How early to start planning for a May trip?

[kid@heart-karen]

How early to start planning for a May 2005 trip? When should I book the hotel? PS's for Boma, and Fantasmic?? Any tips would be greatly appreciated. TIA

 

[MOMO2DK]

Maybe I'm nuts, but I've already got my April 2005 trip planned,
have already bought the plane tickets, and have started counting down!!!

I planned early because my DD is starting kindergarten and I now feel obligated to schedule a vacation relative to school vacations. Knowing that these times are busy travel times, motivated me to plan early.

I'm not sure about getting PS's as to wether it's 120 days out, or 90 days out. I'm sure others posting will know for sure.

But NO it's NEVER too early to plan a vaction to WDW!

Good luck!

 

[kid@heart-karen]

LOL!! Ok i just thought that i was nuts for starting to plan this early. I don't want to pay out yet until i know for absolute sure that i am going. Thanks for the info.

 

[Mrs. Toaster]

We started planning our trip 2 years in advance, so it's never too early! You can make hotel reservations at least up to a year in advance, and can change them if discounts become available. It's good to at least have something reserved, if you want to stay on property. Most priority seatings can be made 90 days to advance.

 

[umbluegray]

As you can tell by my countdown clock we'll be at WDW early May 2005.

I'm handling the planning -- everything from resort confirmations to off-site ECV rentals.

Not only are my wife, 4DD and I going, but we're taking my parents and my wife's mother and grandmother.

Because the four of them have never been AND because we're going to be there 12 days I'm putting together a planning document that covers not only WDW but also Sea World, Cape Kennedy, Busch Gardens, etc. I even downloaded the Walt Disney font to use.

Once I finish the doc we're going to meet a couple of times per month to discuss and finalize each category of plans.

By the time May rolls around we'll know exactly how much money we should take, what sites we'll see, etc.

BTW, I'm not planning to the degree that we'll know exactly what we're going to do each day at each park.

 

[kid@heart-karen]

If you book a hotel now, do you have to pay a deposit right away??

 

[zurgswife]

I booked Easter 2005 in April 2004....so, in my book it is never too early...

 

[Amirah95]

I agree with everyone else, you should start ASAP!

 

[beaglebiz]

We already booked for June 2005, and I wrote up my plan/budget for things we want to do, and I am crosdsing off one line item at a time...One word of advice is to buy your park tickets as soon as possible, as the risk always remains of the price increasing (the tickets never expire, if something comes up and you have to reschedule your trip...)...

 

[lynetteSC]

Kid@heart~ if you book your hotel room now, you have 14 days to pay your deposit (one nights room rental) if you do a room only and purchase your tickets separate. The good thing about booking early is, you know you have the hotel of your choice! Also, if rates decrease, you will be able to benefit if you meet the criteria of whatever the discount is offered!!!!!

Trust me, May is not early! Today, I booked a HUGE group for October of 2005 for some of my clients! We also are booking into early 2006! It is never to early to book a trip to WDW!

 

[HenDuck]

We are always in a perpetual state of planning.

We always have several trip ideas in mind. We know we want to take DS to WDW when he's around 8, so we have 2008 or 2009 as a general time frame for that.

We will take him to DL as often as we can until then. We're going in December and that trip is pretty much planned, except for PSs of course. Then we plan to take DS back to DL in Sept or Oct of 2005 to celebrate his 5th b-day and DL's 50th anniversary. We are already planning to use our frequent flier miles for that trip.

Even though I know we will not be going to WDW until 2008 (or so), I still read the Disboards info on WDW. I figure I'll buy the unofficial guide to WDW for 2006 and then I can really start the nuts and bolts planning. By then, DS will be in kindergarten and we can look at the school calendar and decide whether we will be able to take him during school time or during his breaks.

I agree with everyone else here who says it's never too early to plan. Even if it's just doing the research, planning early means you'll be able to have more fun, save more money and enjoy the special little things that you might have missed otherwise.

So...Plan away (and have fun too!!)

 

[MichaelH]

It is never to early to start planning. I like the planning it helps the time pass and it is also part of the fun.

We started planning our September trip after we got back from our September trip last year.

 

[RC Fan]

Hello!

I am also planning on going (HOPEFULLY) in May 2005. I have already purchased my park tickets as the exchange rate was really good and I wanted to take advantage of it. I have also already made a reservation for the hotel I want to stay at. It is an offsite hotel, and I booked directly through the hotel web-site, so there was no down payment required.

I personally believe it is never to early to start planning, or that you can do too much planning!

 

[etwinchester]

as you can tell by my countdown clock, we won't be going till 2008 when DD is 8.

I thought that would be a good age for our next trip. I want to stay onsite at either a Moderate or Deluxe resort and hopefully, DD will remember it at that age. It will be our 2nd trip as a family and FIRST time staying ONSITE.

I've been reading these boards almost everyday making any notes I can. You can never be too prepared. I'm definalely very anal and OVER organized. It's just my nature. I love to plan, but if something goes wrong, I won't let it ruin a trip. Nothing can be totally perfect. The weather may put a damper on some days but you just make the most of it.

By planning, it makes me so excited for our trip. The bad side is, it's definately too far away. We make several trips to the Disney Store to keep us in the Disney mood. Wish I could go to WDW every year, but with DH job, that's impossible. Oh well, that's why when we do go, I plan for 2 weeks. Maybe for DD graduation (too far away to really think about), we'll go for more.....

 

[jmminarik]

Isn't planning to start planning part of planning?

So you've already started.

-Joe

 

[kid@heart-karen]

Thanks to all who replied and to anyone else replying after. I think I will start the actual planning instead of just in my head. I just have to decide where I want to stay etc. Take care

 

[disneyag]

I made my May 05 ressies in May 04.

 

[Amirah95]

LOL @ Joe!

 

[msudawgs30]

Isn't it fun? It's probably the best part of getting ready to go.
I (like MoMo) have fully planned a trip in April since my DD is turning 5 and will soon be in school

I booked the room and I've totally planned out each day, where we're eating (when to call for PS arrangements), when we'll be taking breaks and all that jazz.

Never, never, never too early to plan! You've come to the right place for info too. These boards have been like a precious gem to me. My trip wouldn't be near as fun as it will with all the wonderful advice I've gleaned from these sweet folks.

I think most restaurants can be booked 90 days out. I know the dinner shows (Hoop Dee Doo & the Polynesian Luau) can be booked 2 years in advance. You don't have to make a deposit on most PS's or the dinner shows either. You do have to make a deposit on some of the character meals though. I know you have to make a deposit when booking at CRT and PSB. The sooner you book a PS on the dinner shows the better. They seat you according to the order you made reservations (or at least that's what the reservationist said to me).

Hope this helps a little!

MSUDAWGS30

 

[JrsyDebs]

Have fun planning your May trip now!

I am also hoping to go to Disney World in May. Have found lots of useful info on DisBoards (Thanks!!).

The only reason I have not yet booked is that I want to have a look at DDs school schedule first. She will be going to a private school and their days off (teacher in-service,etc.) are not the same each year. I would like, if possible, to schedule vacation around some of her scheduled days off, so she will not have to miss a whole week of classes. Feel a bit guilty about pulling her out of school at all, but this will be her first vacation in 9 years, and I want it to be at a great time of year, weather-wise, crowds-wise, etc. She will be in the eighth grade...

Have done lots of pre-planning, though. Even spoke with a TA to find out current airfares, '05 rack-rates for on-site rooms (hope to get an AP and be able to use a discount code for room-only, moderate resort!), all this preparation so I will pretty much be able to just book it in Sept., when the time comes!