How far in advance have you planned?

[Bim-muv-fab]

Just wondering how far in advance folks have started planning your future/past WDW trips or booked your rooms.

In 1995 we went for a week to the Wilderness Lodge and booked over a year in advance. It was kind of nice to have everything planned in advance and have something like that to look forward to.

For our next visit, we are now planning for a Dec. 2003 trip and will probably book our rooms around 15 to 16 months in advance.

What do you think the benefits and downsides of planning this far in advance are and have any of you done something similar?

[addicted_to_WDW]

The earliest I've ever booked was 1 year, for our 2nd trip. Usually I book about 3 months out, or whenever AP discounts are announced for the timeframe I'm looking at.

Unless you are going over a holiday period, I can't see any benefits to booking very early.

[CaliforniaDreaming]

We've booked trips 2-23 months in advance. :) As you can see, sometimes I just need to have a trip to look forward to! ;)

[ducklite]

I'm working on January and February of 2003 right now. We're debating an August 2003 trip. Not sure if it's in the cards, as we're spending almost two weeks in the Canadian Rockies next July, which is a VERY expensive trip. (And I"m working on that one too...)

Anne

[Bim-muv-fab]

Cali-D, you seem to be knowledgeable in all areas Disney. I had CRO representative tell me last week that the when making special requests at a resort (view requests, room upgrades, etc.) they go by first come/first served method. So if two people make the same request and only one can be filled, they will go with the party that had their reservation booked first. Any truth to that?

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I think they are downloaded into the resort computer from the date the reservation was made. So, I would assume the room controller would see the reservations made furthest in advance first (the confirmation numbers would be listed from lowest to highest - I'm not sure how often they reuse confirmation numbers).

[addicted_to_WDW]

As far as upgrades...I think that's something that has to be requested at check-in. Room views can be requested at any time.

[s&k'smom]

I like to book about a year in advance. We take advantage of DH's airline discount so this year we were able to get them about 7 months in advance. I love looking forward to going and planning. We just got our MNSSHP tickets in the mail and it was so fun to open that mail.

[DancingBear]

We were at WDW last in November 2000, briefly, with our then two-week old son. I started planning our next trip as soon as I pulled onto I-4 heading back home!:)

At that time I thought we would wait until he was 3, but last summer I started getting the itch again, and my parents (who after all are in their 70s) were showing an interest, so about September 2001 I started seriously thinking about a December, 2002 trip. Picked the week, coordinated with the folks, started monitoring the DIS to pick up the new scoop, etc.

My Dad made our Shades of Green reservations one year in advance (they actually accept up to 13 months ahead). Since then I've been getting more serious, cutting and pasting tips and info from the DIS into a Word planning document, doing an Excel spreadsheet showing a day-by-day breakdown, etc. My Dad bought our passes with his military discount around Easter because of the rumors of an impending price increase. I bought MVMCP tickets as soon as the dates were announced.

I indulge these obsessive/compulsive tendencies because I enjoy the anticipation and planning process, and my wife and parents are happy to enjoy the fruits of my planning labors. After several visits, we are not commandos, and we know we'll have to pace ourselves with a 2YO, so it's not that I'm trying to plan every minute of every day; rather it enables me to set up a general framework so that (1) we can hit everyone's favs, such as Fantasmic or Spectro, (2) we build in out-of-the-parks days and know what type of parkhopper passes we need, (3) we can get in some must-plan-ahead activities like MVMCP, a round of golf, or a behind-the-scenes tour, and (4) we have a pretty good idea of our budget before we go. Within that framework, we have a lot of flexibility about what parks we go to on which days, where we eat, etc. (since we are going in a slow time PSs are not as important). Plus if you are eligible for Shades of Green, they do book up, so it's important to lock in that great rate in advance (and this year we get the bonus of getting bounced up to the Contemporary).

[Bim-muv-fab]

Originally posted by DancingBear

I indulge these obsessive/compulsive tendencies because I enjoy the anticipation and planning process, and my wife and parents are happy to enjoy the fruits of my planning labors.

I, too enjoy the planning and anticipation process and probably get into it too much. One enjoyable, or possibly annoying, aspect of the planning process is seeing what parts of the trip were the focus versus my vision of the trip during the planning process. For example, for all of the research and planning that goes into picking out a room (what resort, what view, etc.), when the actual vacation arrives, I may only spend a total of 5 minutes looking out the window, so the view may turn out to not be very important after all! Know what I mean?

Or maybe I spend many hours mapping out which parks to visit on what day and then once we get there we just go with the flow and do what we feel like doing instead of following the plan. Often, spontaneity is an important component to a fun trip.

But in the end, for a trip as big and as costly as one to WDW, I think advanced planning is key to a successful vacation.

[Tartan Tigger]

All y trips to WDW have been booked 48 - 52 weeks in advance.

[imbe@aol.com]

Right now, literally this minute! LOL I'm working on my November trip, and as soon as I get this done, I'll move on to December. Beyond that? Nahhh .. I usually do about 6-8 months out, no longer than that.

