To what extent do you plan your trips?

[Dallas_Lady]

I've been on the Disboards quite a long time, and it seems to me that that "planning" means different things to different people. So, where do you fall on the planning spectrum?

Level 1- Full on winging it: We show up in Orlando and start looking for a place to stay.

Level 2- Basic arrangements: We plan what dates we will be there, make travel arrangements and reserve a hotel/resort.

Level 3- A loose itinerary: We plan what days we will visit the parks during our stay and try to get restaurant seating once we are there.

Level 4- Moderate scheduling: We plan what days we will do each park based on park hours and crowd data. We consult menus and make ADRs 180 days prior to our trip.

Level 5- Detail oriented: We make it to rope drops on a regular basis and have touring plans for the order that we will visit attractions, take breaks, etc.

Level 6- We get the most out of the Mouse: We often have tickets/reservations for extra activities such as MVMCP or BBB. We know where we will camp out to watch the parades and shows before we even arrive. We have even at times coordinated our outfits depending on where we will be and what we will be doing that day.

 

[MNWDWMANIAC]

I'd have to say level 6-

Here is an example of our home made schedule we set up for last years trip. We get them printed and laminated right before we leave.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I'd have to say level 6-

Here is an example of our home made schedule we set up for last years trip. We get them printed and laminated right before we leave.

 

[disneygal2007]

I'd have to say level 6-

Here is an example of our home made schedule we set up for last years trip. We get them printed and laminated right before we leave.

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW

 

[tofubeast]

Wow! That is a schedule.


I went with level 5. For our upcoming DLR trip, as it is during peak summer season, I am going to go with ridemax. My DH hates the idea that I will have ride order and times planned out, but I promised it would mean having more free time to chill and soak in the parks as well.

I love planning. It helps cut down on dissapointment if I can research ahead of time! Plus it helps the waiting time go by!

 

[MNWDWMANIAC]

We just found it nice to have as an over all ref. We park hop the whole time were are there. But we also like to get a fair amount of park time in each park. With all the EMH's etc it helps.

 

[disneygal2007]

Ours starts off with what time of year to go. Always February. Then where to stay. We went back and forth this time from CBR ot POP we chose POP. Then we start to look at menus and where we want to eat. After that we choose what one thing we want to do out in Orlando this time it is going to the Pirate dinner show. And after that I just read books on DW and talk about it non stop My poor husband is in Kuwait and I send him food porn pics and then as he is drooling he tells me what crappy food he is eating there and how he can't wait to get there to eat lol

 

[MNWDWMANIAC]

Ours starts off with what time of year to go. Always February. Then where to stay. We went back and forth this time from CBR ot POP we chose POP. Then we start to look at menus and where we want to eat. After that we choose what one thing we want to do out in Orlando this time it is going to the Pirate dinner show. And after that I just read books on DW and talk about it non stop My poor husband is in Kuwait and I send him food porn pics and then as he is drooling he tells me what crappy food he is eating there and how he can't wait to get there to eat lol

 

[VMK_Mouse]

I plan using a 12-tab Excel Spreadsheet. I guess I am detail oriented.

 

[rt2dz]

I voted Level 3, but we're really between level 3 & 4--closer to level 3, hence the vote.

We generally have a good idea on most days which park we plan on, but it is subject to change. We make some ADRs for things we do not want to miss out on, but not at the 180 mark. Right now we are more than in our window. I have three ADRs and just can't decide what else we might want to do, so it may just stay there. I have purchased party tickets. I'm not big at planning around crowd data, but I'll look at it. We frequently change things along the way.

 

[Figment's Friend]

We just found it nice to have as an over all ref. We park hop the whole time were are there. But we also like to get a fair amount of park time in each park. With all the EMH's etc it helps.

Nice schedule there!!

I think we're somewhere between 3 and 4. We don't have a moment-by-moment itinerary, but we know what parks on what days and make reservations at our 180 day mark.

 

[GoldieSaysMeep]

I make my absolute MUST eat ADRs, book hotel and flights obviously, and that is pretty much it.

 

[Wendybird55]

I'm between 3 & 4 - I don't plan my park days based on crowd levels, EMH, etc. - plus I like to park hop so depending upon crowds or how I feel I will hop around.

But I do make ADRS and this year even more so because I'm bringing my 2yr old son for the first time and I don't want to have him wait a long time to get seated for a meal because I don't have an ADR.
And I did make them at the 180 day mark this year because many people do so and I know if I wait I may not be able to get the character meals and such I want for my son.

If I was going with just adults (like last time - me and DH) I may make a few ADRS. But will definately be a 3.

 

[JennyJ]

I'd say we are a five! And We love it that way. We could be a six, but our itinerary is not quite as cool as MNWDWMANIAC's is! We use excel, and have the details ironed out. We check into crowd levels, EMH's, plan at least one ADR a day, usually 2. We plan which parks on which days...

Honestly the planning for us is half the fun! We really enjoy it!

 

[tooh8ful]

I fall between a level 3 and 4 as well. I look at crowd level days but I also like to use evening EMHs when I can. I book our ADRs 180 days out based on what park we plan to be in.

The only other thing I really look at after that is what times the parades are and try to hit them.

Then I spend the next 6 months reading the disboards and wishing I had something more to do before our trip.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We always get the most out of the Mouse. I am such a planner, that is part of the Disney fun....eventhough it is very stressful at times. Funny, after we have come home from our Disney vacations, I have such an empty feeling inside that I don't know what to do with myself until I get the green light to start planning our upcoming trips.

 

[MNWDWMANIAC]

I'd say we are a five! And We love it that way. We could be a six, but our itinerary is not quite as cool as MNWDWMANIAC's is! We use excel, and have the details ironed out. We check into crowd levels, EMH's, plan at least one ADR a day, usually 2. We plan which parks on which days...

Honestly the planning for us is half the fun! We really enjoy it!

Thats true for us too. We talk about our Disney trips at least once a day all year long. Planing, talking, sharing.... We also have a great trunk that we store memories in from past trips. Sometimes we pull that box out and just talk about things as we pass things around the room. Planning IS half of the fun.

 

[jennyl772003]

I voted 5, but really, we have some 6 and some only 4.

We made our ADRs 180 days out, but we don't necessarily have a park chosen for each day. We typically do NOT arrive at rope drop, but I have booked a tour.

We kind of plan "stuff" ahead of time, and actually wing the parks, if that makes any sense at all.

 

[Stargazer]

I plan using a 12-tab Excel Spreadsheet. I guess I am detail oriented.

ITA -- however, once we got to WDW, I had to let go a little, so I'm kind of a mix of 4 & 5 (since DH wasn't exactly on board w/ my excessive OCD )

 

[tinkgirl2007]

We are somewhere between a 3 and a 5. We try to make it to morning EMH, and plan parks for each day and make some ADRs. However, we do wait and see what ADRs are available about a month out. This is because most of the time our travel dates are flexible and we wait on FL resident discounts. That being said we have almost always gotten what we wanted.