Vacation planning withdrawls

Hey daddy! No need to fear, this is where the truly obsessed really shine! Joe has many other words for it, and generally considers the period between 180 days and 60 days The Disney Danger Zone.

There's still a lot to research and investigate after ADR day. At the risk of really highlighting my Disney OCD, here are a few things I do to pass the time until we leave:

Research new things since our last trip. For 2012, Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom was a new game, so I researched and put together some reading materials. This year, I'll be researching the new pirate adventure game!

Make a list of snacks to try. Go over to the Disney food blog and check out there massive amount of information on the top 5 snacks, top drinks, cupcake crawl...whatever interests you, and make a list so you don't forget once you get there.

I researched tips on Toy Story Midway Mania and made a list of pointers. I still lost to Joe, but that wasn't the point...

Make a folder! Then keep adding to it as you go.

Start a countdown calendar:
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/my-250-day-countdown-calendar

http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/i-made-countdown-today

From the pics below, you'll see that I tend to go a little overboard and turn everything into a very colorful one- or two-pager that I can put into my folder.

That's how I pass the time

Wow here I am making plain text sometimes even just handwritten notes with all my research and treat lists. I am stealing this idea (as well as your spreadsheets )

Jeff you are Love it

This is great !! I have already made my ADR's and still have 154 days to go .... everyone who doesn't get it, can't understand that this is ALL I am thinking about ! Love your ideas especially the snacks to try !! It's so good to be on this forum and be understood !

Another thing you might want to check out during countdown is some of the overlooked attractions listed on allears.net:

http://allears.net/tp/ola.htm

Here's a link to the Disney Food Blog that is really fun and helpful:

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/the-best-restaurants-series/

Take some time to check out the following:
- Trip planning and tips
- Best of...snacks and foods
- Food crawls!

I know, I have issues....but they are Disney issues so it's ok. Right??

Jeff - I want to travel with you!! Even your folder looks fun!!!

Hey daddy! No need to fear, this is where the truly obsessed really shine! Joe has many other words for it, and generally considers the period between 180 days and 60 days The Disney Danger Zone.

I use the next few months not only getting my plans together but double guessing things. Maybe an ADR I missed becomes available. Maybe an 8pm ressie doesn't give me enough time to get across the park to the fireworks. I start looking for a better time for the ressie. I use the 6 months to tweak and tune my plans. Reviewing menus, checking times of shows and parades. Keeping in mind that some parades people start sitting on curbs an hour ahead of time, so now I have to plan dinner really early so I can claim my piece of curb.

I just OCD on the plan.

THE DISNEY DANGER ZONE...............LOVE IT!!!!! JeffC, you ROCK!

JeffC, you are the master! Your trip planning tips are the best!

Will you adopt me?

Lol, I think Joe is kinda hoping one of you will adopt me!

Another thing I like to do, since I like to trade pins, is find out what new hidden Mickey pins cast members are being given for trading. Then I print it out and take it with me so I can keep an eye out. Here's a link to the Disney Parks Blog showing what's new for 2013. Always fun to see if I can find something from here

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/02/trade-for-new-hidden-mickey-pins-in-2013-at-disney-parks/

OOoo, and I just saw a post that the new Pirates Adventure at MK officially launched today, so more research!!

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/05/a-pirates-adventure-treasures-of-the-seven-seas-launches-at-magic-kingdom-park/

See? It never ends....danger, Will Robinson! Danger!!

And Joe wails, "Oh the pain, the pain"

There was also the year of index cards! For our 2009 trip, I decided to make index cards marking our 30 day countdown. I took pictures from previous trips, printed them out and added little sayings to each. Then I put one on Joe's keyboard each morning for the last 30 days. After our trip, I incorporated some of them into my scrapbook. Pics below.

Set some mini-milestone dates as well - for example, when you finally hit double digits, plan to go buy yourselves something for the trip, or something Disney. I might order us t-shirts or Mickey flip flops, or find something at Target (some Target dollar bins can be treasure troves!). It doesn't have to be big or expensive, just something to note the event!

If you haven't already, order the free customized Park maps from Disney, and when they arrive in a few weeks, sit down and just visually walk yourself through the parks and imagine all the fun you will have! Here's a link for that:

http://customizedmaps.disney.go.com/

At 30 days out, I have been known to change out all the soap, shampoo and lotion in the house to Disney soaps and shampoos from previous trips.

As you can see I have the patience of a 2-year old, so I like to find lots of things to do to try and make the time go a little faster.

Seriously, I have to stop adding to this now....

All hail King Jeff! All hail King Jeff ! We're not worthy.

I just love this thread! And like everyone else has said, JeffC - you rock!