How soon do you start booking your room and air?

[mike981]

It looks like we are going to stay at HIFS. I have read up on this place and it looks like a great place for my family. My kids are 8-10 and I think they will love it. But, it is hard to know what rate to snatch up? We are going durring non-peak season, just after Thanksgiving. Any ideas on what to expect for a good price?
As for the air, it looks like I will have to just use the individual airline web sites for now. When I try Orbitz or such, they say it is to far out to do a search.

Dad must have done to good of a job planning our first trip this year, everyone wants to go back in the worst way!

 

[BrerMama]

If you're staying at HIFS, see if they have an entertainment rate available for your dates and if they do, go ahead and make reservations. You could always cancel them later if they have a great promotion but for now, the entertainment rates are the way to go. If you don't already have an entertainment coupon book, you've got several months to get one before your trip. As for air, we bought our tickets 6 months out and were glad we did. The prices have gone up about $60/ticket, $300/total for our family.

 

[Jestocost]

Even the airline direct sites may not have those dates open for booking yet. Most get their rates and schedules up about 11 months in advance. You can book right away, but that probably won't get you the best rate. If there's plenty of capacity from your city to Orlando and you won't risk missing out on getting a seat, you'd probably be better off waiting for a while and watching how rates go. There seem to be a fair number of sales that start 5-6 months out from the end travel dates. American's latest sales, for example, are good for travel through mid May.