When Technology meets Obsessive Planning: Am I alone?

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Last year before our first WDW trip, I bought a huge, laminated 'calender' for the wall with dry-erase markers in rainbow colors to plan our days. I updated the dumb thing every day for months as our plans changed and took shape. This year I started an excel spreadsheet with pages that cover every possible aspect of our vacation. The first page is our itinerary; divided by the half hour and separated into days, color-coded by activity with all park opening/closing times highlighted. The second page was an analysis of our likely eating habits and the costs associated therewith. I ran figures for paying out of pocket and using the dining plan by using the menus on allearsnet. Counter service and snack items were totaled and 6.5% tax was automatically added. Table service meals were totaled and tax and 18% tip were added. My kids were pretty insistent about the restaurants they'd like to patronize again (Chef Mickey's, Sci-fi, Le Cellier and O'hana). No big surprise, the Dining plan saves us a couple of hundred dollars. On page three, I listed all our other expenses and the likely cost; sunscreen in huge amounts, towels, refillable mugs, case of water bottles, etc. On page four, I made a chart of pertinent phone numbers and reservations codes, car rental reservation, airline flight numbers, seat assigments.

My kids roll their eyes when they look at my computer screen and see the spreadsheet open.

Tell me I am not the only one...

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

"You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
When the road looks rough ahead
And you're miles and miles
From your nice warm bed
Just remember what your old pal said
Boy, you've got a friend in me"



um, yeah, i've got that spreadsheet too, hubby thinks I'm nuts!!!

 

[txtxyeha]

Outlook is my choice of mediums to fuel the planning obsession. Task list has 60+ things to do. Calendar has 40+ entries. All a click away on my Blackberry.

 

[MSDISNEYFAN]

I have a notebook with color coded tabs for all info... Have multiple itenteraries waiting for that final decision...

 

[porterr]

I also have my spreadsheet going. I'm trying to cram it all (itinerary, park hours, telephone #s, confirmation #'s, priority seating times/ADR?, things to buy, things to do, budget) on 1 page. I'm afraid as our trip approaches - November 28, 2006 I'll need to branch out to additional pages.
Planning IS part of the fun! It keeps me in my happy place too.

 

[marlynnp]

roflmao!

I have that sickness too!

I just finished working on my dining cost analysis and will also be adding the DDE. I have the office software for my PDA and I transfer my spreadsheets and itinerary, conf #'s, etc to that and take it with me at all times. I also have the WDW To Go Guide installed on it.

 

[gianna2006]

Boy, do I have to come up to speed!!! I've done all that on paper!!! The worst part is if it looks messy - I redo the whole thing!!

7/90 off-site
9/96 off-site
7/99 off-site
7/2000 off-site
4/01 off-site
5/04 off-site
5/06 finally going DIS all the way at OKW/SSR!!

me DH DS(7) DD(3)

 

[angelsmom920]

Phew! I thought I was alone!! My family thinks I am insane, but I have a three ring binder with separate tabs, a notebook, and excel spreadsheet and the guidebook tabbed! I keep the with in case I ever have any down time to edit stuff! I just wonder how people went to Disney before the internet?!

 

[WillCAD]

I have a folder under My Documents for each trip.

In this folder I put PDF files of each ressie I make (air, car, hotel), and I keep a text file as a journal of when I made a ressie, what rate I got, what the confirmation number is, and the times.

I have never been one to keep a schedule of my trip. I never make ADRs (unless I'm planning a meet or a special event), and I never decide in advance what park will be on what day except at MouseFest, where the meet schedule dictates the park days.

Last year for MouseFest I did make up a daily itinerary so that I would be able to attend all fo the meets I wanted without forgetting any or overlapping, and it helped me a lot. I transfered the schedule to the notepad I carry for making trip notes, and I was able to attend all of the meets I wanted, and even a few extras.

But on a regular trip, forget that scheduling stuff - I go where I want, when I want, and eat wherever I get the urge when I'm hungry.

 

[HeatherMo]

We have friends who recently said, "Maybe we'll join you in WDW this summer." I thought, "We'll have to plan a trip with you for next year- because this year's schedule is already too full!" I said, "well we can meet up anywhere because our days and eating places are all scheduled." - They thought I was kidding (WDW newbies)

 

[deana s]

you all are my idols!!! I wish I knew how to use excel or outlook....I have scraps of paper everywhere and files saved on the computer. Trying to organize it into a notebook. That would be so cool to have it all on the computer!! Obsession is fun.

 

[kimbac3]

Boy, do I have to come up to speed!!! I've done all that on paper!!! The worst part is if it looks messy - I redo the whole thing!!

