Planning turns your brain to mush

[ssjerauld]

OK--I've researched the prices for our top choices for our post-Thanksgiving-pre-Christmas-thanks-for-everything-you've-done-for-us-over-the-years trip for my parents. I've priced everything room only, with MYW, with dining, with deluxe dining, with tax, without tax (yeah-right ). Tonight's the night--I'm ready to make the call!! Stop at the grocery store on the way home--dog wants to eat--reach for purse on passenger seat--where is my Disney notebook, complete with all my notes AND --more importantly--my postcard with my 20% off pincode?? Oh, it's back at the STORE on the SEWING TABLE !!!!! I briefly consider making the 40 mile round trip, but at the cost of gas quickly decide that I will be making my phone call------tomorrow

 

[disney-super-mom]

Oooops.

Well at least you know all your research is safe and sound.

 

[disneydreamin247]

It's the dog's fault. Did it REALLY need to eat tonight

 

[disneyobessed]

god i drive my husband nuts with planning.. i have all the adrs done and made now i want to possibly change a few... my brain seriously hurts after a few hours of scheduling extra /early hours... dinners... One year i want to go down without anything planned or booked.. I wonder what would happen?

 

[Harambe]

Disney planning - as much as I like it - can preoccupy me so much that I sometimes forget what I'm doing, or what I'm talking about, or, um . . .

What's the question again? Was there a question?

 

[TarzansKat]

god i drive my husband nuts with planning.. i have all the adrs done and made now i want to possibly change a few... my brain seriously hurts after a few hours of scheduling extra /early hours... dinners... One year i want to go down without anything planned or booked.. I wonder what would happen?

I don't know if you all will shake your heads and

but...long before I discovered the DIS, or had my DS, DH and I loved going to the World, just the two of us. On these trips, we would only plan one table service, typically Crystal Palace, one of my favorites, and the rest of the time we would wing it. Now, we enjoy counter service since we don't eat a lot of junk type food during the year. I love chicken strips in the World, and hot dogs at Casey's, to me they just taste better there (must be that Disney air)!

So that being said, in the mornings we would wake up and say, which park do you want to go to today...some days we would decide by which bus came first, and you know what...those are some of my best vacation memories, you go where you feel, do what you can, eat when you're hungry, and don't worry about what you may have "missed"...since, however the inception of free dining, I have been spoiled by certain TS! I think you can do the World either way and be happy, it's all about your perspective...just my two cents.

 

[Reginak]

We like winging it the best of all, too. However, since the inception of the dining plan, it is nearly impossible to get into some restaurants without ADR's.
Regina

 

[TarzansKat]

We like winging it the best of all, too. However, since the inception of the dining plan, it is nearly impossible to get into some restaurants without ADR's.
Regina

How true, how true.

 

[vellamint]

You know what.....I think these boards contribute to the obsession of needing ADRs and "oh my free dining" - which for some is great but for others make it a chore...

And i havent decided which one I am lol.

 

[TarzansKat]

You know what.....I think these boards contribute to the obsession of needing ADRs and "oh my free dining" - which for some is great but for others make it a chore...

And i havent decided which one I am lol.

I agree! Some days I think, oh let's just book a trip in a month we actually want instead of always waiting for free dining in Sept, other days my frugal side gets to me when I think of all the table services I can eat at that I wouldn't otherwise be able to afford...decisions, decisions.

 

[fla4fun]

I don't have to worry about free dining, because I usually go solo in September and I can make out better with an AP or resident discount on the room and buying food, than I would paying rack rate and getting food free. After so many years of Disney trips, planning them is almost a no brainer once the room is booked (I drive, not fly). I have booked a trip with as little as four days notice, and had a great time.

However, I am going nuts planning my sister's 40th birthday trip. I had been working on it for six months, trying to get all the details right before booking, and then she finds out what my "second" choice was and prefers to go there instead! So with less than three months to go my planning took a literal 180 degree turn. Fortunately, I was able to get the hotel and airfare nailed down, but cramming all that planning into three months is driving me nuts! It's too bad she's not a Disney fan!

 

[TarzansKat]

I don't have to worry about free dining, because I usually go solo in September and I can make out better with an AP or resident discount on the room and buying food, than I would paying rack rate and getting food free. After so many years of Disney trips, planning them is almost a no brainer once the room is booked (I drive, not fly). I have booked a trip with as little as four days notice, and had a great time.

However, I am going nuts planning my sister's 40th birthday trip. I had been working on it for six months, trying to get all the details right before booking, and then she finds out what my "second" choice was and prefers to go there instead! So with less than three months to go my planning took a literal 180 degree turn. Fortunately, I was able to get the hotel and airfare nailed down, but cramming all that planning into three months is driving me nuts! It's too bad she's not a Disney fan!

Take about stress! I"m glad you were able to get what you wanted, and don't worry, I'm sure it'll work out for you. I confess, I am totally envious of your solo trips! I don't know what I would do in the World without my family....whatever I wanted, I guess!

 

[fla4fun]

Take about stress! I"m glad you were able to get what you wanted, and don't worry, I'm sure it'll work out for you. I confess, I am totally envious of your solo trips! I don't know what I would do in the World without my family....whatever I wanted, I guess!

Solo trips are great! You do get to do just what you want, when you want, without worrying that it will disappoint anyone else. You don't really have to plan much of anything, unless you really want to. Although I sometimes go with family or friends, I really love the solo trips. Maybe you can try a day on your own during a family trip sometime, just to get a feel for it.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

We once decided to go to Disney on 24 hours notice! We didn't get a room on site, but it was one of the best trips ever just because it was so spontanious! We only had one DD at the time and she was not yet in school. We couldn't do that now with 2 in school.

The last 2 trips (2005 & 2007), I made all the plans (well in advance) for a large family group and it is sooo tiring. I was in the process of planning a November '08 trip with ext. family and we decided to throw in an April '08 trip for just the 4 of us. Both ways are good, just very different!

 

[JKB DIS]

We are in the process of planning out Oct. 2008 trip. Just waiting for the 180 day mark for dinner reservations, and the Oct. park hours to come out. I have to admit I LOVE planning a trip to Disney. In 2006, I felt a little pressure because I was planning for the extended family of 11. Seven of which had never been to Disney before. In 2007, it was only my immediate family. Now in 2008, the other seven decided they loved it so much we are all going back. I can't wait!!!