2012 Dates Booking Timing?

[Sueil33]

Does anyone know when ABD will start booking 2012 dates? We are looking at a trip in the fall of 2012. Is it best to book as soon as the dates open up?

 

[Bobo912]

The 2011 itineraries were released near the end of July 2010. In previous years they have been released first or second week of August. For the last two years ABD has offered no incentive for booking early. Instead they have released offers 2 to 3 months after releasing the new itineraries. In 2009 (for the 2010 trips) an offer came out in Oct for a free 3 day DCL cruise and then later (in March as I recall) they sent out Pins with discounts. For the 2011 trips a Visa gift card offer came out in Nov 2010. So there's not really any reason to book as soon as the trips are announced. Some trips do fill up, but I've never seen any indication that they fill up quickly.

 

[Sueil33]

The 2011 itineraries were released near the end of July 2010. In previous years they have been released first or second week of August. For the last two years ABD has offered no incentive for booking early. Instead they have released offers 2 to 3 months after releasing the new itineraries. In 2009 (for the 2010 trips) an offer came out in Oct for a free 3 day DCL cruise and then later (in March as I recall) they sent out Pins with discounts. For the 2011 trips a Visa gift card offer came out in Nov 2010. So there's not really any reason to book as soon as the trips are announced. Some trips do fill up, but I've never seen any indication that they fill up quickly.

Thanks for the info - any insight as to how they select who will get PIN offers? I have been lucky in the past with PINs for park resorts but ABD is new for me. Any advantages for Disney Vacation Club members? From what I've seen so far it doesn't make sense to use points for the ABD unless you have A LOT of points.

 

[Bobo912]

Thanks for the info - any insight as to how they select who will get PIN offers? I have been lucky in the past with PINs for park resorts but ABD is new for me. Any advantages for Disney Vacation Club members? From what I've seen so far it doesn't make sense to use points for the ABD unless you have A LOT of points.

I don't have a clue how they decided who would get the pins. Last year is the only time that I am aware of that it was done. I don't remember anyone ever mentioning any in past years. I received a pin. Some other folks on the board received one and some didn't. I'm not a DVC member. I had been on ABDs in 2008 and 2009, but I know there were others who had been on multiple trips and didn't get the pin. I wouldn't count on ABD sending them out again. Maybe they will, and maybe they won't, but their promotions seems to be different every year. For all we know they might have some incentive for booking early next year. They are hard to predict. Good luck with your trip planning.