Staying organized at the parks

[Sandyt05]

How do you stay organized while at the parks? Do you rely only on your My Disney Experience App on your cell for your dining reservations and fastpasses? OR do you bring a binder or something printed out with the info on it? I would like to have a back up to bring with me but do not want to carry around a binder with me to the parks.

If you have a chart that can be edited for each park, I would love to see that! Show me your charts or what you use to organize your information! Thank you in advance

 

[Viva Las Disney]

I have my plan on my phone but also print out each day individually so I can keep it in my back pocket. It's just much easier to pull a piece of paper out than to have to pull my phone or notebook out every time I want to look at my plan.

 

[EricR]

I am a minimalist when it comes to the parks. If it can't fit it into my pockets then I don't bring it.

Our very first visit to WDW we brought everything under the sun into the parks with us. Now we hardly bring anything.

With the My Disney Experience App you have everything you need to keep organized. It has all of your FPP reservations as well as your ADR's very easily organized.

I just notice myself looking at my phone a lot more often then before. I also noticed that I ran out battery fast too. You might want to bring a charger with you.

 

[soccer mom]

We refuse to bring phones to the parks, so I just jot down fp times on a small scrap of paper and put it in husband's pocket. Dinner res is always in the evening and after we have returned to hotel, so no problem there.

 

[MamaBear58]

We don't go until Nov but my plan is

1) MDE on our phones, with portable chargers in whatever bag(s) we have. I assume DH will have a backpack and I'll have some bag. Kids are only 7 and 4so I don't think I will make them carry their own backpacks, but we will travel as light as possible--phones, chargers, cameras, sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm, water bottles (possibly?), jackets, and lighweight wallets for Disney gift cards, Disney Visas, TIW cards and a little cash (need to research this penny press thing). Possibly the autograph books, if kids want them but I'd like to discourage it because you-know-who has to carry. Anyone convince their kids to share one, so Mom and Dad only have to lug one around???

2) each day's reservations typed in the smallest print we can read, and each day on a separate card which I will have laminated before we go--1 for each DH and me, in case we split up that day; Based on what I've read there's absolutely no way we can rely on MDE not to fail so if there are any e-mail confirmations or online screen shots that evidence reservations, I'll print and bring them each day. Annoying, but clearly Disney hasn't mastered the IT stuff.

 

[kayemgi]

I created tiny booklets for each park with relevant info: the date we planned to go to that park, park hours for that day, the predicted crowd level for that day, our FP+ selections and times, ADR locations and times, a list of our must-do attractions, character meet locations & times (that we were interested in), trivia and fun facts (to pass the time waiting in lines), and relevant maps (parade routes with the best spots to see it, F! seating areas, etc.). I also included screen shots of our FP+ reservations & ADRs in case of technology problems, but luckily we never needed those.

Here's what they looked like, they were about 3x4" in size:

ETA some screen shots of the info inside:

 

[Tasmen]

I created tiny booklets for each park with relevant info: the date we planned to go to that park, park hours for that day, the predicted crowd level for that day, our FP+ selections and times, ADR locations and times, a list of our must-do attractions, character meet locations & times (that we were interested in), trivia and fun facts (to pass the time waiting in lines), and relevant maps (parade routes with the best spots to see it, F! seating areas, etc.). I also included screen shots of our FP+ reservations & ADRs in case of technology problems, but luckily we never needed those.

Here's what they looked like, they were about 3x4" in size:

Those books are damn nice!

I usually print out my plans (about the size of an index card) and then go get them laminated at kinkos. Then I put in a single punch hole and attach the cards to a key ring. I carry this in my bag. Makes the list easy to find and waterproof in case of rain/Kali River Rapids.

 

[Kate and Family]

I have my plan on my phone but also print out each day individually so I can keep it in my back pocket. It's just much easier to pull a piece of paper out than to have to pull my phone or notebook out every time I want to look at my plan.

Same here. Even before MDE, I would use my phone as a note keeper and with Disney phone numbers that might be needed, and a sheet of paper with reservation numbers and any other notes that I felt were important.

