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What type of planner are you?
Are you more:
a super planner (180 day ADRs, parks days planned by EMH/weather/hours of operation)
or
a go with the flow (no ADRs, deciding which park each day when you get there)
Also, if you have young kids, do you think this influences the type of planner you are?
DVC MEMBER since 2009
CS- Oct.2006 *Honeymoon*
ASM- Sept. 2009 BLT- Nov. 2010
WLV- Oct. 2012 SSR- July 2013
BLT- Jan. 2014 WLV- Nov. 2015
SSR- Mar. 2016 OKW- Oct. 2017
SSR- Apr. 2018 BC- May. 2018
BC- Aug. 2018 BLT Dec. 2018
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I'm somewhere in between and, it depends on the trip. There are some trips I've planned out in more detail - such as when we've traveled with others who have not gone to Disney a lot. Other trips, I've planned very little in advance and have gone with the flow.
I don't have young children. When I did, Disney was a very different place and the sort of planning that happens now just wasn't needed.
When our traveling party has included a little one, I can say we've done more planning than might be typical when we don't.
Linda aka: Faline
INTERCOT Staff: Vacation Planning,Trip Reports and Disney Camping
[email protected]
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I'm a little of both.
We make our dining reservations in advance, but go the parks as we see fit, not based on our ADRs. It's not uncommon for my husband and I to look at each other and decide to go to a different park, just because.
Also in the no kids camp, so I can't advise there.
Next trip DLR in February 2014
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I agree that it depends on what kind of trip you're having. We go a few times a year and so we don't try to cram everything in on one trip. We used to be SUPER crazy stressed planners with our ADRs and spreadsheets, but learned that, for us, that did not make for a fun trip AND that we didn't need to plan that way. We stopped being detailed and started getting smart!
We've adapted to doing our own level of planning which involves loose scheduling AROUND everyone else.
For meals, we either eat during less busy times, we find restaurants where you can order food from the bar, or we snack.
So if its busy, and we want a trip with good food, we'll PLAN on EPCOT (snacking around the world)! Or we'll plan being in HS around lunch time so we can sit at the bar at Prime Time, regardless of how busy it is we typically don't have to wait very long to sit. We usually have a car so we eat dinner off site at least one night.
We stay off site, so we plan on going to parks that don't have EMH. But part of our park planning is based around the way we're feeling. If we're feeling high energy we'll do MK. If we're wanting a relaxing day we'll do AK.
So it's our own version of planning, which is low stress for us. It's planning that goes with the flow.
We don't have kids, so I can't address that. I imagine some of our planning would not work with children. Like its easy two seats at the Prime Time bar, but three seats makes it a little more complicated. I'd be interested on reading how people with kids plan (for when I'm a planning mom!)
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I am a super planner. I would like to be more spontaneous about touring the parks though, so I'm trying to learn to be flexible.
Dec.11-18, 2021 Port Orleans Riverside
Jan. 25-Feb. 1, 2017, Port Orleans Riverside
Oct. 29-Nov.4, 2014-Yacht Club
Dec. 17-23 2011-Wilderness Lodge
Dec. 20-30, 2008-Pop Century
Dec. 25,2005-Jan.1, 2006-Coronado Springs
Jan. 1-7, 2003-All Star Movies
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We are go with the flow people. I think in all the times we have been to WDW I think we made ADR's twice. Sometimes we may decide which parks to go on which day ahead of time but usually we decide the night before each night what we want to do the next day. For us it's more relaxing to just do what we feel like when we are there then make all these plans and try to stick with them.
Off Site-- All Star Movies-- Pop Century-- Coronado Springs-- Port Orleans French Quarter
Walt Disney-"Disneyland is a work of love. We didn't go into Disneyland just with the idea of making money."
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I'm a super planner. Planning begins 9-10 months out. Color coded spreadsheet with ADRs, Park Hours, EHM info, pool time, nap time, flight info, estimated cost, transportation options, nighttime entertainment, packing list. Retentive, retentive, retentive! I'm not super strict about following the schedule, I will change some things on the fly based on weather and crowds. I don't actually plan each ride during the day, but I do have a plan of attach for the early mornings and getting fast passes.
It sounds a bit over-the-top, but if I just booked a last minute trip I'd be denying myself the fun of the planning. It might not sound like it, but it is fun and relaxing just killing some time planning the trip from time to time.
62 days until my first solo trip!
Past Visits:
1984 & 85 Off Site
1999 CBR
2003 BW/GF
2009 WL
2011 Poly
2013 YC, WL, CR (good year!)
2014 AKL
2015 GF, CS , Poly, SSR
2016 YC, Universal Portofino, GF, Waldorf
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must live." - Bukowski
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I do ADRs for our must haves at 180 days but that's about the extent of planning. We normally eat later (and not in the parks) so we just go with the flow.
When my boys were little we pretty much didn't worry about ADRs. We relied on CS for them and after they were asleep we'd order room service. If we did feel like TS and they were up to the task, walk-ups were always available.
- Lynn -
INTERCOT Staff: Theme Parks, DVC
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I'm a super planner.
ADRs made 180 days out but before that I have my spreadsheet made with proposed parks on which days planned by morning, afternoon, evenings.
Things may change here or there once we arrive but I like things decided in advance for the most part.
For me, planning is fun. We don't have kids and only get to go every 3 years or so.
