I have read some very well written trip reports here. Every detail from sun-up 'til bedtime...it seems nothing is left out. I enjoy them so much. My question is: How do you guys remember everything? Do you take notes through-out the day? Do you jot a few things down before you go to bed at night? Do you just have an amazing memory? How do you do it?

I hope that I will have an interesting trip report to post here after my next trip to WDW in 2009.

Let me know how you do it! :) (so I can entertain others as well) ;)

I have read some very well written trip reports here. Every detail from sun-up 'til bedtime...it seems nothing is left out. I enjoy them so much. My question is: How do you guys remember everything? Do you take notes through-out the day? Do you jot a few things down before you go to bed at night? Do you just have an amazing memory? How do you do it?

I hope that I will have an interesting trip report to post here after my next trip to WDW in 2009.

Let me know how you do it! :) (so I can entertain others as well) ;)

I suspect you'll get many different answers. Personally, I keep a small, pocket-sized notebook - but I leave it in the room. I jot down some fairly cryptic notes once or twice a day. It's mainly notes on restaurants, parks, attractions, etc. for the sequence... coupled with some key words that will jog my memory about the specifics.

Hope this helps. I'm looking forward to reading your report.

I have a small notebook in my bag (with me) that I write down attraction orders and other stuff like that. I usually update it when we're having something to eat, or in a long queue or something. The other stuff is generally 'remembered' from those fairly cryptic notes. And the notes get much more cryptic as a longer trip goes on!

I used to have a 'rule' that I had to finish the trip report (even if it was just for my personal use in my scrapbook) before I went on the next trip - but I think I missed that with my Oct and Dec trips last year - but I did get the April 07 trip written up (and posted)! A big reason for that was the 'remebering' of the details get mushed together unless there is something drastically different between the trips.

That, and I can't write a short sentence/paragraph/post :rolleyes:(see above), so the details just come naturally to me. Honestly, any 'contest' with 100 or 150 word limits I've found I have to do in rhyme otherwise I can't get the words down short enough to include more than two sentences!

Couple things help me --

First -- We usually take a video camera with us to record the trip, so when we return home I watch that & it refreshes my memory.

Second -- The planning that goes into a trip, ie--restaurant ADRs, which park on which day, etc--really helps me remember things as well.

I don't take notes as I go. Would prob'ly help, but I'm just not going to do that ... Oh well ..

I made nightly notes. :geek: :D

Every summer when the kids and I go on our vacation, I'll write a little daily journal. When we go to Disney, I do the same thing, but in a different fashion: while at Disney, I don't write down every detail of the day, just little blurbs to refresh my memory when I get home to help me write my trip report. Plus, just like any golfer who remembers every shot on every fairway on every course he or she has ever played, or like any good Steeler fan who remembers every big play of every Steeler game they've ever watched, I just remember things I really enjoy, and I really, really enjoy going to Disneyworld/land.

I think I jotted things down at night on the notepads by the phone in the room the first few trips, but I haven't taken notes since. I probably should jot down notes because I'm really detail-oriented and trying to write a trip report without exact details and order of events is an exercise in frustration for me. That's why my last trip report is not finished, I got stuck on some details and I just can't make myself gloss over things or guess--like y'all would ever know, I'm so goofy! :p But anyhow, I do what I can with mine and my travel companion's memory, and then receipts and the order of photos in my camera fill in some of the blanks.

Nice question! I'm enjoying everyone's replies!!

OK--I take a notebook around, but I don't write a ton it it. I should. I do take a ton of pictures and go over the receipts every night. That usually jogs my memory of what happened when. I type up my trip notes every night while watching "Top" video with Miss Stacy. Talk about :geek:.

This trip, though, hubby will need the computer at home. I type SO much faster than I could ever write, so I don't know how that will impact my way overly-detailed trip notes/report. I was at the Disney Store earlier this week, and they had this beautiful leather bound, Cinderella-embossed journal on clearance. I paid $10 for a $30 book.

Anyhoo--I'm taking that and will transcribe my mini-notebook, picture, receipt info right into that journal. When I get home, I'll write up my trip report asap, as I find that the longer you are away, the more often you forget the little things (OK--Capt Obvious!). Like Drince said, the trips blend together if you don't write it down asap.

I agree, and also would add that it is the little items and experiences that actually MAKE the trip. That's why my trip reports are so detailed.

I had a 2 week plan drawn up before we went with all the ADR's and planned park days on and I added a few notes to that each night. Also thoughts about meals jotted on receipts which I kept. Had touring plans printed so kept track of attractions on those with little comments and also had a little book. Didn't use it much but was a bit obsessive writing bus wait times down in it! The photos helped of course.

I travel with a laptop, and update the report at least a couple times a day. I also take a note pad - one taken from near the phone in the room. I just jot mostly acronyms & abbreviations to remind me of what I did - a 2x4 inch page would have me set for a day or more.

I travel with a laptop, and update the report at least a couple times a day. I also take a note pad - one taken from near the phone in the room. I just jot mostly acronyms & abbreviations to remind me of what I did - a 2x4 inch page would have me set for a day or more.
Sue, I'm really glad to see you back on the Pad.