So...do you write up a plan?

[MagicalMomAZ]

Last time I followed HydroGuys tips to a T when entering EE. We really did well & had time to kill....but we missed a few things just because they were down for refurbishment. Besides EE....do you have a plan you try to stick to?

Last time (& DSs FIRST time) we missed the Monorail, Train, HM & Monsters Inc....if we can get that done I'll feel I accomplished something. Plus we have to get to Buzz (again) & the Toy Story ride....Is there a good time to get in line for that? Is Nemo accepting FP yet? We went late, our wait was 25min....not bad in the grand scheme of things but fingers crossed we don't have waits like that again...TS being new and all.

How do you fit it all (all being relative) in? In two days we did 2 parks & just about did everything we wanted...I'd like to try for that record again!

 

[Disney Dreams]

Last time I followed HydroGuys tips to a T when entering EE. We really did well & had time to kill....but we missed a few things just because they were down for refurbishment. Besides EE....do you have a plan you try to stick to?

Last time (& DSs FIRST time) we missed the Monorail, Train, HM & Monsters Inc....if we can get that done I'll feel I accomplished something. Plus we have to get to Buzz (again) & the Toy Story ride....Is there a good time to get in line for that? Is Nemo accepting FP yet? We went late, our wait was 25min....not bad in the grand scheme of things but fingers crossed we don't have waits like that again...TS being new and all.

How do you fit it all (all being relative) in? In two days we did 2 parks & just about did everything we wanted...I'd like to try for that record again!

Some people have a plan so detailed I don't know how they have fun or have time to take in the details around them. Others have no idea what they are going to do and probably miss out on a lot. I would suggest shooting for the middle.

Have your list of "must-dos" and a skeleton plan of when to hit them. Other than that, go with the flow. That's my style, anyway.

As for your specific questions...

Nemo does not have Fastpass. A 25 minute wait at Nemo is very good. You did not say when your trip is. If it's this week, you would be very very fortunate to see 25 minute wait times.

Toy Story Midway Mania is over at DCA. Wait times can vary throughout the day. Some will tell you to try to catch it early in the day. It's great fun! You will love it! It's not really considered a new attraction anymore, but definitely a great one!

HTH,
Dreams

 

[rszdtrvl]

We are going to need to do a plan or ridemax for our trip in March.

We will be there Saturday afternoon and Monday (all day) only. And I want to make sure that we are able to go on the rides we all want to go on. (Sunday we will be at Lego Land, and Tuesday we will be at Universal Studios).

I think I may have a list somewhere in my vacation binder, but am not positive.

We have plenty of time to figure it out!!

 

[Eeee-va]

When we went in June, we had a Ridemax plan (of course we NEEDED a plan) and used it a lot of the time. While the plan was perhaps needed, it still basically said "Get Fastpasses and do the long-wait rides in the morning", which we already knew how to do. I feel like we missed out on a lot of things because of it.

On the other hand, when we went in mid-December, we did not have much of a plan (and we NEEDED to go with the flow since it was raining much of the weekend, including Friday, and the outdoor entertainment was often canceled!). Lines were so short that aside from right before we left on Sunday, there really wasn't any need to do much planning (Wednesday and Thursday there wasn't even any need for Fastpasses!). We actually still missed a couple things we wanted to do because we either didn't make them priorities, and/or no one TOLD me they were fairly high priorities. But overall, I know I had a much better time with a skeleton plan AND light crowds.

I'm not sure that you can do as well with having no real plan and heavy crowds, though.

Unless crowds are VERY light, you can expect at least 25 minutes on TSMM almost any time you visit it. Moderate to heavy crowds in DCA would be more like 40 minutes or more. You can try to go to it right at opening but it's kind of luck of the draw, as sometimes it's not even OPEN first thing in the morning. When that's the case, I think it probably snowballs and makes the ride that much busier throughout the entire day.

(If it's actually cold and raining at night, though, you may find TSMM to be very nearly a walk-on! We did--it's too bad my travel partner and I don't LOVE that ride, or else we could've just done that for a couple hours in my last trip. Well, that and we would've gotten Toy Story arm...)