"One little spark of inspiration is at the heart of all creation, right at the start of everything thats new, one little spark lights up for you!"
ºoº
Mom to our little Prince Everett and Princess Adelaide
August 2020 Caribbean Beach!
Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate.
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We're more "go with the flow". We'll usually book 1 or 2 adr's in advance. We usually decide which park to go to while we're eating breakfast.
Jodie
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I am a convert. I used to be the super Planner with color coded charts and defined schedule.
Now after so many trips we have a more relaxed approach. We still make some ADR's, we have a loose plan on what park on what day, but are always ready to change parks if we need.
We do have kids but they will be turning 16 in Sept. There was definately more planning involved in the earlier years. Now we just kind of go, hang out, and go with the flow.
Recent Trips:
-OKW Aug 16 - Aug 23 / Royal Pacific Resort Universal Studios Aug 23 - Aug 26, 2013
-Universal Studios Hard Rock Hotel Nov 14 - Nov 18, 2014
-Saratoga Springs June 11 -18 2016
Next Trip:
-Port Orleans Riverside / Saratoga Springs Sept 8 - 17, 2017
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I would like to be a laid back not planner but sadly that can't seem to happen. So, I book the absolute MUST restaurants for my kids (Chef Mickey's, Tucker House, Sci Fi) then sit back for the rest of the trip. We only set alarms for the breakfast days then it's more of a when we get there we get there kind of thing.
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Color coded spreadsheets??? Makes me anxious just thinking about it!
I know how many days I will be there. I know where I will stay. I know how many park days I have. If I have a ticket for an event, mnsshp, then i know i will do that. I have been known to be driving home from soccer late saturday morning, make the decision to go, and be on the road early the next morning.
Its vacation. But with that being said, I also never take a list to the grocery store. I "experience" the grocery store.
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Go with the flow!!! We tried getting up early when the kids were younger and that wasn't our style, so we opted to wake up and go when ever everyone was up and ready to start the day. I just did dinner reservations this last trip and I can tell you, I probably won't do that again. I was constantly watching my watch so we wouldn't be late. I like having the freedom of taking our time walking the park. We don't rush to the buses at the end of the night everything is just smooth sailing. I guess that's why the kids have enjoyed so much of Disney. They were never on a time clock My brother on the other hand is up at 7:00AM, showered, breakfast and ready to go (he has younger kids 12&5), but he is an early bird always, so we just meet up with them when we travel.
Been there, done that and going back!!! See ya real soon !!!
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Wouldn't describe us as super-planners. We make a plan of what park to do each day or (half-day) and we generally have vague battle plans on at the very least how we want to start the day. Generally book one character breakfast at AK.
I enjoy making the plan, working out when is the best day for each park and and drawing it up before the visit as it gets me in the Disney-mood. We aren't overly rigid with it though and will move plans around between days if for some reason it makes sense to do so.
Bascially enough plan to know what we are doing but flexibility to know things can change.
Disney World Visits:
1. May-June 1998 (3 weeks)
2. May-June 2001 (3 weeks)
3. October-November 2004 (2 weeks)
4. August-September 2010 (2 weeks)
5. August-September 2017 (2 weeks)
NOW APPROACHING: 6. May 2021
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I suffer from ODPD (Obsessive Disney Planning Disorder).
Actually I make dinner reservations, I do plan around EMH and other factors. Also when and where I can get a reservation. For the daytime I look into things like which park is least crowded, create touring plans so we know where to go next. Then when we get there we usually catch the first bus to whatever park and all my plans are blown to the wind (except dinner). But I still have fun planning and the knowledge I have gained from planning comes in handy when deciding where to go next.
Three years in Connecticut and loving it
Next trip in Jan 2017 I hope!
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Little bit of both. We decided which restaurants we HAD to do so booked those 180 days out and what day to do MNSSHP and got those tickets and rest of day decided pretty much the night before where we going the next day and even got into some restaurants through our concierge at hotel
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Definitely OCP (Obsessive Compulsive Planner - a term we coined on an old, old Disney board that no longer exists). I make ADRs at 180+10, plan park days based on how long they're open (we don't hop), and have a list of exactly what we pla to do inside the parks. I carry a small notebook, plus the notes app in my phone, that reminds me where we plan to eat each meal, what attractions to hit, etc.
However, this next trip will be my 8th, DH's 6th, etc. Plus, we will be taking our 5yo, 2yo, and 6mo on the trip. We learned three trips ago that having young children means flexibility. I've changed ADRs on the day before for a kid who was suddenly scared of characters, parked the strollers and carried the kids under umbrellas all night due to torrential rain, stopped for parades (when we couldn't have cared less) just because the DDs wanted to, etc.
I plan every detail because its my way of living our trip before we go. I have never followed the plan to a T, and know we won't this time either. But I just enjoy the planning.
Susan °o°
You cheated.
Pirate.
8/98 CBR; 10/00 ASM; 11/01 POR; 7/07 POR; 10/09 ASM; 10/10 Pop; 6/12 ASM; 12/13 ASM; 6/14 FWC; 7/15 FWC; 12/16 2 weeks at FWC!
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Totally free wheelers here. We have days where we just take the first bus that comes along. Maybe one ADR per stay.
39 trips to WDW (before I stopped counting and bought a house in the WDW area), 1 to DL & 5 DCL
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