Impromptu Trip- What's the Fastest You've Planned?

[DisneyMandC]

Just out of curiosity, what's the fastest my fellow DISers have ever planned a Disney trip? And I mean an actual trip, not a "we went to Disney for the day!" type (though I am very jealous of those of you who have that opportunity!). I got an email this morning about some really low fares for Southwest from our airport (we can get a direct flight to Orlando) and I thought about how nice it would be to just book a cheap flight and a couple days at Disney and hop down there for a three or four day weekend. Not sure that it will happen for us any time soon, but I figured it might be nice to keep my eyes on my email and see when I could cash in some Southwest points to fly down there!

So what's the fastest you've gone from zero to "we're going to Disney!"? How did you manage to do on FP+ and ADRs in terms of getting what you want? And yes, I know how many of you feel that it's impossible to do an impromptu trip anymore because of FP and ADRs! We don't need to see Anna and Elsa or eat at CRT, just a nice weekend getaway with maybe a Space Mountain and Tower of Terror ride thrown in

 

[IvyWinter]

Less than a month, but it was back in 2013, so no FP+ yet (or even magic bands, people were just using them in beta). We did a 3 day trip from NYC, so skipped Animal Kingdom but did get to book MNSSHP, and did mostly quick service save for us knowing a few CMs who work there, so they scored an 'Ohana dinner for us the first night. We got a very full 3 days together in like, 20 some-odd days, and it was very satisfying!

 

[MischaOz]

I did it last Feb, booked about 20 days out. It was a short trip, we just did two park days (both MK) and one non-park day (Daytona 500). It worked great. Got 7DMT for both days (in fact, got all the FPs I wanted). We don't do ADRs anyway so that didn't apply.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Less than a month, but it was back in 2013, so no FP+ yet (or even magic bands, people were just using them in beta). We did a 3 day trip from NYC, so skipped Animal Kingdom but did get to book MNSSHP, and did mostly quick service save for us knowing a few CMs who work there, so they scored an 'Ohana dinner for us the first night. We got a very full 3 days together in like, 20 some-odd days, and it was very satisfying!

Nice! That's what I would like to do. Just a couple days, full park days. We're not big Epcot fans, so I think we could do a half day Epcot and half day HS and then still go to AK, since DH loves that!

I did it last Feb, booked about 20 days out. It was a short trip, we just did two park days (both MK) and one non-park day (Daytona 500). It worked great. Got 7DMT for both days (in fact, got all the FPs I wanted). We don't do ADRs anyway so that didn't apply.

Did you just do quick service for all of your meals, or were you able to get in anywhere without an ADR? I've heard February is a really good time to go in terms of crowd levels, so I didn't know if maybe that helped for meals. We took our last (planned) trip in April, but we would often show up early for our ADRs (as much as 30 minutes early) and still get seated immediately, which made me wonder if we could've gotten in without an ADR.

 

[Tuffcookie]

Sept. 11th we booked our air fare and got resort reservation for 3 nights in Dec.! I ordered MBs Sat., got Candlelight Processional dinner pkg. and MVMCP tickets! So excited to be able to see the Osborne Lights one last time before they are gone for good.

TC

 

[DisneyMandC]

Sept. 11th we booked our air fare and got resort reservation for 3 nights in Dec.! I ordered MBs Sat., got Candlelight Processional dinner pkg. and MVMCP tickets! So excited to be able to see the Osborne Lights one last time before they are gone for good.

TC

I sooo wish we could take a trip to see the Osborne Lights! We've never seen them, but we're closing on a house at the end of the month so definitely won't have the cash to make a trip before Christmas!

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

A few years ago, I came down from NYC for a week on only about 2 weeks notice. I got my usual 1 ADR each day, FP+ wasn't in existence yet.

I very regularly take spur of the moment day trips to the parks and get my FP+ and a lunch ADR the night before, though. (Yes, I know that wasn't your question, but the information is still relevant w/r/t availability.)

 

[MischaOz]

I actually pack our lunches and carry into the parks and we eat dinner offsite (we take an afternoon break). I have a feelin that's not the norm, but it works for us!
In terms of crowds, I actually found Feb to be more crowded than early Dec (when we usually go), but it still wasn't too bad.

 

[Texas Mickey]

In 2013 we were booked on a cruise for my wife's birthday in February, just the two of us. 3 days from boarding the ship caught fire in the gulf and floated around for days. You probably saw it on the news. Anyways, I got on the Disney site and booked ASsports for a week, got a great rate on airfare and we left home 4 days later. We had a blast. The weather was great, we even swam at night. We had no ADRs or anything we needed to rush to get too. It was a very relaxing and enjoyable trip!

 

[DisneyMandC]

I actually pack our lunches and carry into the parks and we eat dinner offsite (we take an afternoon break). I have a feelin that's not the norm, but it works for us!
In terms of crowds, I actually found Feb to be more crowded than early Dec (when we usually go), but it still wasn't too bad.

Interesting on the timing. We would definitely like to take a holiday trip eventually, but want to do it during that early December time when it's not as packed. No kids, so we don't have to worry about missing school or anything like that. Of course, I'm not sure there are any deals that run during that holiday time period are there?

