Over Planners Annonamous

[wishuponastarforever]

Originally Posted by Aurora's Mommy

I love my lists! When I do something not on my list, I actually add it, just so that I can feel the joy of crossing it off.

Wondering, am I the only one who finds the menus on line so that I can plan what I am going to eat at each MDR? I might change my mind once I get there, but it makes me so happy while I am waiting for my trip!

Ditto and then DH and I discuss our upcoming cruise daily for months prior for the shear enjoyment. We get our moneys' worth.

[Mamapapa]

I also color coordinate everything on my calendar, both at work and at home. So all of my lists are arranged that way, and I know I won't be able to forget the highlighters to do the same with the Navigators!

If we're starting a list of all of us addicted to lists, then I'm on it to! I also color code everything. I make very detailed excel spreadsheets, color coded by park for our trips. Love color coding... LOVE IT.....

[NY Disney fan]

Originally Posted by ThePicketts

Yeah, I'm stressing because I only have 415 days to plan.

Time's running out!

[ThePicketts]

Originally Posted by NY Disney fan

Time's running out!

I know!!! I feel like it!

[Gdes1]

I'm so glad someone posted this! I am embarrassed to say these things to anyone I know IRL...

I can't stand the thought that I might miss a detail or not know something. So, while shopping for back-to-school supplies, I picked up a composition book and some fun pens for myself. I have a list (on a sticky note on the front) of places I need to do research for our cruise. I will take notes in the book.

The list includes:
1) Read the DCL site end to end
2) Read stickies here on DIS for planning, A to Z info, packing
3) Google/search about all ports and possible activities
4) Read old Navigators posted on DIS. We are doing the EBPC and there are no recent Navigators about that. Therefore, my list includes reading the older PC-specific Navigators, and the ones from the recent 14-night Hawaii sailing on the Wonder, since the EBPC is also 14 nights on the Wonder

I'm also trying to read a very long book about the Panama Canal. I am trying for 5-10 pages per night in order to finish in time for the cruise.

[jahber]

I prefer to start packing two weeks ahead. (Of course, I start planning long before that!) I leave my suitcases in my room because, despite "The List," which has been refined over the 8 years of traveling with kids...it never fails that I spring out of bed late at night to pack something I forgot. After about 2 weeks of this, I manage to remember everything. ; )

This past cruise, it was my son's birth certificate, of all things. The Friday before, I realized I had NO idea where it was! We literally searched through every paper in the house. I thought I was going to have to leave without him! (He's 5. We would have missed him ; )

I guess that makes me an ineffective overplanner!

[karamart39]

I love to read about over planners and obsessive types like me. I, too, spend tons of time mostly lurking on DIS, making lists, researching online, etc. The strangest thing I do, which my husband used to hate but has recently come around to my way of thinking, is the house must be spotless before we leave for vacation. That way we always come home to a clean house! We're already bummed to have left the world of Disney, so the clean house makes it a little easier to handle.

[rosermama]

We are all a little obsessive on here right... I have 4 big trips coming up over the next 6 months and have everyhing planned from air to car to hotel timetables of what we are doing etc.
I even have our day at St Thomas down to thw min since we are taking the ferry to St John and I dont want to miss the boat

[krazy4crusing]

For WDW I make a spreadsheet with the days of the week, the park to visit each day, park hours, extra magic hours, shows, parades, closed attractions, rides to go on and in what order, snacks, CS/TS meals and where to get them all listed in order by area of the park.

When it's a cruise I scout out all the Personal Navigators for the cruise and make a list of all the activities, movies etc we will do. I have my shore excursions picked, magnets made, journal created, FE gifts created. We always include a Disney Park with our cruises so it's always a double planning pleasure trove for me.... I LOVE to plan!!!

Then... I make a powerpoint presentation full of pictures to show each ride, snack, restaurant, parade etc... that we will see. I include pictures of our resort, airplane, rental car etc...

All my friends laugh at me and make jokes at my expense.

Admitting I have a problem is the first step!!!

[WAHkoMom]

Originally Posted by Aurora's Mommy

I love my lists! When I do something not on my list, I actually add it, just so that I can feel the joy of crossing it off.

I have TOTALLY done this!!

[chateau]

Originally Posted by MelenaPrincess

I buy milk boxes for my kids so that we have milk for bed time and cereal when we get back and I don't have to rush to the store

Oooo, thanks for that post. I had forgotten about those. You just helped me out tremendously!!