[minnie56]

We booked for New Years eve 1999 (millenium) 10 years ahead!!
We wanted to stay at The Grand Floridian and after first laughing at us, the agent quickly became amused when she saw we were not the first to think of it!!
At time of booking we even had to pay a deposit which we had to add to every year for 10 years to keep up with pricing increases.Approximately one and a half years prior, we had to 'lock-in' at our rate, or take our chances on how high they could go!! (We locked in!)
We stayed in the concierge, main building, and had a great time!! The price though..........ouch!!!
:rolleyes:

[luvmy2sams]

We booked our October 2000 trip in May of 2000, and believe it or not, I thought the money could be better spent elsewhere. **GASP** Just call me a converted Disneyholic!

We booked our November/December 2002 trip in June of 2001, and we had to force ourselves to wait that long. We actually decided to return during that first monorail ride shortly after our arrival in October 2000. The reservation confirmation was immediately posted on our fridge, and we've been counting down the days for SO LONG! DH already has the itinerary mapped out, and there's very little left for us to do but continue with the anticipation and wait for the PS booking times to arrive.

I've got tentative plans for a trip with my DD and mom in April 2003, but those reservations won't be made until I find out if my mom's office convention in Orlando is confirmed. However, DH came home this evening and mentioned that he'll have an additional week of vacation next year, so even if mom doesn't work out, we'd be able to take a trip if we get some great AP rates.

We're definitely booking a trip for January 2004 after we get back from our trip this December. I doubt there will ever be a time in the forseeable future that there's not a Disney trip scheduled. :)

[LvsTnk]

I just took a trip at the begining of May to AKL that I booked a week and 1/2 ahead of time. We had just got back from DL CA. but my boys still wanted to go to AKL so when your 15 yr old DS says he wants to take a trip with you you go!!..... I got airfare from Chicago for $135 and was able to get AP rate for the concierge as well. I was even able to get the Sunrise Safari and CRT too thanks to concierge.

I usually decide what trips we will make for the year in Jan. then I start looking for airfare and room rates. Right now we have trips planned for the 4th of July, Sept., and Christmas. Happy Planning :D

[mrsltg]

Well, I think I may take the cake here... Yesterday I booked my Disney Magic cruise for 12/6/03!!! I am so excited I can hardly stand it! Meanwhile, I have a November trip to WDW planned this year, and I can't even think about it because I'm so busy concentrating on this cruise! My DH asked me last if we could please get through one vacation at a time... WHATEVER!!! THere's no fun in that....

oh well, guess I just have to wait 18 months!


Erin :)

[Bim-muv-fab]

Originally posted by luvmy2sams

We booked our November/December 2002 trip in June of 2001, and we had to force ourselves to wait that long. We actually decided to return during that first monorail ride shortly after our arrival in October 2000. The reservation confirmation was immediately posted on our fridge, and we've been counting down the days for SO LONG! DH already has the itinerary mapped out, and there's very little left for us to do but continue with the anticipation and wait for the PS booking times to arrive.



Now that's planning ahead! How did you handle the anticipation? Did you just plan it and forget about it for a year?

[Snow Shoe]

We book our DVC home resort 11 months out, and start plans for future trips 18-24 months from when we plan on taking them. Right now we're planning a trip to London, and stayting at the Dorchester on our DVC pts. for summer 04'.

[siouxi31]

Someone saw me at the pool the other day with my Disney books and asked if I was planning a trip. "I'm always planning a trip. I could be this year, twice a year, or in two years." is what I replied with. We usually go the week after Thanksgiving which is what I'm planning right now but I have no reservations made at all--no airline, no room, no tickets purchased. It seems that I usually end up booking the room sometime in July--maybe that's when the discounts come out for the rooms.

[jennymouse]

For years when I had relatives living in Orlando, we'd make spur of the moment trips...We'd stay with the relatives and spend a day at either MK, Epcot or SeaWorld.

Last year I took some vacation time from work so I could babysit my DGD(then 6) and got the idea to go to WDW....we had to have something to do.;) I was so green on the WDW thing that I booked a "Delta Vacation Package" through a local travel agent in February, three months out...

....as you can see I found the DIS in March and suddenly became horrified when I'd learned how busy WDW is on spring break.:eek:

I learned enough here to still enjoy our trip...we had a blast!

This trip I'm taking my DD & DGD and booked 9 nights....ten months in advance. Sometimes it seems so far away. I keep worrying something might happen to cause us to not be able to go... I like the planning but would prefer to book a little bit closer next time....maybe six months is a good time.;) I'm not a rich woman so I do need some time to get things in order, but as it is, I'm going to have everything paid for and have to wait 2 more months....

As much as I've enjoyed planning, if I were rich, I'd do spur of the moment trips again....staying on site.:p

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by Bim-muv-fab
Just wondering how far in advance folks have started planning your future/past WDW trips or booked your rooms.

In 1995 we went for a week to the Wilderness Lodge and booked over a year in advance. It was kind of nice to have everything planned in advance and have something like that to look forward to.

