Is anyone planning (have planned) a trip REALLY far in advance?

[iKristin]

I always plan mine in advance I'm crazy about planning for trips for years ahead haha.

October 2013 I'm doing a Disney Cruise to the Mexican Riviera

April 2012 I'm doing Disneyland and October 2012 is also Disneyland

 

[starry_solo]

I pre-planned our May 2012 trip to WDW since last year. Booked DVC villas through owners in June/July 2011 (to get the 11 month booking advantage) and have paid 1/2 the trip already.

Going to upgrade our premium APs to Premier APs (at a cost of $250 per person), which is cheaper than getting base tickets since we'll be there for 14 nights.

Have planned out ADRs, now waiting until mid-November to call.

I know this is a DL thread. I don't normally plan those since we have an AP.

 

[dizneekrazee]

October 2013 I'm doing a Disney Cruise to the Mexican Riviera

I always plan in advance too. WDW is planned for Oct 2013 for us. DL is still in for August 2012.

 

[hockeybabe]

Add me to the list! It's a California coast trip, but DH said we could do 2 days at DL/DCA to "get it out of my system". He should know me well enough to know THAT's never going to happen!! But I'll take the 2 days, so June 6 & 7 2012 I'll be there! I've booked the HOJO kids suite, could move on property if any deals come out, but I doubt it so close to a Carsland opening. I'm booking my DL days around AP blackout days, just in case Carsland does open by the time I get there. Yes, I'll be sharing the parks with Grads, but my kids are teens, so it won't be so bad

 

[Butterfly123]

I love to plan in advance, too! More time to get excited, that's what I say. We are going July, and will be in the parks 17-20. Hopefully Carsland and Buena Vista will be open...if not, maybe there will be less people! I booked Park Vue Inn this week..the 3 Q suite...so this trip everyone gets a bed. We haven't stayed at Park Vue before, but it seems popular on this board. We always stay on Harbor. Eight months to go!!!

 

[kerplop]

We're planning on December 2012 to visit family and hit Disneyland. It's been a long time since I've been, but this year we're going to WDW for the first time so I think I'll get my Disney fix

 

[maggieb9975]

Add me to list!!! Just booked our DLR part of SOCAl trip. We are booked at DLH from July 16-21. Cant wait as this is mother daughter first trip to Disneyland!!

 

[wiscbugs]

We are planning on a trip in August. We (wife, son 7, and I)have been to Disneyworld the past 2 summers but thought Disneyland may be better for a summer trip with our daughter who will be 4 next year and has special needs.

 

[PlutoBaby]

We just really don't have a choice but to give ourselves a year to save. Rather than put it all on a credit card (which I'd rather do HAHA) we're going to try to save cold hard cash.

I'm seeing that there's no way to reserve a room yet anywhere..and I assume I'll have to wait to buy tickets too?

THE LIST!!

2012

January

February
poohbear2

March
wvnative
kkmcan

April
sophies*mom
RuthieT

May
Sjwillia

June
Emmersisthemommy 1-10th
meljensmom
alivingxerox
kkmcan
Hawleys

July
PinkBudgie
mabdallah
andee2000??
clancy3

August
dizneekrazee
kayleigh83
jennbunn

September
Misskitty3 27th-Oct 3rd
RuthieT
aleighc1
LizfromOz

October
kkmcan
TigerlilyAJ
tinkermomma
AmberHeartsDisney

November

December
*Seanaci*
DLovinFam
PandaDis

Unknown 2012
rentayenta (WDW)

2013

rentayenta
LizfromOz
dizneekrazee (WDW)

BEYOOONNNDDDD

spiderdust
PinkBudgie
BELLEDOZER (WDW)

I used to spend 10 days every December. That following January, I'd be making the ressies for the following December. The trick would be to keep checking the deals as you got closer and call when the rates dropped. I had one CM tell me when I checked in that the rate I was paying was almost as close as she would have as an employee.

 

[Mindy71]

December 2012 for us!

 

[motor58]

Our first trip will (fingers crossed) be Sept 2012, but I have been reading these forums for FOUR YEARS!!!!!!!

 

[Susie63]

February 2013...10 days at the Grand California Villas. We were going to go in 2012, but I sent hubby to Holland for two weeks this summer with his parents(to see where his mom & dad grew up)and it ate my Disneyland holiday savings. At least DCA will be done by then

 

[Susie63]

Our first trip will (fingers crossed) be Sept 2012, but I have been reading these forums for FOUR YEARS!!!!!!!

Ooooooh! Your gonna love it!

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

OOOOO Newbie to the parks!!!

 

[mabdallah]

You can start booking hotels now. Disney's site already ;ets you book 2012 packages and most Good Neighbors allow you to book up to 500 days in advance, so most of 2012 is covered.
The bummer is the deals. I am debating whether to book with Disney to be sure to get the hotel room(s) I want, but I'll still have to spend Jan 2012 (AAA/CAA Disney Month) and summer 2012 looking for deals and depending on Disney's change policy to allow me to take advantage of any price savings. It seems like two months out from one's trip is when bulk dealers like Expedia, hotels that have rooms to spare, and Disney itself start to offer the biggest deals--but maybe not for the exact dates or room types you want.
I feel like I'm in a big game of chicken--and the opening of Carsland complicates it all because I fear a huge crush of demand when the general populace realizes it's open.
Any tips for someone like me who is itching to book but fears paying much more than necessary by booking at prices this far out?
I might even buy 7-day Park Hopper tickets from Flight Centre today if they can give me the deal I want for Oct 2012, so our 2 adults and 2 kids can get in for $828.

AJ

I feel ur pain. I am booking our end of July trip this weekend with Dreams Unlimited they gave me a great price and its cheeper than al a carte. I think I saved 200.00 !! We are going July 28th - Aug 3rd but only in the parks 4 days. But the summer deals have not come out yet. Plus I wanted a disney view rm with the HOJO and wanted to make sure that the hotel would be booked first. Hope I am making the right descision But I am so exicited for our trip our daughters first trip !!!

 

[larina]

We're starting to plan a trip for October of next year. I like having a long time to plan it out!!!

 

[mellers]

We're bookending our annual passes, so we are planning to go in early December 2012, because we went for Christmas last month.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Well, we just booked CCI for the week of July 22nd. 5 and 1/2 days. Not so far in advance anymore. It will be just DH and I this time. Still planning our June 2014 trip to WDW though! I'm sure I'm already late making ADRs!

 

[chicagoshannon]

We're planning on July 2013. It will be our first trip (I'm not counting the trip I took when I was 1).

Hoping to go after the 4th but before the 19th so DS will still be free. Does Disneyland have the same rule as Disneyworld about turning 3 during your trip?

 

[Ella5]

We are going in Nov 2012--I have to start saving early for a family of seven. I was able to book rooms at the Howard Johnson for $59 a night with the entertainment rate. They still had a lot of dates available when I booked.