ABC's of Itinerary Building! About This Page:

[AmyAngel]

My Disney trips are with my two sisters, and whoever else joins up. (Next trip includes the parents, my best friend, our cousin who is my parent's age, and my sister's coworker and her family!)

We first choose the time of year--usually October. We then look at our past trips and the historic attendance levels to choose dates. (We now know to avoid Columbus Day week!)

Second, we look at special events happening while we are there. We schedule our days to take advantage of early entry, attend MNSSHP, SpectroMagic and Wishes, and closing times of the parks. Each day is planned--where we'll start the day, where we'll finish the day. We plan a character meal or two and make priority seatings for those.
I am a "Disney Commando" and we are at each park EARLY. If the park we are in closes and another is still open, we switch parks, so we're out late each night. We try to schedule a slower day in the middle of the week--sleep a bit later, go to a water park, nap, resort hop, then Fantasmic or Illuminations. We refuse to stand in line longer than 20 minutes for anything, and use fastpasses quite a bit.

One thing we do that may be unusual is use each person's skills to help the trip go smoother. My middle sis is an accountant. She makes the budget for the trip when we start planning it 8-12 months in advance. We each pay her a set amount per month, and she pays for everything. She includes all special meals and events, a food per diem, and spending money for souvenirs which is given out at the beginning of the week. I am in charge of planning the weekly and daily iteneraries, and telling everyone where to be and when. I try to reach a compromise between doing as much as possible with the shortest wait times and being flexible so we can soak up any Magic that unexpectedly comes our way. Our youngest sister studied Sports Medicine and Athletic training. She is our first aid person, and is in charge of packing the shared backpack for each day.

My parents went with us last year and paid for things on their own, rather than paying into the group budget. They're using the group budget this year!

[uberPlanner]

http://www.geocities.com/bczook/index.html

[DisneyMom23Boys]

AmyAngel!



You and I think A LOT alike! We, too have vowed NEVER to go during Columbus Day week again (went in 2000) and are going this October, too! (but NOT Columbus Day week). Did I read somewhere the the golf tounrament that's usually scheduled for Columbus week has been pushed back a week? Gasp, the week we're going to be there!!



Have fun planning & see you there!



Deb

[ripkensnana]

uberPlanner

I'd love to check out your planning pages, but my computer refuses to allow me to do so. Is there some way you can PM them to me??

[MickeyRules]

uberPlanner--
LOVE the file!! I'm very impressed!! Thanks for sharing and hope you don't mind me using it (with my own information instead of yours, of course ).

[RobinH]

Our last trip to Disney was great in October of 2002. The crowd was small and we were able to get off of a ride and get back on. We did not plan out which parks we would go to on that trip. However, we are expecting larger crowds for May 04, so we are trying to plan accordingly. On our last adventure, we went to the parks with the EMH. We ended up not using the last day on our tickets and stayed at the campground. We may still go to the EMH parks, but hop to a different park around 11:00 or so. any comments on that?

[Tara O'Hara]

Hi Robin!! Welcome aboard!! I cannot answer you question, but I am sure someone who can will come along!! I seethat your next trip is coming up very shortly!! Whoo-Hoo for you! Where are you staying?!?!

[JoanW]

"we're not worthy" Oh I so love Uber's planner! Saved a copy, adapted to my group, can't wait to use it!

[coachrick]

uberPlanner

Oh man!!! Next time somebody tells my I'm obsessed, I am going to show them this.

Everybody thought I was going over the top with my PDA guides from eguides to go ( Walt Disney World Live Entertainment ) But this has got to top me....

[SadHeart]

Thanks for this great link. I am planning a family trip for October and have been overwhelmed whenever I sit down to make decisions. I'm a "lister", so this article helped me get on the right track.

[Figmentlvr427]

Hi Robin and welcome to the boards!! I think you have a very good idea about doing the EMH and then leave the park to go somewhere else. Maybe I'll do that.

[fever4disney]

Tour Guide Mike?

[mrskpete]

We always have to go by dates in this family. First we have to go by when my DH can get leave from the Navy. Then we see whats appropriate for the 2 older kids and school. Once we get these 2 important parts down we are off and running. Everything has to be around the dates. But I can dream that someday I can go just because I want to! Like I said one can dream...........

[Mariposa]

For this trip, we've picked the days, booked the room, and bought the AP vouchers.. Now, I'm desperately trying not to plan any further. For our 2002 trip, I managed to completely burn myself out by overplanning. As soon as we got right past the 90 day mark I hit the wall and really couldn't stand to look at anything Disney related, practically until we left. So, I'm going to leave a lot of stuff to do even once PS's are made.

[eeyoregal]

Im trying to make an itinery but my Mum refuses to help saying that "Its a holiday and she wants to relax without a schedule!"