How early do you start planning?

[savannah2l]

I think the planning is part of the fun! We started planning for our 1st trip about three months ago, then booked our package about a month ago for our June 2007 trip. I can't wait, but at the same time I'm having fun finding new info on the parks, dining, etc. Besides, it'll be here before you know it!

I agree--planning my trip is part of the fun. I started planning our first trip to WDW about 3 months ago and made my reservation about 2 months ago for our June 2007 trip.
Have fun planning your trip!!!

 

[honeybee30]

We just got back this afternoon and we've already started planning our next trip in May! Actually, I've been home approximately 5 hours and I'm ready to go again!

 

[kribit]

Just got back and already planning for 12/07!

 

[sumrmist]

Most of us here on the dis....start planning our next trip on the long car ride home or the plane ride home. Kinda takes the "leaving Disney " Blues away.....

 

[Boncho]

Planning is part of the fun. I always start planning the next trip day after I get home.

 

[thirtycats]

I plan MONTHS in advance!!!

Sometimes, years.

And usually I get there and all the plans go out the window.

I think what I do is plan so much, that I feel I've already done it, so once we're really there, I want to do something else.

Another pathetic thing is I will have one trip coming up, but instead of obsessing over that, I start planning future trips.

We're going to DW in December and also have a trip booked for May. Yesterday morning I was obsessively planning our if-there-is-free-dining trip in September. Trying to figure out where we'd stay and where we'd eat. What we would do with each little free food credit.

I have to keep reminding myself, this is a year away from now!!! Think of the trips coming up!!!!!


Anyway though....I love vacations and I love planning!!!! I think I live for vacations. And the planning makes the inbetween times more tolerable.

 

[Mischa]

Dh & I got back from our trip in May '06 and in August I booked our trip for May '07 (I only booked where - SSR, haven't done much of anything else yet for that trip, other than I know we are driving).

Then about a week or two later dh & I decided we needed to go to Disney again (but sooner than our scheduled May '07 trip). So I booked at SSR for December '06 and have been in the midst of planning for that trip!

For our May '06 trip I booked & planned everything about a month prior to the trip. I've learned...I like booking where we will be staying early and taking my time planning. Planning helps the days fly by, where as if I have everything planned - the days seem to just drag by.

Enjoy!

 

[Lucky82061]

hmm planning... I am always planning... never stops.. it's all I do.. I don't sleep, I don't eat, I don't drink.. just planning.... 2007 planned out.. now to move on to 2008..2009..2010.. really I try to plan atleast 2 years out but I never stop until I'm actually there... I plan routes through the park (which I never end up following) I plan timelines for the days I am there (which I never follow) I plan Fastpass use (which I never follow) and I plan dinner reservations (which I always follow... food is very important )

 

[Step]

I'm planning a 2nd trip for Fall 2007 (during possible free dining, if there is no free dining we'll just shorten the length of time we stay).

I've figured out we'll need about $4000 for 3 of us in a value room.

I just graduated and one of my motivating factors to finding a job is to afford a second trip! I was starting to plan it days after we returned from our disney-moon, lol.

Heck, I still have yet to write my trip report and I'm planning this 2nd trip.

 

[01Sweetpea]

I booked our upcoming Thanksgiving trip in March...then got out the 3" binder and started planning away.

Planning is half the fun!

 

[Sunny Soph]

Were already sorting out the car and the resturants for free dining

 

[mystic_path]

Well I went the first week of October of this year, and started planning in Feb. But now that im back, I am planning my next trip for the first week of June 07.

You cant start planning too early. Its good to have an idea of where you want to stay, and its good to keep yourself updated on events and referbs in the park during the time you want to go. Planning is half the fun. You cant go wrong with it.

 

[Snork]

The day after we returned from Disney my wife told me we are staying at Animal Kingdom next trip. So I guess we start planning as soon as we get home.

The next question should be when do you pay for your trip? We go through a Travel Agent, it is always good to have one as a freind. We pay for the majority of it asap, but try to save a few hundred for the last minute in case a promo (ie DDP two years ago) pops up. According to the TA, it is easier if you don't pay for it all untill the last minute. I dunno.

 

[N&B'smom]

We just got back from WDW on 10/7, while there we discussed our next trip. I just called this morning and booked for Sept '07. I would have booked it earlier but we had to wait until it was 11 months out due to us owning DVC.

We have also already discussed when our '08 trip will be.

Can't wait to go over all the restaurants and pick out all the places we'd like to eat!! I'm SUCH a planner!! Pretty soon I'll book our flight, arrange our rental car, etc.

Shelby

 

[goaliewife]

I am practically sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting for a week from Friday so that I can book my stay for Oct 2007. I can't hard stand the wait. The planning is one of the best parts of the fun for me and DH just lets me make the arrangements. Tell me when to be ready and I do the rest. Love it.

You are not a dork, and if you are, then there are thousands of us here who also are, so you are in good company.