Early Planning

[happymom2one]

Who's up for early planning? Well I am because it feels like forever since I have been there plus I am planning for more than just my family. My question to all you Disney lovers that know tons, is if we plan to go in Jan/Feb time, how do you plan if Disney Website doesnt allow you to since their dates aren't available yet? Does it open the calendar up later? Like I am thinking how do I get the Reservation number so I can get my 180 reservations? ALso, someone in the group would like to make payments, how does that work? ANy help would be great. I really hope this makes sense as I am reading it and I dont think I have explained it well... Thanks

 

[maggs1035]

Who's up for early planning? Well I am because it feels like forever since I have been there plus I am planning for more than just my family. My question to all you Disney lovers that know tons, is if we plan to go in Jan/Feb time, how do you plan if Disney Website doesnt allow you to since their dates aren't available yet? Does it open the calendar up later? Like I am thinking how do I get the Reservation number so I can get my 180 reservations? ALso, someone in the group would like to make payments, how does that work? ANy help would be great. I really hope this makes sense as I am reading it and I dont think I have explained it well... Thanks

I'm planning our trip for May 2013, we are doing a cruise and Disney world! I called Disney and they said the prices will be released in the end of July or early August for May, for Jan/feb it should be sooner if not now? Have you looked up your dates to see if you can book?

We always do payments! When you go online or call Disney you make your reservation (I always do a package) and then you have to put $200 down per reservation. Then you make payments as you wish as long as it's paid 45 days before checkin.

 

[maggs1035]

Who's up for early planning? Well I am because it feels like forever since I have been there plus I am planning for more than just my family. My question to all you Disney lovers that know tons, is if we plan to go in Jan/Feb time, how do you plan if Disney Website doesnt allow you to since their dates aren't available yet? Does it open the calendar up later? Like I am thinking how do I get the Reservation number so I can get my 180 reservations? ALso, someone in the group would like to make payments, how does that work? ANy help would be great. I really hope this makes sense as I am reading it and I dont think I have explained it well... Thanks

How much experience do you have planning disney trips?

 

[happymom2one]

I'm planning our trip for May 2013, we are doing a cruise and Disney world! I called Disney and they said the prices will be released in the end of July or early August for May, for Jan/feb it should be sooner if not now? Have you looked up your dates to see if you can book?

We always do payments! When you go online or call Disney you make your reservation (I always do a package) and then you have to put $200 down per reservation. Then you make payments as you wish as long as it's paid 45 days before checkin.

Thanks for responding! I tried looking up the dates and the air message came up "WarningCurrently, Walt Disney World® Resort reservations are only available for check-in dates up to and including December 31, 2012. Please modify your travel dates accordingly". So i guess you are saying around August I could possibly book? and start making payments.

 

[happymom2one]

How much experience do you have planning disney trips?

Not really at all, well actually none. I planned our reservations for our last trip. thats it. I had a travel agent, but didnt want to bother them yet...

 

[Dismom55]

Yep, that is it, the dates will open up soon, and you will put your $200 down for each room reserved, you can make payments along the way and the final payment in full will be due 45 days before arrival. I always do a pkg as well, meaning tickets to the parks and the dining plan. I keep checking for discounts as Disney may offer room discounts or free dining after I have made my reservations, in that case you can get one or the other and you call Disney to get it applied to your package.

Remember if you get the Dining plan to plan your ADR's and make them at the appropriate time. I find planning which table service restaurant we will visit a lot of fun. Disney offers more than one dining plan, so check them all out and decide which is best for your family.

Happy Planning

 

[maggs1035]

Wow! I was just thinking about Advance Dining Reservations for a Jan trip would technically be sometime in June??? How do you make the ressies if the packages are not out yet? Ive never gone in june, but have gone in Feb twice due to cheerleading nationals and we didn't book our trips until after October? When in Feb would you go? Be careful, it hasn't been super warm in the past couple of yrs at that time? And make sure you steer clear of Febuary break and presidents week!

 

[maggs1035]

Who's up for early planning? Well I am because it feels like forever since I have been there plus I am planning for more than just my family. My question to all you Disney lovers that know tons, is if we plan to go in Jan/Feb time, how do you plan if Disney Website doesnt allow you to since their dates aren't available yet? Does it open the calendar up later? Like I am thinking how do I get the Reservation number so I can get my 180 reservations? ALso, someone in the group would like to make payments, how does that work? ANy help would be great. I really hope this makes sense as I am reading it and I dont think I have explained it well... Thanks

Im sure there are a lot of people who will disagree with me but one thing we always say we will never do without while at Disney world is a Rental Car and the dining plan 2 out of 3 times we have gotten the dining plan for free, but would always pay for it if necessary!

