I told some friends about our upcoming trip to Disney, and shared with them my toned-down planning spreadsheet.
Their comments:
"Is this a schedule that you made? Who goes to Disney and maps out the whole week in this fashion?"
"You make reservations for lunch at Disney? I thought people just wandered around and ate turkey legs and stuff, like at Valley Fair."
Valley Fair is a local amusement park in the suburbs of Minneapolis....
*sigh*
I got the same comments from a friend recently. Let them wander around - I will keep planning as needed! 
It's ok Jeff, some people just don't get it.
Your spreadsheets are amazing, I was even thinking about revisiting your post about them for an upcoming article about planning resources.
If anyone hasn't read his piece - it's awesome!
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/articles/how-create-trip-planning-spreadsheet
It's ok, they just don't get it. Not everyone does... That's why we have WDWFGU!
Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa
This ... just This 
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Howdy Y'all
https://www.facebook.com/matthew.tucker1
Caution Content May be inappropriate
May/June 2016 Magic cruise to Norway
2017 Prtugal wedding adventures
2018 Alskan disney cruise ??
2019 Florida
It's ok ... I have friends like that too!
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You Rock. No worries.
I feel better now, thanks my enabling supportive friends! And thanks Kristen! I followed the link and read that post again, then relived that trip for the 4,352 time. Happiness is.....
I feel better now, thanks my enabling supportive friends! And thanks Kristen! I followed the link and read that post again, then relived that trip for the 4,352 time. Happiness is.....
Don't worry Jeff. We get it!
MM - I love that
As someone who prepares personalized binders for each member of the group travelling with us, personalized and colour coordinated care packages (cause don't even get me started on how it looks when your backpack clashes with your MagicBand) and generally spends more time organizing and planning the trip than I do on the actual trip... I feel your pain.
Something about being prepared and wanting to make sure my vacation is as 'dumby proof' as possible is beyond understanding for a few people.
No trips planned currently... But we're hopeful something in 2017!!!
We understand Jeff. We're staying offsite right now with family and it's hard not having a plan 
Wow...you have some weird friends. J/K
We've all got people in our life who lack the whimsy and charm to appreciate that Disney is worth planning for. My boss took her two children last year and claims that they didn't really have much fun and they don't want to go back. Given what I'm sure was a lack of planning on her part (she's a total scatterbrain) and the fact that they went over Memorial Day weekend--the first weekend where Disney did a 24-hour event/ a Star Wars weekend, it's no wonder. They most certainly showed up around noon with no plan of attack. She blew off sitting down with me ahead of time for a "Disney briefing", so her loss. I suppose that they'll be one less family that we all have to wait behind in line!
Be good at something. It makes you valuable. Have something to bring to the table because that will make you more welcome. --Randy Pausch
Trip Reports:
December 2013: 10th Anniversary, 1st DVC Stay | April 2014: Birthday on the Boardwalk | May 2014: Star Wars Weekend, Navigating WDW with a wheelchair | August 2014: Villains Unleashed | September/October 2014: MNSSHP, F&W, Tower of Terror 10-miler | March/April 2015: Disneyland and California Coastal Cruise | November 2015: Wine & Dine Half, Food & Wine, 1st Disney Cruise | February 2016: Presidential Classic Gymnastics Meet | March 2016: "Work" Trip, Tours, F&G Festival | April 2016: Conference at Disneyland | Fall 2016: Festive Fall Fun | January 2017: Festival of the Arts | May 2017: AbD Backstage Magic | July 2017: AbD San Francisco | Sorry I had to give up doing trip reports. Too many time commitments right now.
don't even get me started on how it looks when your backpack clashes with your MagicBand
OMG - love you! 
We're obviously kindred spirits
whilst i don't go to the lengths some here do when planning (i seem to put as much effort into my countdown 
)i do understand why people do it.
My DW has been helping a workmate plan for a Feb trip and they haven't even made any FP ressies yet because the stepdad knows everything and believes they can do all 4 disney parks both universal parks,seaworld and a water park in 7 days and see everything 
Howdy Y'all
https://www.facebook.com/matthew.tucker1
Caution Content May be inappropriate
May/June 2016 Magic cruise to Norway
2017 Prtugal wedding adventures
2018 Alskan disney cruise ??
2019 Florida
Yeh..Yeh..yeh...Or as I say..Blah..Blah..Blah..I've got relatives just like that..There's two types of people who go to WDW..Those who get it and those who don't..I kinda feel sorry for those who don't..They've forgot to pack the most important thing in their suitcase..Their imagination... 
