Planning is almost as fun as the trip itself!(Kind of long)

[Karibeth19]

I came to that conclusion today, and here's how. We just got back from our recent trip a couple of weeks ago, and I developed a serious case of what I like to call PDD (Post Disney Depression). DH and I had been tossing around dates when we could go back, but hadn't come up with anything feasible. Then, this morning he called me over to the computer where he had pulled up several calendars. Now, if you read my tag line, you'll see my other favorite thing is OU Sooner football. We are season ticket holders, and we plan our trips to Dallas for the annual OU/Texas game months in advance. My husband usually takes one of his vacations around this time, so he has plenty of time off for the game weekend, and also because my DD is out of school for two days the following week for fall break. Anyway, he has come up with a plan that we can drive to Dallas on Fri. afternoon, Oct. 8, be there for the game on Saturday, and leave early Sunday to drive to Orlando, probably arriving mid morning Monday. We would stay until the following Monday, and DD would only miss 4 days of school. I was so excited, and I immediately jumped on the computer to start getting info on Oct., like events, crowds, room rates, etc. (We could be there for the Food and Wine festival and MNSSHP!). That's when it hit me! I thought I was depressed because the trip was over, but really, I was depressed because there was no more planning to do!! I mean, you can always plan and have fun reading the boards, but it's so much more fun when there's an actual date to plan for. So, even though it's not definite yet, and I'm trying not to get too excited, the prospect of getting to plan another trip has pretty much cured my PDD! Am I the only one who enjoys planning this much? Going by the popularity of the Disboards, surely not!

 

[renessa]

I feel your pain....my last trip was July 2002!!! Just today my dh & I decided that July 2005 will be at the Poly! I am so excited to have a trip to plan. It's nearly 1AM and I'm on a disney high!!!
I love to plan!! I read all the books, check all the sites, plan a spreadsheet on excel...etc. It's so great to have a new countdown!!!

 

[kaylajr]

Planning trips is how i Survive from one trip to the next
or i would have SDW (serious disney withdrawl)

it's so bad here i will even settle for planning trips for others just to get my disney fix

am i obsessed ?? yup !

we are going in Oct also
the first week and i have been planning for a few months

glad i'm not the only one who thinks planning is part of the magic

 

[sarahsmom73]

I have been "planning" planning for our Easter trip since last April... I am so ADDICTED!!! It truly is part of the experience! I hope convine DH on this trip that we will need to go back again... and again.....

 

[mad4themouse]

I've been planning our next trip since before our cruise sailed last August. Check my tagline, too.

 

[kilee]

I think it's the case for most of us here. Whenever we are at WDW, it's usually the last day at the parks that we are already trying to toss around the next set of dates. It helps ease the depression right away. I honestly don't see how some people let a TA plan the whole thing for them. I truly do enjoy every minute of planning each day.

 

[minster22]

I will never forget what a teacher said to our class many years ago........."When does your trip really start?For me it begins the moment I decide to go and begin planning. That allows me to have a trip that lasts almost forever because I am always planning a trip!" And this was long before Disney !!! What a wise woman! That thought has always stuck with me and I think one(of the infinite number)of the reasons all of us obessive planners love WDW trips soooooo much is because of the planning opportunites that exist with all of the different components of the trip. Then you add the excitement of possible discounts becoming available, the release of park hours, e-nights and anything else that comes into the mix and you have a Trip Planners Delight!!! And of course with the onset of the medical condition known as PDD(Post Disney Depression) trip planning becomes a medical necessity!!

 

[always quiet]

I love planning for trips!!! Normally, I start as we are driving back home!!! I always have my Passporter book handy....ready to take notes at a moments notice!!

 

[disneyjunkie]

Due to all of my "crazy" planning our first trip was a huge success. All of my friends that had gone in the summer kept telling me not go then. They said it's to hot, you'll spend most of your time in lines...

Since I'd spent so much time here, and reading every guide book I could get my hands on, we were ready for the heat, crowds, and lines.

Without all the extra planning, I would not have know about EE, Eride night, fastpass, riding in front of the monorail, codes,PS,
the list goes on.


I can't imagine taking a trip to disney without plannig.

The fact that my family and friends think I'm crazy doesn't matter much.

 

[SuBeat]

My ususal post holiday depression was compounded by post Disney depression as well since we returned home December 28. I was just in a real funk, and told DH I needed a trip to plan. We finally settled on dates last week and I am feeling SO much better now that I have something to plan. It is truly half the fun for me. Like I told DH (while trying to commit him to a June trip) I have had a trip in the works consistantly since 1/02, and I wasn't coping well without one. Now all is right in my world.

