How early do you plan your WDW trips?

[artemis908]

I am wondering how far ahead everyone plans their WDW trips? I started to think about this because of how long Disney takes to release their 2013 rates and Disney is promoting the summer on their website.

I would think that if you were going long enough to stay over night, you would plan further ahead if you were staying during the summer. The summer is really over in 3 months and I would think most people plan 5+ months out for vacations.

I wonder if by waiting so long Disney potentially loses money from people who want to just plan a vacation, nail down firm plans, and be done with it. At this point if Disney is not releasing dates until August then people going in January would have 5 months to plan and need to call or go online at 6am several days in a row for your ADRs since 180 would be in July and you don't have a package.

 

[SRiley1985]

I'm always a six months or less planner. Our spring break trip, I planned the month before. We are not really that worried about ADR's so it's no big deal to plan less that six months in advance.

 

[mmouse50]

obsessive planner - I have been thinking / planning my December pretty much since I got on the plane to come home after my 2011 November trip. I have had the package booked since February. So waiting for PINS, discounts and specials have been driving me crazy.

I am currently working on my next trip, June 2013 - but not going to book until I get there in December because I am hoping for a bounceback. But it really depends on the 180 day mark for ADR's I may book something to get my dining reservations and cancel that if I get a bounceback. According to my calculations my 180 day mark will be while I am there in December.

 

[stasijane]

My trips are always last minute, My current trip I have 7 weeks to plan. Just decided last week.

 

[artemis908]

My trips are always last minute, My current trip I have 7 weeks to plan. Just decided last week.

You must live driveable distance >_< I can't imagine buying plane tickets last minute, it would drive me crazy.

 

[KristiKat]

We started talking about a Feb 2013 trip on our way home from the Feb 2012 trip. Wish they would hurry up with the room rates and any info about military discounts.

 

[bcrook]

I plan 11 months out that is when we can book at our home resorts (kidani). But I am looking at how to use my points now, so I am projecting October 2013 for fw. I will start thinking about it again in November! I just returned from two weeks, and still all aglow.

 

[sydneysmom]

We started planning our 2013 trip on the plane ride home from our 2010 trip! (no, I'm not kidding ). We couldn't wait to go back!!!! And now, it's slowly getting closer.....

But in all seriousness, I've been budgeting for the upcoming trip since we got home. It's given us a lot of time to save up so we can do everything we want....hopefully! For me, most of the fun is in the planning! (maybe 48%)

And reading this over....I kind of sound nuts! Thank goodness for The Dis!

 

[longrf01]

The annual Thanksgiving trip is planned out a year in advance.
The annual couples trip in Feb/Mar is planned after my wife's office declares open season on the vacation calendar in January.

The spring "Boys" trip, July "Daddy's Birthday", August "Mommy's Birthday" trips usually can only be planned about 5 weeks out due to my work schedule - it works on a locking 4 week window so I don't know until four weeks out what weeks I'm off the road and which weeks I'm on the podium.

 

[Allieran3]

My first trip in 07 was planned in about 7 weeks.

My second trip in 08 was planned in 12 weeks

My third trip coming up in November is being planned as we speak so 6 months

 

[consumermonkey]

first trip back in 09 was about 7-8 months in the making. I LOVED all the planning and reading around. If only I spent this much time and effort in my career!!!

Have been planning for a Sept 13 trip for about a year already, however, when explaining to family when we were going, I was informed "I'm not waiting that long, we are going in January thank you very much"

The January 2013 trip has now been booked since April and in checking the current prices, I have already saved about £100 ($150) each on a two week trip. Forward planning sometimes has its advantages. Still working out the ADR's, but still have a little over a monthe to finalise those before the 190 day arrives

 

[canopynut66]

WELL --- if they have a bounce back offer in the room and it is when my sister can get her vacation then will plan it then. if not will start looking in about a week after we get home and the laundry is all done...this will be our 64th trip of two weeks or more even though we drop down for three or four day short trips when she can get off thru the year and we do not actually count them...we do wait on the air fare as we watch the prices on it...sometimes have to change it for the FD promo but does not vary much. Then set the countdown clock on my home page and wait again until it is time to go see the Mickey....

 

[nonnasally]

I am wondering how far ahead everyone plans their WDW trips? I started to think about this because of how long Disney takes to release their 2013 rates and Disney is promoting the summer on their website.

I would think that if you were going long enough to stay over night, you would plan further ahead if you were staying during the summer. The summer is really over in 3 months and I would think most people plan 5+ months out for vacations.

I wonder if by waiting so long Disney potentially loses money from people who want to just plan a vacation, nail down firm plans, and be done with it. At this point if Disney is not releasing dates until August then people going in January would have 5 months to plan and need to call or go online at 6am several days in a row for your ADRs since 180 would be in July and you don't have a package.

I agree. Waiting for next year rates, too. Share your frustration.

 

[AK_Christina]

I live in Alaska and airfare is a killer ($3000 for the 4 of us) so I plan out as far ahead as I can. Typically about a year out or so. Plus with our work schedules we have to put in time off requests quite far out if we actually want it approved =) Started planning our October trip in Feb.

 

[bitohoney]

I like to start about 7-8 months out. I like to book my package, that way I have my resort and dates down so at 180 days out I can start obsessing with dining. Then 3 months out get my flight.
We just got back from DL last week and I've already decided on WDW in Feb 2013, so now just waiting on 2013 packages so I can book.
And hoping on military discount extension!!

 

[mrsprincecharming]

I have planned both a year out and last minute. Our next trip, we decided to go at the end of May and I booked our room 2 days ago for July 19th. I started doing the few ADR's I definitely wanted in May when we decided and I bought the tickets and signed my guys up for the YES program.This is my first split stay so I am excited So I guess they both work for us....

 

[jessica23]

I always plan a year in advance. Except for once it was just over 6 months and that had my blood pressure high for a few days researching all the restaurants to make 5 people happy and to make sure I got my ADR's after that. Never again Right now I am planning a Jan one for us and my friends, so there will be 10 of us. Trying to figure the hotel and the restaurants that make 10 people happy and she is all "oh whatever you pick is fine with us!" makes me happy I started planning awhile ago I am too much of a planner for big trips to do it in a few months, which is funny because I am mostly a fly by the seat of my pants type, I will plan a 4 day trip somewhere in a day and it drives dh crazy, disney is apparently different for me LOL

 

[dis_guy]

I like to book a year or more in advance. For example I'll typically book in September for Christmas in the following year so it gives me 15 months or so to slowly pay it off.

 

[doitforlove]

6.5 months is what my family does for Disney vacations. I booked my September 2012 vacation the day that free dining was released

 

[dazednconfused]

I started planning our next trip a year ago. Booked exactly at the 500 day mark.