Originally Posted by krazy4crusing

For WDW I make a spreadsheet with the days of the week, the park to visit each day, park hours, extra magic hours, shows, parades, closed attractions, rides to go on and in what order, snacks, CS/TS meals and where to get them all listed in order by area of the park. Next trip is first using platinum package. It took SO MUCH PLANNING to put all the included activities in some semblance of order. It drove hubby NUTS that I was on the computer or phone with the planning coordinator SO OFTEN to finalize the plans HALF A YEAR OUT!!

When it's a cruise I scout out all the Personal Navigators for the cruise and make a list of all the activities, movies etc we will do. I have my shore excursions picked, magnets made, journal created, FE gifts created. We always include a Disney Park with our cruises so it's always a double planning pleasure trove for me.... I LOVE to plan!!!I love to plan too... think I'm bored when I'm not! I SO relate!

Then... I make a powerpoint presentation full of pictures to show each ride, snack, restaurant, parade etc... that we will see. I include pictures of our resort, airplane, rental car etc...
I seriously want to borrow this idea, just to add to my own excitement (aka craziness)

Originally Posted by karamart39

I love to read about over planners and obsessive types like me. I, too, spend tons of time mostly lurking on DIS, making lists, researching online, etc. The strangest thing I do, which my husband used to hate but has recently come around to my way of thinking, is the house must be spotless before we leave for vacation. That way we always come home to a clean house! We're already bummed to have left the world of Disney, so the clean house makes it a little easier to handle. The toilet MUST have the blue cleaning fluid in it... if someone uses the toilet before we're out the door, they have to reclean it. I want a fresh smelling bathroom when I return. As far as cleaning prior to going, I do too, BUT dust must distribute from the A/C or heat while we're gone 'cause there's some on stuff when we return. Vacuum lines on the carpet remain though. The carpeting will be going once the kids age a bit... can NEVER get a carpet clean enough in my opinion!

I lurk too!

[DisneyFanette]

Maybe not a SUPER over planner, but I do find my self to be a planner...

-I make lists of things to pack and a list of stuff that needs to be done before we leave.
-I research the hotels/cruiseship/parks that we will be in/on/visiting extensively, looking at maps, youtube videos, reading trip reports etc...
-I have a special folder that I keep all important papers with reservation numbers, insurance info, tickets, emergancy numbers etc in. This comes with my on vacation too.
-When we go to disney parks I plan out what we are doing each day (although we don't always stick to it, I like to have a plan)

[Tami0220]

Originally Posted by Aurora's Mommy

I love my lists! When I do something not on my list, I actually add it, just so that I can feel the joy of crossing it off.

Wondering, am I the only one who finds the menus on line so that I can plan what I am going to eat at each MDR? I might change my mind once I get there, but it makes me so happy while I am waiting for my trip!

Im guilty! I do both of these things. Glad to know I'm not alone.

Originally Posted by krazy4crusing

For WDW I make a spreadsheet with the days of the week, the park to visit each day, park hours, extra magic hours, shows, parades, closed attractions, rides to go on and in what order, snacks, CS/TS meals and where to get them all listed in order by area of the park.

When visiting WDW I do the same. I plan each day, what time we will be where, where we will eat, etc down to the hr!

When it's a cruise I scout out all the Personal Navigators for the cruise and make a list of all the activities, movies etc we will do. I have my shore excursions picked, magnets made, journal created, FE gifts created. We always include a Disney Park with our cruises so it's always a double planning pleasure trove for me.... I LOVE to plan!!!

I love to plan plan plan. I often wonder if I will be disappointed because I plan so much, but havent been yet.Then... I make a powerpoint presentation full of pictures to show each ride, snack, restaurant, parade etc... that we will see. I include pictures of our resort, airplane, rental car etc...

Havent done this yet, lol

All my friends laugh at me and make jokes at my expense.

Admitting I have a problem is the first step!!!

We all suffer from OCVPD, obsessive compulsive vacation planning disorder. But if I have to suffer from something, let it be this!

[rubberbootbunny]

Thank you all so much for joining me here in OPA.

I too clean house before - you mean some people don't?
I groove on the colour coding too,
I'm totally stealing the power point idea,
I add to the list so I can cross off more stuff &
Yes I read the menus,
and no I don't know what to make for dinner most nights either

but the one thing I have heard that I most want to steal - One family I know of has a 3D wire frame of their vehical on their computer and use it to figure out where to put what in the car! I SO TOTALLY want to get my hands on that program....

thanks all for the laugh

[missjudit]

Originally Posted by chateau

Oooo, thanks for that post. I had forgotten about those. You just helped me out tremendously!!



I lurk too!

Me too!