What is in your Disney Binder?

[tinksgilrs251520]

I also use the binder but i went to Staples (office supply) and had them bind them into a book binder. mine includes a description of vacation , emergency info then i go into all reservations since we drive down we usually stop at a hotel half way and then it goes into our MYP info, then itinaerys, show schedules, then packing lists, and things like that . aThen i have a sepeate book for just the parks that consists of maps (printed out smaller ona full sheet of paper) photopass info, character info, dinning info and emergency info so it makes it easier for the kids just in case and that i have laminated once again at staples store so it does not get beat up in the backpack

 

[dansyr2514]

I just want to thank all of you... I have just proved to my dbf that I am not the only one who makes a binder.

 

[AutumnKlassic]

I have several things in my binder. A crowd calender and a daily suggestion list is the thing I am proud of the most

the first one has a list of hours and a plan with EMH shown. I highlight mornings in pink, evenings in blue and the park I want to go to in yellow.

the second one shows just the day with any reservations and suggestions. I get the hours from Disney and the Crowd Index from touringplans.

The day before I'll add the temperatures and any last minute updates.
I also have a page for just dinner reservations, important numbers, the hotel and anything I think I may need. I do all of this on excel and powerpoint. If anyone wants a copy of my last one just PM me. I leave on Feb 16th but I can send them when I get back on the 24th

 

[gymboqueenkaylee]

wow you guys are organized!! I am making my binder now!!

 

[Danauk]

I use the Passporter pockets so I have a binder pocket for each day that I can take into the park with me. In my binder I have a pocket with all the travel docs in, hotel confirmation numbers, car hire info and an outline spreadsheet of what we plan to do in the morning, afternoon and evening for each day etc. Each daily pocket has the park map for that days parks, a touring plan for the day (I use ridemax), park hours info then on the front of the pocket I list my ADR confirmation numbers, and note any special things to get done that day e.g. pictures taken in a certain spot, parade/firework times and notes on best place to stand etc. There is also space on the back of the pocket to note any spending done that day.
I like doing it this way as then at the end of the trip I put all the pockets together and it serves as a reminder of the trip. Then I just order a new set of pockets for the binder ready for the next trip!

 

[creativeamanda]

Last year my binder was a standard 3-ring binder. This year, I've bought a trapper keeper. My binder ended up in a ziploc bag last year because of all the stuff I put in it.

I have a labeled section for each day, an overview spreadsheet, adrs, and hidden Mickey info. But I'm making a list of what others do.

 

[fausz4]

We drove on our last trip so I had a tab with the hotel information (phone#s, confirmation #s) for each of our stops and why we stopped at that location (was it to get past Atlanta before rush hour or to have a shorter second day trip)

My Dad was terminally ill when we went - so I wanted to make sure I had all the information I could find and need - this was the best thing I did. The trip was flawless!

When I got home I made sure I went back and made notes about the drive down and what everyone liked and what we all wanted to do again, what we liked about the resort (location etc.). When we decided to plan a trip again this year - I pulled out the binder and I was so glad I had the information to go back to, it has helped me make some decisions for this trip and it was neat to reminsce with our boys about what they said they liked last time and what my Dad liked too.

The only thing I didnt do was note how many days we had left on our tickets (although I could of swore I did!). Thankfully I found a phone # that I could call (thanks to DIS) and they told me "unofficially" what we had left on them.

My Dad was so impressed by my organization skills that he referred to me as the Disney Expert to anyone who asked about our trip.

I havent started my binder yet....guess I need to start soon!

Sounds like to are going to be just fine....Good Luck!

 

[Kat73]

wow these are all good ideas

I've been lots of times and used a Passporter but didn't really want to cart around all the weight of all those pages of information. And the pockets are super but always ask questions about things I don't need/ care about.

So, I made my own? Sorta. I took a blank journal I bought at Walmart that fits easily in my vera bradley bag. Then I decorated the pages with Disney stickers and scrapbooking supplies. I'm going on two trips in one, so my book's broke into "Beach trip" and "Disney Trip". For each trip there's a two page section for each day where I can make notes on that day's events- things I want to do, ADRs, special plans- or it's just blank. A space to jot notes about what we did that day. Then I've got pockets breaking up the sections, I made pockets on pages out of scrapbook paper. the pockets hold things like cards with Hotel ressie info, Airplane tix, budget. More pockets with envelopes to collect reciepts. In between all this I pasted mini maps and things I cut out of old travel books and printed from online, driving directions, park hours, etc. So I guess I'm kind of a dork for making a big book but it was lots of fun and it's really cute It doesn't hold tons and tons of printed out whatnot from online, but the way I am if I take all of that kind of stuff with me I'll never get anywhere! LOL

Hope everyone else's binders and things works out for them too!