Planning is a HUGE part of the fun! 
On the flip side, you should see the looks I get when I ask people how they can just sit on a beach or next to the pool all day.
OMG - love you!
We're obviously kindred spirits
Sometimes I worry I put a bit too much time and effort into my Disney planning... Then I see the looks on people's faces when they spill their dole whip all over themselves and realise that they have wet naps and kleenex in their colour coordinated, see-through backpack and I know I've made the right choice XD
There is nothing wrong with making sure both you and those you care about have the best Disney trip they can have with a little bit (or a lot a bit) of Disney pre-planning ^_^
No trips planned currently... But we're hopeful something in 2017!!!
whilst i don't go to the lengths some here do when planning (i seem to put as much effort into my countdown
My DW has been helping a workmate plan for a Feb trip and they haven't even made any FP ressies yet because the stepdad knows everything and believes they can do all 4 disney parks both universal parks,seaworld and a water park in 7 days and see everything
WOW They have a surprise coming ! 
Don't worry Jeff, we do understand! You don't need friends like that anyway, we're enough! Bet ya they wouldn't send you something from WDW, huh?
whilst i don't go to the lengths some here do when planning (i seem to put as much effort into my countdown
My DW has been helping a workmate plan for a Feb trip and they haven't even made any FP ressies yet because the stepdad knows everything and believes they can do all 4 disney parks both universal parks,seaworld and a water park in 7 days and see everything
all I can say!
Some people do just wander around without a plan eating turkey legs and such, but WE have MUCH better Disney vacations than they do.
Mrferret wrote:whilst i don't go to the lengths some here do when planning (i seem to put as much effort into my countdown
My DW has been helping a workmate plan for a Feb trip and they haven't even made any FP ressies yet because the stepdad knows everything and believes they can do all 4 disney parks both universal parks,seaworld and a water park in 7 days and see everythingWOW They have a surprise coming !
It is very frustrating as my DW has gone to a lot of effort to make a tips book including all opening hours.Most of the family are really thankful for the help it is just him that is going to ruin it for everyone else
Howdy Y'all
https://www.facebook.com/matthew.tucker1
Caution Content May be inappropriate
May/June 2016 Magic cruise to Norway
2017 Prtugal wedding adventures
2018 Alskan disney cruise ??
2019 Florida
Magic Mirror wrote:Mrferret wrote:whilst i don't go to the lengths some here do when planning (i seem to put as much effort into my countdown
My DW has been helping a workmate plan for a Feb trip and they haven't even made any FP ressies yet because the stepdad knows everything and believes they can do all 4 disney parks both universal parks,seaworld and a water park in 7 days and see everythingWOW They have a surprise coming !
MrHub wrote:It is very frustrating as my DW has gone to a lot of effort to make a tips book including all opening hours.Most of the family are really thankful for the help it is just him that is going to ruin it for everyone else
All I can say is Wow!
We have friends and relatives like that too. Hey, some people never wanna grow up!
Yup that's why I go to WDW so I can be a kid again! 
Don't worry Jeff, we do understand! You don't need friends like that anyway, we're enough!
Fo' shizzle....
I agree with what everyone has said I have lots of people who just don't get "it" luckily this year we are doing our first trip with my auntie and uncle they have only been once before but they said they just got "it" as soon as they got there and have said to me "Amy just sort it and keep us updated" they have a file ready to put info in and have been told we will hold monthly meetings!!!
let the planning commence!
have been told we will hold monthly meetings!!!
I love this!
amy1989 wrote:have been told we will hold monthly meetings!!!
I love this!
they think I'm kidding............... I'm so not!!!!!!!! I have pin boards with dates on and everything!
Kristen K. wrote:amy1989 wrote:have been told we will hold monthly meetings!!!
I love this!they think I'm kidding............... I'm so not!!!!!!!! I have pin boards with dates on and everything!
Planning meetings are the way forward. I did it with my parents and in laws 
Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa
