This question is for the extremely anal-retentive (like me)

[punkin]

I want to plan out my touring plan in 5 minute increments. Can anyone recommend a spreadsheet program to do this. I tried doing it on my Palm, but the interface is not good at showing intervals of less than 1 hour.

 

[XStAnt]

Don't even try to plan things out that precise. Even at the least crowded times the parks are busy and there's no way of knowing the wait for a ride or attraction. Things always come up to cause you to have to change your schedule.

Planning a trip to Disney is very important but if you micro plan every detail you will spend to much time trying to stick to the plan and won't have fun. You have to be flexible.

Good luck!

 

[Matty_Disfan]

You are crazy.

Seriously, get help. (joke)

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says................................The five minute increment is good, but can't you just memorize your entire trip! Who needs paper? 12 things an hour, 18 wakeing hours, 7 days,= 1512 things to remember, piece of cake.

 

[jlaspoq]

I use Excel to break my days into 6 time increments - Early am, morning, lunchtime, afternoon, dinnertime, evening. I put the days across the top, along with each park's hours for each day. Then in the blocks I put the hard times (like PS or early entry that I plan to use), along with PS confirmation numbers and exact time. I even put in hotel confirmations and exit numbers for the trip down and back, and for the Disney resort.

Everything is on one page. I got a little carried away this trip and I've color coded each block for which park we'll be at. Some of the blocks just say which park, if no one's particular about what we do at that time of day ("AK", for instance, if we just want to wander the trails). Others have specific plans ("Up by 630 am, grab bkfst, bus by 730 - MK ee - F'land and T'land" - I use a small font!). Right now there are still several blank blocks, which we will work out later once we see how the first few days go. I even have a color code for the resort, so I make sure I can see whether I have any down time for pool and rest.

I also list the Must Sees for each park - based on queries to each family member. That way, we know what to wait for and what to skip if we have to since we're going the week after Easter.

So all my important info is on one page. Stick it in the fanny pack with the park maps and off we go!

I would say if you just want to see if 5 minute increments can be done - good luck! But you will have many "continue waiting for ride" type entries...... Use an excel spreadsheet for each day and it might work (instead of putting all days on one like mine.) Maybe 15 minute intervals would work better?

 

[junglejane]

Hi, I usually do mine on Excel and use 15 minute increments. I color code - (i.e., parades and shows green, PSs orange, shows yellow, rides pink) I block out the amount of time each should take in the designated color. ((I know, I know, just a li-ttle bit obsessive )) I spend a great deal of time on my "plan" and try to stick to it unless something "better" comes up (like an impromptu street rendition of "Its a Small World" by the Dapper Dans on Main Street) - something that I could not have planned in.) or if we are passing by a ride with no line (where we expected quite a wait) But then we get back to the "plan" immediately even if we have to shuffle things a bit. We just cross them off as we do them. I think the trick to planning is to leave chunks of unplanned time during the day, say 1/2 hour in the am, afternoon, then at night. This way if you fall behind you can then catch up. Also leave enough time for PS's expect to wait for about 10-15 minutes to be seated and leave at least 1 hour for ordering and eating. Don't forget walking time, waiting time for parades and (your family will thank you) potty breaks. Good Luck

 

[apagano]

And I thought I was a compulsive planner by using the Unofficial Guide's touring plans! 5-minute increments is way too much. I can see 15 or 30 minutes, but 5 won't work. You will definitely run into the unexpected and that will throw off your whole schedule. Make sure your plan is well padded, sort of like an airline schedule.

 

[fklhou]

I am anal on most things including having to bill all my time in ten minute increments but at WDW, I try to enjoy myself. We plan things generally as to PS and shows but other than that I like to be fleixible on vacations.

 

[MELSMICE]

Are some of you serious about this? A vacation is supposed to be relaxing, not stressful.

Do some planning, but don't get anal & stress about it. You will be at WDW, not boot camp. Go have fun. Sometimes you just need to go with the flow.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by MELSMICE
Are some of you serious about this? A vacation is supposed to be relaxing, not stressful.

Do some planning, but don't get anal & stress about it. You will be at WDW, not boot camp. Go have fun. Sometimes you just need to go with the flow.

The thing is, some people enjoy a high level of planning. It would drive them nuts to go without a detailed plan. NOT having everything planned would stress them out. Different strokes for different folks.

It would drive me crazy not to have some idea of what I would be doing each day.

I find the planning fun. It helps me to get excited about the trip.

For those of you that have spreadsheets, would it be possible for you to post one? I'd love to see what they look like.

 

[punkin]

First of all...I'm planning 5 minute increments for Fantasyland in the morning. Those are quick rides that should have no real waits at park opening. I then have a PS at 9:35. I would like to get as many rides in as possible. Planning helps this enourmously.

