Is it possible to plan a successful last minute trip anymore?

[disneydreamer781]

Yes. We went to WDW pretty last minute for an early June trip last year and I planned everything within 3 weeks. Except for a couple of FP that I wasn't able to secure prior to the trip I got just about everything I wanted. We ended up staying at POFQ so Spring is definitely doable.

 

[firefly_ris]

We went the day after Thanksgiving November 2015 for 5 days. We were going to be there for a business trip for my husband and I had come up with the idea for my parents to meet us there and spend Thanksgiving together and then do the 5 days at Disney.... we came up with the idea 4 weeks ahead of time. Got all the FP we wanted with the exception of Mine Train. We ate mostly counter service and brought in some food, but we did eat one sit down meal at Rose & Crown, and my mom got that ADR over the phone that morning while walking around in EPCOT. So yes, I think it's possible.

 

[tosha27]

Yes. Though WDW is so sick of me. I cancelled and rebooked my reservations at least 6 times. Lol
The available rooms change by the hour. I needed an intervention.
Anyway. Every day before work, at lunch, after work, before bed I checked the dining availability. We got everything we wanted. I even managed to get 7dmt fast passes at about 2 weeks out. That was pure luck. I just happened to log on when they opened some up because it was previously unavailable.
Now you may have to schedule yourself around your fast passes but that worked for us.
You will have a great time.

 

[starsweeper]

I planned an Easter week trip in 2015 with 3 weeks notice. We got a room at Port Orleans Riverside (needed a room for 5), booked FP+, and a couple ADRs we wanted. For the weeks leading up to the trip, I checked for better FP+ options/times and ADRs we wanted/time changes daily. While there, I also kept checking ADRs on my phone while in line a couple times each day and we were able to get everything we wanted. Because MK opened at 7am each day that week, we were able to complete Fantasyland, Circus area, Tomorrowland and Haunted Mansion before noon, and use FP+ for things like Pirates, Jungle Cruise and BTMRR after lunch on our 2 MK days.

So in my experience, if you are willing to get up early, not having FP+ isn't an issue. My older kids rode 7DMT without FP+ (15-20 minute wait after park open).

 

[TiggerBouncy]

there are few rides you can't get. And a few shows. Otherwise, you can do almost everything on your bucket list. I routinely go in under 30 days. It's painful now with DVC since you can't get a DVC room with that short notice. However most ADR's and FP+'s you can get if you are not overly picky on your times.

 

[Nancyg56]

That is encouraging thank you! We were thinking about a month out. We are interested in staying at Pop. We don't need to go on 7DMT-neither of my kids are old enough to enjoy. I just want them to be able to do things like Fantasyland toddler attractions, Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Nemo, Mexico Boat Ride......

......& I was hoping the new Frozen ride at Epcot.....is that out of the question?

FEA may or may not be possible, but other than that, you should be fine. I think that the Fantasyland attractions are very manageable, especially if you go at RD. I would suggest heading straight to Peter Pan and taking the girls through the standby queue. My little Princesses loved it!

In Epcot The THree Caballeros was their favorite attraction throughout all the parks. We got there when teh WS opened, they were the first in line and rode twice in a row.

The Nemo attraction, Turtle Talk and Living with the Land are also very easy, no FP needed. Soarin at RD too.

Thank you Yes, we are pretty flexible. There are a few value resorts I would prefer to not stay at (AS Sports, ASMu), but we are flexible otherwise, as long as we can afford it. We would love to do some character meals, but the only super popular one we would strive for is Crystal Palace, but we would be happy with any time of day. No interest in 7DMT. Only really interested in the dark rides & Philharmagic. We would love to do FEA, as my girls are both still Frozen fanatics, but we would be ok if it didn't happen.

I think that if you are persistant, and you don't care which meal you get, you should be able to get your character meal in. As people get closer they cancel the meals they decide they no longer need.

 

[hjeick]

I agree it is possible but it may take a lot of planning and stalking fast passes and ADR's. I think most toddler rides, excluding FEA, have many fast passes available at least minute. Did you know you can reserve a Disney package for only $200. The balance is due 30 days out. If you would have at least 30 days you could go ahead and reserve a package considering cancelling if you are unable to go.

 

[Klayfish]

I agree it is possible but it may take a lot of planning and stalking fast passes and ADR's. I think most toddler rides, excluding FEA, have many fast passes available at least minute.

I can't speak for the ADRs because we don't ever do them, but this is where I disagree with a lot of thoughts on this. You don't need to do a lot of planning. It's not only the toddler rides, it's a majority of rides (not all certainly) have FP+ available last minute. By last minute, I mean that same day, or even that very minute. We've had multiple occasions where we've been able to get a FP+ while we're standing in the park and window is almost immediately after we book it. Pirates is a good example. When we were there in June, we had a few times where the line was 20-30 minutes, but if we went on MDE we got a FP+ for a time slot 5 minutes away. So we booked it, walked to Pirates, skipped the line and walked right on. Of course, that doesn't happen all the time, but my point is with some exceptions FP+ for many rides isn't that hard to get. To me, you don't need to plan in advance for much of anything if you don't want to, and you can still have a good trip. You need to know what you're doing, I'd agree that if you just walk in with no knowledge of FP+, no idea where attractions are, etc...you could easily get frustrated. But if you know the basics, a last minute trip with zero planning is absolutely doable and easy.

 

[shyjade]

It really depends on when you go and your your flexibility.

Late this past January as I was daydreaming of a Disney trip to escape the cold Wisconsin winter, I found ROUNDTRIP airfare to Orlando for $63/person! Within the hour I had done the unthinkable for this obsessive planner...booked a trip to Disney less than a week out. All of the values were booked so I was "forced" to try a moderate (got a discounted rate - loved it!) Because it was the off season we were able to get last minute FP's for all of our favorite rides and lunch at Be Our Guest.

 

[Mrs. Inc]

We went very last minute March 2015... Weekdays were much better than weekends. This year headed back for Christmas decorations Monday-Friday only. Lots and lots of huge student groups on Saturday and Sunday...cheerleaders, marching bands, you name it, they were there...and dapper days...but they were kinda cute all dressed up!