Today I’m sharing something I see happening all the time with Disney World planning – and it honestly breaks my heart a little every time I see it.
Here’s the thing – so many moms get caught up in the “must-do everything” mindset, trying to pack every. single. magical. moment. into one trip. And as a mom, I totally get it! You want to make sure your littles don’t miss a single, solitatary special experience. I am with you. I am you.
But here’s what I’ve learned after helping hundreds of families plan their Disney vacations:
Trying to do it all is actually the quickest way to miss out on the real magic.
Let me elaborate. You can plan a Walt Disney World vacation from top to bottom… but you can’t plan moments… and those unplanned moments when your kiddo’s face lights up watching the Disney ducks waddle by, or that impromptu dance party with Buzz Lightyear in Tomorrowland? That’s where the core memories happen.
So what do I suggest? *Because it certainly isn’t going in without a plan*
When my clients start feeling a little overwhelmed (and trust me, we’ve all been there), I remind them to implement my favorite little planning secret: the 3-2-1 strategy. How does it work?
For each park day, pick just 3 must-do rides, 2 experiences (like meeting Mickey or watching the Festival of Fantasy parade), and 1 dining reservation.
That’s it!
This gives you a framework that hits the highlights while leaving plenty of room for those unexpected magical moments.
I’ve been there myself with my own kids. On Ada’s first trip, I had this military-precision schedule planned out (because hello, Type A mom here! 🫶). But you know what ended up happening? My husband got sick and we had to completely reroute plans to accommodate allllll of the things I had scheduled, booked, and had been dreaming of for months. That whole schedule went right out the window. And our remaining days that we did get to enjoy? No actual plans – just a couple of really good, intentional choices to guide our day.
(Side note: if you need a good travel nurse to give you an in-room IV at your resort??? I have that recommendation on deck now. My pain is your gain.)
(Pictured above, said first trip with Ada, where my husband was vomiting 1 hour later. Sorry hubs.)
Listen, your investment in this vacation isn’t just financial – it’s emotional. You’re investing in memories that’ll last way longer than any Instagram-perfect photo op ever will. So let’s flip the script on “doing Disney right.” Instead of cramming every minute full, let’s create space for not just the unexpected-oh-my-gosh-things-are-not-going-right-at-freaking-all moments, but those magical little moments that happen when you’re not rushing from one thing to the next.
Want to know how to make that 3-2-1 strategy work perfectly for your family’s unique vacation goals? That’s quite literally what I’m here for. Click the link right here to get the ball rolling on planning your Walt Disney World vacation. Let’s make some magic together – the kind that doesn’t need a minute-by-minute schedule to be perfect.
(PS: already booked and feeling super overwhelmed? Here’s the link for you.)
(PPS: more “what should I be doing” reading right here.
