PTR for the planning obsessed....Updated 11/5 We're home now.

[stagemomx3]

Really? Really? Come over to my PTR, Chel, so I can pepper you with questions about CSR before I leave tomorrow morning!

I can't find it! The link won't open up.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I can't find it! The link won't open up.

Oh, that's weird! I must have done something to it when I typed in the name! I will see if I can change it.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I can't find it! The link won't open up.

It's fixed now!

 

[mousescrapper]

So I finally did it...I signed up for TGM. There's a lot to read on his site and I don't really get what has been personalize for me yet...just looks like a bunch of lists to me. Can someone tell me if there is somewhere on TGM that I can create my itinerary day by day?

I did find the crowd level/best park day section (October/November is not up yet) I do like that he explains why he chooses what he does because then I can decide if I agree with his reasoning or not.

Any help from fellow DISers would be wonderful so I can get the most out of it. Feel me to PM me if you don't want to post TGM stuff.

Ok as promised here are the things I like about TGM (w/out giving away any secrets...)

*First off it's the first "guide book" I purchased for this trip and I did it before the 08 books were out at the bookstores. So wading through all the info wasn't that bad for me...good reading, tips, tricks, and reminders of things. (i thought the stuff about traveling w/ babies/little ones was helpful took many notes)

*2nd the "Express Planner" for your month of travel I reviewed the 07 stuff till the 08 things were updated seemed to be about 5-6 mo ahead. (I'm going June 08)

*3rd the LCP day charts...before I "bought" TGM my inital plan was all over and I was not pleased w/ how this was going to work. After reveiwing his charts and tips it helped me make a better itinerary for our stay. and yes I like having his reasoning behind what he's thinking.

*4th his sample tour ideas (he has many sceneros) he gives you some straightforward ideas of what to do first, 2nd, etc and then open ended for you to adjust to your needs.

*5th best times to see/do attractions broken down to morning, afternoon, eve, fillers you get the idea that has helped plenty as I like to have a rough schedule of each attraction in the order we hope to do it all.

*6th viewing/seating ideas for parades and shows. (some of these tricks I've learned already, but still good)

*7th reminder email and date for my ADR call (180+ day out) since this was first trip using the DDP this came in handy. We've never eaten at this many TS before.

*8th one of my favorite things my daily countdown till we leave. Today is 66 days!

*9th there is a link to another site that gives updated park hours and showtimes...very helpful for planning Studios and AK IMHO w/ the shows there.

*10th in the Day to Day Vacation Itinerary there is a pre-formated itinerary planner (a Word doc) you can download and save to your desktop to fill in and update your plans, then later print. I've been using it.

Finally I have enjoyed reading the various articles and things. I actually find it a bit easier to naviagate then a chunky guide book. Well here's hoping the info will pay-off for us this trip...66 days to find out

Hope that helps some of you out there....

Now as far as your dinning plans:

I to agree w/ the eating in room thing and having some items from home or from the resorts little "grocer"

Also we'll be eating at H&V w/ the characters for lunch, Ohana (for bfast though w/ characters) and then Kona for bfast and dinner. and the possibly a CS at Pecos Bill's or PVH too. So watch for my reviews upon our return....

on the flip side of eating in your room for bfast...I also think it's nice to have it out some mornings...it always tastes better than at home

lastly as a non coffee drinker I can't anquish in your pain of bad coffee...but I'm sure your find a way to find the superb stuff either somewhere in the world or packed in your bag

 

[Native NYer]

How's the planning going?

 

[MRYPPNS]

Did you find the downloadable blank itineraries to use? I love TGM, but it is a lot of information to wade through.

I did find them but I prefer to use excel...I can do more with it.

Ok as promised here are the things I like about TGM (w/out giving away any secrets...)

*First off it's the first "guide book" I purchased for this trip and I did it before the 08 books were out at the bookstores. So wading through all the info wasn't that bad for me...good reading, tips, tricks, and reminders of things. (i thought the stuff about traveling w/ babies/little ones was helpful took many notes)

It's the last one for me

*2nd the "Express Planner" for your month of travel I reviewed the 07 stuff till the 08 things were updated seemed to be about 5-6 mo ahead. (I'm going June 08)
I'm hoping that October 08 will be out in the next couple weeks

*3rd the LCP day charts...before I "bought" TGM my inital plan was all over and I was not pleased w/ how this was going to work. After reveiwing his charts and tips it helped me make a better itinerary for our stay. and yes I like having his reasoning behind what he's thinking.

