We're ALL mad here

[Stefien Quix]

Anyone else's significant other ready to have you committed because you're in planning overdrive?

I've found that between sites like this one, TouringPlans plan calculators, the ability to book my ADR's 180 days in advance, my FP+ 60 days in advance, I've been in Planning Mode for the better part of this year. Tweaking, adjusting, adding, removing, re-adding.

My wife is tolerant, but I think she may be ready to be done with our trip before we've even started because I can't stop examining the trip from every angle!

 

[cruiser21]

Not everyone is crazy. I don't plan like that. Once you've been to WDW you'll find that it's really not that complicated.

 

[Stefien Quix]

I know it's not really all that complicated. This isn't my first trip. But previously I wasn't aware of all the planning tools available. And because they're there, I feel compelled to take advantage of them.

For example, I just discovered there's a Room Request feature of TouringPlans where I can see the view from each room of the resort I'm staying in and from there, have TouringPlans submit a room request for that area of the resort.

 

[cabanafrau]

Not everyone is crazy. I don't plan like that. Once you've been to WDW you'll find that it's really not that complicated.

It's precisely because, despite more than one WDW visit over the years, planning a visit now to includes taking in various attractions and dining requires such extensive planning that we're no longer planning to return. A big part of the appeal of a WDW visit was following your whims and enjoying upon arrival. Today that leaves you with some banal, overpriced dining and shopping and a whole lot of waiting in line.

 

[cruiser21]

It's precisely because, despite more than one WDW visit over the years, planning a visit now to includes taking in various attractions and dining requires such extensive planning that we're no longer planning to return. A big part of the appeal of a WDW visit was following your whims and enjoying upon arrival. Today that leaves you with some banal, overpriced dining and shopping and a whole lot of waiting in line.

I'm going in few months. I made a few dining reservations and I'll make fast passes at 60 days out. Other then that what planning is there? It's one of the easier vacations.

 

[Marchand63]

Nope I make spreadsheets for vacation. My DH just says. You know what I like. Works great.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

I promised my wife I won't plan the fun right out of this trip.

I usually have the equivalent of a military operation mapped out when it's just the 2 of us.

This go round, I'm going to set up a few fast passes, plan to be at the park early, and that's really it.

And it's making me crazy. That's why I started posting here. LOL

 

[Stefien Quix]

I'm going in few months. I made a few dining reservations and I'll make fast passes at 60 days out. Other then that what planning is there? It's one of the easier vacations.

As little or as much as you want it to be I suppose. I'm not claiming to be the norm by any means. If anything I'm trying to convey I'm NOT the norm (but hoping to find others with the planning bug like me)

But... to answer your question;

• perhaps you didn't get the ADR's you want? If not, you can keep trying, because eventually they may open up. You just need to stay on top of it (and/or use TouringPlans Reservation Finder)
• Same with your FP+. Didn't get the FP+ slots you were hoping for? Keep looking, they could open up!
• Do you have a list of the attractions you're planning to see? Do you have enough time to see them all? You can plan your routes so you can optimize your time there more efficiently!
• Do you have a good room? Have you looked into the views of the resort you're staying in? You can, and you can request a certain area of the resort specifically if you've figured it out
• Is there construction going on at your resort? Will you be near it? What's open and what's closed?
• Are there events going on while you'll be there? Do you want to participate in them? Have you gotten tickets yet?

This is just a smattering of topics I've been investigating/planning around

 

[Stefien Quix]

I promised my wife I won't plan the fun right out of this trip.

I usually have the equivalent of a military operation mapped out when it's just the 2 of us.

This go round, I'm going to set up a few fast passes, plan to be at the park early, and that's really it.

And it's making me crazy. That's why I started posting here. LOL

See part of MY problem is we're only going to be at the Parks for 3 days. So there's literally no way to see even close to everything. So there's a lot of minmaxing trying to figure out what the 'best bang for our buck' is.

THAT BEING SAID, I am going in with my eyes wide open. I know that no plan survives an encounter with "the enemy". So I'm going in knowing that most of my plans will get thrown out shortly upon arrival.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

See part of MY problem is we're only going to be at the Parks for 3 days. So there's literally no way to see even close to everything. So there's a lot of minmaxing trying to figure out what the 'best bang for our buck' is.

THAT BEING SAID, I am going in with my eyes wide open. I know that no plan survives an encounter with "the enemy". So I'm going in knowing that most of my plans will get thrown out shortly upon arrival.

That's what happens with me. I make all of these plans to be here at this time and there at that time.

Then we get there, and within the first hour we just wander and have fun.

Get there early, set up your fastpasses, make a reservation or 2, and then just have fun. That's what I'm doing this go round.

 

[Stefien Quix]

That's what happens with me. I make all of these plans to be here at this time and there at that time.

Then we get there, and within the first hour we just wander and have fun.

Get there early, set up your fastpasses, make a reservation or 2, and then just have fun. That's what I'm doing this go round.

