How far in advance do you start planning WDW trip?

[doodlebugs-mom]

We go every year and start planning the day we get home. so I would say 12 mo in advance.

 

[Spacey]

I can beat that our tentitive next trip is not until June 2007.

I am gonna let DH in on that, he thinks I am crazy for starting to plan. I keep telling him honey it is a lot of money and I want to spend it right.

 

[leewrobe]

We started doing Disney in 1980 and we do WDW every 5 years. Our current trip this April was stated at 1029 days to go. We are down to last 17 days..Yahoo

 

[we3disneygo]

Our next trip is Sept. 2006, this will also be our 20th wedding anniversary!

 

[Grants Mom]

So I am not Crazy because I am already looking into things for a trip in Spring 2007? My husband thinks I am over doing it and need to chill out. I think I just need to know how much it will money I need to start saving. It is not like I have even booked the rooms yet!

 

[TigerCheer2009]

I started planning over Christmas 2004!! Then again, I'm an obsessive compulsive planner who has to have every detail exact! Best of luck!

 

[d4est]

We have been going in Feb for the last three years. I start planning the minute we get home from Orlando. The first thing I do is turn on the computer and hit the disboards. My husband thinks I am nuts.

Hello, my name is Laurie and I am an adict. It has been one month since my last trip...

 

[WhatsaPooh]

I start planning the next on the ride home from the current one. I book the room or package about a year out though.

 

[Sandi12404]

We're going in Oct. 2006. I know the dates, I know where we're staying, I pretty much have every day of the trip planned (of course I have to keep updating in my head because I keep finding out more interesting things on these boards) but now I'm just waiting for the rates to be posted so I can start reserving everything. I keep checking disney online every week or so. I know I'm insane but I'm just so excited to go I want it to be Oct 17 2006 tomorrow.

 

[LibertyBelle58]

I've gone in 1976 (class trip, don't count that one) and 2002. For the 2002 trip, I started saving and planning about 18 months out, maybe a little more. Wanted to take DD for her birthday. I have relatives and friends who can go wherever they want, whenever they want. I am broke usually, so I had to plan ahead and save. That said, as it got closer the planning was more fun.

I started by reading up on Disney and lurking on the boards since this was basically our first trip, you can't compare 1976 with 2002, different world. We started thinking about what attractions we wanted to see.

I added up everything we needed (room, air, spending money, towncar, even new shoes) and then figured how long it would take me to save for the trip.

The first thing I did was reserve the hotel. I tried to reserve Pop century but since the opening was delayed (I think that was it) they offered me geat deals on moderates or AKL. So we went with AKL.

Then I made a list of everything we needed to do and checked off each thing as it was done. (Buy plane tickets, reserve towncar, buy park tickets, schedule dog boarding, first day we could make PS arrangements, etc.)

I don't know if the disney store still has disney dollars, but I'd buy a few of those when ever I got the chance.

About 4 months before we came up with a list of what we really wanted to see and how we would approach touring. We were thinking about this probably the entire time anyway. But I wrote down what day we'd go to certain parks.

As the date approached (2-3 months ahead) I started renting all the old disney movies to get back in the mood after such a long planning and saving timeframe.

1 Month before - I made a packing list so I had time to get anything we still needed.

With each milestone we reached (room, tickets, plane tickets) we'd get more excited about the trip.

 

[JDarling]

I start planning as soon as I know I'm going again! Usually it's just shy of a year out.

 

[LibertyBelle58]

Our next "trip in planning" will hopefully be Thanksgiving 2006. I was starting to cry thinking it was just soooooooooo far off, but reading about other 2006 planners helped a lot! Right now I am in the "how much money can I save" stage. VERY soon, I will book our hotel, since it is a holiday week.
Happy Planning!!!

 

[pediatric-rnp]

We start talking about our next trip on the plane ride home...it makes us all feel a little less sad about having to leave. DH always makes the comment he doesn't know if we can afford to return again in 2 yrs, but our two teen DSs just smile at me, knowing I'll find a way to return in 2 yrs, no matter what! I always figure that where there is a will, there is a way! And I start the budget process all over again, right away as soon as we are home, trying to save every place I can. It truly is an addiction!

 

[etwinchester]

boy oh boy, do I have a ways to go. Our next trip isn't till March 2008, too far away for me. I would like to go every 5 years as well because I like to stay for 2 weeks at a time. 2003 was the first trip with DD and DH (their first trip). I went about every 4-5 years as a child but planning is so much fun...

Our next trip will be our very FIRST onsite stay. I'm going to Real Estate school next year so any income I make will go towards becoming debt free (besides mortgage) and paying for trip. 1/2 of my earnings will go for each. Right now we're use to living on one income so my money will feel like a bonus.

Anway, I've already picked out where to stay, unless I decide to switch to Poly. Don't know if I want to spend that kind of money for 2 weeks though. I am so addicted...it's driving DH crazy. I got the Mickey luggage back when it was onsale to have for our next trip, the mickey cooler, knapsack, and some other stuff.

Can't wait till I can book our rooms. I hope the next 2 years fly by...wish I could go sooner

 

[isla bonita]

We got back in March and decided to go again and started planning the following week for Sept/Oct. We will be going again in Feb. I am allready getting things packed never mind planned.

 

[wasabi girl]

I started planning my Dec 2005 trip in about May of 2004

 

[we3disneygo]

start planning now. my mom starts planning for the next disney trip when she gets home from wdw

 

[Danauk]

We started seriously planning our Christmas trip this February when we were able to book our room at the BCV at the 11 month window and book our flights. We had been planning the trip since last summer though. We now have an itinery planned (did that in March) and have booked our backstage tours. Now we are just waiting for the 90 day window to book the PS.

 

[Sebastianmom]

I started planning this trip (we're going in September) when my son was born Sept 2003. Never too early!