How far in advance

[UGAFan0829]

I was just wondering how far in advance some of you schedule your vacations? Not just cruises, but any other trips that you might take throughout the year.

 

[ericamanda01]

Any of our Disney vacation we plan about 2 years out, but that's so we can get a better deal on the cruise. As far as our smaller outings we generally plan a couple of months out. I am a bit of a planning nut so that might have something to do with it.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

We actually plan a 8-12 mos. in advance, to obtain the lowest airfare and deals. (Especially Disney vacations! )

 

[TheWog]

I have been doing about 8-9 months in advance for cruise vacations. Next one will probably be in the fall when 2007 dates come out so that will be about 15 months or so. We just did a weekend on Martha's Vineyard that was 4 days in advance, are going to the beach in Maine this week so that is less than a week in advance and we are planning a Florida trip in November, so it really varies.

 

[UGAFan0829]

I know I really wish those 2007 dates would hurry up and come out. I really want to see what the prices are going to be for Jan!

 

[jlowejd5]

We've gotta go a year or so in advance, but for different reasons. DW is OB/Gyn Kenobi, and her call schedule is done months and months in advance. It's great, because we have something to look forward to, but it also stinks, since it's taking forever to get here.

My board at work has two numbers on it that I update daily:

257 (days until the plane leaves for WDW)

375 (days until she's done with her residency)

It's just so hard to watch those numbers move so slowly. I'm taking some mental health days at the beginning of July, so I'll get to drop them by more than one at a time. Whoot!

 

[lovethatdisney]

For our next cruise, we booked almost 24 months in advance to get the best price and to have two years to pay for the whole cruise.

We usually take one family vacation a year that takes advance planning. I would say anywhere from 6 months to 12 months depending on where we plan to go. For instance, we went to the Grand Canyon and rode the mules to the bottom and spent the night. You have to plan something like that way in advance because the reservations fill up so fast. The other reason we plan out so far is because we use frequent flyer points in many cases - to get the flights you want you also have to be way ahead of the game.

You can, however, get some great last minute deals, but you have to be very flexible with where you go based one what's available at the best price.

 

[KyCruisinSusan]

Our first cruise we scheduled 7 months out, our second cruise we planned 15-16 months out and our upcoming Dec cruise we also booked 15-16 months out.

The earlier you book with DCL the cheaper it is.

This year will be our last Disney cruise for a while because it is just getting toooooooo expensive, and the thing with needing a passport after 1/1/06 is a pain in the butt.

We are planning a week at WDW during DD's fall break in 2006 that we are going to book next month and that is also 15 months in advance. LOL I guess we like booking 15 months early since that's what the recent trips have all been.

 

[Jules123]

When can we expect the 2007 rates? How far out does Disney post them?

 

[bbowers]

Have been working on our Alaskan cruise (Sept 2006) for about 6-9 months now. I know we will be going to Las Vegas in the spring of 2007 and WDW in the fall (Oct so we can do HHN at US/IOA). I also have a pretty detailed outline of our proposed trip to Hawaii in 2008.

But I have NOTHING planned yet past that, for heavens sake. I'm not OBSESSIVE or anything!

 

[Laurajean1014]

As we are on the plane, DH and I are contemplating our next trip.

 

[ciska]

We plan every trip to America 2 years ahead and I will book the flights and hotels a year in advance. The disney cruise i booked 16 monhts in advance. Normally we travel in europe and we plan that a year in advance and I book that 10 months in advance. We don't need to go by plane and the hotels are much easier to book. Next year we will be going to spain with our new dog a dachhound I think you call them in America.

Love Ciska

 

[TheWog]

When can we expect the 2007 rates? How far out does Disney post them?

2006 rates came out in September of last year, so probably around the same time.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

I booked are October cruise on the Magic in March of 2004. Seemed like a long time,but it is fast approaching! Got my SPR room and a great rate!

Now I am working on our May 2006 trip to WDW,but have to watch for disount codes as it gets closer.

Also booked RCL cruise on Majesty of the Seas for week of July 4th next year 2006. I did that last month!
Can't afford DCL in the Summer!

I love all the planning...That is half the fun for me. If I don't have something to plan then I get anxious! I need help!