How much planning is too much?

[johnvree]

Hello, my name is John and I am plan-aholic.

For me, planning the trip is half the fun. I do a fairly detailed itinerary for each day. Each day is broken up into blocks - morning, afternoon and evening (which is recommended by some). Within each block, I list the attractions that we hope to experience and the restaurants we will stop at. I make sure that there is enough time in each block to not only see what is listed but also to do anything else that might come up (characters, 2nd rides, breaks ect.).

A typical block might look something like this: MK

Morning (9:00-1:00):
-breakfast at Crystal Plaza (ps 9:10)
-get Jungle Cruise FP
-Magic Carpets of Aladdin
-Jungle Cruise
-get a FP for Splash Mountain
-Pirates of the Caribbean
-Splash Mountain
-take WDW Railroad to exit.
-go back to resort

Now I wasn't always so flexible. Last time we went, November 2002, I went a bit overboard. I did my best to prove that each park could be completed in one day each. The first day we did AK on a 95 degree day. We did everything. Next day was MGM and again almost every attraction was seen. Keep in mind, my kids were 2 and 4. The third day was MK. By 1:00 we had done every attraction in Tomorrowland (except AE) and Fantasyland. It was at that point that my wife pulled rank (she was holding the money) and threw out my itineraries and made it quite clear that the only way that pace was going to continue was if I was doing it by myself. I was suspended from WDW for 2 years.

With good behavior, I have gotten off early. We are going in May, but I will be on a short leash.

Anyway, now that I am a changed man "I am going to be very flexible", "I am going to be very flexible", "I am going to be very flexible", "I am going to be very flexible", "I am going to be very flexible". Sorry, that's one of the conditions of my parole.

I am interested if anyone has somehow struck a happy medium in the planning area. Any suggestions (besides medication)?

 

[johnvree]

Originally posted by Dr Albert Falls
First of all, to save yourself the backlash (and ease your family's misery), go ahead and plan every moment of your trip--- JUST DON'T TELL THEM!!!

Friends and family enjoy going to the parks with me because I can get us through the most attractions in a day--- yet without that hurry-up-and-rush-to-the-next-one-commando feel. That's because I've got a gameplan in my head. A SECRET gameplan.

That way, it creates an enjoyable "challenge" for me, while allowing the others to enjoy the parks (and not letting them in on my obsession!)

Rather than trying to hit attractions in a specific order (trust me-- its impossible to stick to a detailed plan) I usually chart out a general path through the parks (for example, from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland, then cutting across the hub to Adventureland). Chosing restaurants and shows/parades falls into this planning, too.

As part of my SECRET planning, I'm always aware of where the big E-tickets are. My #1 planning goal is to ALWAYS have a Fastpass in hand--- using the wait time in between to experience the other nearby attractions.

Because attractions break down, Fastpass wait times skyrocket, and travelling companions get tired and hungry--- I recognize that my simple plan WILL fall apart. By accepting that, I'm not disappointed when I miss the last one or two attractions on my "wish list".

And remember--- you're going to WDW to have a good time WITH your family. If they're miserable, then YOU are not going to have fun, either.

Good advice. I think I will follow it. After getting my family's input, I'll simply ignore it lookaroun warning . . . probation violation :lookaroun ). Sorry, I meant to say that I will incorporate it into my itineraries and then plan in secret. Not complete secrecy, but I will certainly deemphasize the fact that I have and plan to follow itineraries.

BTW, since I plan to rely on your advice and cite you as the source, if you really are a doctor you better put you malpractice carrier on notice. If this dosen't work, my wife's going to come looking for you.:lol: :lol:

 

[DisneyDugger]

LOL! Funny stuff!!
And I did "get" the humour in your first post! :lol:

cheers

 

[johnvree]

Originally posted by Michael72688
just so ya know, it makes it a lot more fun if you dont plan, and just wing it

This is only my second trip with my kids. Even though I've been to WDW about 6 times, touring with kids is much different. Maybe when I am on my fourth or fifth trip with kids, I can try to complete spontaneity approach. But for now, it's simply to expensive to wing it.

We did wing Epcot and half of MK on the last trip (once my intineraries had been confiscated). It was just a different kind of debacle. We missed a lot. In MK, we missed Splash Mountain, BTRM, Enchanted Tiki Room, Tom Sawyer Island, CBJ and the HM. We only had a half a day for Epcot; we did SE, TT and some of the WS, and that's about it. The bottom line is, we wasted a lot of time with indecisiveness and aimless wandering.

For this trip, we are going to try to find the happy medium. Some of your responses show that the problem is not always the planning - which, as I said, I love to do. Sometimes it's the implementation of the plan. Hopefully, with some flexibility, building in some extra time, and a lot of medication:dazzle: , we will find that medium.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I confess, I am a planner. I start planning little things, like which park which day, as soon as we have dates scheduled. Then I plan restaraunts, etc. In the time to come. I love planning. It gives me more reasons to think and talk about my Disney vacation!

I just ordered a 2004 leather passporter organizer for my next trip! I've never had one before, but it sounds right up any organizers alley, i.e. maps of each park, pages for a schedule each day, pockets for tickets, etc. I read about them in the unnoficial guide. They update it every year. www.passporter.com if you want a preview.

I'll let you know when it comes out, January I think, if it's worth it! Or maybe if anyone has old editions they can let us know if it's worth it.

 

[johnvree]

Originally posted by Disneyfalcon
I confess, I am a planner. I start planning little things, like which park which day, as soon as we have dates scheduled. Then I plan restaraunts, etc. In the time to come. I love planning. It gives me more reasons to think and talk about my Disney vacation!

I just ordered a 2004 leather passporter organizer for my next trip! I've never had one before, but it sounds right up any organizers alley, i.e. maps of each park, pages for a schedule each day, pockets for tickets, etc. I read about them in the unnoficial guide. They update it every year. www.passporter.com if you want a preview.

I'll let you know when it comes out, January I think, if it's worth it! Or maybe if anyone has old editions they can let us know if it's worth it.

"Hi Disneyfalcon"

They say that the first step on the road to recovery is admitting that you have a problem. Hasn't worked for me. So if you think that coming clean is going to help, forget it.

As to the Passporter, of course I have one. It is great, not just for planning but for information as well. It definitely gives you a different perspective in both areas.

BTW, when are you going? Any details?

 

[luvorlando]

Passporter gets 2 great big thumbs up from me. Great tool for planning and organizing WDW trips.

I highly recommend it and Bob Sehlinger's Unofficial Guide to WDW.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I guess I should of known you had a passporter!:lol:

We are going Feb 21-25 staying at Pop Century the first night and Contemporary the rest of the nights. We have a group of 16, 8 adults 8 children. I know which days we are going to which parks and I have my priority seatings booked - including Cindy's on the 25th :sohappy: - so I'm beginning my planning!

The joy the joy!

 

[johnvree]

Originally posted by Disneyfalcon
I guess I should of known you had a passporter!:lol:

We are going Feb 21-25 staying at Pop Century the first night and Contemporary the rest of the nights. We have a group of 16, 8 adults 8 children. I know which days we are going to which parks and I have my priority seatings booked - including Cindy's on the 25th :sohappy: - so I'm beginning my planning!

The joy the joy!

Sounds great. How was the AKL in October?

 

[Disneyfalcon]

AKL was incredible. We only stayed one night and loved it. The kids spent the first 45 minutes we were there on our balcony watching the animals. I can't say enough good things about it.