ThinkTink721
Well-Known Member
I always tend to majorly overplan for our WDW trips...Can anyone give me any tips to help me not to do this on our next trip!...Help! 
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Help Me To Stay Calm & Not Overplan
- Thread starter ThinkTink721
- Start date
I have actually done better this time...I have only planned the meals, parks, & some "have-to-do" & "have-to-see" things.
I have not planned the order to ride or see attractions yet (I am trying to resist the urge)!
I have started packing though.
Now that we have some friends going w/ us on their 1st trip, it is so much harder not to plan!!! :wave:
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Once you have been to WDW a half dozen or so time this is all you really need to do. I can not tell you how much more I enjoy the parks when I am not hitting them in commando mode. Relax. Take in a few must do's and then just follow your nose and see what happens.I have actually done better this time...I have only planned the meals, parks, & some "have-to-do" & "have-to-see" things.
I have not planned the order to ride or see attractions yet (I am trying to resist the urge)!
I have started packing though.
Now that we have some friends going w/ us on their 1st trip, it is so much harder not to plan!!! :wave:
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whitney37354
Active Member
I planned our trip for two years, but I didn't "overplan". Once I got the things that I really wanted done (hotel, ADR's, which parks on which days), I just made a bunch of notes and committed most of them to memory. I condensed my huge notebook to a small notebook and then let DH decide where to go in the parks once we got there. That's how we do all of our vacations. I am the trip planner & then I get to relax once we're there!
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zurgandfriend
Well-Known Member
You're talking to the wrong guy, DW always there was less planning for the invasion of Normandy than when I plan our WDW trips.
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mrtoad
Well-Known Member
For us we try not to over plan but we have to plan somewhat because with the fact that you can't get a dining reservation for the most part once you get there.
So what we do is we look at what places we would like to eat then we try to get ADRs for those places and then guide our park days from there. Of course we do try for certain days for certain parks for either the reason of extra magic hours or by how many days we like to spend at each park.
Other than that though we try not to do anymore. We will discuss what rides we can't wait to do and will make sure we get to do them of course but we have no formal plan of what we will do in what order or anything like that other than the we know we plan on being in X park on X day due to reservations. Even that we could change the park if necessary or desired as long as we can get to our dining reservation easy enough.
So what we do is we look at what places we would like to eat then we try to get ADRs for those places and then guide our park days from there. Of course we do try for certain days for certain parks for either the reason of extra magic hours or by how many days we like to spend at each park.
Other than that though we try not to do anymore. We will discuss what rides we can't wait to do and will make sure we get to do them of course but we have no formal plan of what we will do in what order or anything like that other than the we know we plan on being in X park on X day due to reservations. Even that we could change the park if necessary or desired as long as we can get to our dining reservation easy enough.
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lilclerk
Well-Known Member
You know what I say? Plan away! If you want to have that set itinerary, go for it. It helps pass the time.
But be prepared to toss that itinerary in the garbage once you get there. I find the parks themselves so much more enjoyable when I just go with the flow during the day.
But be prepared to toss that itinerary in the garbage once you get there. I find the parks themselves so much more enjoyable when I just go with the flow during the day.
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Magical Dreamer
Well-Known Member
I just placed an order with Garden Grocer to keep the planning going.....
Breakfast items, Fruit, Water, Beer, Wine.
Breakfast items, Fruit, Water, Beer, Wine.
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HouCuseChickie
Well-Known Member
As a fellow over planner- the best way to curb it (in a sense) is to find something else to over plan. My mission- to force myself into over planning mode for my younger one's 2nd bday. That should hold me until mid November. I guess I can overload on cheap turkey and mega research on holiday sales to occupy my time after that. Good Luck!
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KaliSplash
Well-Known Member
I fail to see the problem with over-planning. In fact, my plan indicates there is NOTHING wrong with over-planning. It says so, right there on page 568.
Seriously, we plan which park we plan to be in for the main part of each day, and which park we plan to visit after the midday break. Then we plan the meals based on where we are going to be.
THEN, we plan the rides and the order and so forth.
