When I go to Disney....

[dragonfly08]

I'm heading to WDW on Thursday, and the only thing I've planned is that we'll meet my sister and her family for dinner in DTD the night we arrive, and we'll hit MK the next morning because we aren't park hopping and I want a full day there while my girls are still fresh. Not a single ADR, we'll make rope drop if we get up early enough (and knowing my kids, that's actually pretty likely) but I won't set an alarm just to do that, no touring plan or mad dash for fast passes. We see what we see, do what we do, eat when/what we want from CS locations and snack shops, and we'll have a great time. The rest of my life is so scheduled - get up, get to the bus, be on time for gymnastics/swim/tae kwon do/etc., have homework finished, get the kids to bed - that I have absolutely NO desire to do the same on my vacation. It works for some, but for us it would be a disaster.

 

[jm106]

This is Disney World! Magic happens in everything you do. It happens when you are not looking for it or expecting it! Embrace the happiness of the enviroment. Share in the joy of that little boy or little girl that just skipped past you and almost ran you over in the process. Smile at the mother who is trying to calm her tantruming toddler, because we've all been there. A smile can go a long way! Say kind words and strike up a conversation with the teenage kids in line who are being goofy. We've been there too.

Life is too stressful as it is, don't let silly things get you down or make you mad while you are on vacation, especially not while you are at the Happiest Place On Earth!!!!!!!

I know I already posted but I wanted to add You should no more assume we DONT do these things while being planners then I could assume you miss out on some magic because you dont. I am guessing you get to do just what YOUR family wants, right? its still magical? Yup, Mine is too
My magic starts right here on these boards(the planning forums), asking ppl about their experiences and sharing mine.

 

[Lowell317]

DW and I have turned into our group's "Disney people" So we end up "planning" trips for others. I absolutely love it. It isn't a detailed itinerary, but a rough sketch and information they may want to know. I love doing this as it helps my friends out and lets me stay up with these boards without feeling like i'm "wasting" time.

Also, when we are planning for our trips, DW and I take "Disney Walks" where we take the dog and go walk for an hour or so, talking about the upcoming trip, rehashing stories from past trips, etc. We lose weight, the dog stays happy and we get to plan our trip. Seems win win win to me

 

[Marty Joe]

We make ADRs and plan park days around them. We shoot for a rope drop here and there. I don't care when a park opens or closes. We have been to WDW many times and don't feel a need to eek out every second of every day...so we wing it. It is so much more relaxing...

When I go to Disney... I have 2 Mai Tai's from the Tambu Lounge (Polynesian Resort) while watching the electrical water pageant and Wishes while trying for the perfact "fireworks shot".

 

[bumbershoot]

Spending months planning and scheduling exactly what you will do when you get there just doesn't seem, well, fun. Sure it's fun planning the trip but once you get there, just wing it. Life is already full of chaos and time frames. Why do you continue to do that while you should be relaxing and enjoying the vacation you've been blessed to take?

Your trip sounds miserable to me. Especially the getting in trouble part if someone misbehaves in line...with us, if DS is "misbehaving", it's almost certainly because of something WE did. We got up too early after too late a night, we didn't feed him the right food, we didn't make food available on time, he is thirsty, etc. Or I made the mistake of thinking he's an adult and can come up with countless things to think about while in a long line... If DS is going to get in trouble on our trips, I want it to not be MY fault, and if I put no thought into what he might like to do while in long lines, that is indeed my fault.


The more I plan, and the more my family listens to me, the BETTER the time we have. More attractions, more fun, more smiles. They like those things, so they listen to me more and more.


Of course, once I've gone to WDW countless times I'm sure the intense planning I have to do will lessen, just like it's lessened at DLR. Once you've gone a bunch, the planning is done in your head already, and it can be tapped into nearly subconsciously. But for now, I'm going to enjoy the planning!

I do all of the things you have said above, and yet, I do all of the planning that you do not do. Why are the two mutually exclusive?

