Spreadsheets? Computer software? How do you do it?!!

[goin2themouse]

(I apologize if this is rambling or makes no sense, because I'm even confusing myself! )

First, I should mention that we're going off-season (Oct 3-10). When I made my reservation the other day (MYW with/DDP), the reservations agent reminded me to make my ADRs 90 days out, but then mentioned again to keep watching, because they may change the ADR window yet again.

So I'm trying to get my basic days to visit which park in order so I can decide where I can eat and... you see where this is going, right? What if I can't get an ADR that I want, and they want to put me on another day, and while I'm trying to figure out how to swap everything out, all the other ADR slots get taken, and I'm stuck eating nothing but Mickey bars all week?!! Or what if the park schedules come out after I've made all my ADRs and I want the EMHs at another park instead and have to swap everything around? Then what??

I know, I know, probably won't happen in October, but what if? Am I the only one who is seriously over-stressing and obsessing over this? It wouldn't matter so much if we weren't on the DDP (we'd just skip eating a table service on whichever day it is and otherwise continue with our plan), but now I'm just really confused as to how people do it.

Are there some spreadsheets I'm missing out on? Flowcharts? Computer software?!

 

[its.just.ice]

I actually made a little spreadsheet with the dates at the top and then rows underneath for info like extra magic hours am, pm, parks to avoid, then which park I was going to, dining reservation info, parade times (if any), fireworks/night shows (if any). We'll find out in about a month how well this works.

 

[btuftee]

I also make a spreadsheet, fairly similar to what its.just.ice described above. I use Excel, if you don't have that, you can get OpenOffice for free and it includes an Excel clone.

Since ADRs can only be made 90 days out now, instead of 180, it's much easier to plan meals. 90 days out, you'll know all of the EMH and park hours (park hours might change a bit, but EMH probably not). Knowing the EMH schedule is probably the single most important key to planning which parks to hit when. Other than Cinderella's Royal Table, your ADRs shouldn't be that hard to get, even if you don't call right at the 90-day mark.

 

[goin2themouse]

90 days out, you'll know all of the EMH and park hours (park hours might change a bit, but EMH probably not). Knowing the EMH schedule is probably the single most important key to planning which parks to hit when.

AH. This is key knowledge, and I somehow mistakenly thought that info would not be released until after the ADR window had opened. Thanks for clarifying.

Now, I'd love to hear more about people's spreadsheets!

 

[jmamom]

I just found a program on the web at mousemanager.com and you can download software that helps you with all your planning. It looks pretty good, I haven't really used any of it yet, but it was recommended by someone here on the DIS. Hope this helps!

 

[kaytieeldr]

The only people "stuck" )) with Mickey Bars all week are those who absolutely refuse to plan ahead at all and are not willing to be the least bit flexible in their choice of dining venues/times.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I'm another Excel fanboy. I type the days across the top, note the hours Evening Extra Magic Hours (I personally don't care about morning EMH) which kind of dictates which park I will attend that day.

Then I take my list of places I want to go and start plotting which places fit where, without park hopping each day (although we still do that).

Then we have a place for the confirmation number, time and how many credits the place will use per person (for DDP calculation).