Seriously.
But the key to the whole thing is to be flexible about the plan.
Yes, we have a plan, we generally start out following the plan. But if we come upon a live show, or a neat shop, or a long line, we adjust on the fly.
I find we often get ahead, as we walk onto rides or find shorter lines than we expected for something. So as the trip progresses, we revise the plan.
This means a few things get dropped completely. Some things get unexpectedly repeated. And we always see something we didn't expect to see.
There is nothing wrong with planning, or even over-planning. The problem comes when you are a slave to the plan.
Plan away, and then enjoy your trip.
Seriously, we plan which park we plan to be in for the main part of each day, and which park we plan to visit after the midday break. Then we plan the meals based on where we are going to be.
THEN, we plan the rides and the order and so forth.
Seriously.
But the key to the whole thing is to be flexible about the plan.
Yes, we have a plan, we generally start out following the plan. But if we come upon a live show, or a neat shop, or a long line, we adjust on the fly.
I find we often get ahead, as we walk onto rides or find shorter lines than we expected for something. So as the trip progresses, we revise the plan.
This means a few things get dropped completely. Some things get unexpectedly repeated. And we always see something we didn't expect to see.
There is nothing wrong with planning, or even over-planning. The problem comes when you are a slave to the plan.
Plan away, and then enjoy your trip.
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bearboysnc
Well-Known Member
When I was a kid I used to "overplan" or get SO excited, I couldn't concentrate, or sleep. I would make lists, draw pictures. I would also take an old park guide and DRAW a line of the route I planned to take. Then when things didn't pan out the way I anticipated, I'd get discouraged.
To battle the O.P. blues I would try to visualize IASW in complete detail... in reverse.
If i'm trying to sleep, I'm usually passed out by China.
Weird, but it worked for me.
To battle the O.P. blues I would try to visualize IASW in complete detail... in reverse.
If i'm trying to sleep, I'm usually passed out by China.
Weird, but it worked for me.
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We are overplanners, too. Even made our own guidebook that we update before each trip with new menus. Anybody who read my trip report last visit knows how bad we are. Yup, order of rides, what times to be where. But, as best I can recall, we have never totally followed our plans.
It is great (for us) to have a detailed plan so when things change (and they always do) you are intimately familiar with your options. Or, even better, when things go better than planned - a nice short line here, no wait for food there - you know the best bonus options!
And, to my heightened sense of organization, as an old television friend would say "I love it when a plan comes together."
But, the most important thing to remember, whether you overplan or fly by the seat of your pants - once you are there, enjoy every minute of it!
It is great (for us) to have a detailed plan so when things change (and they always do) you are intimately familiar with your options. Or, even better, when things go better than planned - a nice short line here, no wait for food there - you know the best bonus options!
And, to my heightened sense of organization, as an old television friend would say "I love it when a plan comes together."
But, the most important thing to remember, whether you overplan or fly by the seat of your pants - once you are there, enjoy every minute of it!
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Susan Savia
Well-Known Member
As we have been to Disney World for 20+ years, about the only thing we plan is the day we're leaving home. We know that when we arrive its off to Epcot that evening and all the next day. Other then that, whatever, works for us. Our lives are all about planning...working long hours, appointments, etc and so when we go to Disney World we like to take it as it comes. It's less stressful and if something doesn't work out (ride is down or closed etc.) we just move on. On our upcoming trip, we decided to not to book any ADRs. We'll enjoy a few counter service meals but mostly will have a snack during the day and enjoy a meal after we leave the parks that evening. We can decide where we want to dine then.
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wvdisneyfamily
Well-Known Member
I've calmed down a lot, especially since I had my son. The first few years were true Disney warfare planning. However, it got to be more of a hassle than anything. I always got frustrated when we deviated from the schedule. I had everything planned that was possible. It was silly. Anyway, I've dramatically relaxed.
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I'll never forget the moment that I realized that too much planning is a bad thing. We were walking past the FP booths at E:E and noticed a family having a "discussion". Mom was livid because dad let their son go to the bathroom before the scheduled bathroom break.:lol:
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