We very much dislike the busses, and would much rather find a good deal on a rental car. Last yr we rented a Ford Escape SUV for $150.00 for 8 days.

 

[happymom2one]

Wow! I was just thinking about Advance Dining Reservations for a Jan trip would technically be sometime in June??? How do you make the ressies if the packages are not out yet? Ive never gone in june, but have gone in Feb twice due to cheerleading nationals and we didn't book our trips until after October? When in Feb would you go? Be careful, it hasn't been super warm in the past couple of yrs at that time? And make sure you steer clear of Febuary break and presidents week!

Yes, I think so, thats why I am trying to get this stuff figured out... The ressies are such a big thing for us because we liked the table service last trip and cant wait to try some other ones. The dates are still getting worked out but what is Feburary week? What do you consider not being super warm?? like under 50?

Again, thanks for helping me with all these questions!!

 

[maggs1035]

Yes, I think so, thats why I am trying to get this stuff figured out... The ressies are such a big thing for us because we liked the table service last trip and cant wait to try some other ones. The dates are still getting worked out but what is Feburary week? What do you consider not being super warm?? like under 50?

Again, thanks for helping me with all these questions!!

I live in upstate New York and our schools have what we call mid winter break and its usually linked to presidents day, in 2010 our cheerleading nationals @ Disney world were that week and the parks were so packed we gave up trying to ride stuff and be in the parks, usually the weeks before and after are ok! Feb 2010 and 2011 both were pretty chilly, some days not out of the 50's, and had freeze warnings at night? I hear that nationals in 2012 was much warmer? (our daughter graduated so we weren't there)
2009 we went in first 2 wks of May and it was wonderful, warm and NO crowds! We are going again May 9-17 2013

 

[ziggystardust]

you're not alone. I'm planning for December 2013. And its killing me I'm not going earlier, in fact, I keep planning all these "what-if" trips.

 

[Dismom55]

Im sure there are a lot of people who will disagree with me but one thing we always say we will never do without while at Disney world is a Rental Car and the dining plan 2 out of 3 times we have gotten the dining plan for free, but would always pay for it if necessary!

We very much dislike the busses, and would much rather find a good deal on a rental car. Last yr we rented a Ford Escape SUV for $150.00 for 8 days.

We always drive to Disney but get a rental for the trip, why put all those miles on our car, and yep always want that dining plan. I do not like driving around Disney once there as I get lost even with GPS, to nerve wracking for me, so I take Disney transportation to the parks. On our last trip we really made it a point to do some not often talked about dinners in the different resorts and so glad we did. The food was great at the different resorts and getting a chance to walk around the different resorts before and after the resort to take in the Disney decor was wonderful as well as a good way to digest all the good food.

 

[Marionnette]

Wow! I was just thinking about Advance Dining Reservations for a Jan trip would technically be sometime in June??? How do you make the ressies if the packages are not out yet? Ive never gone in june, but have gone in Feb twice due to cheerleading nationals and we didn't book our trips until after October? When in Feb would you go? Be careful, it hasn't been super warm in the past couple of yrs at that time? And make sure you steer clear of Febuary break and presidents week!

You may not be aware of this, but you do not have to have a reservation in order to make ADRs 180 days out. The advantage of having a reservation is the ability to book your dining reservation at 180+10 days out. That means that when you are 180 days away from your vacation, you can book your dining for your arrival date and also for the following 10 days. People who stay offsite have to call Disney each day (or use the website) to add their ADRs for the next day of their stay. It puts them at a disadvantage for the more popular restaurants at the popular dining hours.

 

[hsmamato2]

see,OP? your plans are not actually 'far in the future' here on the Dis..... those are 'right round the corner' on these boards!

 

[maggs1035]

If you want to learn all you can and get a ton of info go to
...

allears.net It's a great website that has info on anything you will want to know.

Also do you know that you can do all this without a travel agent? I don't use one because I like to be in control of my vacation and not rely on someone else to make changes for me!

 

[happymom2one]

Thanks for all the help! Let the happy planning begin!!

 

[sharon78]

When is February break (presidents week)? my DD's birthday is Feb 20th she will be 18 and we were thinking of taking her for the week. Thanks