For those of you who plan 6+ months in advance..

[kkayluvsdis]

How do you do it?!!? We have been to Disney a number of times, but I can't think of a trip that we've had planned for more than a couple of months. This year it is not financially in the cards for us to go, so I am hoping that we can pull something off for early next winter (maybe February 2012?). I am hesitant to start planning, now, however, because I guess I feel like there is so much stuff that could come up or change between now and then. Do those of you who plan way in advance have to curb your excitement just in case "life gets in the way?" Thanks for your thoughts!
-Kelly

 

[lsenquiz]

We plan 11 months in advance because we like to rent DVC points from a DVC member for our lodging(boardwalk villas). If we do not make our reservation 11 months in advance it greatly reduces our chances of getting what we want. We usually put a 20% non-refundable deposit down at the time of booking so we work very hard to make sure our plans do not change.

We have also been going during the same times for years so it is a pretty set schedule. Also, by planning in advance we pay alittle each month toward each trip(we usually have three planned at at time). I find that paying a few hundred each month is easier than shelling out several thousand at one time.

I also just love to plan Disney vacations. It keeps me happy

 

[herb102211]

We usually book 6+ months out because we usually go around the same times each year. We do a spring trip (either March or May) and then a fall trip (one year we'll go in Sept/Oct for Halloween and the next year in November for Christmas). Plus we've been lucky to get the kickback offers so we book our next trip before we leave from that one. I try to book my dining reservations 6 months out too, but there have been several times that we have changed those even while we are on the trip. Happy planning!

 

[Juliealto]

As DVC members, we need to book 7 months out for the best availability at the resort we want and in our chosen room category. To know what resort and dates you want, and when your booking date opens up, you have to at least choose those variables more than 7 months out. Although we had very good luck when we had to modify for a trip only a month out last year, I don't like to take chances.

Sure, life happens, and sometimes you end up having to modify your vacation and start over with planning everything, but for us (because we have DVC points that need to be used and money already budgeted and set aside for the other expenses) it's not a matter of cancelling, but of changing dates and making new ressies, etc. That happened to us last year when my husband got downsized, and it just happened to us again due to a health issue that won't be resolved in time for us to take our June 2011 vacation as we planned (that trip is a modification of a trip we previously planned for Thanksgiving 2011 but changed because our DD & family wouldn't be able to go with us then). I find planning to be a fun part of the process and my June 2011 planning materials will go on file for when we plan another vacation some time that isn't Christmas.

 

[taylor91]

We book 50 weeks out (as soon as we get back we rebook ) It's a long time but it gets you through the day to day working and studying

 

[Joyce_Belle]

I'm going in May 2012 for the first time. So there is a lot that I don't know yet, and should know before I go.. So, I try to gather as much information as I can, and this board is one of my sources. Also, we are students so we can't just say; 'we'll take a holiday now', so planning is needed. To save money and to look forward to it are also reasons. Another important one is that we are going to book the Deluxe Dining Plan and want to make our ADR's as soon as possible, so we need to have everything figured out before that.

 

[HotMama]

Our WDW plans are normally 12 months in the making! We start planning as soon as we get home. I think it helps my hubby over his post-vacation depression. We love Disney & it gives us something to really look forward to.

We don't worry about things happening to cancle our plans, but if it does than you just go with it. We booked our first Disney cruise 2 years in advance & had to cancle due to some rearranging of our vacation budget. However, we booked another a year and a half in advance. It seems far away, but time really catches up with you fast.

We love the excitment of the countdown phase.