 

[Oneanne]

I'm doing it now... booked a couple weeks ago and am headed down mid-October, so about 6 weeks where it's normally about 6 months. It's a totally unnessesary trip as I was already booked to go early December, but I had a bad cold and was feeling delirious and sorry for myself because I was having no fun during a week I was off work, so I was determined to have a lot of FUN the next opportunity I could be away.

Aside from FP+ the only thing I have booked is MNSSHP: I'm not doing any ADR's this trip, just QS and eating my way around World Showcase for F&W. I will probably add the new World Showcase tour before I go, but right now I'm most focussed on what to wear for MNSSHP.

 

[DisneyMandC]

In 2013 we were booked on a cruise for my wife's birthday in February, just the two of us. 3 days from boarding the ship caught fire in the gulf and floated around for days. You probably saw it on the news. Anyways, I got on the Disney site and booked ASsports for a week, got a great rate on airfare and we left home 4 days later. We had a blast. The weather was great, we even swam at night. We had no ADRs or anything we needed to rush to get too. It was a very relaxing and enjoyable trip!

Yikes!! I don't remember that, but I don't do cruises. Did Disney give you anything towards your trip/reimburse you for the change?

 

[DisneyMandC]

I'm doing it now... booked a couple weeks ago and am headed down mid-October, so about 6 weeks where it's normally about 6 months. It's a totally unnessesary trip as I was already booked to go early December, but I had a bad cold and was feeling delirious and sorry for myself because I was having no fun during a week I was off work, so I was determined to have a lot of FUN the next opportunity I could be away.

Aside from FP+ the only thing I have booked is MNSSHP: I'm not doing any ADR's this trip, just QS and eating my way around World Showcase for F&W. I will probably add the new World Showcase tour before I go, but right now I'm most focussed on what to wear for MNSSHP.

So jealous! My email from Southwest earlier had some great rates for mid-November, so of course I went on the Disney website to check out prices for then. I really wish we could do it, because it would be fantastic deal. But considering we're about to throw down a good portion of our bank account at closing for this house, I know it's not a smart move! I'm hoping maybe I can talk DH into a quick trip in spring if some good airfare prices come up.

 

[Jfsag123]

I planned a week long trip with two months notice in 2013. No FP+ yet, so that part was easy, but I was also able to get most of the ADR's we wanted by obsessively stalking the website.

 

[Lori74]

6 months for us. we were able to get a few nice adrs and some nice fastpasses. in 54 days we will be surprising our kids with 5 days at disney!

 

[Texas Mickey]

Yikes!! I don't remember that, but I don't do cruises. Did Disney give you anything towards your trip/reimburse you for the change?

It was Carnival we were booked with and they did refund the money. But, since the cruise was cancelled we said what the heck lets go to WDW for your birthday. It was a fun impromptu trip, crowds weren't bad and we rode everything we wanted too!

 

[fujamaga]

I planned a 7 day trip to Disney in a month while on maternity leave in 2013. By the time we went, my baby was 2 months. This was before magic bands and FP+. I was still able to get the majority of the ADRs I wanted (BOG (which was a walk-in at that time), Ohana, Tusker, Boma, Le Cellier, Hollywood and Vine, etc.), but wasn't able to get CRT. I still think it's doable, but you'd probably need to get disney scout/buddy for your reservations.

 

[kellymonster23]

Just booked a short trip the first weekend of December on Monday Sept 13. We want to see the Osborne Lights one last time. Got rooms first, then great flight prices for direct flights on southwest. Have MBs customized and ready to ship and tickets shipped from UT. Will link them as soon as I received them and patiently wait for our 60 day mark to do FP+. Parents booked Fantasmic dinner package but most other meals will be counter service as this is not a trip we had planned or saved for.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I guess technically I planned our honeymoon in only 5 months. It wasn't "impromptu" but I wasn't sure that I was going to be able to get time off for a honeymoon (short-term job, and the new boss hadn't started yet). So I booked in mid-November for our mid-April honeymoon. Still got BOG dinner, CRT breakfast, and plenty of signature restaurants! This was back before I knew about the DIS and really didn't know much about booking ADRs 180 days out, etc. I booked our FP+ the day they opened up, but didn't stay up until midnight to do it. Like I said though, I wasn't trying to get Anna and Elsa or anything like that. Still got two trips on 7DMT though!

 

[loves to dive]

April 2014, I wanted to go somewhere for my birthday and was looking about 2 weeks out, WDW was cheaper than any of my other go to places (Jekyll Island, Amelia Island, Savannah) Booked a split stay - 2 nights POP, 2 night BWV for F&G. Bought an AP since I knew I was going back in Aug/Sept/Oct for F&W and probably going back one more time that year with DS and DIL. Since I was going solo getting FP+ and ADRs was no problem, got all the major FPs - SM, BTM, PoC at MK, TSMM, ToT at HS, Safari and EE at AK and Soarin at Epcot, all in the morning so I had afternoons free for F&G. Got an ADR for afternoon tea at GF (that one was luck, I was just wandering around GF the first day and went to concierge and they found something while I was there) ADR for HBD for early dinner one night and those were the only ADRs I wanted or needed. Did QS and snacked at F&G booths the rest of the meals. Generally I don't book until around 60 days out since I never know if DS can join me or not and DH wouldn't step foot at DW if you paid him a million dollars.