I plan to compare TGM and touring plans who I have used for all the previous trips

*4th his sample tour ideas (he has many sceneros) he gives you some straightforward ideas of what to do first, 2nd, etc and then open ended for you to adjust to your needs.

I'm less worried about the actaul daily touring plan then picking the "right" day.

*5th best times to see/do attractions broken down to morning, afternoon, eve, fillers you get the idea that has helped plenty as I like to have a rough schedule of each attraction in the order we hope to do it all.

See above comment

*6th viewing/seating ideas for parades and shows. (some of these tricks I've learned already, but still good)

I'm looking forward to studying those...I really screwed up our location for wishes last time.

*7th reminder email and date for my ADR call (180+ day out) since this was first trip using the DDP this came in handy. We've never eaten at this many TS before.

Hopefully I'll have a solid plan by 180 days

*8th one of my favorite things my daily countdown till we leave. Today is 66 days!

I'm at 200+++ days

*9th there is a link to another site that gives updated park hours and showtimes...very helpful for planning Studios and AK IMHO w/ the shows there.
Haven't found that yet....must look

*10th in the Day to Day Vacation Itinerary there is a pre-formated itinerary planner (a Word doc) you can download and save to your desktop to fill in and update your plans, then later print. I've been using it.

I love excel too much to use Word for a spreadsheet

Thanks for taking the time to give me your opinions of TGM !

How's the planning going?

It's kind of stalled....I've been working more lately so I haven't had as much time to be OCD about Disney. Plus I did decide that I'm not happy with the end of vacation Itineray. Ending with a day off and Epcot doesn't seem very exciting. Hopefully Oct hours will be out soon.

 

[MRYPPNS]

As of 5pm today Disney has posted October park hours for MK, AK and Epcot so you all know what I'll be doing tonight while I watch Idol.

DH and I had a chat about MNSSHP this past weekend. Basically it boils down to if I can work the Intinerary to fit it in great we'll go but if it means having a less then optimal schedule for everything else we won't do it.

I still get to be a Disney for Halloween so that's cool if we don't make the party...has anyone been in one of the park on Halloween day and noticed anything special going on??

 

[DisMomAmy]

Have fun!

 

[Native NYer]

I hate when work gets in the way of Disney OCD planning!
I might go in October. Maybe we'll be there at the same time.

I hope work slows down a bit for you so you have time to redo your itinerary.

 

[mousescrapper]

Oh I'm using a homemade Excell spreadsheet too never can be too planned, right?

The Word doc is just nice for a more "wordy" version. It's been helpful in jotting down ideas, etc as I'm planning along.

 

[BrittBritt]

Thanks for the heads up about the Oct. park hours. I'll need to check those out now.

 

[MRYPPNS]

Have fun!

I hate when work gets in the way of Disney OCD planning!
I might go in October. Maybe we'll be there at the same time.

I hope work slows down a bit for you so you have time to redo your itinerary.

Well I worked on it tonight and didn't get very far. MNSSHP is proving to be a pain in my back-end. If we go to the party it messes up the end of the week plan. And because of so many MNSSHP parties in that time period it makes picking days to go to MK really hard.

Oh I'm using a homemade Excell spreadsheet too never can be too planned, right?

The Word doc is just nice for a more "wordy" version. It's been helpful in jotting down ideas, etc as I'm planning along.

I'm not even to the "wordy" stuff yet!!!

Thanks for the heads up about the Oct. park hours. I'll need to check those out now.

Now I'm just waiting for TGM to post the best park day(s) list.

 

[MRYPPNS]

I got some pixie dust in the mail today....

More pictures to come......

 

[Native NYer]

Oooo what's in the envelope?

I worse than a child. I have no patience

 

[DisMomAmy]

Come on... spill it Heidi!!

 

[Native NYer]

Come on... spill it Heidi!!

I'm waiting too....

Me = No Patience

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

awe man waiting is no fun. I can be pitiful --->

 

[MRYPPNS]

Last month cc1075 (Carolyn) posted an offer on Jordan's TR to send DISers stuff from WDW while she was on vacation. I took her up on the offer and asked for park maps...I like to collect park maps because they are always changing and they are useful for planning. So Carolyn was sweet enough to send me some.

The water park brochure will prove to be very useful because I'm thinking on doing a morning at one of the water parks in October



But that wasn't it...there was more in the envelope....

what could it be???

 

[pajules]

this is me reading your PTR

this is me seeing you got not just a package from Disney, but a BIG package

this is me when I realized you didn't say what what INSIDE the package.....

Give a girl a break, I'm nosey and I want to know....please

 

[Native NYer]

I love park maps too!

What else is there?

The suspense is killing me