Stressed Out - need reassurance!

[joemo]

Next month we will be going on our second Disney trip. The first one last April was meant to be a ‘once in a lifetime’ special treat, but we feel in love with the place and decided that we would try to return every year – even if it meant only being able to afford baked beans for tea every day the rest of the year!

Anyway, last year we knew nothing and just made it up as we went along, we eat in restaurants that we’d passed during the day and really went with the flow.

This year is different. For one thing, I’ve discovered this website, which although wonderful, has brought out the planner in me – someone I didn’t even know existed! Also, I’ve brought a few books and gone really started to get obsessed by the planning!

We have most of our ADRs done, and I know that we will always be able to find something for the few remaining unplanned means, as we generally eat late and are pretty flexible.

So why am I getting so stressed out over this trip? DH casually mentioned that he’d like to eat at one of The Grand Floridian restaurants and I nearly had a seizure – because we hadn’t planned that – but we’re not leaving for over three weeks!

Please reassure me that I am perfectly normal, I just feel so wrung out, as DH pointed out – it is supposed to be a holiday!

By the way, I'm 40 on Monday, so I think I may be getting wound up about that too........

 

[binkyboots]

lol, it's ok, all is well (just repeat that fairly often!)


maybe you guys could go to the gf tea party/high tea thing, I fancy giving that a go when we're there next year.


whatever you do have a blast, this kind of rainy edinburgh day reminds me I need a holiday!

 

[joemo]

Great idea - yes just went to get my lunch, out for 5 minutes and soaked......I love Scotland - but not the weather!

 

[diannaneglia]

I am new to WDW...and this forum...I came here for help too. I am stressed out as well cause I am obsessed with trying to plan out everything for my two week vacation. I am so afraid I won't get to have my kids see everything and have a good time. I have been trying to plan meals and when and where to go each day and so on and so forth. I wake up thinking of Disney and go to bed at night thinking of Disney...I guess I am so excited too...I have NEVER done anything quite like this...any pointers are appreciated!

 

[lindakmonty]

I'm a planning nut as well I've been there a few times which always makes it easier. You know what to expect. Just think about the ages of your kids, what they would enjoy... I planned 10 days in the parks... that leaves basically 2 days for each park and a day for each waterpark... plus must have some time at Downtown Disney....I researched what days each park has the lightest attendance and started there... then planned meals around where we would be that day...of coarse our wedding will consume one day !! But keep in mind that you need to leave some slots open incase you do see something you just don't want to miss...or if you like one park more and not so much another...you have to be a little flexible and be able to be a little spontanious Its vacation!!! Its time to have fun !!!! You will have a blast, your families will have the time of their lives. Just remember to take a little time to stop and smell the roses along the way.

 

[DeterminedOne]

Take a deep breath! Stop stressing. Planning is supposed to be fun. If DH wants to eat at GF, go for it! Prepare yourself for other situations that will come up that aren't part of your original itinerary. It will happen. Know this and you will be okay. At this point you sound "perfectly normal" so try not to drive yourself insane with worry.

 

[phyllis1966]

I am new to WDW...and this forum...I came here for help too. I am stressed out as well cause I am obsessed with trying to plan out everything for my two week vacation. I am so afraid I won't get to have my kids see everything and have a good time. I have been trying to plan meals and when and where to go each day and so on and so forth. I wake up thinking of Disney and go to bed at night thinking of Disney...I guess I am so excited too...I have NEVER done anything quite like this...any pointers are appreciated!

Hi - if you have 2 weeks in WDW, don't worry - you'll have plenty of time to see everything you'd like to see. I had already been to WDW once when I was directed to this site, and the stuff I learned here was priceless! You can learn lots just by reading others' posts before you dive in and start asking questions (that's what I did). Also, a good guidebook (Unofficial Guide to WDW, Passporter) will help you to decide what you really want to see, when to go see it, and where to eat.

The planning is half the fun - have a great trip!

 

[joemo]

Thank you - I know when we get there I'll be fine......but I'm not a natural planner!!

