.

 

[Cbrtls5]

Thanks. Right now I'm just trying to come up with a plan to tour/tackle the parks. SO much information.. I just want this trip to be great and it seems harder than it was 10 years ago LOL

 

[pammydw]

All good advice above. We are very similar in planning with @TXDisneyFan1. We make our ADR's in a couple weeks, so we sat down to make our preliminary itinerary last night. Keeping in mind where we are eating and what rides are near so when we make our fp's, we have somewhat of a plan, with 2nd choices. So, I suggest,have 2nd choices and remember, it's hard to do it all, so plan for what your group will enjoy the most and have fun. Plus, if there is something you really want to ride, keep checking. You may get lucky! I was thrilled to have come across these boards when we were planning our first trip, and it was so helpful. I realized that we actually needed a plan! Now that we feel somewhat "seasoned" planning is half the fun. Good luck! I hope you have a magical time. Just breathe and make the best plan you can!

 

[sharonabe]

Thanks. Right now I'm just trying to come up with a plan to tour/tackle the parks. SO much information.. I just want this trip to be great and it seems harder than it was 10 years ago LOL

Once you come up with a plan of which parks, which days, post it here and people will help you refine it if needed. Knowing which park you want each day will make the rest of it easier.

 

[Klayfish]

Thanks. Right now I'm just trying to come up with a plan to tour/tackle the parks. SO much information.. I just want this trip to be great and it seems harder than it was 10 years ago LOL

It's only harder if you let it be. I know it sounds like a cop out answer, but my own $.02 is to stop worrying about it. Pick the FP+ for the rides you and your group want to go on. Don't worry about the "perfect" plan, because there is no such thing. Rain happens, rides break down, plans change. You should be trying to "tackle" the parks, you should be trying to enjoy your time there. I don't mean to be dissecting your statement, don't take it that way. But don't look at it in that perspective. Like someone else said, this is supposed to be fun. One persons' "do" is another persons' "don't". So pick what you want and enjoy it.

We're just 9 days out from being able to start picking our FP+, and I'm beyond excited. DW and I are going to sit down this Saturday and make a very rough outline of what parks we're going to be in on what day, so that we know what parks to pick FP+ in. But outside of that, we're going to pick the FP+ that we want. That's it, no planning required.

Enjoy!!!

 

[KimBean]

I can plan down to the last detail that being said usually we don't stick to it so as many posters said don't sweat it too much. I feel like the more knowledgeable you are going into WDW and then once you get there the more go with the flow flexible you are is really the sweet spot for a successful vacation.

The planning you are doing I try to do in a systematic way and then not worry about it anymore.

Pick park days, plan ADRs around that,for each park day pick the 3 with longest waits or if you have smaller kids OR a shorter trip then your 3 top priorities and go from there. If you are rope droppers plan them after an early lunch. If you get to park when you get there plan them for your arrival time so you can try to get 4+ since you didn't have the RD benefit.

 

[LovesTimone]

It is overwhelming... Take a couple of deep breaths, grab something to drink, clear your head for a few moment before diving back in. When I plan... really anything that I plan I have few things I ask myself,

Whose going and does anyone have some limitations, like might need a naps, slower pace for certain members of the family, also does anyone have medication that needs to be taken on with food, or at a certain time.

What is the purpose of our trip, celebrations, relaxation, family time...

Budget

For going to visit Mickey and the gang. I always make my ADR's first, then fill in with everything else. I also write each day on a piece of paper and lay it out to see what I have really going on. Like if we are staying in the park late I don't want early breakfast ADR's or rope drop plans for the next day. For me putting it on paper and looking at it works best, I hate trying to flip, slide or scroll up and down, laying it out just works better for me.

I pick the most important rides for FP, and try to get in a ride in between FP times, for instance, If we have a 11:00 Peter pan, I will try to do small world, then Peter Pan (FP), over to Mickeys philharmonic the maybe to Winnie the Pooh (FP), then keep going from there.

