too prepared?

[LisaZoe]

I haven't planned to any detail what we'll be doing when but I have created a simple daily itinerary that I'll print out before we go so that I can have one index card-sized list for each day. On it will be the attractions I think my DD and I will enjoy as well as any details we might need for a PS that day) i.e. confirmation number. Since this is our first trip, I don't want to forget about something in the excitement of just being there. Also, I did this to get an idea of how much time we may have at each park while allowing us enough time to get some "downtime" each afternoon. DD will be almost 3 at that time and I know we'll both need to relax so we can get the most enjoyment out of our trip.

We'll be going in September and I've been reading that this will be a relatively low attendance time period so I think we'll be able to do more than I have listed. However, in case it is busier than usual, we'll be set to hit the "must do" attractions first and others if time allows.

 

[ctrabada]

I am quite known for being a planner, but when it comes to WDW, I try not to plan too much. When I was a child, my dad did the parks "commando" style and I think that was enough for me. Of course, it helps that I'm a passholder that lives 3.5 hrs away with free room and board in Orlando (my parents now live there), but we do stay on property once or twice a year.

For my upcoming trip in Sept, I will be planning some things, but mostly will take it easy and go with the flow... my friends and family sometimes cannot believe I can actually do it, but I will!

 

[zcomic]

Planning (and replanning and replanning......) is part of the fun of a WDW vacation. What I do is create two Excel spreadsheets, one with where we go on what day, including PS and another listing the attractions in each park in priority/logical order. I don't put times to anything because you never know how long the lines will be. We followed that pretty religiously on our first couple trips but FP has changed that somewhat. The key is to do SOME planning, mainly the priority of the attractions, but still be flexible.

 

[GADISNEYGIRL]

We've been so many times, we have sort of a "plan" that we always follow~as in, what land we start in, that sort of thing. Funny thing for us is, we actually plan (in advance) so much more NOW, when we've relaxed the pace a bit, than we did when we were so commando! We talk constantly about what we want to ride, and we'll "talk our way" around each park (this is particularly good car activity!)...in fact, we've had so many people in our house this week (out of town guests), that DH and I have not had a conversation about WDW in about 9 days, and we are suffering severe withdrawals. Now he's out of town, guess I'll just have to wait until next week. (Although DS, age 2, also loves to plan, so maybe he and I can work out some details this weekend!) Now that DS is so into the characters, we work around their schedules. So I guess maybe we're a good mix: we do lots of advance planning, but we are very flexible when we're there. For us, we know it's not a one-time trip that we have to do EVERYTHING, so if we skip or miss something, it's not a big deal...we'll catch it next time!

 

[macraven]

Originally posted by lilpatty19@aol.com
I was just curious how many people go to disney so unbelievable prepared rather than doing things as they come along..I just got back yesterday but while I was there I saw these two people that were together and they had a notebook and it sais
9:00 arrive at epcot
9:10 ride spaceship earth
9:25 go see countires..
I was just curious how often people do that

looking over my shoulder were you........................
yes, this is how i plan

 

[Snoopymom]

LOL! Oh gosh, if I pulled out a note card, dh would purposely zig zag across the park, beg to go on a ride he has no interest in, and decide that we have to eat at some terrible unknown restaurant off of 92! I'm serious.

I discreetly memorize schedules and menus, keep time, make suggestions, gently lead and then act like the incredibly wonderful day we had with no waits, great views and delicious meals was all do to that elusive Disney magic! LOL

 

[SherGoof]

I thoroughly plan. List of all PS (not many) with locations and times. List of each day with tentative itinerary. And a list for the park(s) on which way to head first. I don't schedule times for rides, but do make notes to grab a fast pass for such and such ride before going on another one (to try and eliminate wasted time).

My husband hates all my planning, so I kind of hide it. Most of my plans are what ifs that way we'll be ready for anything.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by lilpatty19@aol.com
I was just curious how many people go to disney so unbelievable prepared rather than doing things as they come along..I just got back yesterday but while I was there I saw these two people that were together and they had a notebook and it sais
9:00 arrive at epcot
9:10 ride spaceship earth
9:25 go see countires..
I was just curious how often people do that

The WS doesn't open till 11 so that must have thrown them waaaaay off....

 

[bigbabyblues]

My DH is accusing me of planning like that, but honestly I'm not! I know what park on what day, at least the part of the day I made a PS for....one each day so we can enjoy a sit-down meal and relax a little. Other than that, I have a list of rides/shows we want to do at each park, but not in any specific order or anything like that. I'll probably take my "handy-dandy" notebook as ds (age 3) calls it with me, just so I make sure we don't miss anything we wanted to do because we forgot. The only things I dont want to be flexible with are my meals, other than that, we'll roll with the punches!

 

[funcinderella]

I used to be part of that group, just playing it by ear. Then, I would enviously look at those people that walked ahead of the line (Fastpass), got to eat at Cinderella's breakfast (they booked 90 days in advance), saw the Illuminations on a boat (again, booked far in advance) and I would wonder "How'd they know that? How'd THEY get to do that? Why didn't I know about that? Wouldn't that have been neat to do!" etc, etc. Then, I decided I would be that person that others would stare at and think those things! Now I plan it all! My family knows better; they just follow whatever I say to do, because we have a fabulous time and don't wait in any lines. They expect it from me now, and I deliver it to them.
Whew... that being said, I just spoke with a coworker who went to Disney with an 8 and 10 year old. They spent 4 days, one in each park, had no plans, spent the entire day in the park and collapsed at 8 pm at night. I said didn't you have a plan, he said no, we just grabbed fast passes when we could and played it by ear. They had a great time!

So I think it all has to do with your take on the situation. I hate waiting in lines, so the planning idea is better for me. For others, they'd rather not give up the spontaneity, and don't mind the longer waits or don't mind not getting to see EVERYTHING, so that works better for them.