Absolutely. I agree.

 

[carrie1626]

When I do to WDW , it's an adults only vacation- my kids are 21/18 now!
Sometimes I travel with my sister and/or my parents. We all choose our special restaurant and then we try to plan around the parades, fieworks, and eateries.
I love making a spreadsheet & planning all this out!! I plan plenty of down time, relaxing vacations ONLY from now on.
And it gets tweaked often

 

[princess_ariel_85]

Some people are born planners and some are not. I myself am in the 'wing it' corner.

Surely it's each to their own? I've seen both sides of it and I can't see other side having more fun than the other. I wish I was a planner, because then I would know I'm not missing something. Although if I miss something I can nag DF to come back

I love it when planners tell us on the DIS boards what they're going to do - it gives me ideas and also I feel more excited because people are talking about it & I suppose the planners on this board feel excitement because they know whats ahead on their trip.

Df is bit of a planner and also my tour guide, I've only been the once so it's nice to know where to go what to do.

anyway.....I always thought that Everyone had fun at disney planned out or not?

 

[mickey&minniealways]

I am not usually a planner for most thing. DH however can be somewhat anal about it. He is a perfectionist to the uptenth degree. That being said we seem to switch roles when in Disney. Even I don't plan out times and such. Just a general plan for where. I do plan out what rides I want to hit but not what order. I am also more then willing to scrap any plan if the mood strikes and do a complete about face. Also 2 of my kids come under the heading of special needs so being flexable can be a way of life at time. We never know when someone needs a break from it all or an unexpected meltdown so backup plans just in case can be helpful. Life can be to short who needs the stress.

 

[larryz]

When I go to Disney:

I don't ...

A perfectly workable philosophy! Nobody here should try to force you into anything else.

No plan survives first contact with reality, anyway.

 

[lilwhiterabbit]

Sorry, but some of us enjoy the planning. As another poster said, for those of us who are naturally planners, the idea of vacationing the way you prefer sounds miserable. Different personalities require different things from a vacation. One way is not superior to the other.

 

[dskib]

Another thank you for not going to rope drop! Less lines for me

It's easy to be a non-planner when you've been to Disney before and you know the drill. But people who have no idea that ADRs are important if they want to eat at specific places/times, have never heard of fast pass, and have no idea about Soarin and TSM learn quickly that a plan is often necessary. I'm not saying you need to plan down to the minute, but some key ideas really help!

I HATE crowds and long lines. It destroys my vacation. I also want to eat at certain places. So I have a DEFINITE plan when it comes to which park on which day, getting to rope drop, and managing Big rides and fast passes.

Without that planning, I wouldn't have a good time. I don't thnk that takes anything away from my vacation.

Deb

 

[larryz]

Without that planning, I wouldn't have a good time. I don't thnk that takes anything away from my vacation.

I, too , get a kick out of planning, even down to "alternate park days" depending on EMH and special events.

But I'm not so inflexible that I'm going to let Biergarten being 45 minutes behind ruin my day. If I'm so hungry I just can't wait, I can get a great brot and brotchen right there at the bierstube, along with a tankard of pils with which to wash it down.

 

[bwilcox]

Here's my list:

Be open-minded enough to know that there are lots of different kinds of people in the world. Some enjoy just "winging" it; some actually enjoy planning. Either way is OK.

Some people are morning people or have kids who are up at 7 regardless of whether it's a vacation or not. For these people, doing rope drop is fun.

While getting to rope drop may seem like a pain to you, getting there later at the same time as thousands of other people and waiting in long lines does not make an enjoyable vacation to some of us.

While older kids may be able to wait in lines when told, 18-month-olds are not so obedient when told to be patient. I am grateful for the "waiting in line" tips I got on my DD's first vacation.

And all the planning that you don't like to do-well, I enjoy it. It is a little escape for me in the afternoon between changing diapers and refereeing arguments, while my kids are napping. Planning is a little mini-vacation for me before the real thing.

