OCD planning/scheduling mode. I know I'm not alone!

[crazgurl]

Every feel like this board is a support group for the OCD trip planners among us?

Question for you guys. I have our schedule for our end of September/earl october trip all figured out, but every time I mention it to the boyfriend, he gets a glazed look in his eyes and can't seem to follow me (it's his first trip, gonna have to cut him some slack!). basically he thinks I've lost my mind entirely and has asked me to make him a visual so when I try to discuss it with him he can see it. Wondering if anyone has any ideas for how to do this? My first thought was a color coded excel sheet but I'm actually starting to think to go bigger. Get a poster board and some stick-on velcro and make pieces such as restaurant reservations that are movable so as we discuss or change things it can change with us. Ideas? Thoughts?

 

[JIMINYCR]

Yeah, a lot of guys get glazed looks when it comes to planning when its not their thing. Set up a notebook with a page for each day. Write up a timeline that corresponds to each days park youre planning to visit, listing times for each activity and dining. Add in clip art / pictures that show some interesting details that he can follow. Using something he can see and visualize will help him connect. If he still cant get it, put him in front of the computer or TV and show him some clips of what youre planning on Youtube. Add a Disney cartoon in there too

 

[crazgurl]

Yeah, a lot of guys get glazed looks when it comes to planning when its not their thing. Set up a notebook with a page for each day. Write up a timeline that corresponds to each days park youre planning to visit, listing times for each activity and dining. Add in clip art / pictures that show some interesting details that he can follow. Using something he can see and visualize will help him connect. If he still cant get it, put him in front of the computer or TV and show him some clips of what youre planning on Youtube. Add a Disney cartoon in there too

I've already made the notebook, it isn't visual enough for him as we discuss. I'm thinking more of a 1 page sort of deal with color coding. I feel like it'll just be too jumbled though on an 8-1/2 x 11 so I'm now just thinking poster board I can stick on the wall and point to I like the idea of adding pictures though, might help grab him!

 

[Schneewittchen]

Yes, this is the best outlet for my WDW compulsion.

Art on index cards. One card per day. No words.

Examples:

Draw a mickey waffle and Winnie the Pooh - Crystal Palace breakfast

Waterfall and a bunny - Splash Mountain FP

credit cards and a shopping bag - Disney Springs trip

 

[Disneykings]

I just use a spread sheet with tabs for dining / fast passes / extra magic hours plan. Broken down into days, am/pm. It works really well, but I do rely on you tube for rides and google images for meals. The first time I tried to talk my hubby into a character meal in DLP he was seriously against it. The following year I just booked them without telling him He enjoyed them more than our daughter, then told me he thought the characters actually sat with you during the meal. From then on, I felt the need to explain a lot clearer!!!!

 

[crazgurl]

Yes, this is the best outlet for my WDW compulsion.

Art on index cards. One card per day. No words.

Examples:

Draw a mickey waffle and Winnie the Pooh - Crystal Palace breakfast

Waterfall and a bunny - Splash Mountain FP

credit cards and a shopping bag - Disney Springs trip

That's cute but being his first trip he won't be able to easily follow the link between the images! Maybe in the future when I've converted him to a disney fanatic

I just use a spread sheet with tabs for dining / fast passes / extra magic hours plan. Broken down into days, am/pm. It works really well, but I do rely on you tube for rides and google images for meals. The first time I tried to talk my hubby into a character meal in DLP he was seriously against it. The following year I just booked them without telling him He enjoyed them more than our daughter, then told me he thought the characters actually sat with you during the meal. From then on, I felt the need to explain a lot clearer!!!!

Ha ya! It's tough not to assume they'll know what's going on!!

 

[DisneyJoe]

Do you really need him to follow and understand every little detail? Are you expecting him to make decisions or agree with your decisions on each and every point? If so, your OCD and level of detail are probably overwhelming him.

Reduce it down to the bare minimum - "we are going to this park on this day and we are having a sit-down meal here." - or - "I have everything worked out, but I need you to decide between these 2 dinners - here are the menus, please help me decide".

 

[Herdman]

I do all the planning with my wife and daughter's input. When we get to a park they just look at me and say "what's next??"

 

[crazgurl]

Do you really need him to follow and understand every little detail? Are you expecting him to make decisions or agree with your decisions on each and every point? If so, your OCD and level of detail are probably overwhelming him.

Reduce it down to the bare minimum - "we are going to this park on this day and we are having a sit-down meal here." - or - "I have everything worked out, but I need you to decide between these 2 dinners - here are the menus, please help me decide".

I've pretty much made the decisions about which parks which days and things like that since he's never been and wouldn't know where to begin. The issue is he wants to be involved and have a say in fastpasses and reservations and things, he just gets lost almost immediately. I've already booked the fastpasses but it isn't too late to modify some etc. and we took on more reservations than we will likely keep so now he wants to look at how loaded each day is and decide with me what stays and what goes.

