how impossible is a last minute trip?

[rideswithchrist]

I am planning for a Disney trip in Feb 2015...the only hiccup is that we are also planning on paying for a booking the trip in Feb when we get our Income tax refund.

Is it impossible to think that we can book a trip for Feb 22-Feb 28 around Feb 12th?

I know that is one of the lowest crowd times so I assume there are rooms available.

Any tips?

For the next trip, we will pay the $200 to book it and then pay on it each month until we have a trip funded

 

[DisneyGeauxer]

I am a planner. In fact, I think that planning the trip is almost as much fun as the trip itself. That being said, one year I called my boys from work and said, "What do you guys think about going to Disney?" That was on Wednesday and we were checking in to POR on Sunday. We left with only a tentative itinerary and had a blast! A word to the wise, however, I would NOT attempt this on your first trip to Disney. I will also say that our spontaneous trip was before the introduction of Magic Bands and FP+. So, to answer your question, it's not impossible, you just have to be flexible and don't count on getting ADRs to your favorite TS. A last minute trip will probably mean that all of the most coveted FPs will be gone as well. Good luck!

 

[ldadar]

I talked to a family last night that went on 3 days notice. DH says that's what we'll do next time so I don't have months to obsess. I'm not sure what he means....

 

[zianha]

Go for it! I have a friend who does last minute trips mainly because of work conflicts and it's always worked out fine! Like a previous poster mentioned, you might not get TS or FP+ times that you normally would through early planning, but sometimes during slower times you can manage a TS reservation or walk up and if it's slow enough you may not need FP+. But same day FP+ times are possible, just depends. Have a great time!

 

[rideswithchrist]

this is our first family trip with kids, but DH has been about 10 times and I once and that was 11 years ago!

BUT- we went around this same time and the longest line we stayed in was like 20 minutes for Rock N Roller Coaster, we only used 1 FP and it was because we went to eat.

I think the parks are busier now though.

I think we will have blast either way!

 

[Pooh2]

We've book a trip in Feb a week out (about 10 years ago); last year we booked less than 2 weeks ahead for Thanksgiving; our next trip was booked exactly 30 days out.
Start reading the boards now about which restaurants you may want to reserve and brush up on fastpass so when you are able to book you will be in the know.
The only restaurant that we were hoping to try and were not able to book at 30 days is Be Our Guest Res for dinner.
Intially, we could not get fastpass for Wishes or Illuminations but those both opened up for us this week.
Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Aligal]

It was easy for me booked yesterday for next Monday.

 

[Kellykins1218]

The 3rd week of June, my husband suggested we go to Disney World. This was on a Thursday night. We left on Saturday morning, arrived in Orlando on Sunday, and cashed in our Reward Points for park tickets at Downtown Disney around 10:00 Sunday night. I made FP+ reservations from my phone as we drove back to the hotel. I was able to get fastpasses for everything but 7DMT (it had just opened) and A&E which we didn't need. We had no dining reservations but were able to walk-up to CP for a late lunch. We rode 7DMT stand-by with less than a 30 minute wait. We did everything we wanted to do, the same as if we had planned for months. I would love to do another last-minute trip. Totally doable and FUN!

 

[rideswithchrist]

awesome advice everyone!

 

[Wreilly228]

It is only a challenge when airfare is part of the equation with last minute flights.

 

[billnye97]

We decided earlier this month to go for our daughters 2nd birthday (March 6) and we ended up booking for the last week in February. I think the biggest disappointment was not being able to get ADRs. Other than that though it seems to go well.

 

[amie2554]

Are you planning on going to DLR or WDW?

 

[jamnmom]

Your ticker says it's only 2 days until you head out!! Have FUN!!!!