 

[f7prez]

Happy Birthday and welcome to the Dis Boards. The planner in you will feel right at home here. As you said, you will probably be visiting WDW more than you originally anticipated. So with that, remember you will have plenty of opportunity to try all the restaurants you want, and the more time you spend here, the larger that list will get. The Grand Floridian is a great resort to visit, with some good restaurants. Perhaps if you gave us a list of choices you have so far, people here can let you know their opinion. After some input you may change you reservations around, possibly eliminating one or two that will open a slot for the Grand Floridian.

As much as these boards help us make decisions on where to stay, eat and play, they can also drive us crazy with second guessing our initial plan.

 

[MelanieC]

joemo - It's definately nutural to feel stressed out, but really try to relax and enjoy the process. I don't think Disney would be as fun without the planning and anticipation. It's what keeps me going day to day. What I do is plan what days I want to go to what parks, what restaurants I want to eat at that day and make a 1 page itinerary with the day of the week, park I plan to attend, hours, EMH's for that day and my ADR's. Then when we get to Disney we follow the plan but we leave our selves flexible in case we decide we want to do something else. Last July the Space Shuttle Discovery was launched on 7/26/06. I had MK picked for that day. When the launch was scrubbed the week before I knew we had to go. MK and our PS for the day would just have to be forgotten. Luckily I had researched prior to leaving home where to view a shuttle launch since I knew there was the probability that maybe the first launch would get scrubbed (the day prior to us leaving). Somehow in my head I just knew it was meant for me to see it as it was a lifelong dream since I was born when NASA first went to the moon. One day we also decided that we were hot and tired at AK and we decided to instead go over to the Boardwalk and spend the day (we even decided to take our first ever DVC tour). It's great to have a plan and know what you will be doing, but the beauty of Disney is that you can follow your heart and have the most wonderful vacation ever.

diannaneglia- I"ve been to WDW almost yearly since 1995 and I still go to bed and wake thinking of Disney while I'm planning. We go for 2 weeks as well. Its the BEST! The feeling you have on your first night at WDW is undescribable. Just knowing you have 2 entire weeks (half a month) in the WORLD is so exciting. The best advise I can give is basically the same as above. Plan it how you envision it. You've never been there before so it will be hard, but there are a ton of resources to help you through it. Once you have your plan and you go, you can even tweak it while your there once you see what you like. You can even call Dining while your there (or visit a Guest Relations desk) and they will help you change your dining plans if you find you need to change things. Have a great vacation. You will love being at Disney for 2 weeks. Also remember that even with 2 weeks, you really CANT see everything (but you can see A LOT)!

 

[jeankeri]

We have gone twice, and the planning does become obsessive for me. For our second trip I had a basic day to day plan, then would gear up whenever reservation windows would open. Then, when the plan was all set, I made an alternate plan in case the weather didn't cooperate and we had to move water park days, etc. I managed snapping myself out of it by planning a friend's trip last June (a time I had never travelled, so imagine how busy I made myself learning so many new things ). Last month I decided I would take my boys on a surprise trip to MGM for a Star Wars weekend. Since it is a surprise, I get all my Dissing done when they are off at school. This will be the first trip I actually am not over-planning. I know my guys will be into the SW events so I have to get them there and back. My only obsession is rechecking our flights and rental car for $ decreases.

 

[vacationwoman]

I am new to WDW...and this forum...I came here for help too. I am stressed out as well cause I am obsessed with trying to plan out everything for my two week vacation. I am so afraid I won't get to have my kids see everything and have a good time. I have been trying to plan meals and when and where to go each day and so on and so forth. I wake up thinking of Disney and go to bed at night thinking of Disney...I guess I am so excited too...I have NEVER done anything quite like this...any pointers are appreciated!

Take a deep breath and stop stressing.
While it is important to have a plan when you visit WDW, because of the sheer size and numerous choices of what to do/see.

It's just as important that your vacation is relaxing.

I used to plan our trips so that every moment was scheduled whether we were there for 1 week or 2. Then when we went home we always had to "take a vacation" down the shore for a few days because we were exhausted.

There is no need to make a reservation for "every" meal.
There will always be somewhere to eat. I found that we weren't always hungry when it was time for a reservation we had and often were far from were we should be. It just wasn't worth the rushing around.

Once we stopped scheduling every moment we found that we could see more in a timely matter if we weren't actually running all over the place all the time.


So, relax and enjoy, you know your going to go back no matter what it takes.

