Planner's worries

[twinsman]

Ok, here is a question I have not seen yet. We are going to DW with a group of 10, ages 38,35,35,35, 8,8,6,6,3,3. I enjoy planning and see that planning will add to the enjoyment of all. My dilemma is this. I have spent a lot of time planning and have been instructed by the three 35 year olds to plan the trip and they will follow the plan. I have tried to build a lot of options in so that I am not accountable for the whole thing. Has anyone out there found a good way to balance planning with being flexible. I am really concerned that I will be disappointed if we don't use the strategy I have learned from all of you, but I don't want to be commander and chief all day everyday either. Any suggestions?

 

[Rodrigo]

with my family and my brother's family.

I have the idea of plan only the general guidelines, for example what park hit each day, which days for EE or late shows, etc., and let the details of those days be very flexible.

I get along very well with my brother, and have a very similar tastes, so I hope things will flow very easy during the trip.

Maybe you should be prepared to split the group during some part of the days, if the older kids want to ride something the little kids can't go on.

 

[Saffron]

I'm with you Twinsman. Because I plan so much for so long, I really remember which attractions and which little things I would like to see but because I throw the detailed plans out the window it takes the pressure off of me. After all, it is my vacation (and your vacation) too.

I also found that the it is better to limit the options or you will hear "I don't care, I don't know, sounds good to me". If everyone has given you the responsibility and joy of planning than go ahead and make the plans you know everyone will enjoy. It's Disney! Everyone will have a great time especially since you will be taking the stress out of it for them!

I would just plan the big stuff: which parks on which days, which attractions not to miss, sit down meals and days to rest. When you are at the parks, at your hotel or on a day off just go with the flow. Hakuna Matata!

Have a great trip!

 

[Plan Man]

Plan breakfast.
Plan Park.
-give everyone a map and a list of the don't miss rides.
-plan free/open time - a little b4 lunch a little b4 dinner
Lunch on your own (that way different people can eat different foods)
Plan when you will leave the park.
Plan dinner
Plan evening ( Have a late plan and an early plan)

Plan a light day after a busy day but give people options during the day with planned meeting times.

Keep everyone in mind and run through your days. Will everyone enjoy part of every day as if were planned for them alone? If so - you have a winner!



Good luck.

Some of the most fun I have is seeing someone enjoy the plan I created.

 

[sshd]

We have found out it is best to just plan what park you will be at on what day. Avoid the MK on Saturday. But we plan out what park we are going to each day and then get the hours for that day and try to get there when they open. It is usually less crowed for the first hour or so. Then we know what the first things we have to do at each park are but after that we go with the flow. We go where the lines are shortest. MK Dumbo, pooh, and buzz are first things to do. At Epcot it is either the test track or the imagination ride and then the honey I shrunk the audience show. At MGM we do tower of terror first. At the AK we do Dinosaur first. Those just seem to be the best for us. They avoid a lot of lines later.