 

[sonmer]

I am so glad I read this. I've been a little stressed out by the planning. Now, I realize I should just enjoy it too! Thanks

 

[tc]

I just got asked to accompany a friend, her husband and their new baby to WDW March 17-21. He won an award with his company, and I will be watching the baby while they are at luncheons and dinners. The rest of the time, I am on my own. I am so excited. I didn't think I'd be back until May 2005. I've been planning my daughter's honeymoon for May 2004, but it's just not the same. I only have 37 days to plan what I'll do the four days I'm there, and I am so excited.

Planning is so much fun, it puts the sun back in winter!!!

 

[mariessas_mom]

Could you have a good trip to WDW without lots of planning? No way, you have to have a good game plan! There is just too much to see and do, some which require ressies way ahead of time. Have you ever heard of people complaining about their trip? Well, it is the one's that just show up and wander around and fight about what to do.

Plus I agree with everyone else here, planning is soooo much fun. I read every detail I can possible get my hands on about WDW. My DH says I should know everything there is to know already. But that's the beauty of it, you never know it all no matter how many times you've been or how much research you do. WDW is a constantly changing and ever evolving place with suprises around every bend.

Also, without planning...what else could there possibly be to do between trips? WDW is not a vacation destination- it is a way of life! Let's all so the happy planning dance!

 

[asa'smom]

Been planning for our 2005 Christmas trip since we returned from Disney in July 2003. Loving every minute of it.

 

[funhouse8]

Last winter my DH came home from work and wanted to drive to WDW for the feb break. it was at the end of the week. Well I was so excited Then my son said Mom, you can't go without planning you love that as much as the trip and I realize he was right so I planned our trip for 12/28-1/9/ Now I am home and I don't have any dates yet but I'm keeping my fingers crossed, I can't wait to be going back. Gina

 

[MelessaG]

Hey Sooner fan! I'm in Norman, OK! I know what you mean. I'm alrady obsessively planning our Dec. 2004 trip and couldn't be happier now that we have dates in place and ideas for what we want to do on this trip. I think we even get to stay on Disney property this time!
Actually, I'm in the late 2nd trimester with baby #4 and my DH says I'm planning trips instead of nesting. If that's true-it's way more fun than cleaning.
So how do you manage to get OU/Texas tickets?
I'll wave in your direction next time I'm in Tulsa visiting my grandparents.

 

[Karibeth19]

It's been fun to read everyone's posts and see I'm not the only obsessive planner. I totally agree with Mariessas_mom, in that you have to plan to have a good trip, no matter how many times you've been. The place is so big, and there will always be things to do you've never done before. Our last trip was my 7th, and because of my planning I discovered the Adventurers Club, lunch at Crystal Palace, Timekeeper, and a few other things I had never done.

Hey Melessa! It's great to hear from a fellow Oklahoman!! I absolutely love Norman, which is good because we spend almost every weekend in the fall down there. We're donors and season ticket holders so that's how we get Texas tickets. Although, since the stadium addition caused them to redistribute Texas tickets, we went from upper deck 30 yard line seats to end zone. Oh well, at least we're in the stadium, right? Boomer Sooner!

 

[Kaycee]

I'm always planning the next trip - even when I'm at WDW! Otherwise, I'd just be way too depressed when a trip is over. Even while we're there, we'll say things like "we didn't get to that this time, so we'll save it until next time" or "we really loved that, we'll do it again next time." As soon as I get home, I reset my countdown clock for a tentative date. That way, it feels like I'm planning a real trip. I may have to change the countdown clock (life does tend to get in the way sometimes) but that's okay...as long as I know there will be another trip and I'm planning for it, I'm happy!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I really enjoy the planing of my trip. It is almost as much fun and helps on a cold dreary Sunday night! Like right now.

You can't plan everything down to the last minute with small children but you really can make a much better trip with some forethought!

 

[ColoradoDis]

Must plan. Must plan. Must plan.

I love planning our vacations whether it's to Hawaii, Mexico, the mountains and especially WDW. Without you all, I wouldn't know that there are discount codes that have allowed us to stay on property, hidden mickey's, a fireworks view from the California Grill or Storm Along Bay.

Planning allows my vacations to last at least 6 months (sometimes longer). My favorite vacation to plan for though is to WDW. No other popular vacation spot has fun tools like the Passporter and the Unofficial Guide. In addition, I get to spend time with others who understand the Disney magic.

Thanks to you!

By the way, I'm a Nebraska Husker fan but always root for the Sooners!