Too much planning a bad thing??

[jolyn96]

We're OBSESSED with our upcoming trip to Disney...we have 4 Disney books and we look at Disney websites on a daily basis! We're SOOOO excited!! Just wondering how many of you are as obsessed as we are, and whether all the thinking about Disney makes the actual trip less exciting? Thanks!

 

[Selket]

Ha! You've only got 13 posts here! Look at the folks who have 3000+ - LOL! I've been visiting these boards for four years on a semi-regular basis (more when trip planning) and have only 500+ posts.

You *could* over-do the trip planning if it stresses you out but for most folks it just makes the trip that much more enjoyable. Part of the value of the WDW trip for me is doing all the research and planning - I enjoy it for months beforehand and feel like I get more for my money that way

 

[barbeml]

Anticipating our trip is half the fun!! Planning is great and can help you to save money and make the most of your time.

The only time planning might be "bad" is if you plan every minute, leave no room for "spur of the moment" fun, and go bonkers when your expectations are not met exactly.

Welcome to the DIS!

 

[enchantedpixiedust]

I think you could drive yourself crazy over info you find - especially critical posts on some boards. When I first started reading these boards about 3 years ago I always went with kind of a glazed-look to Disney, never really nit-picking stuff, etc. I would read all the "wallpaper is peeling at the edge", "paint flecking off", not-so magical CM's, not grand resort experiences, etc and all of a sudden I spent my vacation nit-picking things that before I prob wouldn't have noticed. I had to really stop myself from doing that throughout that trip.

Ever since then I'll read some of the complaint posts, but I try not to dwell on things like that. I figure it's not worth what it costs me in anxiety while planning and the distraction while I'm there.

*Just a note - I'm not saying anything bad about the posts complaining about services, experiences, etc - I think it's very valuable information to pass on. I just have the personality where I obsess over it so I personally find it best to avoid them in general. I love planning and to me nothing is better than an organized vacation.


I like the planning because it makes it seem that there's a bit of my Disney trip in everyday.

Have fun!

 

[thirdtrip]

I just returned and did some extensive planning and as usual you can't account for things beyond your control. Rain (wiped out my FP for Test Track, plans for Fantasmic etc) , illness (sour stomachs which wipe out PS) and heat, which no matter how much you plan around the heat it can still sap you of your energy. If you keep this in mind it will help you adjust your schedule and stay encouraged.

 

[MAC3]

I'm in the same boat as you. I live to plan Disney Vacations. It's sad but true. As for the planning ruining anything. Not as long as your flexible.

I make a tenative plan and leave room for alternates. Make plenty of PS's (they can always be canceled) & enjoy!!!

 

[ash&abby'smom]

I've been reading these post for about a year now for our upcoming trip. My DH laughs at me, because I'm always on the internet reading posts daily, writing notes down and referring back to my books. What's wrong with a little planning I say?

 

[kpossible]

Hello. I love planning for vacations also. I have bought some Disney books and enjoy reading the posts. It is half the fun. When vacations are few and far between sometimes trip planning is an escape from everyday things like laundry, dishes, cleaning. After our kids are in bed for the past few weeks I run to read these boards or my Disney books. It's so much more fun than picking up the toys all over the house. My DH thinks I'm nuts. He just will pack his little bag five minutes before we leave for a vacation, he doesn't understand what it takes to get a family of five out the door for a week. If it starts to feel stressful just step back for a while until it seems fun again. Once I am actually out the door and on vacation, I bring just one page of notes with all the important times, numbers etc. and then have fun.

 

[Doodlebug939]

I find that I am a big planner. I have saved so much money by coming to these boards and just paying attention to the deals that people can get. If I didnt have the boards then I would just be planning a trip with a Disney Reservation and no clue that there wee codes or deal so I would have paid full price.

I also like to hear peoples ideas for saving money that I can use in everyday life and not just Disney. Plus being on the boards helps make the planning stage a bigger part of the vacation experience.

