Tuesday’s Tip: Using Lists to Help Plan for Your Disney World Vacation

It doesn’t matter how many times you have been to Disney World, it’s huge. Trying to fit in everything you want to do can be difficult, no matter how long your trip is. That’s why I always tell people to make lists.

When I say make lists, I mean make a list for everything from attractions you want to see, to food you want to try, to souvenirs you want to buy, and so on. When you are in Disney World, time can feel like it goes a bit faster, because you are so busy. So why not keep a list with you to help you remember those things in the busy moments?

I do this before every trip I take.  If there is something you definitely don’t want to miss seeing or miss trying definitely put it on the list. There is always so much going on during trips to Disney World, so it’s good to prioritize.

List Examples

• Snacks
• Rides
• Shows
• Restaurants
• PhotoPass Photographer Spots
• Areas of the Parks
• Stores
• Merchandise

My lists will vary each trip, depending on what has been going on in Disney World since my last trip. For instance, during my last trip I didn’t make it over to Disney Springs, but this time around I’m going to check out the redesigned World of Disney store, so there’s going to be a separate list for stores I want to check out. Below are some examples of other lists I have made for past trips.

Window Shopping Lists

Another way lists are helpful is if you are just “window shopping” for souvenirs at the beginning of your trip and waiting until the last couple of days to buy your souvenirs. This gives you a chance to see a lot of different things and you don’t end up spending more than you want to, because you ended up seeing something you like better. Of course, some things are specific to the parks and you may not be able to find anywhere else on property, but a lot of the stuff can be found in multiple stores.

Food and Ride Lists

Another type of list I make is a list of the snacks or quick service places I would like to try. Disney is always coming out with new snacks or seasonal only snacks, so the list helps me remember some of the new things I would like to try. When a new quick service place opens I write the down, just in case.

Also, the attractions that I don’t have a FastPass for also end up on a list. There are some rides that I just don’t want to miss, like Splash Mountain. For some of the more popular rides (Flight of Passage and Slinky Dog Dash) I would add a note that reminds you the earlier you get to the park the better (at least 1 hour – 90 minutes before park opening).

Best Way to Make the Lists

Most of my lists start out as spread sheets, but as I narrow things down I’ll usually either print out a small list or keep a list on my phone. Keeping notes on your phone is an easy way to refer back to the things you want to try.

Also, I would break up the lists by park and add different categories under the parks. This way you will have everything you want to see and do at each park in one place. It’s helpful to have something like that to reference, especially if this is your first trip.

One more thing, I wouldn’t make the lists too long, because it kind of defeats the purpose. Depending on the length of your stay, I would narrow it down to the top ten or top five things not to miss in each category.

I know this may sound a  little “Type A,” but trust me, a lot of people do this. I’ve referred back to my lists many times during trips and sure enough there are at least a couple of things that I completely forgot about while on vacation. You get in the Disney zone and you don’t always remember everything that you had talked about wanting to try while planning your trip. Is it the end of the world if you forget about some of the stuff you wanted to try? No, of course not, but it’s still nice to get to experience as many things as you can.

How about you, do you make lists to prepare for your Disney World trip?

Thanks for reading!

*Liz*

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Liz

I love all things Disney, but my main love is for Disney World and I'm always planning for the next trip. Before becoming a Disney blogger, I was a radio DJ, so I guess I'm just continuing in the communication industry, just in a different form. I love talking Disney and I could talk about Disney all day. That's why I started blogging and created the Facebook group. The Disney community is full of friendly, helpful, and happy people...and I love being a part of it! If there is any Disney subject you would like to see covered just let me know! Need help planning your Disney vacation. Feel free to contact myself or Melissa at Never Stop Dreaming Travel Co. We love helping people plan their trips! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy! Don't forget to check out our Countdown to Disney app! Feel free to email me with suggestions of things you would like to see in the app :-)