Obviously, if you plan after 10 am, you will run into ride wait time variations, but not at 8 am on ee morning. Therefore, if some of you prefer to wing it, that's your business, I prefer to plan.

Thank you so much for those of you who actually took the time to answer my question.

I really didn't realize my innocent question would occasion so much venom. Perhaps some of you should get help for your lack of common civility.

 

[strawberryblonde]

It will all depend on group size and the time of year you are going. Our group of 11 arrived to MK at 8am for EE. We were able to see one character and ride two rides before our 9am breakfast. The smaller your group, the more you can do. I don't know if a ride every 5 min. is possible though because you still have to walk through the queueing area plus the ride itself takes time....hmmmm. You may have success with blocks of one hour and making a list of rides you hope to get done by breakfast. Best wishes, half of the fun is in the planning IMO

 

[Kaitysmom]

Wow!

 

[Braque]

Jlaspoq and JungleJane -

Interested in posting a link or sharing your spreadsheets for others to use as a foundation?

Thanks.

 

[gonga]

Wow

I think you need drphil.com!


Do you plan for vairables for things like someone having diharrea ? That can take up some time you know!

 

[MELSMICE]

Originally posted by punkin
I really didn't realize my innocent question would occasion so much venom.

My response wasn't meant to be venemous, but you need to be realistic. 5 minutes for wait time & ride time is not realistic. You don't say when you're going but there will be other people in the parks regardless of when you're there & what time you get there.

You're right, it will be less crowded at 8 a.m. but there will still be waits for attractions. Plus, while you are waiting/riding one ride lines are filling up at others. One poster mentioned listing what ride you want to do before your PS's instead of trying to make a time schedule, which is a good idea.

I am just saying that you should relax a little. I plan also, but sometimes if you plan too much you can get frustrated if it doesn't go exactly as planned. Unfortunately, for me I would take it out on my DD's & DH, which wasn't fair to them. I have found that a little planning & a little spontaneity can make the trip much more enjoyable.

Have fun planning & have fun on your trip.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

I too am an anal planner, but I cannot fathom the 5-minute increment plan. Our trip will be planned to the nth degree from when we leave our house until we get to the CR, and from when we leave CR untill we get home. However, with 2DDs (4 1/2 and 22 months at trip time), planning the details in the parks will be an exercise in futility for me!

In April 2002, I "planned" to spend a day in MK, a day in AK, the back to MK for our last park day. After DD (3 at the time) freaked at all the characters and wasn't to keen on rides, DH and I chucked the plan. We decided to go to Epcot on the 3rd day. It is our favorite park, and we figured we should have a day of fun rather than dealing with DDs meltdown every time she saw a character. Guess what?? DD absolutely LOVED Epcot, and even got up close to some of the characters that day. So much for the plan.

I figure this year I will get a couple of PS (DD wants to have b-fast with Cindy!) and park hoppers. Other than that we will flex with the kids! Of course it did take me 8 years of marriage and 2 kids to be a little less anal in my planning!!!

 

[deb305]

While we have taken both comando type trips and laid back trips to WDW I can see where the original poster is coming from. With priority seatings, show starting times, transportation alternatives even on our casual day I had to schedule things down to the minute. Layer on top of that different parts of your party going in different directions only to meet up an hour later. Especially if you are park hopping, you need to keep an eye on the clock.
I don't use a spreadsheet, but do start each day with a rough schedule of how we are going tour that day.

 

[Kaitysmom]

Planning the trip is great fun - passes the time away until you get to actually be there! I have tried laid back and commando styles (certainly not planned to the extent described here and by other posters) I found that there is a happy medium when you actually get to the parks - I make all the priority seating arrangements ahead and know which parks, which days, which rides are closed, which to do first, etc. We get more accomplished with less hassle. This allows for mishaps and crowds, etc., without as much stress.

Nothing worse (to me) than everyone looking at each other saying, "what do you want to do? I dunno, what do you...."

Have fun planning your trip! My "Wow" is just my surprise at how detailed your planning is. I have to tell my DH, maybe he'll leave me alone!!

 

[pintrader]

punkin I have a friend who by his own self-definition is :giggle: obsessive complusive. you called yourself something else. :more giggling: I completely empathise. For years he and his wife planned as you do. It IS WHO HE IS. He never found any software that assisted. He does/did it all by longhand.

They don't do it that way any more. It eventually became more work than relaxation or enjoyment for him. Which fortunately for us made the trip more enjoyable for the rest of us. Now he makes his list, he pulls it out two or three times an hour, looks at it, when he thinks no one is looking and shrugs his shoulders or chuckles to himself. we all pretend we didn't notice. Everyone is happy.

But to answer your question he NEVER found software to assist. Have fun with your planning and ENJOY!