 

[frstimer128]

I am a new DW addict. I started thinking about a trip for my DD and I back in April. My friend, a true Disney junkie, told me about the boards and I have been on every day since!

There is so much great advice here. I had no idea about what PS's were hard to get or when to get them, but thanks to everyone here, I have PS for CRT, PSB, Wonderland Tea and Pirate Cruise! Not to mention MNSSHP tickets and PS for LTT that evening.

We have 1-2 PS for almost every day. I have a couple days wide open at the end of our trip to give us the chance to visit things we missed during the week. On the days I made 2 PS's, I made sure that they were in the same park or resort so we didn't have to worry about travelling in between the two. Also, I have 3 breakfast ressies and I made sure that I did not then book dinner for that same day because for us, it would make for too long of a day.

I can't wait to put all of my new-found knowledge to the test in October!!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Let me put it this way - we just returned Monday from a 12 day trip. I'm planning next year's trip already (have reservations and AP will still be valid). I'm already thinking in my mind what new restaurants we should try and what we missed that we want to do next year. Only 344 left to plan! LOL

 

[MAC3]

Originally posted by DisneyMomx7
Let me put it this way - we just returned Monday from a 12 day trip. I'm planning next year's trip already (have reservations and AP will still be valid). I'm already thinking in my mind what new restaurants we should try and what we missed that we want to do next year. Only 344 left to plan! LOL

Gee Robyn, sounds like our countdown timers are similar. Here's hoping they tick quicker!

 

[daannzzz]

I don't think there is such a thing as over planning. Planning is fun and helps stretch the enjoyment out over many months. You also don't have to follow the plan or can alter or reduce it as well. You can over research it and find out too much like I did on my first trip. I read every book looked at videos and online websites to the point that when I got there , there were NO surprises. It would have been wonderful to walk into the WL or GF and not have known about the lobbies. It would have been great to walk onto attractions and not really know what the were.
Planning is fine just don't look at to many pictures or descriptions.

 

[Alaska Catdog]

I've been put on restriction from these boards (I'm cheating at work right now) by my DH. He does not understand my obsessed facination with all the wonderful knowledge and information found on this site. Who cares that I fight sleep to read all the posts? Who cares if I spend several hours a day living vicariously through everyone who posts a trip report. Who cares if I miss work so that I can keep up on what is going on in the World. . . wait a second . . . perhaps there is cause for worry. Yeah, I've been feeling frighteningly obsessed with DW lately. I probably should take a break. But it's so fun!

 

[karemore]

I don't think all the planning and obsessing about WDW makes the actual trip any less exciting.

I think it just spreads out the fun.

The trip goes by so fast, and for some of us it's a long time in between trips.

I was there in April on my honeymoon, and we're going back next April. I started planning as soon as we got back. I keep my guidebook out, and read a page or two at a time to keep the magic alive.

It's fun to read everyone's reports on this forum, and keep up with all the latest info.

I actually had a lot of fun on my last trip quoting things I learned on here and in the unofficial guide.

And my Dh was very impressed at how I navigated us through the parks with such ease. He particularly loved the way we never waited in line for more than 10 minutes, yet passed mobs of people waiting in 50 minutes lines.

Obsess away. It's perfectly OK as long as you aren't neglecting anything important while you do it.

Karen

 

[frstimer128]

What a time saver planning can be! I am a plan-aholic!! It is nice for me to have a little advance notice on what to expect.

 

[Shellh]

I love to plan my vacation and get such a thrill out of the savings it gains me. I figure since I am an academic librarian it just goes with the territory . Research, research, and more research!
I am currently planning our Sept. trip.

I spend lots of time reviewing books, web sites and lists like this one but never to the point where it becomes obsessive. I just know how much it has gained for me in past trips in terms of money saved and time well spent once I got there. But I agree with the rest, you still need to be flexible and spontaneous.

There are things I spent time planning like booking resorts and some dining and such and then the rest gets left to going where the pixie dust takes us!