While your way to vacation is the best for your family, it is not the best way for my family or many others out there.

 

[AARCLUKSCH]

I LOVE planning a trip to WDW. I plan other people's trips for them (when they ask me to). DH thinks I have more fun planning than actually going. People laugh at me because I plan as close to detail as I can. Although we have a guideline, we stray from the plans here and there. We don't get too hung up on sticking to all the details. It works for us. Believe me, my DH would be the first person to throw my iterary out the window if it drove him crazy, but he has not once complained and simply says. "We see everything we want, never wait in line long and I get to golf".

 

[rmm7e]

My philosophy is Be Prepared, followed closely by Be Flexible. Learned that as a Girl Scout leader!

I love the dreaming and planning. When I start to WORRY about stuff like will the buses be fast enough, or will I have enough time/money, or will my cab driver be decent, I know I need to step back and take a break!

 

[LisaTC]

My philosophy is Be Prepared, followed closely by Be Flexible. Learned that as a Girl Scout leader!

I love the dreaming and planning. When I start to WORRY about stuff like will the buses be fast enough, or will I have enough time/money, or will my cab driver be decent, I know I need to step back and take a break!

Yes...that's where I'd have to draw the line too...at worrying about the "what ifs" Even as a planner, that is the line in the sand for me. Que sera sera...

I find the planning as an educational opportunity. I've learned so much about WDW simply through planning, reading, this board, other boards. I learn the same about other vacations we had to Jamaica, Hawaii, etc. It's fun to learn about places and plan, but the best laid plans...I think most have agreed here, can change. I think, we planners, wing it more than we'd admit!

 

[nicolepdonnelly]

Your trip sounds miserable to me. Especially the getting in trouble part if someone misbehaves in line...with us, if DS is "misbehaving", it's almost certainly because of something WE did. We got up too early after too late a night, we didn't feed him the right food, we didn't make food available on time, he is thirsty, etc. Or I made the mistake of thinking he's an adult and can come up with countless things to think about while in a long line... If DS is going to get in trouble on our trips, I want it to not be MY fault, and if I put no thought into what he might like to do while in long lines, that is indeed my fault.


The more I plan, and the more my family listens to me, the BETTER the time we have. More attractions, more fun, more smiles. They like those things, so they listen to me more and more.


Of course, once I've gone to WDW countless times I'm sure the intense planning I have to do will lessen, just like it's lessened at DLR. Once you've gone a bunch, the planning is done in your head already, and it can be tapped into nearly subconsciously. But for now, I'm going to enjoy the planning!





Absolutely. I agree.

I totally agree with you! My whole family are planners. They are all more comfortable and can enjoy anything better when they know what to expect.

 

[teach22180]

I don't do touring plans or make itineraries of what attractions to do when, other than knowing the ones to go to straight at rope drop due to popularity. After we ride that big one, I generally just use common sense.

However, I have to look at park hours beforehand and have a rough idea of my mornings and some of my evenings. I wouldn't want to wake up on a Thursday of a trip and say, I really want to go to EMH at AK, but look, the only one this week was on Tuesday! That would make me sad. So, I'm a fan of knowledge combined with flexibility and common sense.

 

[JessiLynn015]

I enjoy planning, but don't make all my plans a priority. We make ADRs but will sometimes cancel to eat somewhere else that we discovered along our way. We never have anything set in stone and are always living in the moment

 

[KCSherri]

Being a self-diagnosed and self-confessed OCD drama queen, I would have a huge meltdown and panic attack if I DIDN'T plan!

I say, to each his own...everyone needs to do what they need to do in order to have a fun, magical trip...what works for YOU doesn't necessarily mean that it will work for ME.

And...although I do a lot of planning before I arrive, I do know to stop...slow down...and smell the roses and take in the pixie dust once we arrive.