 

[loves to dive]

Take a breath, it doesn't have to be overwhelming or even require that much planning. It's a sin to say, I know, but really all you need to do is plan your 3 FPs and any ADRs you think you might want and just relax. It doesn't matter what day you do which park, you are going to find different numbers on different sites as to which day is best, they are, at best, a guess. Frankly, we don't even book ADRs in advance, we have never had any problems getting them the night before or the day of. As another said, someone else's must do or way of planning might not be yours. Also remember, if you don't ride that must do ride (SDMT and FEA I'm looking at you) it's not the end of the world. There is so much to see and do at WDW you can't do it all so just don't stress it. Go with the plan that your plan is going to have flaws and be prepared to just go with the flow and enjoy it.

 

[dreiwhit]

It is overwhelming. My wife and I (mostly my wife) will plan out our trips and it does take a lot of effort. I joking say to my wife that the only equivilent to planning for Disney is planning for a military campaign!

As the old saying goes "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time" - we apply that to our Disney planning. We also try not to stress over it.

After our trip, it takes about 4 months before we forget about the planning and are ready to go on another trip.

 

[larsonb74]

Also remember to prep for rain and heat. If you have little ones take advantage of the A.C. baby changing areas for an uncrowded break from the heat. They have couches, tv for slightly older kids, supplies you may have forgotten, baby supplies, etc.

 

[Hootch]

I changed several times in the afternoon on our first day without any problem. Even a few days after our 60 day there were choice FPs available.

 

[jcvalenti]

I'll just tell you what I tell everyone planning their first trip - remember it's supposed to be a vacation, and you're supposed to have fun ! Just relax a bit, and accept the fact absolutely no one can do and see everything. Heck - when I first started coming to Disney, there were no fast passes or Advance Dining Reservations - it was a blast. The most stress you faced on a trip was walking briskly from the park entrance at Epcot to the television screens under Spaceship Earth to make a dinner reservation. Worst case scenario ? You got Rose & Crown instead of Alfredo's - oh no !

Now everything is so meticulously scheduled, I think people get into such a hurry to do everything on their schedule, they miss out on all the great ambiance and spontaneity

 

[richmo]

I have to agree with most of the above. The main thing to remember is no matter how well you prepare, how much you plan, how long you're there, how early you get up or how late you go to bed, you will not get to do everything. Its fine that you got some plans from touring plans, but don't feel compelled to stick with them, or you may find you don't have time for a bathroom break. Vacation is supposed to be relaxing; make sure you have time for spontaneity. I'm not sure what your family makeup is, but if the kids (or you) have a "let's do it again!" moment, do it.

That being said, I would have an idea of which park you want to do on what days (touring plans should help with that), set up FP+'s for things that are important to you (and understand how to get more for a day once you've tapped in for your 3rd of the day -- especially useful at Magic Kingdom) and set parks/FP's around any dining plans you may have. Beyond that, try not to get obsessed with planning. Don't forget to just take it all in, find time to rest and have fun!

 

[Cbrtls5]

Thanks so much!

 

[aviva5675]

I agree that trying to figure out first what park to go to each day is important-- lowest expected crowd level gets the choice. Rope drop every day. I think you can get at least 2 rides out of the way right away without using FP- so plan your FP for starting later in the morning. IE at EPCOT rope drop right to Soarin, but have a FP for Test Track for a bit later. After you know your park days, do your ADR. Plan for a break in the day- by lunch we are usually wiped out- go back to hotel and chill/nap/swim...go back to park later for more things and seeing it all lit up. Or park hop if you have hoppers. Dont sweat it if your plans change- like others have said, much is out of your hands

 

[asc]

Sadly, this is what a visit has become. Good luck. This is the reason why I've not been back in coming on three years.

 

[richmo]

Once again, I think everyone can have their own plans and expectations. An earlier post mentioned rope drop every day. My feeling on that is I get up early five days a week 50 weeks a year. Disney is vacation to me; I've never felt the need to make rope drop and I've never intentionally made it a goal to get there for that. On occasion, if we've happened to be up in time, fine. I'm not setting an alarm on vacation unless there's a flight to catch. (That being said, I'm not letting my kids to sleep to noon, either). If your goal is to maximize the number of attractions you get in a day, maybe you do a rope drop every day. For me/us, setting the FP+'s up in a sensible way is good enough, and more or less winging it after that.