For our next visit, we are now planning for a Dec. 2003 trip and will probably book our rooms around 15 to 16 months in advance.

What do you think the benefits and downsides of planning this far in advance are and have any of you done something similar?

Well, we will be going to WDW this coming August. I have planned out on paper a 5 day trip during May 2003 a 10 day trip during Sept 2003 and another 5 day trip during May 2004. Trying to get three trips out of the APs we are going to buy before our May 2003 trip.

[Girlie Goofy]

Our last trip was in 1997 with our two younger daughters. We decided on yhe way home to plan a trip with our oldest daughter, her husband, and grandson. My giving up Christmas presents, birthdays, and anniversaries, we were able to book our trip in January of 2001, for actual trip in December of 2002. Anticipation has been great!

[Dana49]

Oh boy! Your people are going to think that I'm really crazy, but I have already booked a concierge room at the Yacht Club for April, 2004. My son asked if we could stay there for his graduation gift from high school. So. I didn't want to risk missing out. Now, all I have to do is secure a flight during the April school vacation week. That could be harder than getting the room. Planning is the trip is the most fun for me. Between now and then, I'll change the plans a couple of jillion times, but it's still one of the best parts of the trip. :)

[Bim-muv-fab]

Someone mentioned locking in rates for their hotel. How does this work?

[minnie56]

It may have been me who mentioned 'locking in' rates.However, that was only because it was a Millenium New Years eve booking at the Grand Floridian that I had booked 10 years prior! Now, they sold out about two years prior.Therefore, a rate was offered approximately 1 year before the date and a certain amount of time available to 'lock-in' and pay. If you didn't wish to....you ran the risk of the rates going 'sky-high'!!We locked in at approx $700+ per night (concierge) but I don't know how high the rates actually went for those who didn't lock-in and pay in full a year prior to arrival!:p

[jeleebeene]

We started planning our trip for this year in January, and I can't believe how close we are getting now. I got some great ideas off of these boards, and want to thank everyone who has provided information in one way or the other.
I never realized how much we have MISSED in the past, including rides, restaurants, and just plain ol' scenery. I plan on looking at everything and enjoying it all instead of playing commando. I want to make sure I take in every sight, smell every scent, and enjoy every bit of excitement I feel from being there.
For some people, the longer they plan, sometimes is for the better, especially if you have a large group. Since it is just me, my husband, and my brother, it was failry simply, and our TA did everything for us. I have read, and read, and read every book imaginable, as well as these boards. I am ready!! Already getting ready to pack non-essential items!

Too excited to wait until the last minute to pack! :)

[Bim-muv-fab]

Originally posted by jeleebeene
We started planning our trip for this year in January, and I can't believe how close we are getting now. I got some great ideas off of these boards, and want to thank everyone who has provided information in one way or the other.
I never realized how much we have MISSED in the past, including rides, restaurants, and just plain ol' scenery. I plan on looking at everything and enjoying it all instead of playing commando. I want to make sure I take in every sight, smell every scent, and enjoy every bit of excitement I feel from being there.
For some people, the longer they plan, sometimes is for the better, especially if you have a large group. Since it is just me, my husband, and my brother, it was failry simply, and our TA did everything for us. I have read, and read, and read every book imaginable, as well as these boards. I am ready!! Already getting ready to pack non-essential items!

Too excited to wait until the last minute to pack! :)

And the neat thing is that no matter how much you plan or anticipate, there is almost always something that comes up unexpectedly that becomes a great memory. I look forward to those unexpected moments.

[Wolverine]

we have pap's and only a 2 hour drive to wdw so we plan on a weekly / bi-weekly basis...we dont really plan big trips.. meaning ...to stay for 3 or more days a few times a year because of cost of lodging..so we usually do 4-6 big trips a year...the rest of the year we do day trips to the parks or water parks or dtd and dq...we are going for a overnight trip for the 4th of july..splurging and staying at the gf... and our next big trip will be labor day weekend for 3 nights at fw cabins (6 of us)...but in between that time we will go every other weekend usually..just do a day trip and back home that night and we dont do sit down meals...usually counter service to save $$$...and pack a cooler...:smooth:...for our big trips we just watch for mousesaver codes or ap rate to book our rooms..then have fun!

[minster22]

Believe it or not ,we are working on plans for a trip in April/May of 2004!!My best friend and I had the best time on our trip this year at the BWI for 11 glorious nights that we want to go even longer the next time. In order to have the amount of cash we are going to need for a 16 night stay split between the BWI and the GF we need to really plan ahead. As soon as we know when "regular" season starts in 2004, we will book our room. Plus all this preplanning gives my DH time to adjust to my grand plans!! Thankfully he is an avid fisherman and doesn't mind my addiction to Disney!!

[Cinderella]

It varies, we often plan a trip and find we can't wait that long to go. On Monday, I am booking our May 2003 trip, hopefully splitting between WLV and BCV or OKW - we are DVC owners. But, I really can't stand the wait and if we can afford it, I will move the trip forward to January at a later date! I haven't been to WDW since January 2001.