What if I mess up our trip?

[rhonhod]

I have planned, read, bought books, surfed the net and all the Disney sites. but I totally fear of messing up our vacation so bad, I'm sick when I think about it. Ok DH and I will be celebrating 15 years of marriage, DD will be entering high school and DS will be having major bone surgery( having both legs broken and reset from hips down to ankles) 2 weeks after we return from WDW. I've made all the plans and dinner ressies. Is there anything I'm missing? Something we should do? Somewhere where we should go a MUST SEE?? Please help!!!!!!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Is there anything I'm missing? Something we should do? Somewhere where we should go a MUST SEE?? Please help!!!!!!

Yes, you are forgetting that you are going on vacation with your family. Stop and smell the roses. I am a planner as well, somedays the kids might just want to stay in the pool or longer at MK....just roll with the punches. Its a vacation. Disney will always be there you can't and won't see everything in one trip. Have fun and more importantly enjoying your family.

 

[Barbers2005]

Ok, what you really need to do is take a deep breath and relax. I know it can be overwhelming planning a trip to WDW, but it sounds like you're on the right track. Talk with your family about what things they would most like to see/do and prioritize. You can't possibly see everything, and you'll be a mess if you try to. Most important accept the fact that your vacation will not go exactly as planned, and that's ok. Go with the flow when you get there and change your plans if that's what you feel like. If you just enjoy the time with your family and soak up that WDW magic, your vacation will be great no matter what you do.

 

[bellarella]

I agree -- what you are missing is that this is a vacation.

Accept that Disney is huge and that there is no possible way to do everything.
Accept that things will not go as planned.
Accept that half the fun of a vacation can be rolling with the punches.
Accept that all of the work you did planning may get thrown out the window when you get there.
Accept that you could have an absolutely fabulous time without ever setting foot on one attraction.
Accept that the only way for a trip to be "ruined" (short of everyone getting sick, knock on wood) is to hold your experience up to your expectations rather than appreciate your experience for what it is.

Breathe and enjoy

 

[rhonhod]

Thanks Everyone. Relax and breath!! I got it.

 

[Zoemakes5]

Something I always recommend with newbies or with people who are going with different age groups than they typically do......

Get a copy (or two) of a WDW guide. One of my favorites is the Unofficial guide, but it's big and has a lot of sarcasm. Birnbaum is official Disney, so that might work for you. Or, get a copy of the maps for the park. Give everyone a task of writing down MUST SEE's. You'd be surprised what different people's must sees are. My cousin must go to the villian store. DS must have Pooh breakfast. At some point, I must go to the Christmas store. What I've done is create a little "form" where I put on something like this:

One restaurant I really want to go to:
Three-Five Rides I really want to go on:
One character meal I really want to attend:
Shows I really want to see:
Extra stuff I want to do:
Things I don't really want to do:
Other stuff to know?

The other stuff to know is open ended. I've received "I want to eat at Chick-fil-a", to "make sure we buy Mt. Dew", to "remember a big pen" to "I want to sleep in more than last time", to "I really want to try those little boats" or "don't forget the pressed pennies".

Then, make sure you accomodate the "musts" in your plan. Make sure everyone is on the same page as far as time together, time apart, times to be awake and everything, then just have fun!
For me, I feel more comfortable making sure everyone gets what they REALLY want to do.

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

One thing that has helped is to realize that no matter how much you plan, at some point you have to be open to change. I do have younger children, so that might be part of my problem. I agree with the others, stop and smell the roses, enjoy yourself it's your vacation.