Ok I sooo do this too!!! I even write the menus on paper that will fit into my passporter. It's a sickness...a really, really fun sickness!!!
I just got a new computer..it has excel....guess where I'm going to play!!!
Kimba

 

[JulieNMM]

I have everything in MS Word files. Never thought to use Excel. DH thinks I'm weird for making dinner reservations!!! He thinks I'm over planning this. I think he'll appreciate it when everything goes smoothly.

For example, we're staying at the Doubletree Suites in DTD and have a rental car so I have printed out driving directions from here to there, based on where we are and where we're going, plus printed out directions using WDW transportation since he will be in a conference and I will have a car.

I'm also making a list of all the "tips" I read about, such as where's the best place to find the characters, what to pack, etc.

I also did this for my wedding and I have to say, the wedding went very smoothly, nothing went wrong, and it was a great day!!! Hoping for the same thing for this trip!!!

JULIE
Going to WDW 4/1-4/8/2006
First trip with DD4 and DS6 (only my second trip ever!)

 

[dawnball]

Let see.. I have a spreadsheet to track estimated and actual expenses. I have a set of Pages (part of iwork for the mac - it's a cross between a page layout tool and a word process) projects (one for each park, plus an overview) that are single 8.5x11 sheets (duplexed) with an annotated passporter map on one side, and on the other side: a color coded chart (with best/worst days, hours, parades, ADRs (and who specifically requested that ADR), and flight times), a best times for each attraction chart, a set of pre-planned meeting places, a list of places to stop for quiet time for the kids, a list of places that each picky eater can find something to eat (and what that something is), a list of things that each person has identified as "can't miss", and a spot to note where we parked.

I need to add to that page the best places to eat with our allergies. Oh, and everyone's cell numbers

Those will be printed on color coded paper (a color for each park, to match the 4x6 cards that we used on the last trip which will mostly carryover) and possible laminated - although I suspect I'll just go with multiple copies - and each sub-group will get a copy.

Then I have a master sheet for me that includes all the ADRs with conf numbers, hours for all the parks, food notes for all the parks, everyone's travel info, and mmy private scheming info that other people don't need to worry about.

I have a file box that contains... photocopies of all our tickets, extra copies of flight confirmations for people who are flying, driving directions for people who are driving, every piece of correspondence related to the condo we're renting, printed driving directions to and from the places we're likely to go (including some loop routes), note cards with itinerary plans, grocery shopping lists, road maps, area maps, AAA books, and more stuff that I can't remember now. All carefully divided into hanging folders with subfolders and printed tabs to make finding things easy.

And, if it's anything like last year - I could get away with a few google maps and a list of ADRs with confirmation numbers - but I have fun with the rest.

 

[deana s]

WHooooooooooooo! That is amazing!!!

 

[Karenj2]

My extended family thinks I'm nuts, too! I'm trying to get a "family reunion" together, with DH's family and my family in 2007, so I actually made a web-based survey for them to answer (w/ questions about when, how long, where they want to stay, what types of foods they like, etc.) Most of them have humored me and filled it out - I'm about to send reminder notes to those that haven't!

And once we get the basics figured out, I WILL be doing all of the above - Excel Spreadsheets, Outlook, etc!

 

[WillCAD]

The people who make fun of obsessive planners are always the first ones to complain loudly if something goes wrong because of poor planning.

The people who make fun of those of us who are organized are always the first ones to make fun of somebody for being dis-organized and losing important stuff like plane ressies.

I leave nothing to chance when it comes to flying 900 miles away from home. There is no way I'm ever sleeping in an airport!

 

[disneyfan2006]

Can I have a copy of your spreadsheet? I have always wanted to make on for my trips but I can't figure it out. Please email it to me so I can put my information in. I leave tomorrow and would love to have this! Please!

cindybearc@aol.com Thanks!!

 

[blujaymama]

Hi everyone, my name is Robin and I am a Disney Vacation Organization-aholic.
I do just about everything you all do for organization in Excel. Then before leaving for the trip I like to use a cut down Oxford three prong plastic folder with pockets into a 5x8 size. Iprint out all of my lists (park schedules with parades/entertainment and EMHs; WDW phone numbers, a sheet with all of our priority seating info), One pocket is for airline print out confirmations and the other is for park maps and room confirmation print outs. I also cut down a plastic sheet for trading cards so I have four trading card size pockets. These hold our park passes, room keys, fast passes and pressed pennies. I put a small piece of adhesive velcro on the tops of these so the contents don't fall out. I also printed out Journal pages and Daily Highlight pages from themouseforless.com and put those in there too (first time trying this). Some think I am obsessive, but I know it is just good organization! and it is fun to get myself all psyched up before a trip!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I sent you the spreadsheet. I'm at work, but being the obsessive planner I am, I email it back and forth from the house each day so I can update it at work, too!

Have a great trip!