I created tiny booklets for each park with relevant info: the date we planned to go to that park, park hours for that day, the predicted crowd level for that day, our FP+ selections and times, ADR locations and times, a list of our must-do attractions, character meet locations & times (that we were interested in), trivia and fun facts (to pass the time waiting in lines), and relevant maps (parade routes with the best spots to see it, F! seating areas, etc.). I also included screen shots of our FP+ reservations & ADRs in case of technology problems, but luckily we never needed those.

Those are awesome. The size is very doable when it comes to carrying info - much better than notebooks, etc. Fitting the maps in is quite a feat!
What a great momento!

 

[3Gsandme]

I only used my phone, but I did screen shot each day in case there was ever a glitch.

 

[SpringSprite]

kayemgi you are my hero

 

[amberpi]

I got out of grad school in 2003 and got my first blackberry, I've carried almost no paper "stuff" with me since, professionally or otherwise. Take your phone, back it up on your email if you want, but you'll be fine and it'll be easy peasy! No muss no fuss!

 

[Zeebs]

kayemgi - that is fantastic. I think you should share your templates

Thanks for the idea I might give it ago.

Kirsten

 

[MamaBear58]

kayemgi you are my hero

This. I'd be lucky if I could print those confirms, let alone put them in books.

 

[jenninaustin]

kayemgi - that is fantastic. I think you should share your templates

Thanks for the idea I might give it ago.

Kirsten

Please, please, please would you?????

I would love to do these! Mine won't be as nice as yours but even if I could get some ideas for the maps and/or how the text fit in it would be AWESOME.

 

[Kate and Family]

I got out of grad school in 2003 and got my first blackberry, I've carried almost no paper "stuff" with me since, professionally or otherwise. Take your phone, back it up on your email if you want, but you'll be fine and it'll be easy peasy! No muss no fuss!

Oh... I forgot that I emailed myself the important and/or more detailed stuff. Never needed it - but I do think it is a terrific idea. BTW - Good for Hurricane Planning as well - email yourself with attachments for insurance info etc.

 

[MichelleVW]

We refuse to bring phones to the parks, so I just jot down fp times on a small scrap of paper and put it in husband's pocket. Dinner res is always in the evening and after we have returned to hotel, so no problem there.

Why??? The app is so helpful and saves a heck of a lot of walking during the day. We've changed Fast Passes we didn't need...saw that an attraction was down before walking all across the park.....looked up menus to decide what we wanted for lunch. That App is just way too handy to not bring with you. But to each his own.

 

[amberpi]

Oh... I forgot that I emailed myself the important and/or more detailed stuff. Never needed it - but I do think it is a terrific idea. BTW - Good for Hurricane Planning as well - email yourself with attachments for insurance info etc.

I have everything on my phone but also back up on my email that way if something happens to my phone I can access my laptop or my ipad and still have everything I need. If my phone gets wet, I have a zillion backups via cloud based email - even if I have to use the business center at the resort. If paper stuff gets wet, what's the back up system there? I also figure between all the phones in the party - sometimes just me and DH or other times me and 3 girlfriends, we'll have some device that will work We take phones to the parks and leave our ipads, kindles, and laptops in the safe.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

In the past I've written adrs, park hours on a 3x5 notecard.

I plan on doing that again but also adding the FP+ times to it. And I'm going to email my important info just in case like I always do.

that way if DME won't work for me or I don't remember something I can just look it up.

 

[lafemmega]

I created tiny booklets for each park with relevant info: the date we planned to go to that park, park hours for that day, the predicted crowd level for that day, our FP+ selections and times, ADR locations and times, a list of our must-do attractions, character meet locations & times (that we were interested in), trivia and fun facts (to pass the time waiting in lines), and relevant maps (parade routes with the best spots to see it, F! seating areas, etc.). I also included screen shots of our FP+ reservations & ADRs in case of technology problems, but luckily we never needed those. Here's what they looked like, they were about 3x4" in size: ETA some screen shots of the info inside:

Those look so nice! I love them. Great job!

 

[GatorMama]

I printed a rough outline on an index card for each day. What park, list of rides to hit first to get FP for (obviously this wasn't recent) or had Rider Swap. Times for ADRs and what we planned to eat for each meal. We stayed offsite and cooked a lot so if I had to cook dinner, the recipe was on the back or if we planned/budgeted to eat onsite, I listed our best options