How far in advance do you start planning WDW trip?

[Montana Minnies]

Hi All
Ok, I know this has been asked many times before, but really how far in advance would you start making arrangements for a WDW vacation going the second week of December 2006? My sister and I so far have just been talking about it, but now we are starting to get excited when we see others who are planning their 2006 vacations! WHOOPEE! We were just there last summer and of course you know what we've been hearing from relatives and friends, "What going AGAIN!
We'd like to stay Polyneasian Concierge, so would this be a place where we better start thinking room ressies now or can it at least wait until 2005 is over with? Just curious as we still are newbies to the Dis and you guys are the best!
" The Montana Minnies"

 

[scarboroughmom]

I make my resort reservations as soon as I know when and where I want to stay. They will take reservations years in advance. They won't set rates for 2006 until fairly late in 2005 though. You can always get the rates changed on an existing reservation if you find a discount you qualify for later on. And you make sure that you have the resort and the dates you want.

 

[lclark0621]

We usually start planning about a year out. But I have been known to start planning even further out. It is very rare we go more then a year without a trip to Disney, so that is why we plan a year out.

 

[antbritt]

As soon as the Last DW vacation ends or even before it begins!!

 

[Princess Glenda]

antbritt--I LOVE YOUR REPLY!!

I always talk my husband into buying more days on our park tickets so that he will HAVE to take me back to use them!

Last year we started planning at Christmas and went in May. This year we are going in May again and have been planning since we got home from our May 2004 trip.

 

[beautybelle]

Well we go every 2 years. So we start planning 2 years in advance. Gee, it takes us that long to save up for the trip. LOL

 

[AJDonn]

In May I'll only have two trips to WDW but I spent just over a year planning both of them.

 

[experiment626mom]

Wait!! What do you mean start planning?? I never stop!! My husband figures I'm up to planning our 50th wedding anniversary about now. (We just celebrated our 10th.)

 

[SnowBound]

I agree: As soon as we return from the last one. . . keeps me sane.


Well, sort of.

 

[dopeyone]

I agree: As soon as we return from the last one. . . keeps me sane.

I CONCUR!

 

[Good Ol Gal]

We start planning for our next trip as we're packing our bags on the current one!

That's what I love about DIS~ you all understand this mentality.. everyone else thinks I am just nuts! LOL!!

 

[RoseRoni2]

I STARTED PLANNING FOR MY FIRST TRIP TO WDW BACK IN SEPTEMBER FOR OUR MARCH VACATION.

 

[madge62]

Well, we returned January 13 and we're planning the next one so we won't fret about this past one! We're planning a trip to WDW and a cruise (Carnival this time) so until the dates come out for the December 2006 cruises (probably Sept this year) we may hold off booking our time at WDW, or not! We only had 3.5 days this past visit, I plan on 9 nights at least next time!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I start planning the next one on the flight home from our vacation! If it's a Disney cruise then it's usually 18month ahead...as soon as the dates are released.

 

[debbiedoo]

We have the room ressies set 11 months out, with DVC. The dates for that trip are usually 15 months out, just wait to book.

Then about 5 months prior I ask everyone in the family where they would like to eat. Start a rough draft of ps's. Schedules do not come until 60 days out, so you kindof have to wing that one!! Look as lasts years and the month prior.

I guess we are all disney nuts here!!

 

[Hockeychic]

I started planning this latest trip at about the 298 day mark. Last few trips I started planning about 140 days out.

Just a little eager to get back....lol

 

[Dana49]

Our next trip is going to be on November 26, 2006. We've already started the planning. We keep track of the DIS comments regarding the restaurants that we would like to try; we note any interesting facts that we should remember for our trip; and we save, save, and save. When the time comes we are usually ready.

 

[nataliesdaddy]

If it is not a Christmas trip I start planning about six months ahead - I made the June reservations for the Contemporary concierge last week. I will make the Universal reservations sometime in the next two weeks, and I will schedule the discovery cove portion of the trip then also. Last we went to WDW in June there was fairly good availablity at the Contemporary concierge right up to mid March and then started getting spotty after that.

 

[Dopey's Girl]

Is it time? Is it time?!
You bet it's time!
We're going on a huge family trip in December 2006. I haven't started doing a lot of official booking yet, but am having loads of fun gathering more info and putting some preliminaries together.

I agree with others. We can't afford to go as often as I like, but I enjoy these boards and the planning aspect. Makes me feel a little connected to my growing World obsession!

 

[Greg]

I know with our first trip to WDW in Sept of 2000 I started planning it a year and a half in advance. We also saved for that entire time. It was great having the whole trip paid for before we left. This time things are a little different, after our summer vacation plans fell through I decided we would go to WDW in May. Take the kids out of school and hopefully avoid some of the summer crowds. It’s been a long time away from these boards… ITS GREAT TO BE BACK!!!

P.S. Have fun planning, its almost as fun as the trip (and the trip is GREAT)

Greg