Too Much Planning

[Miss Stitch]

I do research, (on the boards everyday lol) and decide which places would be good to eat, things which would be good to do etc. and work these into my day but dont plan military style. I have picked up a lot of tips on the dis and this trip will incorporate many of them. I tend to make the decisions when we are there (DH, and 3 DS) and I am quite discissive and we dont tend to waste much time. they are quite happy to bow to my superior knowledge lol

 

[Mo-Yo]

I enjoy the planning and the anticipation of executing the plan, as well.

My first visit to WDW as an adult was a disaster because we didn't plan. We now have gone to Disney 2 more times with a plan, and we love it.

I am really an armchair traveler in that I can waste hours dreaming about a trip...actual ones and virtual ones. For me, the planning is part of the fun. I plan what we'll do every day...ie. which park? which first few rides? our dining plans? our 'parkless' rest days? etc. Then, once we are there, we pretty much follow that guideline, but we aren't unhappily married to it, and we will change course midstream if we feel like it.

I love Disney, but I would never want to go more than once a year...or 50 times in my lifetime. To me, there are so many other places I want to see. So when we do go, I try to see as much as possible. The 'commando-ness' of our approach both depends on the park...and the time of day.

Epcot is our favorite park, so after we knock off a few 'must-do's', we lollygag and wander and drift. Same with AK.
At MK, we are much more into the attractions than the characters,etc., so we are more attraction oriented and coordinated.

It works for us.

 

[disneygal33]

I'm an OCD planner, and proud of it.

To each his own - for me, planning is half of the fun!

Me too. I love to plan my trip!! It's half the fun

 

[Mo-Yo]

I also just thought of something else along this line.

I'm pretty low-key and disorganized generally, but my 'hyper-organized' sister and her family and my folks are going to Disney with us in March. It's their first time. We'll undoubtedly have different priorites, and my mom is partially paralyzed, so I wouldn't dream of going without a plan.

I emailed my sister our itinerary, including park days, ADR suggestions, and even priorities for the first few hours every day. I asked for input and let her know we don't need to stick together the whole time.

I think I scared her to death...she had never seen this side of me.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I am a PLANNER. I do plan what park we will be in, where we will eat, and (to an extent) order of the rides (I am a TGM member ).

I love to plan (Disney or otherwise), so it isn't a hassle. I do find that since I have planned everything, I actually have time to stop and smell the roses. Since I know where we will be eating, we don't waste time figuring out where to eat, nor do we have to worry about getting an ADR at the last minute. We don;t have to argue about which ride to do next, because it's in the plan (that being said, we aren't rigid with our plan, so if something comes up, we deal).

DH took me to WDW for the first time two years ago. I planned a little (it was on for the day) and we had an OK time. Last year, we went for a week and I PLANNED. Everyone had a great time (DH, his parents and sister). They had all been to WDW several times before, but never did half of what we did last year. His parents even became seasonal pass holders, because they enjoyed WDW so much with me. So, there is something to be said for planning (although if you are comfortable not planning, that's OK too).

 

[Hound 109]

DH and I plan what park to go to on each day. Then we plan where we want to eat and make our ADRs. We also figure out which CS restaurants we would be interested in (to avoid those that we would hate). We also decide in advance which ride we will do first in each park. That is the extent of our planning. I think that to do less than that would waste too much time "Well, what do you want to do." And the more people in your group the more important to have these decisions made ahead of time.

And I find that the anticipation and the planning are half the fun.

I agree with every single item mentioned by Winterman.


hound

 

[DisneyDotty]

I love planning WDW trips! I pretty much go through life in three phases--1) planning my next trip to Disney 2) experiencing that trip and 3) planning my next trip to Disney! (With a little bit of reality thrown in there somewhere!)
Although I do plan which park which day, make ADR's and book tours ahead of time, I don't sit down and make a detailed attraction itinerary (one exception--EE at AK). Nevertheless, I'm pretty much itinerary-obsessed, and have heard many grumblings from my kids about having to get up early while on vacation, etc. So last year we had three non-park days built in our trip to WDW. And the kids loved it. But guess what--I still PLANNED to have those three days be non-park!
(BTW--I pretty much plan every vacation we take--can't imagine sitting around and having nothing planned. But that's the OCD kinda person I am!)
I say Good for you that you can go with the flow and be so laid back for your Disney vacations! Enjoy!