should i write a day-day rota?

[genia]

we go to wdw on the 15th may and i was wondering if there is any point in writing a rota as to what we will do each day that we are there? i have purchased a 10 day hopper passand a 14 day 4 park flex ticket , so obviously i dont want to be visiting the parks everyday that we are there (i have a very bad shopping habit you see and i refuse to go without visiting EVERY mall possible) i dont know where to start i.e MK, AK, Sea world etc ...........to many to decide!! would there be any point in writing a rota to take and stick by or would it all ''go to pot'' so to speak? i dont think my boyfriend really likes the idea of having to do exactly what i say everyday (yes obviously because he's male i would like to add) and also a holiday is about taking it easy in his eyes (yea right is what i think to that comment) i just think it might be a bit easier and orgonised if we were to write some sort of list even to say where we will go each day ........ we have agreed to leave the parks at 3pm ish everyday to let our 1.5 yr old son settle and maybe have a nap before we eat in the evening.i think he thinks i am getting nervous as the holiday creeps closer (which i am)

anyway i would be gratefull to know if anyone else has done anything like this thankyou !!

 

[oogieboogie]

We usually just make a plan as to which park we're going to on what day, then we make our PSs based on that. The rest is on a "see how things go" plan.

We see how everyone feels at the moment, then make some spur of the moment decisions. Seems to work best for us, since I hate being tied down to a specific schedule. That's why park hoppers or APs are so nice.

 

[anditoo72]

A couple of years ago we went to WDW and I made a plan for each day, each park almost by the hour the only thing I didn't include was where to eat at every park. I drove my husband CRAZY with all the planning. Now two years later we are again going in August and I am already planning. Difference is now my husband (while still to much information is daunting to him at times) is helping me with the planning. Why? Because it worked!! We used the Unofficial guide to Disney and tailored the daily park plans to our specifications and we were out of the parks by three o'clock, not because we wanted to freshen up and go back, but because we had done EVERYTHING we wanted to do!plnning the days out and I am including restaruants that we will be in twards that time of day so that won't be an issue this time. Two years ago I brought five children with me ages 11,9,4,2, and an infant (six months old). This time we are adding my niece to the mix and the children are obviously two years older. I say PLAN, PLAN, PLAN (B the way we did stay past three but only to look at the parade in the MK)

 

[linda_pizzuro]

Just a note to genia about leaving the parks. While I think this is a good idea to let your little one (and yourselves) rest, please try to get back to the parks at night for some of the nighttime entertainment. Wishes and SpectroMagic at MK are beautiful, we just love Fantasmic at MGM and Illuminations at Epcot is very moving.

As far as planning, this is also very important. First time we went (about 7 years ago) we followed a strick plan. Everyone said not to do this - it will always be there - you can always go back. Well as it happens, we do go back at least once or twice a year but I am very happy we did the parks comando style the first time we went.

I usually make up some sort of calendar for each day listing the parks we will be at, PS we have and times of the nighttime activities. Make sure what days Wishes and SpectroMagic are (they are not always shows each night).
Linda

 

[Memaw2Wm]

I don't do commando-style, but I do make up a loose schedule ... I figure out what park(s) I want to do on which days ... based on park opening hours/parades/etc.

Then I make my PS ressies.

Then I check with the family to see what are their "must sees" and we do these followed by any "extras" that we have time for.

HTH

 

[jcemom]

I would recommend a flexible plan. It makes everything less overwhelming, IMO, to have at least SOME idea of what you'll be doing each day. Just be open to changing the plan if something else comes up or if someone is just too tired to do what is "scheduled" for that day.

Since you know which parks you're going to and that you want to do some shopping, I would start with a blank calendar and pencil in the parks according to each park's least crowded/best days to attend. You can also pencil in the evening entertainment you would like to see, fireworks, etc. This also makes it much easier to plan where to make your PSs for meals and such. Then, make sure that you have some rest/no parks days in between, this would be a great place for your shopping days, Downtown Disney, or waterparks. It's amazing once you start fiddling around with the calendar how everything can just fall into place. To me, seeing it in calendar form helps me to visualize what will work, no early mornings following late nights for example. Hope that helps!

 

[Tigge50447]

Since this is my son's, my BF's and my parents 1st time and they have no idea what to expect or even what they want to do. I plan on making a small book 1 for each park that we are going to. I'm going to try to hook it to my son's stroller that way everyone can look at it but not carry it around (won't be too big of course) but I wanted to have a flexiable plan so I don't get the "what are we doing next and when are we eatting"

I've been to disney 2 other times and basically just wondered around and had no direction at all. I had fun but I know we missed alot of stuff.

I also plan on printing out menus and other things to keep in the room so we will know this stuff a head of time.