Can anyone help me with my Disney illness?

[Loritlc3]

Hi

I am planning my second trip to disney but unfortunaltely we are tentatively going in May 2011 (15 month away). Our first and only other trip I had a lot less time to plan and I planned and planned in those months.

I feel I really need something to do to get ready for Disney but I can't think of anything. Schedules aren't out for next year but I really need to do some planning. I was wondering if anyone could help me and also wondering on time frames such as when is the earliest you would book trip, etc...

Thank you

 

[Rita007]

I try to help lots of my friends plan their trips...while I turn GREEN with envy!!! It helps to have someone who understands!

 

[dmoore718]

We are not going until Feb 2011 and I have just been looking at all the resort to decide where we want to stay, whether we want the meal plan. Also. searching for sales on princess dresses for my 3 girls, etc. We are not going to book until after Christmas when they come out with the specials.

 

[RMAMom]

Order T-Shirts from Jiffy and go to the creative Disign board and start printing DISigns to put on your shirts, make your autograph books, Make mousekeeping envelopes, start your planning journal, etc. Plan which countdown calendar you want to make. Start stalking the paint area of your local Home Depot.....

 

[Loritlc3]

Thank you for the suggestions. when is the earliest you can book? Do they put out the specials for the whole year in December of the year prior?

I'm confused about the home depot paint thing?

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

I *think* you can book your reservations 365 days out. Regarding the stalking the paint section...Home Depot has Disney paint, so many of us get the samples (Mickey heads) in lime green to hang on our strollers, etc.

I'm the same way with my planning. Don't do what I did, though. I started my browsing and before I knew it, I had convinced dh that we could do Disney instead of the beach this year (instead of next year). I'm pretty psyched...but this was so not in the plans for this year!!

 

[DisneyClown]

If your kids are little, you can check out age and height restrictions for rides and shows. Otherwise, check out the menus of places you may want to eat and plan your ADR's, even though you can't book them yet. Start your packing list and a list of things you have to purchase beforehand. Start a list of phone numbers you'll need or might need related to Disney, like resort phone, reservations, etc. Part of your planning is already going on- getting any and all the tips you can off these boards to help make your trip as stress free as possible. With all the time you have before the trip, you will have alot of this stuff memorized and won't be caught in a lurch if something goes wrong. Happy planning!

 

[Grendalynn]

I call it being a Dis-aholic - being addicted all things Disney. You plan, plan, plan, go n your trip, rattle off tips after tip after inside secret while at WDW. You are eager to share all the knowledge you learned here on the boards. Then when you get home, you go through Dis-drawls and critique, comment and write trip reports about every aspect of your latest trip. Then the cycle starts all over again!!

We are on a 3 year plan (we try to go every 3 years) and it has its ups and downs... Just know you are in good company and we are all here to support your "habit"! Being addicted to the Mouse is the only habit and addiction i know that is Family Friendly!

 

[Grendalynn]

I *think* you can book your reservations 365 days out. Regarding the stalking the paint section...Home Depot has Disney paint, so many of us get the samples (Mickey heads) in lime green to hang on our strollers, etc.

I'm the same way with my planning. Don't do what I did, though. I started my browsing and before I knew it, I had convinced dh that we could do Disney instead of the beach this year (instead of next year). I'm pretty psyched...but this was so not in the plans for this year!!

Rates for the following year are generally out the first or second week of August. We are going in April of 2011 and are planning to book in August.... Hope this helps!!

 

[ebtbmom]

I feel your pain, we might not get back until Nov 2011 because DH is in nursing school and will graduate May 2011. I'm hoping to find an extra job and take a solo this Oct, but I, a nurse, am having a hard time finding extra work! The economy seriously must be bad!

To bide the time, I have been trying to talk friends and family into going to Disney. That way I can help them plan. My cousin might go this month, not sure yet, and a friend might go in Sept. I hope my helpful tips are useful and not annoying!

 

[Arielssister]

Have you ever read Birnbaum's Book of Disney or The Unofficial Guide to Disneyworld? Those will keep you busy, informed and pass the time. Even though the info can be found online, it's nice to have it in a book to take with you and then that's more time you're not in front of the computer straining your eyes. I love Birmbaum the best because it has more colorful pictures but The Unofficial Guide has a lot more tips and info.