I'll get there. I think my confidence level is too low to really just let go until we're there and I can be "in it". Our last trip was almost 10 years ago and it was just me and DW. Now we're bringing our DD and I'm doing that "parent thing" where I just want her experience to be "perfect" (Yes, I know this is silly, unreasonable, unrealistic, etc, etc, but I'm just being honest).

 

[scoutie]

I hate lines, crowds, and most rides, so planning Disney is a necessity for me otherwise I would end up miserable. The kids are why I go lol. I don’t plan any other trip excessively, but for me, planning Disney is necessary. I think we are going to Universal in December, so that’s a whole other unfamiliar situation where I’ll have to obsessively research.

 

[NYCgrrl]

My oldest sister has a special something she says to me when I'm planning events like a Disney trip or a camping trip or hosting a family holiday meal:
"You know you're haunted, right?"
I accept this as the essence of who I am.

 

[Jennasis]

DH is as big a WDW fan as I am, if not more. He is ALL about the planning...that said we own DVC now so our uber planning mentality has shifted over the passed 4 years to where we go with the flow a bit more.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

I'll get there. I think my confidence level is too low to really just let go until we're there and I can be "in it". Our last trip was almost 10 years ago and it was just me and DW. Now we're bringing our DD and I'm doing that "parent thing" where I just want her experience to be "perfect" (Yes, I know this is silly, unreasonable, unrealistic, etc, etc, but I'm just being honest).

I'm with you. We are going for the first time as parents too.

 

[sam_gordon]

Planning, schmanning.

We ended up going to MK on 12/27 last year. Two days after Christmas. The busiest week of the year, right? We ordered our park tickets on 12/26 @ 10:45 in the morning. So we started booking FP less than 24 hours before we'd arrive at the park. Here's what we had accomplished by 8p (we arrived at 9a):

BTMRR (FP)
Pluto M&G
Pirates
Small World
Stitch's Escape
Stitch M&G
Monster's Laugh Floor
People Mover
Carousel of Progres
Rode the train
Space Mountain (FP from Splash which was shut down when our FP time was up).

+ lunch (QS), dole whips, Ice Cream and snacks, and some shopping.

We could have done Splash also (we were at the entrance when they reopened), but we were tired.

 

[Hikergirl]

My dh likes not having to do anything for vacation, other than show up, so he likes me "planning". Which more or less consists of making a resort reservation, getting airline tickets, make some ADRs, get some FP. We don't necessarily even stick to those when we get there, we are more go with the flow.
As long as we have a resort room, and plenty of options of places to eat we are good. We will always find something to do/ride in a park so if we don't get the FPs we want its no big deal.
One exception was our last trip since it was just dh and me for our anniversary. I did plan more than I normally would.
I know that if I was married to an uber planner I'd probably have them committed though

OP, I hope your SO appreciates all your effort!!

 

[cabanafrau]

I'm going in few months. I made a few dining reservations and I'll make fast passes at 60 days out. Other then that what planning is there? It's one of the easier vacations.

It's a theme park vacation. The idea that I should plan meals months out and be unable to simply decide that day which park I'm in the mood to enjoy that day just doesn't appeal to me.

Enjoy. We've tapped out. It no longer provides the magic we enjoyed.

 

[cruiser21]

As little or as much as you want it to be I suppose. I'm not claiming to be the norm by any means. If anything I'm trying to convey I'm NOT the norm (but hoping to find others with the planning bug like me)

But... to answer your question;

• perhaps you didn't get the ADR's you want? If not, you can keep trying, because eventually they may open up. You just need to stay on top of it (and/or use TouringPlans Reservation Finder)
• Same with your FP+. Didn't get the FP+ slots you were hoping for? Keep looking, they could open up!
• Do you have a list of the attractions you're planning to see? Do you have enough time to see them all? You can plan your routes so you can optimize your time there more efficiently!
• Do you have a good room? Have you looked into the views of the resort you're staying in? You can, and you can request a certain area of the resort specifically if you've figured it out
• Is there construction going on at your resort? Will you be near it? What's open and what's closed?
• Are there events going on while you'll be there? Do you want to participate in them? Have you gotten tickets yet?

This is just a smattering of topics I've been investigating/planning around

All of things you listed are relatively simple and take up very little time.
I was on European cruise 2 months ago and I'm going on Canadian cruise next month. Disney World after that. Disney World is by far is the easiest vacation to research.

 

[cruiser21]

It's a theme park vacation. The idea that I should plan meals months out and be unable to simply decide that day which park I'm in the mood to enjoy that day just doesn't appeal to me.

Enjoy. We've tapped out. It no longer provides the magic we enjoyed.

Totally agree, but my son still loves it. I don't like planning which park to do each day. Once I book my fast passes though I don't think about again until I get there. As far as ADR's I only book a couple. We always stay at an Epcot resort so there's plenty of dining options around there. Most of them you don't need an ADR.
You can plan out every second of your day or just go into and go with the flow. I prefer the later.