How far in advance to you make reservations?

[tweetie]

I was wondering the average time it takes for everyone to save up for a Disney vacation? I wanted to go this December but may have to wait until 2008.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I start saving the minute we start heading back home from a Disney vacation. Whatever left over money we have from the trip automatically goes in our "vacation" jar. We go every year so I know I've got to start saving.

I booked our June, 2007 trip on August 15, 2006. Our 10 day stay at the CBR/2 adult/1 child/7 day park hopper passes/dining plan was just over $3,300.00. I am a seller on e-bay and was able to pay over $1,900.00 on my vacation from e-bay sells. The other money, I used from our tax refund. Our "vacation" jar now has $1,100.00 in it and our son's vacation jar has almost $300.00 in it.

So......it takes me almost a year to pay for the vacation and acccumulate enough money in our "vacation" jars for extra food, souveniers and gas.

I guess if we were to stay in a deluxe, I would have to skip a year in between. So we'll keep staying at the moderates so we can keep going back year after year.

Hope this helps, Lisa

 

[rentayenta]

I don't save, I plan it and then buckle down and find the $$$. Really.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

1-3 months at most -- sometimes only a week or two -- and we've never had trouble getting the resort and view we have wanted.

 

[CanadianGuy]

1-3 months at most -- sometimes only a week or two -- and we've never had trouble getting the resort and view we have wanted.

I concur -- altho unlike Squeaky - I haven't travelled during December. Or 'holiday long weekends'.

I usually make my reservations between 4 and 12 weeks before the actual stay.

For ADR's, I call either day before or day of to see what's available at the places we want to eat. But we're usually very flexible..

So far - so good.

Knox

 

[rcraw45425]

I don't actually save, just bite my lip and pay. We don't take long trips though, and we drive so no need for airfare. This one tomorrow is four nights at CR with three day hoppers for four and it's right at $2K, without food. The package is paid for so all we have to worry about is food and fuel, so that makes me feel good. I just set aside some each month for the food part, and the room will come out of checking.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My family and I like to book our WDW vacations months in advance. For our vacation this August at the Contemporary, that was booked on December 25, 2006. For our vacation this December at the Polynesian it was booked on February 6, 2007.

 

[Brise Nannie]

We try to book at least a year in advance. We have a jar that we throw our 'change' in as the year progresses. We just made a trip to WDW in December but had so much fun DH is thinking we need to visit again at the end of this year. Who am I to argue the point?

 

[Ratpack]

As for booking the vacation, it really depends on when you are going. If during the off times, then just a few weeks out will probably work fine. However, if durig the busy times such as Holidays, you may need to book a few months out at the very least to ensure you have the choices you want. For me, I book my next one just as soon as I return from the other one. Since I only book room only (AP holder) I only have to have the deposit then and have up until 5-6 days before arrival to get my deposit back if I decide to cancel.

As for saving, we save all our change, any "extra income" such as bonuses, Ebay, odd jobs and so forth goes into a vacation savings account and that usually is more than enough to cover our trips each year.

 

[simonkodousek]

We don't go on many vacations and going to Disney World is our big vacation so we always stay at deluxes, get Park Hoppers, etc. simply because we save our money by not going many other places.

I make room reservations about two-three months in advance. Last time I didn't make any ADR's, but this time I did... about a week before we made room and flight reservations.

~Simon

 

[minnie61650]

We are fotunate that we do not need to save for a Disney vacation but we usually book about 5 months in advance.

I remember in the 80's there were so few rooms on property that we had to plan at least 8 months in advance and we visited in Oct. or May which used to be concidered slow times to visit Disney.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I book as soon as I can convince my Hubby to "let's go" I'm the fan and he just "humors my Disney addiction, THANKFULLY!!" Fortunately I THINK I have addicted my son, though I am hearing some rumbles about our upcoming Castle dinner and he wants another Hoop Dee Doo??!?? We have seen it so many times and I have NEVER eaten at the castle in over 20 trips to the world (since a child)! I SO don't want to cancel it!

We booked 8/07 in Dec 06 on the bounceback promo and then booked 9/07 when promo came out, mostly because of the free dining...but we MAY cancel this (and of course I'll let the Dis'ers know in advance ...perhaps they can scoop the reservations at POR)

Booked Dec 07 in March 07. Still pondering this one as a gift to my son...My husband did it as a family weekend surprise last year for my b/day and my son and I share the same birthday month...BUT if the flights are crazy, that one will be cancelled..

We are fortunate that we don't have to "save" but I certainly try and take advantage of EVERYTHING that is offered in the way of promo's. Blessed indeed!!

Have a lovely day everyone!