How far in advance do you book?

[loladelorean]

Hi all you lucky WDW pros!
I'm a regular over on the Disneyland Paris section of this site, and have 2 trips to DLP planned in the next year.
However, I'm thinking ahead to a future trip to WDW, hopefully in 2012.
I know this is seriously far off and it's probably tragic that I'm thinking of it already, but if I can get a rough idea of price I can work out a long term saving plan to make it easier to do.
My question is, how far in advance do you or should you book a WDW holiday? I'm thinking of one week in a Disney hotel immersing ourselves in the Disney magic, then the second week offsite to relax a little and maybe visit Universal etc. Can you pay a deposit early on with Disney then pay off the rest later, as with DLP?
If I set a target date for payment in 2011 I can get my WDW ISA started! Nothing like organisation, lol.

 

[2Tiggies]

It is quite normal for people to book 9 to 12 months out, however 18 months is pretty normal too.

The trick is to book when you see a price that you are happy with. If you are not doing DIY and going with a package it does make it somewhat easier because you can pay off as you are able to over the year or so.

Flights are the big variable, especially this year where good deals were hard to come by, but they are out there if you diligently keep a lookout and are able to maintain an element of flexibility. For this reason, it makes sense to me to book flights first if you aren't booking more than 11 months in advance, and once you have those sorted, you will still be spoilt for choice in terms of accommodation.

So to be clear, you are just one of many planning for 2012 - nothing ridiculous about it at all.

 

[loladelorean]

It is quite normal for people to book 9 to 12 months out, however 18 months is pretty normal too.

The trick is to book when you see a price that you are happy with. If you are not doing DIY and going with a package it does make it somewhat easier because you can pay off as you are able to over the year or so.

Flights are the big variable, especially this year where good deals were hard to come by, but they are out there if you diligently keep a lookout and are able to maintain an element of flexibility. For this reason, it makes sense to me to book flights first if you aren't booking more than 11 months in advance, and once you have those sorted, you will still be spoilt for choice in terms of accommodation.

So to be clear, you are just one of many planning for 2012 - nothing ridiculous about it at all.

Phew glad i'm not alone - i'm a fastidious planner so I'm very pleased to hear it's normal to plan so far in advance.
With DLP it is not possible to do so, e.g. I'm planning a trip for june 2011 but probably won't be able to book with the deal i want until the new year grr.

Thanks for the tip in terms of flights, I will certainly bear that in mind. Is it a good idea to book flights separately from accomodation then? I probably would have to anyway, as I'm hoping for two different hotels.

I'm going to work out an approx price and savings plan now i appreciate your quick response, thanks so much

 

[PJB71]

Dont worry as 2Tiggies says, most of us on here are fanatical planners

IMO Planning is one of the best parts

I suppose you need to decide on if you want to book through a TA/TO or do it DIY

If you want to book a package you can usually book alot futher in advance than if you did it DIY (as schedule flights only come out 11months in advance)

We have done it both ways over the years, but now much prefer to do it DIY as its ususaly cheaper, but thats just our preference.

If you know roughly when you would like to go you could always start saving an amount of money each month until flights are released, you never know, you might of saved more than you actually need

 

[2Tiggies]

Phew glad i'm not alone - i'm a fastidious planner so I'm very pleased to hear it's normal to plan so far in advance.

Perfectly normal. If you don't, you look a bit odd in these parts

Is it a good idea to book flights separately from accomodation then? I probably would have to anyway, as I'm hoping for two different hotels.

Constant searching and comparing is a very useful thing to do. It equips you with information and you start to recognise the good and not so good prices. At this stage, the best you can do is work on next year's prices and maybe add a small % for increases, but it does give you a rough idea to start. I am definitely doing DIY next year. I have always done packages and they do have their advantages, like it being easier to pick a travel insurance policy and also being able to book everything so far in advance, if you do see that as an advantage. However price wise, I have had some good deals, but it is usually cheaper DIY. DIY also gives you more control over your trip in certain respects.

I'm going to work out an approx price and savings plan now

Excellent starting point. I hope you stick around and keep posting on here. It's really nice to be able to bounce things off of people now and then.

 

[loladelorean]

I certainly will hang around! I'll be looking to save money wherever I can, so I'll save as much as possible and keep watching flights for good deals.
Good thing I've got my two DLP trips to keep me occupied as well although I'm excited about the sheer amount of planning involved in a WDW trip, it'll keep me amused for months especially as I don't know anything about it. Visited WDW as a child twice staying in offsite villa, so I know how much I love the parks but no idea where to start with being in charge of the holiday. With at least two years to go though, I've got plenty of time to become an expert!
My OH knows nothing about this, incidentally, he thinks im a bit of a Disney lunatic and just kind of goes with the flow when it comes to holidays!

