How do you start planning if....

[DMickey28]

I don't know if this is the right board but...

How do you start planning if discount codes and other discount ways plus airfare does not come out until 6 months before hand? I usually get the cast member discount with my best friend but they don't get 50% until three months out. Airfare sometimes doesn't come out until 6 months before.

My question is, what do you do to start planning before hand?

I want to take my boyfriend/fiancee to WDW for his college graduation. He is a closet disney fan and hasn't been since he was a kid. Ideally I would like to go either at the end of January, Spring break (too expensive and crowded) or right after graduation before he starts working in May or early June (too hot. He complains here in W. Mass right now that it's too hot!!) January might be too soon, because I graduate and start working in June and have a six years worth of college debt to catch up on!!!

Thanks for letting me think out loud!!

 

[Kermit]

For your hotel ressies, you can always make one now and cancel it later if a better deal comes along. You probably will get a better rate later than what you can get now, but sometimes it's nice to know the "worst case scenario" price.

Airlines won't necessarily be as lenient, but you can start looking at fares now to get a good idea of what's a good deal and what's a great deal.

 

[Kaa]

Of the three times you named, late January would be the least expensive. That is still value season and the room rates will be the lowest at that time. Airfare is the toughest. Depending on which airline you book, you may be able to get a credit for future flights if better airfare comes along on the same airline. I have done this with Southwest Airlines. I don't know for sure, but I think some airlines will even refund the savings.

Good Luck!

 

[Biyanna]

I strongly agree w/ Kaa on going in January. It's value season so the prices are lower, specials are all over the place, the weather is nice and absolutely NO CROWDS! You will walk onto may rides w/little to no wait time.
Like Kermit stated start studying airfares now. I usually check once or twice a month each airlines' price. Of course Southwest has been the cheapest thing running w/their 59.00 one way + a free companion.
As far as car rental and hotel ressies, they can be booked during one special and canceled and rebooked for the next special. I do that up until almost the time I leave! (Smile)
I know it may not make any sense now but it will as you get into it. For example: We are suppose to go 1/03 but it's looking more & more like it's going to be 1/04. So I'm watching airfares and rental car rates. I'm also watching DVC (Disney Vacation Club) rentals and what people are letting their points go for. Along w/Disneys room specials and codes. I have a notebook that I put my observations and notes in. A pattern will emerge and you will learn what's a bargain and what's not! Good luck and remember planning can be alot of fun!

 

[tink2dw]

Now you can start deciding what are the things that are "must do's" and "must see's." and decide the length of your trip.

Then decide on the tickets you will need here.
http://www.mousesavers.com/tickets.html

To keep an EYE on All the discounts for on-site and off-site resorts check here often and sign up for the MouseSavers.com newsletter to get all the best news.
http://www.mousesavers.com/wdw.html

For Air fares sign up at all the Airline Web sites that fly out of your airport that fly to Orlando or MCO in airline speak. Then Check Expedia,Travelocity for airline deals. Also check out the Transporation Board air,car deals.
http://www.disboards.com/

Start a WDW change jar to save for your trip.[there are many tips here on this board!!]

Also you can decide where you will want to eat and start making plans to make your food budget and check the Priority Seatings Calculator to know when you can make PS's some are as far out as 730 Days.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/pscalc/dispscalc.html

Also to help decide where to eat you can find menu's at Deb's wdw site,this works 2 ways to see where to eat what,and how much it costs, to finalize the food budget.
http://www.wdwig.com/menu/menus.htm

To keep all this info in one place,here is a computer Disney Vacation Planner. It will print each day on a seperate sheet. Also check the pull down menu'sat the top for loads of info!!
http://www.intercot.com/planner/default.asp

Well,this should get you start on a thousand more Questions!! So,don't be shy! Ask away!! The kind members here will share what they know! So,check back often!!

tink2dw

 

[Rpsemont]

dmickey28, if you do a search on my name there's a thread I did a week or so ago where I indicated costs and lead time planning for my 5 trips to WDW all from W Mass (it's not hot here anymore!) I'd suggest you hang loose; if the January deals come through, go then and if not, wait and see what comes up for March. You could always stay offsite, if you can't snag an on site room discount. When we went last Dec we got ASMo for $49 (plus tax) and this past MAr we were at CSR for $121 (ASMu would have been $109 - no deals) But we used priceline for 1st and last night and got 3* rooms for Under $45 total cost. Jan a great time to go as long as you don't have your heart set on swimming or a water park. That can be iffy that time of year.