And Finding Nemo subs was still at 15-20 minutes throughout much of our most recent trip, and we had crowds so light I was shocked! No Fastpass, but that still wasn't a bad wait to us. IN THEORY riding it first thing in the morning would mean a much shorter wait, but in reality I am not sure how the ride works so I don't know if that's true. We got in line at 8:37 AM on a day when the park opened at 8 and I think the only wait was waiting for a sub to actually get ready to take us? I don't remember if a sub actually came up and let people out before bringing us on. At any rate, I'm not certain they have a sub ready and waiting if you try to ride first thing in the morning. It's not one of my favorites, so I hate the thought of standing there and waiting while the nearby Space Mountain is getting busier.

Have a delightful trip!

 

[DLR29]

I usually crank out a rough outline, especially if I am going to be there for only a day or two. Morning planning is the most important time to plan. Afternoons can be flexible: using FPs collected earlier, riding high capacity rides (PotC, HM, etc.). Evenings usually revolve around the shows that we want to watch (Fantasmic, Fireworks, electrical parade, etc.).

And we go from there.

If you're wondering about short Nemo times, I was just there a couple days ago and the crowds were HIGH! But we got into Nemo's line around 8:45AM and only waited 20 min. Also, I had never tried this before, but TSMM's line dies down around 8PM (If DCA is open that late when you're visiting).

 

[Nikisha421]

the reason i cam eover to this board today was to search to do some research for our dl trip which is now nonly six weeks away...i always have a plan when i head to wdw so i guess i will have a plan for dl...nothing is every written in stone, but i always want to feel accomplished so i will start out with an outline...so that we can make the best out of first trip to dl during presidents week...

 

[Flitterific]

How do you fit it all (all being relative) in? In two days we did 2 parks & just about did everything we wanted...I'd like to try for that record again!

Oy...the crowds were insane this past Christmas weekend! The line for POTC wrapped around so many times it was ridiculous (best time to go would be during Fantasmic...people practically walked on the ride). FPs for Indy ran out by early evening (around 6) so definitely grab one early on. I think most people stayed at DLR as the crowds at DCA were considerably lower (TSMM line was about 45 minutes which isn't too bad). The parks are so crowded right now, I don't think it's realistic to even stick to any plan. I've never used RideMax before so I am not sure how helpful it will be during the busiest week of the year but as a PP suggested, it's definitely good to make a list of your must-dos so that you can tackle those first. Good luck!

 

[21yankees]

When we only had our odd we went to DL for 3 days and didn't plan at all. It was chaotic and we really didn't get a whole lot done (we were there over the 4th of July weekend).

Anyway since then we have always gone with a plan and been able to do so many rides, eat at the off times (not really long lines), see the parades, fireworks, etc. I'm not a by the plan all of the time, especially when the kids see a character they want to meet and get a pic, we adjust as needed.

The biggest things to remember is do Fantasyland first (more importantly Peter Pan first) and start collecting your FPs immediately and keep an eye on when your window will open for your next FP.

steph

 

[Monkey Monkey]

I always make a list of what I want to do in what order. I did this often when my son was 3 and we had several day trips to DLR, so there weren't many rides we could use FastPass for (in fact, I can't think of any!). I make a point to experience something I've never done before every time I go - a show or ride.

When I go again next week (yippeeee!), I'll make a very tentative itinerary, as I have no idea how my 8mo is going to do!

 

[HydroGuy]

I've never used RideMax before so I am not sure how helpful it will be during the busiest week of the year but as a PP suggested, it's definitely good to make a list of your must-dos so that you can tackle those first. Good luck!

FWIW RideMax is actually at its best whent the parks are extremely crowded.

 

[ter-moo]

I use the Unofficial Guide as a guide in making my plan and then adapt it for my family. I find that having a plan cuts down on between-ride discussions and actually allows MORE freedom for looking at cool stuff in the parks.