 

[incruzcontrol2]

Wow.. you guys are great.. I can only strive to be just as organized as you guys.. Thanks for all the great suggestions.. I'm working on mine today!

 

[NaplesRI]

I don't think I saw it mentioned, but I also printed out a copy of the locations for Pressed Pennies.

Also, copies of the maps that show where you can find the Photopass photographers.

 

[gojoe]

Last trip I had a 3 ring binder with everything I had collected for the trip. The front cover had a colage from our last trip. I now have some great ideas for things to add. Eveybody gave me such a hard time. They all laughed and laughed. It feel nice to know I'm not crazy, well not too crazy anyway

 

[NaplesRI]

Would you be willing to share these? They look fantastic!!

I have several things in my binder. A crowd calender and a daily suggestion list is the thing I am proud of the most

the first one has a list of hours and a plan with EMH shown. I highlight mornings in pink, evenings in blue and the park I want to go to in yellow.

the second one shows just the day with any reservations and suggestions. I get the hours from Disney and the Crowd Index from touringplans.

The day before I'll add the temperatures and any last minute updates.
I also have a page for just dinner reservations, important numbers, the hotel and anything I think I may need. I do all of this on excel and powerpoint. If anyone wants a copy of my last one just PM me. I leave on Feb 16th but I can send them when I get back on the 24th

 

[teddygurlkeekee]

I have a question about the ADRs.. (Advanced Dining Reservations right?)

How do you file these and take care of this? When I made my reservation, they said they wouldn't send an email confirmation to me, just give me the confirmation number. Is there a way to get this or do yall just file the number?

 

[creativeamanda]

I have a question about the ADRs.. (Advanced Dining Reservations right?)

How do you file these and take care of this? When I made my reservation, they said they wouldn't send an email confirmation to me, just give me the confirmation number. Is there a way to get this or do yall just file the number?

I make an Excel Document and laminate it to carry. If you'd like a copy, pm me and I'll email it.

 

[smidgen21]

I have a question about the ADRs.. (Advanced Dining Reservations right?)

How do you file these and take care of this? When I made my reservation, they said they wouldn't send an email confirmation to me, just give me the confirmation number. Is there a way to get this or do yall just file the number?

I also make a spreadsheet like the PP. I have the date/time/meal/location/confirmation number. I printed it for my binder and I'll make a smaller copy for my park bag.

 

[3boymthr]

For those among us who constantly loose things - a list of all the important numbers:

phone numbers for my health insurance co./ID # Plus our Drs. phone #s (DS #2 always gets sick while on a trip)
credit card co. phone #, bank, etc.
Copy of my AAA card (Yep, I've had my wallet stolen)
List of ID Nos for my Traveler's Checks, if any. (I lost these in KY)
Phone no. for my cell phone company with account no. (okay, not mine but a co-worker just had theirs stolen in LV - it made it's way to GA with several hundred in texting charges before they could get home and have it shut off)

 

[teddygurlkeekee]

I have a checklist that I found somewhere (although I don't remember where..so sorry to whomever made it!) that is very very thorough of all the things you might need and can be personalized. If anyone would like it, PM me your email and Ill send it.

AGAIN, I did not make it, although I would be sending how I personalized it for myself.

 

[Kallierollo]

Great tips thanks!

 

[sassyxtink]

We have been traveling to WDW since '96 with our kids (DD15 and DS9) and we have a binder with laminated packing lists, plastic sheets to change out dining reservations and park hours and our own "tips" list. With all of our trips, we still "learn" something each trip.

We will be there March '09

We have a separate binder for the DCL. We are taking our 2nd DC in July, so our binder is not as evolved!!

Have fun everybody!

 

[Marquis de Disney]

For my binder, I use my Deluxe Passporter which pretty much has everything I need in it...plus the extra worksheets from the Sidekick PDF. Its great to hold all the maps, fast passes, tickets for shows, receipts, etc. It is also such an excellent planning tool during the course of the year.