How "last minute" can you book a trip?

[Raya]

Title kind of says it all. We'll be going through some changes this year so it's hard to know for sure when we'll be able to travel. What's the closest to leaving that we could book an ABD trip? I'm assuming 90 days, maybe 60? we'd have to pick from what was available, of course, but if we have our passports and most of the vaccines we need, what's the latest Disney will let us book?

 

[sayhello]

I think, first off, it depends on the type of trips. River cruises must be PIF and confirmed by ABD much earlier than land tours because they have to meet the requirements of the AmaWaterways river cruise line. So I believe last minute for those would be further out than the land tours. That said, I would think land tours might be 30 days, but that's seriously, seriously only a guess. That might even change by itinerary, depending on the requirements of the individual countries (especially places like China, which require Visas). But I really believe your best bet is to call ABD and ask if there's a blanket "book by" date, or if it varies trip by trip.

Sayhello

 

[Lewisc]

Pre and post hotel may be unavailable. Last minute air is unpredictable.

I've been on (not ABD) tours where a few guests booked within a month.

You need to call, or have your TA call. Consider other tours such as Tauk and Luxury Gold.

You might get lucky and pick up a cancellation. Tour might be able to obtain a room

Tours which require VISAs may not work.

 

[Eastridge]

I booked my Wyoming trip 2.5 months prior to departure.

Note that booking a trip that late means you are within the final payment window, which doesn't give you much time to sign and submit all the forms and also pay in full. Since ABD has dynamic pricing, that also means you are probably paying the highest rates.

I think I've seen trips on the website be listed as "Not accepting bookings" around two months before departure. which is also when ABD tends to start sending out handbooks and boxes

But this may all depend on the trip, and even the specific trip (e.g. are rooms available that can accommodate the size of your party?).

For a real answer, call a Vacationista and ask him/her what trips, dates and party size you have in mind

 

[jimmymc]

It depends on the trip. Right now, I can book an Egypt tour for the first week of March, but a South Africa tour in early April is no longer taking bookings.

 

[JRM815]

As a family, we do not know everyone's availability until quite late. Consequently, we tend to see what is still available once we have a better handle on people's schedules. One year we didn't know until April for the a trip in the summer months (had to be in the summer because of school and job commitments), so we ended up signing up on two waitlists (and began making plans assuming we would not get onto either.) As the paid-in-full date arrived for one of the trips, there was an opening on one, but we had to pay in full immediately and we had to rush to get signed documents back to ABD so as to hold our spot. At that point we took ourselves off the other waitlist. I think the timing for us getting on a trip was about 90 days before departure. We haven't tried to get on any trip with less than the 90.