Since we usually go for 2-3 days, there is always down time in the afternoons and early evenings because using the plan and getting there early helps us accomplish everything we wanted to do. That's when we repeat stuff, shop, sit and watch people and do the things like ride the train or the riverboat, or see a show.

I've gone at times in a more free-form style, and it seems like there's more time wasted on discussing what to do next. However, if you're there at a slow time, you can afford more wasted time and can take a more casual approach.

At any rate, ANY plan needs to be flexible or you'll only frustrate everyone in the group, so hold it loosely.

 

[disney-super-mom]

I've been there enough now that I don't need to actually come up with a plan anymore. It's basically just ingrained in my brain at this point.....what to do when, how, and why.

However, I have to have a plan for WDW. It's just too big to not have a plan, and the dining plan makes it so you HAVE to plan to a certain degree anyway.

 

[Eeyore's Wife]

Yes, I write up a plan.

I also shrink the plan to the smallest readable type, print out a copy for every person, plus the stroller, and then I laminate them, put punch a hole in a corner and then make sure everyone has a carabiner on their bag, backpack or belt loop.

We use ridemax software and we allow everyone to place their must do rides or attractions on the list. Each day there is something from each person's must do.

I think the level of organization relates to how large the group is. Now that we have an adult child, a teen, and a baby the organization is a life saver. If the older kids want to sleep in, then I let them sleep and I hit rope drop with the baby. When they wake up, they can just check the plan and see where everyone is at.

I have no interest in paying thousands of dollars to head to Disneyland only to get there and stand around after each ride and say, "what do you want to do next?" In addition, when the older kids were younger the plan helped to eliminate the phenomenon of riding Dumbo, Small World, and then Peter Pan in a never ending loop of insanity.

We would plan in the things they liked, but there was a plan and so I could point to the plan and remind them that the time on vacation was shared and that we do some Mommy rides and some Daddy rides and some kiddo rides and it was time to move on to the other rides.

When my husband and I have been lucky enough to go to Disney alone, we did very little planning besides a skeleton plan for each day.

Each family needs to find a plan that fits their personality. For us, a clear plan of attack fits the bill perfectly. I would simply caution that the schedule planner must be sensitive to the wants and needs of others or there will be a mutiny against the plan.

 

[CrazyDuck]

For my last trip I spent hours putting together an extensive in depth plan down to the minute. My hours of hard work were all for nothing as we got into the park 2 hours after the rope drop. It's ok though... we had 8 days to get everything done which we did. If you are going to be there only 1 day then you could make a plan.... Otherwise I'm just skip it and enjoy the moment!

 

[Monkey Monkey]

Yes, I write up a plan.

I also shrink the plan to the smallest readable type, print out a copy for every person, plus the stroller, and then I laminate them, put punch a hole in a corner and then make sure everyone has a carabiner on their bag, backpack or belt loop.

We use ridemax software and we allow everyone to place their must do rides or attractions on the list. Each day there is something from each person's must do.

I think the level of organization relates to how large the group is. Now that we have an adult child, a teen, and a baby the organization is a life saver. If the older kids want to sleep in, then I let them sleep and I hit rope drop with the baby. When they wake up, they can just check the plan and see where everyone is at.

I have no interest in paying thousands of dollars to head to Disneyland only to get there and stand around after each ride and say, "what do you want to do next?" In addition, when the older kids were younger the plan helped to eliminate the phenomenon of riding Dumbo, Small World, and then Peter Pan in a never ending loop of insanity.

We would plan in the things they liked, but there was a plan and so I could point to the plan and remind them that the time on vacation was shared and that we do some Mommy rides and some Daddy rides and some kiddo rides and it was time to move on to the other rides.

When my husband and I have been lucky enough to go to Disney alone, we did very little planning besides a skeleton plan for each day.

Each family needs to find a plan that fits their personality. For us, a clear plan of attack fits the bill perfectly. I would simply caution that the schedule planner must be sensitive to the wants and needs of others or there will be a mutiny against the plan.

Wow, you don't mess around! I LOVE it!