Preferred format of a planner for WDW

[Acedink]

I plan to make my own, but anyone who has made a printed schedule, what has been the best format?

Did you put the hours down the left side, and then fill in your ADR's, FP's, etc?

Did you put one day on a sheet or your whole trip?

I'm going w/ my wife, daughter, and my parents, and the meals are sometimes different, the FP's are sometimes different, so I wanted to make sure everyone knows where they're reservations are.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Cricket2]

I Start with Excel sheet in 3 phases:
Initial build which allows for day changing easily (used very early in process)
Detailed build which hours reservation #'s etc. are added in a cleaner form
Final build where everything looks perfect for layout and just details are changed.

From there I export it to a PDF
Then I export the PDF into a TIFF graphic (for resolution)
Then I add park graphics and color.
That graphic is exported into a webpage so I can access it from anywhere and so can everyone in my party.

Format includes in columns:
Transportation method (Boat, Car)
Park Graphics (or event graphics)
Function indicator ("L" means lunch etc.)
Actual event description ("Check Out of Wilderness Lodge" or "Room Break" etc.)
Descriptor (Flight #, reservation # etc.)
Time (start time)
Extra column (End time or expected cost or valid discount such as AP or DVC for dinners)
Dates are added as the form goes up and down

Everything I could ever need is in a compact easy to read and refer to graphic and requires little to understand but also only short glances are required to figure something out. It can be easily adjusted for multiple parties traveling together and allows for splitting up with common elements.

 

[TinkerElsasMom]

I use Excel. Each day has a heading of which park I'm going to. I break the day down into half hour increments and fill things in as I plan. For example, my ADRs at the 180 day mark and then on May 24th I'll add my FP+ times. I exported each individual day to a PDF file that I print out and take with me that has confirmation numbers and such.

ProTip, find a system that works for you. My system works for me, but it won't work for everyone. Experiment and come up with an idea that fits with your personality.

 

[Cricket2]

ProTip, find a system that works for you. My system works for me, but it won't work for everyone. Experiment and come up with an idea that fits with your personality.

Exactly! I would never expect someone to use my method but I would never use anything else, I would feel lost. My method has evolved for me over 20+ years of changes and my original printed laminated pocket sheets look similar but not nearly as refined as my current sheet.

 

[robndani]

WOW! I'm so impressed with you guys! I just sort of type it out in Word, and print out one copy and e-mail it to myself. I'm going to have to get more creative!!!!

 

[TinkerElsasMom]

WOW! I'm so impressed with you guys! I just sort of type it out in Word, and print out one copy and e-mail it to myself. I'm going to have to get more creative!!!!

I wish I could do this!! I'm proudly OCD though and like to have everything lined up and ready to go.

 

[agavegirl1]

I use EXCEL. The first page of the workbook is a plan overview with dates at the top. The side categories include: date, park hours and crowd level, AM EMH, Breakfast, AM Park, Lunch, PM Park, Notes, Reservation #s, FP+ Reservations. There is a separate page for each day with details. These have time along the side with the event/ride/restaurant etc in the next column. These daily pages can be printed small enough to laminate into a pocket schedule for the park. All are color coded for ease of viewing.

This is the first days of the plan overview

 

[ashleyc1113]

I agree that you have to play around and find a method that works for you.

I started in a Word document and just put down little tidbits and ideas as they come along. Then as I start making actual plans, I move to an Excel spreadsheets and enter in ADRs and FP+ reservations. Then I print it out and take to the parks with me.

 

[IhavePDD]

I use Excel as well though my spreadsheet is pretty simple. We just do one park a day but makes it easy to track ADR's and flight times etc. and just have one quick reference.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I was going to say mine looks a bit like Agavegirl's but I don't bother with crowd levels.

For mine, I just made a chart using Word. Now that I have mine, all I do to update it is change the dates, update park hours, and update our ADR's. I put things like hotel confirmation numbers down below. As others have said, it should contain the info YOU find useful, otherwise it just becomes a visual jumble.

One thing I have found is that if we go say- Tuesday to Tuesday, I still have to keep the chart starting Sunday to Saturday (and make two weeks, so to speak) Otherwise it is visually confusing.

All that said, the last few trips, I really didn't touch my paper print out at all. I emailed the word file to myself, and used that a bit. Mostly I used the WDW My Magic. I mostly only consult it for: our FP+ times, ADR times, and MK hours.

With extended family they really only need three things: which park (each day), time/place of ADRs (i.e. where they need to be at 7pm), and everyone's flight info (I put that info in a second chart). MAYBE park hours/emh schedule.

Otherwise they simply ask me. We've not big on parades, and usually the fireworks are the same time every night. Epcot hours are ALWAYS 9-9. AK is almost always 9-5 or 6. HS is never a full day park for us. So really the only park everyone needs to keep track of is MK, and only days you'll be there.

As I said, the last few trips, we didn't really touch paper very much. It is just a backup. Sinc eI have the template though, it only take a few minutes to update it.

What has become VERY useful though is having a good smartphone. I use it to record all sorts of stuff. One click, and you have an electronic copy of ANYTHING: where you parked, what each child is wearing each day, receipts, ticket code numbers, any other ID numbers, transaction records.

Last time someone bumped my car - non WDW- instead of standing on the side of the road where it's very dangerous looking for paper and pen to write down the other driver's information- I just took a picture of their ID, insurance card, and car damage. (and hey, if you have a car, that could happen at WDW!)

Actually - if you DO rent a acar - ever- then a quick walk around the car when you get it- taking shots of ANY existing damage- can INDEED save you from costly false accusations later!


Also know that WDW park hours are always subject to change. so even if your spread sheet is updated just before you go, things can change. that's almost why electronic files are now better.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

I offer my templates

http://www.irregulargamers.com/jtmp/DISPlan.zip

 

[GillianP1301]

I use excel and have one day per column.

At the top, I put reference information like, what park I'm in that day, park hours, parade/show info, crowd level info, etc... Then I have a more detailed schedule at the bottom of the column where the rows are divided in 1/2 hour increments and I plug in any hard scheduled things like ADR's, FP+, shows/parades, etc... I find it's a good way to see how much break/rest time I have in contrast to touring time, meal time, etc... I also include blocking the time needed to get from point A to point B (i.e. leaving a park and driving to a resort for an ADR).

 

[SillyFamily]

We have been loads of times. We dont plan down to the min everything we are going to do. On a note card I put my fp times and ADR's. I use one note per day. If I had a plan to hit rides in a certain order i could jot that down too. I find a note card fits fine in a small bag or pocket. If its lost I didnt lose the plans for the whole trip. I find that a loose schedule works the best for us. We dont have to do anyone thing, but we have a plan to accomplish the most.

Our day general looks like this

EMH at the park of our choice
9:30 - 10:00am BRUNCH ADR
wander around for a ride and use our fast pass+
back to our resort for ac dark room break
painting/ reading by the pool
Eating/drinking around the world at Epcot or rides at a non EMH park
6:30-7:30pm Dinner ADR
wander around the resort we just ate at
back to the room for a movie/book


We avoid the parks during parades and fireworks because of my sisters allergies and sound sensitivities.