 

[Weather_Lady]

For the "visual," I would use maps. You can print one for the entire property (perhaps indicating which parks/resorts you'll visit on which days) and one for each park, etc.. On the park maps, sketch out your touring routes and dining plans (with estimated times of arrival for each, and indicating attractions where a FP+ is desirable) for each day you're visiting. There are a number of different park maps you can print from online -- I particularly like the ones from touringplans that are simple, black-and-white overhead views. There are also some great maps (color-coded to show which attractions generally require a FP+) on a website to which I can't link, but you'll find them immediately if you Google "easy wdw cheat sheets."

Once you have them, you can lead him on a virtual "walkthrough" of plans for the day, describing shows/attractions/restaurants as you go.

 

[Schneewittchen]

I've pretty much made the decisions about which parks which days and things like that since he's never been and wouldn't know where to begin. The issue is he wants to be involved and have a say in fastpasses and reservations and things, he just gets lost almost immediately. I've already booked the fastpasses but it isn't too late to modify some etc. and we took on more reservations than we will likely keep so now he wants to look at how loaded each day is and decide with me what stays and what goes.

With my kids, I'll occasionally sit them down to watch ride videos, so they can have some input on which rides to try.

 

[prfctlyximprct]

I did all the planning alone, my boyfriend's just along for the ride. LOL.. he'll see the plans as they come! It's easier that way!

 

[Mark P.]

Lots of great ideas on trip planning and organization here:

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/...o-you-get-with-your-wdw-trip-planning.914069/

 

[WishIWasAtWDW]

I always do an Excel spreadsheet with the outlined itinerary that includes what time we will arrive at the park, FP+s, dining reservations, mid-day breaks, parades, fireworks, etc. I don't have it listed out as detailed as which attraction we will do when since that can be overwhelming to my family. I just like to provide the basics so if we split up during the day, they know the "big" plans so they can meet up later. My husband is not a planner so he has also been known to get that glazed look in his eyes when I am trying to run ideas by him. I like the idea @Weather_Lady had of showing him the park maps! That may help him visualize the parks and get more excited about helping you plan.

 

[ThemeParkJunkee]

I also use an Excel Spreadsheet for planning but DH would look at it and his eyes would kind of glaze over. He has been there twice and unless he has a specific memory of an attraction or restaurant, it is just jibberish to him. I include him in planning and show him photos and videos on the internet of anything new I'd like to try. He is particularly interested in dining options so it is important we agree on any table service places. Thankfully, the internet really helps.

 

[bugarwitch]

..married 42 years to this same man.
We went to WDW for our 40th anniversary in March of 2015, (my greatest desire) but just had 5 days there (offsite) and then onto other places (visiting friends) in FL and beyond. Before we even left WDW, I planned a trip to DLR to celebrate our (special needs) daughter's 35th birthday, the following September. He was not happy about this, but went along with it. We went, and our daughter says it was the BEST birthday of her life!

When I told him that I NEEDED to go back to WDW in 2016, well, he was less than enthusiastic! Kept saying it was "all fake stuff" and "for kids".... But, I trudged on and made plans, and guess what?!? We are going Nov 28-Dec 10!!!! Again, 42 years with this man, and many sacrifices and negotiations and things I have done for, and with, him, because he wanted to (and 3 daughters) along the way, through the years. I guess he maybe figures it is only fair, that I get to go to "My happiest place on earth", or something like that? I am not going to question it, just gonna keep on planning and dreaming about our upcoming trip!

I am admittedly obsessive/excited about all the Disney planning, ADR's, and reading all the info and blogs- and enjoy every minute of it!!! He has been saying that he needs to see my itinerary, my plans, what park, which day, blah blah... I made him a day by day calendar. He didn't even look at it. Finally, FINALLY, last night we sat down and I explained it all. Once he saw what I have planned, and actually paid some attention to it, he said "OK!" He then booked our flights, our tickets, and sent me an email with confirmations entitled "Party on!" HUH? WHAT?!? OH OK!!! YAY!!!!!

I have often wanted to start a blog thread entitled, "Why don't our husbands/boyfriends/significant others, love Disney like we do???!!!" and perhaps one entitled, "Why do some of us LOVE Disney so much- and others, not so much?!?" Have seen soooo many comments from others, that they are dealing with this "lack of enthusiasm". Anyone else?

 

[crazgurl]

Well I finally got a large piece of cars stock and cut out colored tags with the different restaurant reservations, fastpass selections, and the hours of each park each day including fireworks and I sat down with him and started placing the pieces where they belong and discussing as I wentered. Example days mk closes at 7 without fireworks he agreed there was no point noting things for them that day and we would focus elsewhere and it helped him visualize and I think he's finally very very excitem because now he can see it. That's what was missing for him the interactive visual.