How soon after your trip do you start planning?

[kmoore7]

it is never too early to plan your next trip! We would go every year if life were that simple! The planning part is half the fun of a DW vacation.

 

[CarrieR]

Before I've taken the current one. Although we had at least one time this year where we squeaked in an extra "in-between" trip... darn APs shouting USE ME!

We are major frequent (budget) travelers and I am usually planning multiple trips to a variety of destinations at the same time. Disney is no exception!

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

Let's put it this way - when we bought this round of APs in January I already knew we'd be going in May (moved up to April), September and the following January.

All that really remains to be seen is if we manage to sneak in another trip in between those! Already tried for early November but that was vetoed by my parents (they watch our dogs while we're gone) since they want to go out of town (we watch theirs while they're gone too).....the nerve of some people

 

[kaligal]

One time, we were driving home and were near Deltona when I said, "You know what we should do next time?"...my sister was like, "Oh, for Christ's sake, we aren't even out of Florida yet and we have to start?!"

I shut up and waited until we crossed into Georgia.

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

One time, we were driving home and were near Deltona when I said, "You know what we should do next time?"...my sister was like, "Oh, for Christ's sake, we aren't even out of Florida yet and we have to start?!"

I shut up and waited until we crossed into Georgia.

Sounds like me with my family! I've learned when I should be quiet..But sometimes I just can't help it! LOL

 

[prfctlyximprfct]

Going with my best friend next June and I'm already planning! There's just so many restaurant and resort options.. it's hard to choose!!!

 

[nightshaderose]

I go every January (gods bless DVC). Immediately after every trip I spend time thinking about that trip (looking at costs/spending patterns, maybe writing a trip report), but that's it until May or so, when I start thinking about the next trip and whether I'm going to invite a friend or go solo. I usually have the basics sorted out by the end of June when my booking window for non-home resorts opens up. From then on it's watching the boards here and referring to previous trip notes as I work out the details of food and schedules. So while I do spend 7-8 months of any given year thinking about the next trip, it's not all year.

 

[wilma-bride]

I always like to have a trip 'in hand' We are visiting WDW next month but already have a trip booked for October 2013 and are planning a further trip in April 2014. In the UK, we tend to plan our trips well in advance as it takes so long to save up for them

Love the sound of your trip report, OP. I will keep an eye out for that - will you post a link here when you start it?

 

[PrincessCastMember]

I feel like I fall into Disney Depression the moment I step off the airplane. If I don't start planning soon after my trip for the next one, I'll be in this funk! Seriously, the last trip we took was in October 2011 and I couldn't shake this funk for like two weeks straight! The remedy...planning another Disney trip!

 

[alice99]

We're taking fewer big annual vacation trips to WDW as time goes by and the kids get older, but we're taking more weekend, special event trips so the planning tends to start whenever the event of the moment catches my eye.

This is the trend I am in right now..... my one regret is that I never took my son the the ESPN weekend , now it does't exist anymore .

We do have a family trip this August , at BCV. My next trip is December, for a long weekend with my daughter to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere.

I am always planning the next trip, usually 2 trips at a time. Over the past 2 weeks I've been online making dining reservations for both trips, August and December.

 

[kmb584]

The very next day. Seriously, life feels weird if I'm not planning a Disney trip, making reservations, making then canceling then remaking ADRs, etc.

We returned from our latest trip on May 1st and on May 2nd I having a Bonnet Creek rental contract mailed to me for October! As soon as that was done, I made all of our ADRs and then watched airfare for a couple of weeks to get the best price. I'm still playing with our ADRs but as of right now am happy with the ones we have!

 

[blessedby3]

We, like the PP's, pass the 12 hour drive time home by planning out things we want to do on our next trip, where we want to stay, eat, etc.

 

[ARAITHEL]

I've started planning my next trip with "newbies" for October 2013. I will be going this September with a completely different "newbie" group. So, to answer the question, I'm planning all the time and will generally have a trip in the works. Planning another trip starts BEFORE I go!

Last year, my MIL called me when I was laying over in Atlanta (during the trip home) after my WDW vacation. I started planning then...for her trip!

I am also planning on booking a "bounce back" offer this September for our trip next year. Crazy isn't it?

 

[Teacher03]

We returned about 2 weeks ago from a fabulous 10 day stay and are planning a trip for next June. In my mind I am planning a short trip for November, but not sure it is going to happen. The planning is almost as fun as the trip!

 

[Disney Sheri]

We just got back a month ago and we were planning during our trip! I am always thinking of Disney!

 

[BebopBaloo]

On the way back home

 

[PoohsFan1]

There is never a moment in time when I am not planning a trip. I usually start planning 1 year in advance and have atleast two trips in plan at most times.

I'm the same way. We haven't gone on our next trip and I am in the very early stages of planning out our June 2013 trip (going to DLR which is all very new to us). We always plan them out at least a year ahead, we are DVC members therefore we can book our home resort up to 11 months before. It is funny though, I love, love, LOVE planning Disney trips and if I don't have one to plan for, then I get this emptiness inside and feel depressed, I know I'm strange like that . OP, if you are planning on going to this years F&W fest, then I would say that you should most definitely start planning your trip out now....I would of started like 2 weeks ago . Have a great time.

 

[Cherinva]

Usually on the way home

 

[luvmy2babies]

Before we went on our first trip we knew we were going again, but we didn’t know when. Before we even went on our most recent trip (just got back June 30th from a 9 night stay) I started thinking about another one. I have two children and as you can tell by my signature they are currently 9 and 2. You might be able to tell where I am going with this. January 2013, my son turns 3. April 2013, my daughter turns 10. I would love to get in another trip before either of those happens. Whether I can make it happen or not, I don’t know right now. I asked dd if we could come back before the end of the year if she would want to and she said “sure”.

It’s going to depend on quite a few things including dd’s school calendar which I don’t have yet. With the plane ticket prices it isn’t looking doable right now, but if they get a longer fall break like the entire week of Thanksgiving like they did in 2010, I could drive down. We’ve done Thanksgiving week before so we know about the crowds and we would love to see Disney with the Christmas decorations again. I thought about the first week of Christmas vacation as well, but am not sure about doing something like that right before Christmas. This trip we did a lot of extras and explored parts we had not explored before since we had more days, and the more we know about the place the more fun we have.

Thinking about another trip does somewhat ease the pain of having to leave. Of course this trip was less painful because we have our first DCL cruise planned for next summer. I am thinking long and hard about moving it though as other times of the year are so much cheaper, but it’s too hard not having the dates for dd’s school breaks.

I think we always know we're going back. Our last park day we had to leave AK before seeing Festival of the Lion King. We had reservations at Chef Mickey's and I wanted to go back to our resort to freshen up and change. I asked dd if she was okay with missing it as I had brought our clothes for Chef Mickey's with us just in case. Her response: "We can always see it the next time we come to Disney World." I like the way she thinks.

We want to return to Sea World too, so perhaps we'll do a combined trip next time or do Sea World after our cruise.

So many decisions.