Full Planning Mode .... when?!?!?!

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DisneyDebNJ

Well-Known Member
OK, you and your family decided on the dates for your next Disney vacation... Sometimes as far out as 2 years for some, others a year or less.. We normally book a year to 9 months out. Resort decided on, and have a general idea of what restaurants we want to try... My FULL planning mode goes into effect exactly 181 days out, not 185 days or 183 days out... but exactly 181 days. By that time, my TA has my wish list ADRs and I am ready to pounce on somewhat of a schedule.. So tell me, when do you and your families go all out with schedules and must dos?
 
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Mikester71

Mikester71

Well-Known Member
As strange as this is going to sound, we never really kick into full planning mode. :eek: Don't get me wrong...we usually know a good 2 years out that we are going to be returning to WDW again (except for this next trip, which is 806 days away :(), and usually always make a room-only reservation a year or so out at the same resort (Pop Century, and we change the reservation to a package deal as soon as the new prices come out for the next year), but since we don't make ADR's, that is about all the planning we do beforehand. I know this probably sounds crazy to most of you, but we pretty much just wing it when we get down there when it comes to dining and what parks we are going to visit on which day.

Four trips with no problems doing it this way and LOVED every minute of each one! :D
 
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Figgy1

Figgy1

Well-Known Member
Crazy planning lady here!! I book lodging when the school calendar becomes official. From there it's ordering Disney themeed Christmas gifts and going to the Disney store new autograph book for ds, Christmas ornaments etc, some pins (shopohaulics annomyus meeting at 3 today) Pull out old packing list from last time and make adjustments. 190 days or so as soon as the June Calendar comes out schedule days and figure out ADR's with family. 180 days at exactly 7am eastern on the phone with Disney dining!! Packing officially begins Christmas night when I start to organize my house, anything going for our Disney trip gets packed in a suitcase. When's the next meeting of over-planners annomyous? and Hatter thinks I have a drinky problem?
 
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Disneyhead'71

Disneyhead'71

Well-Known Member
This thread hurts my head.

Mikester71 said:
As strange as this is going to sound, we never really kick into full planning mode. :eek: Don't get me wrong...we usually know a good 2 years out that we are going to be returning to WDW again (except for this next trip, which is 806 days away :(), and usually always make a room-only reservation a year or so out at the same resort (Pop Century, and we change the reservation to a package deal as soon as the new prices come out for the next year), but since we don't make ADR's, that is about all the planning we do beforehand. I know this probably sounds crazy to most of you, but we pretty much just wing it when we get down there when it comes to dining and what parks we are going to visit on which day.

Four trips with no problems doing it this way and LOVED every minute of each one! :D
Click to expand...

After reading this thread, I don't think it is YOU who sounds crazy.
 
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disneygirl76

disneygirl76

Carey Poppins - Nanny and Disney Enthusiest
DisneyDebNJ said:
OK, you and your family decided on the dates for your next Disney vacation... Sometimes as far out as 2 years for some, others a year or less.. We normally book a year to 9 months out. Resort decided on, and have a general idea of what restaurants we want to try... My FULL planning mode goes into effect exactly 181 days out, not 185 days or 183 days out... but exactly 181 days. By that time, my TA has my wish list ADRs and I am ready to pounce on somewhat of a schedule.. So tell me, when do you and your families go all out with schedules and must dos?
Click to expand...

I think the preplanning takes place when we book. We know where we are staying, some things we want to do, ideas of where to eat, when we are going, etc. But then its all out planning at 180 days after the ADR's are made and park hours are posted.
 
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HouCuseChickie

HouCuseChickie

Well-Known Member
One month before day 180 (or a little before depending on when the calendar comes out) is when I shift into high gear for any kind of WDW trip planning. Now, if we wind up booking inside the 180 day window I am full steam ahead from the get go. This is mainly b/c I have become quite obsessed with dining. I construct a well thought plan based on the calendar and our touring preferences. I will not hand any of this over to a travel agent either since I may have to go into stalker mode early on if the website fails to fully load certain popular restaurants on day 180. Ultimately, I also change my mind a lot on ADRs so the road to "perfect" ADRs is best in my hands. Everything else falls into place around the ADRs.
 
