My Name is Kristen and I'm a Control Freak

It must be the name. I too (a Kristen) am a huge vacation control freak. Especially when it comes to Disney. I like to have a plan. Winging it just never seems to work for me. However, I have found that a lot of my friends that usually do the vacation planning for their families actually enjoy not having to be the one with the plan. My best friend and I do a girls trip to Jamaica every year, and every year she defaults to me to do the planning. She says its a nice break. Maybe some of your friends are like that. If not, then I suggest making up a flexible sample itinerary and have it in your back pocket ready to pull out if it seems like things are too loosie goosie and no one can decide where to go or what to do next.

DW and I love to just chill, but I will say she used to be a lot more "controlling" when we first went. I think it helps that we go pretty regularly so we figure if we miss it this time, we'll get it next time.

Hello, Kristen the Control Freak!

Well, Xanex was indeed my first thought. My second thought is to try and make light of it. Tell them before you go "Hi. I am Kristen and I am a control freak. I cannot help it, I was born this way. I have a wonderful support group called WDWFG, but they are not here with me physically.

The tell them you will make every effort to NOT be a control freak on or before the trip, but need their help. If at any point they see you sweating at the brow, or closing in on an anxiety attack, or otherwise exhibiting freakish behavior, they are to point it out, and you, Kristen, will be required to (a) buy everyone a round of drinks (b) buy everyone a Dole Whip or Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich or (c) be forced to buy and wear the most obnoxious pair of Mickey ears they can find.

The good news is if you exhibit freak behavior a few times in a day, there's a good chance you can be sloshed before dinner and then who needs the Xanex?

I am with you - I am just the same as you but this year there are at least 8 of us going (for now, there may be more!!) all couples, the ones i can boss are my parents and my hubby. Even so, its going to be hard! I am a mental planner and like to have everything down to make the most of the trip... But I am going with people that I personally dont know too well (though hubby and his parents know them very well and have holiday'ed with them lots) and they are super laid back!! I am stressing about not being a control freak when we get there! Think I might take JeffC's advice and see what happens

i too am a bit of a crontrol freak. but i was able to shut my hubby up when he complained on our trip.
we were waiting for our ADR at Whispering canyong and he started to question my choice, my responce was "well you could have helped me with the planning, then you would have had a choice" i gave him the guide books to read, tried to show him reviews on disneyfoodblog, he was not interested in planning. we were on DDP so ADRs were a must. he went along after that. maybe next time he will open the guidebook.

Tell them, if they want to contribute to the planning their input is welcome, if they dont, well then shut up and enjoy the benefits of your time & effort.

I'm so glad to see there are others. I make spreadsheets that detail every day of our trips, reservation times, parks we are going to, the times the parks open and close on that specific day, snacks i want to get on the specific day at the specific parks, a detailed list of the different costs, what has been paid for, what has not been paid for, a list of websites for the car rental agency we're using, gas calculator, dining reservations, disney dollar redeeming list, snack credit list, etc.

Yeah...it's bad.

Luckily, i have the most laid back husband in the world who when asked for input on anything tells me that it is my show and do whatever i want. It's nice he doesn't mind my OCDness and even finds it amusing. But, it does nothing to help subdue the control freak in me.

I agree with jeff. Tell them up front in a joking manner. If you make light of it from the get go and ask them to point out when you're being a nut, it'll most likely cause less awkward situations and tension if they do have a problem with it.

I would just be the one to say "See Ya" and head the other way!. The only thing we stick to usually are the ADR's, anything else can be up in the air. If a park is crowded, go to another one. If there is a long line somewhere there are at least 3 choices: 1). Get on something else 2). Wait, or 3:) get a fastpass and get on something else. We make a spread sheet with our adrs, what parks we want to do each day, what time the parks open and close, but we just use that generaly just for reference, thats the nice part about parkhoppers. You dont have to stick to a specific park if you have ADR's there.

As for how to help you out..................Tequila, lots of it!