how early do you start planning/booking your next disney trip?

[dkbnyc]

we are already thinking our next disney trip will be in dec 2011. When do i need to start making reservations, thinking about packages, discounts etc for this trip?

I dont want to seem obsessive, but i want to make sure i can get the best deal i can

thanks

 

[kentstateman2010]

I usually start booking 5 months in advance. That way, all the prices are listed for the rooms and plane tickets are available at decent prices. Plus, I think Disneyworld.com only takes reservations several months ahead of time. But if you are anxious, pick the hotel, pick the dates, and make a countdown calender....it's half the fun!

Hope that helps! kentstateman2010

 

[Debbie-TN]

Well, we haven't even gone on our Sept. trip and we already have our trip for Dec. booked. We seem to do this a lot. It's just so much fun to plan.

 

[Kim1964]

I booked my August 2010 trip in July 2009 (just days before taking our 2009 trip). It's not a package, just two room only reservations (we're doing an ASmu FS/CSR split stay). It probably wasn't 100% necessary to book so early but I did it for 3 reasons:

-It makes me happy to have a Disney trip in the pipeline.
-I like having a good idea of cost so I know how much I have to save each month toward the trip (we don't finance vacations).
-I wanted to be sure there was a family suite available.

 

[Resseda]

Well, since Disney Planning (I refer to it as Disney Dreaming) is my mini break from work...I find myself making mental notes about the *next* trip because I go on the *current* trip. Not planning, so much, per se, but things like "I won't have time this trip to get to _____, so I need to make a mental note to do that next time."

Sad, I know.

Ress

 

[Missytara]

I usually book the week I get back; I go the week after Thanksgiving. But I looked at the package this year for 2010, and despite the higher ticket prices, it was only $21.00 more than when I booked my 2009 package last year - so I went ahead and booked it already.

I always book early; same with cruises. You save more money booking early.

When they extended the free dining about a month ago, I was curious how it would work out for me. I ran the numbers and my package was still about $100.00 cheaper, because I had booked under the old ticket prices, had a low rate for the room, etc.

I always opt for booking as early as possible....

 

[Chelmarie53]

I'm already booked and paid for for my May/June 2010 trip.

Now I have nothing to worry about but looking forward to the magic!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

we are already thinking our next disney trip will be in dec 2011. When do i need to start making reservations, thinking about packages, discounts etc for this trip?

I dont want to seem obsessive, but i want to make sure i can get the best deal i can

thanks

The 2011 packages won't open up for booking until August 2010.

 

[gracielou]

Plus you can always book now and try to apply any codes that come out before your trip. I've never been disappointed by booking early, nor have I ever had to change my ressies--always been able to apply a GP, Disney Visa, or PIN code to my original ressies after booking at rack rate. This year I booked in January for my annual October trip. A week later DH got a PIN code email that we were able to apply immediately. A couple of months later we got the birthday PIN and saved even more!

 

[SleepingRebecca]

If you know your dates book as early as you can if need be you can always change your dates or add extras or maybe even pick a discount up but if you already have that room it makes things so much easier. Especially since you know you want to go in December and if it is around Christmas things tend to book up quickly. Plus you can lock in next years rates before 2011 with Disney prices getting more and more expensive plus it gives you plenty of time to send in payments!

 

[CanadianPaco]

I plan on booking 2010 with a bounceback when we go on Monday!