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BigRedDad

BigRedDad

Well-Known Member
After the dates, resort, and plane is booked, we are done planning. We do not do the ADR battle. If we cannot find a walk up restaurant for when we are there, we are OK with counter service. Its not that big of a deal for us food wise. We don't plan parks for which day either. It is what ever we feel like. The only planning thing we are doing for our upcoming trip is "what will the weather be?" The only reason we are doing this is to decide on going to Typhoon Lagoon. The plan is to go, but weather may change that decision.
 
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stefan74

stefan74

Well-Known Member
I am 585 days away from my trip and have been planning since the 1,000 day mark. I pick my resort first, changed that a few times and decided on YC. Next, I plan on the restaurants. I have picked all of my restaurants and have changed a few but I am pretty much set on everything right now. This might change depending on park schedules and EMH. I tend to stay away from parks with morning EMH. I'm so ready to get to the Magic!!!
 
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sgtmgd

sgtmgd

Well-Known Member
DisneyDebNJ said:
OK, you and your family decided on the dates for your next Disney vacation... Sometimes as far out as 2 years for some, others a year or less.. We normally book a year to 9 months out. Resort decided on, and have a general idea of what restaurants we want to try... My FULL planning mode goes into effect exactly 181 days out, not 185 days or 183 days out... but exactly 181 days. By that time, my TA has my wish list ADRs and I am ready to pounce on somewhat of a schedule.. So tell me, when do you and your families go all out with schedules and must dos?
Click to expand...

lol...Im always 2 years out...We spent a week at the Boarwalk new years 2012..knew then we were going to stay a week at the Boardwalk Xmas 2013..booked our rooms the day reservations opened 18 months out. ADRS will be booked in June roght a tthe 180 day mark...that does not count our "impromptu" trips that Nikki and I decide on based on wark and taking NO kids..like llabor day last weekend..we put that trip together in one day..stayed at POFQ..still got ADRS to Mama Melrose for Fantasmic (great meal)..among others..we are trying to get our schedules aligned for 13 SEP Villians party..Im already working out if I want to ttry Disneyland in late 2014 early 2015 for a week..
 
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Cindee75

Cindee75

Well-Known Member
Totally agree with all the planners out there. Just got DH to pick dates (November13-22/13) Next step get approval from work and then the fun stuff begins. Picking a resort, which parks each day, character meals.... I'm so excited. I just know I have to tone it down because most do not understand my obsession.
 
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Figgy1

Figgy1

Well-Known Member
I forgot to mention I have the dog's vet appt and kennel booked, my mani-pedi is booked my nail tech usually only goes 2 months out but she knows how I am about my disney mani-pedi eyebrow day before I go, My sons schools know they are going to miss the last day (it's only about an hour and a half) and I have my first 2 days of clothing picked out already!!!!!!
 
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Jillie Fish

Jillie Fish

Active Member
As soon as my reservations are booked, I probably do planning at least once a day. Honestly, it's part of my happy me time. Planning ranges from lots of things - looking at food pics, making itinteraries (sp?), reading Disney news. I went with Kingdom Konsultants so the nitty-gritty is already taken care of, I just get to plan the fun stuff! Which parades, which characters we want to see etc. :)
 
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Semantje

Semantje

Active Member
I do think sometimes i get to the line of being crazy besides being efficient lol. I changed my restaurant wishlist a million times and i'm on it every single day! Sometimes i want to discuss it with my boyfriend but he hasn't got the jitters yet. So i have to spread my Disney cheer online lol. So far i'm surviving my count down. Only 7 months, 2 weeks and 4 days to go. I started at 17 month!

I have all my ADR's ready to be booked. I'm so happy with the time difference. We live 6 hours later here so i don't have to get up in the middle of the night. But i sure would if i had to! :)

Also i am making my packing lists at the moment. But this morning i got the look.... what do you need packing lists for? Can't you pack without? Lol.
 
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JillC LI

JillC LI

Well-Known Member
As soon as I reserve the trip dates, I start planning the big picture of the trip. Once park hours and special event dates are announced, I confirm my plans in my mind, and 180 days out, I book ADRs to finalize my plans for parks and restaurants. The rest I fill in from there.
 
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