When I was working at Borders I helped a customer find a guidebook to Disneyland . I asked him when he was visiting the park and he said, “Tomorrow.” I was shocked. He was buying a guidebook the day before he was leaving? He hadn’t planned anything? I asked him what his plans were and he said that he and his daughter just decided to drive down to Disneyland on a whim. Wow!
I start planning for a Disney trip the moment I know I am going, usually about six months in advance. I read books, search websites, make advanced dining reservations (ADRs), and design a chart showing every day of the trip. While I do love to plan everything I keep everyone in the loop and try to get their input. And I am flexible enough to realize that we probably won’t follow the plan exactly.
So why plan at all? Who’s style makes more sense, the customer who buys a guidebook the day before he leaves, or me, the one who plans for months in advance? Probably we’re both right. Here are five advantages and disadvantages to planning your trip ahead of time.
5 advantages to planning each day:
1. If you want to eat at a special restaurant (like California Grill) you’ll know what day to make your ADR
2. You will know which parks have Extra Magic Hours, so you can enjoy more time in the parks
3. If you are doing something extra, like a race, or a tour, you can make sure you have time to visit the parks also, if you want to
4. Everyone knows the plan so everyone’s desires can be accounted for. No one gets upset because they were not informed
5. Planning can be fun (trust me on this)
5 disadvantages to planning each day:
1. You might have to leave a park, or ride, early to make an ADR
2. By rigidly sticking to your plan you might run out of time and not get to ride all the rides you wanted to
3. Your plan may be too rigid for some in your party which could cause ruffled feathers
4. There may be events or other information that you did not know about, but which could affect your planning
5. You may wish you had never heard of the word “planning”
I like to plan so I will continue with my charts. The only thing I would change is the number of ADRs I make in the future. Sometime less planning is more fun.
Whether you are a planner or not, the important thing is to do what works for you. Happiness squared happens when you don’t stress over your trip.
Goofy Tip: Charts are not for everyone, but mine allows me to see the hours, extra magic hours, show times, and special information on one page. It is easier to plan when you don’t have to flip back and forth between webpages. To see an example of my chart click here, and remember, planning should be fun.
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