 

[Tegra89]

Next month we will be going on our second Disney trip. The first one last April was meant to be a ‘once in a lifetime’ special treat, but we feel in love with the place and decided that we would try to return every year – even if it meant only being able to afford baked beans for tea every day the rest of the year!

Anyway, last year we knew nothing and just made it up as we went along, we eat in restaurants that we’d passed during the day and really went with the flow.

This year is different. For one thing, I’ve discovered this website, which although wonderful, has brought out the planner in me – someone I didn’t even know existed! Also, I’ve brought a few books and gone really started to get obsessed by the planning!

We have most of our ADRs done, and I know that we will always be able to find something for the few remaining unplanned means, as we generally eat late and are pretty flexible.

So why am I getting so stressed out over this trip? DH casually mentioned that he’d like to eat at one of The Grand Floridian restaurants and I nearly had a seizure – because we hadn’t planned that – but we’re not leaving for over three weeks!

Please reassure me that I am perfectly normal, I just feel so wrung out, as DH pointed out – it is supposed to be a holiday!

By the way, I'm 40 on Monday, so I think I may be getting wound up about that too........

Don't feel bad. I'm feeling the same way and I have 6 days left so I'm getting amped up! LOL! I'm sure everything will be back to normal after the trip. LOL!

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

Do not worry...that is perfectly normal! I stress out over trips that are not even really planned yet! I am in WDW right now...and I love it! I cry during fireworks and such because I am just so happy to be here! Some may say I am obsessed w/ the place...and I am! I do not want to go anywhere else! I think about WDW all day long.....but hey it is a healthy obsession.

 

[Danestress]

Hey, when I was a younger woman I travelled all of China by myself with no language skills and no plan - just arrived on a boat and spent six weeks "winging it." So you would think I could drive to Disney and take a vacation without getting all wrung out about which counter service to try in the MK. We aren't going until December, so I really need to take a break from thinking about it. But I am like you - I didn't know how wrapped up I could get about travel before I came here!

 

[diannaneglia]

Thank you for all your comments...I know i am stressing over something that should be just pure joy...but...well, I just CAN'T WAIT! I have only really planned out what days we will go where and where we will eat each day. I made the priority seating for those lunch and dinners too. I also reserved the Hoop Dee Doo, Cique Du, Chef Mickeys and Crystal Palace too. The only thing not planned is what we will do when we are in the park. I have been reading several guides and alot of them state that you should have a plan...I don't know about that...I was thinking of just doing what ever comes to us as we enter the park...with regards to being where we need to be at our scheduled lunch and dinner times. What do ya think?

I have a son who is Autistic (high functioning...) so we will be using a special needs pass...he is very sensitive to over stimulation if we stand with crowds for long periods, so I am hoping this will help when we don't plan every minute of the day.

Again thanks for all your help along the way!

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

I look up parks crowd levels...and that's about it. Each time I go to WDW..I get better and better about 'feeling' the crowds out..and this really maximizes the time and rides we get to do. Its amazing how much the DIS Boards can help you!

 

[MrsMud]

Happy Birthday, Joemo! Don't stress about 40, I just passed that milestone a few weeks ago, and it was just another day!
Now it's perfectly normal to stress about your planning, on the other hand,LOL! I am also an obsessive planner. I must have something I am planning or researching online at all times, so if we have just returned from a trip and not yet starting to plan another, I must do Christmas shopping, school clothes shopping, SOMETHING! Mostly it's our trips, though.
Take a deep breath and try to relax... on second thought don't do that. Get out all your stress now, then when you get to WDW just let it go!. If you can fit in the new dinner, go for it! If you can't manage it (can't get ADRs, etc) ...don't worry! It's WDW! You will have a great time no matter what!

 

[jann1033]

well it's normal for me but then again who ever accussed me of being normal

try not to stress to much... and try not to get into the "everything has to be perfect mode" since that might dampen your fun. i figure i plan what i can before we go then once we are there, if things change they change. i use my plans as a guide line to minimize the decisions i have to make then but if we feel like doing something different we do!

 

[buzzmom3]

I stress every year! I nearly lost it when I found out ADR's could be made 180 days out now. My DH thought he only had to deal with a crazy obsessive planner for 4 months of the year. Don't worry, everything will work out and you will have a great trip!