 

[2Tiggies]

I'm excited about the sheer amount of planning involved in a WDW trip, it'll keep me amused for months

It's kept me out of mischief for years!

With at least two years to go though, I've got plenty of time to become an expert!

Stick around and you will!

My OH knows nothing about this, incidentally, he thinks im a bit of a Disney lunatic and just kind of goes with the flow when it comes to holidays!

Perfect partner for an OCD planner. They don't challenge your need to be in charge and generally don't mess with your plans.

 

[joolz1910]

I probably count as tragic as I started planning and saving for our 2012 trip in June 2009.

 

[2Tiggies]

I probably count as tragic as I started planning and saving for our 2012 trip in June 2009.

I now pronounce you Chief of the Planning Department. Wear your badge proudly.

 

[jtlover]

I planned my September holiday back in November 2009. I basically paid for the flights 11 months ahead and paid the deposit for the Disney hotel.

It also depends on what month you go as to whether it is worth doing DIY or going with say virgin holidays.

We then paid the balance 8 weeks before the holiday

We have 25 days to go and cant wait!

Have fun planning

 

[dixonsontour]

Definitely not unusual to book 12-18 months in advance.

I can see tickers on here and the dibb that alot are booked for 2011 already.

Offers are out for deals with wdw direct and complete Orlando for all dates 2011. Think they came out in May 2010.

Flights are more of a problem. Scheduled are only released 11 months prior.

Virgin, TCD etc have flydrives available further in advance.

At the moment the problem is finding flights at a decent price.

 

[joolz1910]

I now pronounce you Chief of the Planning Department. Wear your badge proudly.

I think a few people on here will avoid me once I start to book my trip. I will need my hand held.

 

[2Tiggies]

I think a few people on here will avoid me once I start to book my trip. I will need my hand held.

Don't we all .... sometimes because we need it and sometimes just because we like it! Besides, I always say (especially when someone apologises for their questions), I have learnt so much from here by other posters' questions and the posts that follow on. It keeps us all current.

 

[Sid74]

This trip will have been booked 20 months in advance, and the last one was about 24 or so. I have got basic plans in place, and park days with ADR's pencilled in, for my trip next December.

I love the planning. It is my trip to DLP that is driving me potty, as I can't book for the end of this November yet, as DLP haven't released any availability to DVC for me to use my points on! I must ring member services every other day or so!

If you want to book well in advance but don't want a package, you can book a flydrive. That is what we do, it means I can pay it off as I go along, I know my flights are booked, and I have the peace of mind of knowing that the price can't go up. Perfect for the obsessive planner in me.

I spent a solid 4 years planning our first family WDW trip, reading anything I could get my hands on, and making lots of tips files, filling notebooks with best days, the works. So a couple of years is normal

 

[joolz1910]

I spent a solid 4 years planning our first family WDW trip, reading anything I could get my hands on, and making lots of tips files, filling notebooks with best days, the works. So a couple of years is normal

Sid, I'm handing over my 'Chief of Planning' badge over to you. You deserve it.

 

[foxymum]

we booked our holiday for this november last June 2009, we've been paying it off monthly & its due by sept 6th i think the earlier you book the better, you also get more time to do as much research as possible!

 

[Sid74]

No need for that Joolz1910, but thank you all the same for the thought.

It would only have been 3 years, but we had to put the trip back a year.

 

[Linda67]

I like to book just before the 11 month mark so that I can pre-book my seats on VA

Plus I love having a trip to look forward to

 

[starrysky]

Welcome

No need to worry about planning too far inadvance it makes it all the more exciting.

 

[loladelorean]

Thanks for all the replies!
When I was starting to look into it I remembered its the 20th Anniversary of DLP in 2012 - I'm ashamed of myself that I forgot!
So that means another trip to DLP in 2012 because hopefully some exciting things will be happening then. And WDW in 2013. I'm not even too worried about that because it seems planning way ahead is normal - and we can go for my 25th birthday which seems quite good.
And if I leave it longer, we can save more and perhaps stay in a better Disney hotel.
That's the first part of my research, I know nothing about any of the WDW hotels so I'm going to read up on every single one. Can't wait!
I'm so glad I flitted over to this part of the forum, there's so much reading and learning to do.....