How soon is to soon to start planning?

[amscherm]

I know prices haven't been released and heck... people are still planning for this year... but we have decided to spend Christmas at Disney in 2016. There has been so much that has changed since our last visit.. .so I have lots of research to do.. but how soon can I honestly start booking things for next year?

 

[tink9702]

never too early to start planning. too early to book though. I'm already planning for October 2016. taking a look at hotels to decide where to stay and restaurants for ADRs. Even running through touring plans just because I think it's fun! Booking for ADRS is 180 days so would be June 2016 for you. I would think you could book hotel by this fall though if you really wanted to.

 

[amscherm]

Really... can book the hotel more then a year out? That is great!! Even if just to put a deposit down... spread those payments out.... LOL! Thanks!

 

[PSUGuy]

We almost always stay at Board Walk on points rented from a DVC member, Food & Wine is our time to go. In order to get a standard view studio we have to rent 11 months in advance so essentially we book the next trip a few days after returning from the current one. Once that is secured I start scouting air fare. Yearly trips since 1999 have given me a good idea as to what constitutes a good fate and I nail that down ASAP. I already have a car rented for this Oct but i do keep looking for better rates. My ADR window opens the end of this month for Oct and we know what we're booking. I'll buy 8 day hoppers from UT in the Summer, book our FP+ rides and then upgrade to an AP when we get there since in 2016 we'll go a week earlier to take advantage of that. In short, start planning as early as possible.

Bill From PA

 

[amylevan]

You can actually book resorts 499 days in advance by calling, but it will be room only until package prices are released.

 

[amscherm]

How far out are packages released?

 

[lustergirl]

How far out are packages released?

This year's packages were announced last August 2014.

 

[ghtx]

Never too soon. Our upcoming trip is in 60 days and I am already looking up dates for the next one.

 

[AlohaAnnie]

We have our vacations planned of the next 5 years, where we want to stay and I constantly take notes of what we want to do and what was our favorites from past vacations. It is never to early to start planning.

 

[Fantabulously Cherry]

I start planning at least a year in advance. I base my research on what is going on around the same time we plan to go during the current year and go from there. For example, I knew last mid-September was when they started the MNSSHP. I made a plan for around that time this year so when could attend the party. Then, basing around crowd calendars, I make a preliminary plan and tweek it during the year. I adjust my planning spreadsheet as I go. I also base what restaurants to book compared to which park we will be concentrating on that day. Less travel time to get there 15 minutes early for the reservation. I love being a Disney Planning Nerd!

 

[5kidsmommy]

I want to start thinking about fall 2016 but my husband thinks I am insane. My next trip is in December and I have almost everything already planned, even have an alert set of my phone for when I can book ADRs and fp+. My kids are all getting older now so I want to try to go every year until they move out and then my husband and I will just move down to Florida. I am maybe a little obsessed.

 

[Fantabulously Cherry]

Nothing wrong with that!

 

[amscherm]

definitely nothing wrong with that... - Thanks everyone... things have changed so much since our last trip - I have a lot of catching up to do... and planning to start!!

 

[srauseo]

Our next trip is August 2017 and I'm already planning and have put reminders in my calendar for when to call for rooms, etc. My husband also thinks I'm nuts.

 

[jomass]

If Disney has their way, you’ll start planning just as soon as you start planning to have kids. You can start your 529 college trust fund along with your first Disney vacation at the same time!

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

I have Excel spreadsheets for 2017 and 2018 already, though that's mainly for budget purposes. Obviously prices will have gone up by then, but at least it's giving me some rough ideas. 2017 is a mother-daughter trip, so there's also a section for daughter's "can we" list.

Funnily enough, I have a work-related trip scheduled for 2016 and that one I'm just kind of winging right now!

 

[Chrelaine]

It's never too early to start planning. I like to start planning early so that we have more time to save. We started planning our upcoming May vacation in March last year.

 

[Networth]

We have a tripped plan in August but we're already throwing around ideas for a mega trip in December of 2017 that wil be one last one before we are tied down a bit by having children. As others have said never to early to plan and get ideas.