Last Minute Trip in 3 Weeks

[HoneyHoneyPot]

Has anyone done a last minute trip? We've been to Disney several times - family of 4 with 5 and 7 year old girls.

We're the family with all our plans done 6 months in advance and our itinerary mapped out.

Anyone have any tips or advice? I realize we won't be getting priority fast passes or dining. My plan is to spend more time swimming and just ride rides with lower wait times.

Would love to hear any experiences of someone who booked a trip 3 weeks out!!
Thanks!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Yes, we've done it a few times. Typically we pick one or two must-do's and wing the rest. For instance, we just did a last minute Memorial Day weekend with the sole purpose of seeing the new AK nighttime attractions. I made a Tiffins, JB package reservation, some AK FP+ and we winged it for the rest of the trip. We had a blast. Went to Blizzard Beach one day and made ADRs on the fly. As long as you are flexible and take a relaxed approach to the trip, I think you will have fun!

 

[sharonabe]

You're already ahead of the game by managing expectations. See what is most important to your girls, and try to make those happen.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I did last month, but we didn't do any parks. Just a week at the Hilton Orlando and a night at POFQ. Stressful even though we didn't go to the parks.

 

[gap2368]

A last minute trip for me is waking up and thinking I guess I will go to Disney today.

A few types be creative with FP you do not need to all have the same time just over lapping times

Dinning just keep looking I was with friends that got BOG the night before so it could happen

And remember your at Disney so you will have fun

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Which resort are you staying at?

 

[shyjade]

Earlier this year we booked a last-minute trip 2.5 day one week in advance (thanks to $63 roundtrip airfare from Milwaukee). As a big planner, I was a bit nervous about not having ADR's, our choice of FP+, etc. Turns out it was one of our best trips to Disney because we went with no expectations and knowing we likely wouldn't be able to do all our "usuals". We had a great time!

 

[Eastern]

We have done it a few times. As long as you don't have to have a certain thing, you will find that you will get most of what you want in terms of ADRs and FP. Disney gets the Magicbands and Magical Express out to you really fast.

 

[mrzrich]

I echo checking for ADR's the night before. Lots of people cancel the night before

 

[HoneyHoneyPot]

A last minute trip for me is waking up and thinking I guess I will go to Disney today.

A few types be creative with FP you do not need to all have the same time just over lapping times

Dinning just keep looking I was with friends that got BOG the night before so it could happen

And remember your at Disney so you will have fun

Good idea with the FP! A Disney day is better than a day at home even if we don't ride 7 Dwarfs!!

 

[HoneyHoneyPot]

I echo checking for ADR's the night before. Lots of people cancel the night before

Yes! I would love to get CRT for my girls, so I will for sure check that everyday we are there!

 

[HoneyHoneyPot]

We have done it a few times. As long as you don't have to have a certain thing, you will find that you will get most of what you want in terms of ADRs and FP. Disney gets the Magicbands and Magical Express out to you really fast.

That was one of our main concerns. So we will get Magic Bands and luggage tags in time? I'm not too worried about the bands, but I sure would like to have luggage tags to avoid having to claim our luggage at the airport.

 

[HoneyHoneyPot]

Earlier this year we booked a last-minute trip 2.5 day one week in advance (thanks to $63 roundtrip airfare from Milwaukee). As a big planner, I was a bit nervous about not having ADR's, our choice of FP+, etc. Turns out it was one of our best trips to Disney because we went with no expectations and knowing we likely wouldn't be able to do all our "usuals". We had a great time!

This is what I want to hear!!! Thank you!

 

[dis_guy]

You wanna hear about last minute trips? DW and I did the ultimate, extreme, last minute trip in March, 2013.

At the time we were both teaching and it was the week before spring break and we were NOT going to Disney this time. The week was riddled with spring snow storms (western Canada) and I had to pull DW's car out of a snow drift with our Jeep twice that week already. It was so bad that the rural schools we taught in were closed to students but teachers were required to be at work. I know, I know, but it's always been a "thing" with that board. We aren't going to pay people to stay home where they're safe. So we were being paid to sit around an empty building with no kids, instead. Go figure...

By Friday AM I was so stir crazy with all my work caught up and bored with watching the snow pile up outside, that I texted DW, "Still don't want to go to Florida this break?" She replied, "Make me an offer!" So off I went into planning mode- double quick! Booking CBR was easy. No discounts and no choice, it was going to be a king bedroom for us. Too short notice to even think about a dining plan but at least we were able to book Disney's Magical Express. Airfare was tricky, everything was crazy expensive only the day before we wanted to fly! So, poking around a bit I discovered that one way flights were the way to go. We ended up flying down with United and coming back with Westjet, on their direct flight, no less.

So there we were going to Disney World with a departure time of 11:50 PM on Saturday booked at noon on Friday. The only problem we had was getting to the airport 2 hours away and hoping the flight was going to be able to get out. We were lucky and everything went smoothly until we hit customs in Houston at 5 AM. The agent asked about the fact we booked the day before but was somewhat sympathetic when we described the weather at home and just as she was about to give our passports back she got serious and said, "Hold on, you were just here a few days ago!" I said we hadn't been. She indicated a CBP stamp in my passport and I had to laugh. I pointed out that that was last year's stamp. She double checked and laughed out loud, saying we were sure consistent. She wished us a good trip and said that she wished she could go somewhere to escape the colder than usual Texas weather they were having, too.

We had a great week at Disney and we each bought a "Get Your Goofy On- Spring Break 2013" t-shirt to commemorate the trip. "Goofy" seemed to sum up how we came to be there!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We too always planned out trips in advance. Usuall 9-12 months out.

The Monday before thanksgiving DH found ridiculously low airfare to Orlando and we booked a trip for Saturday to Wednesday. 5 days out!!!

We had a ball - booked a few AFRs including s Candelight dinner package and ate counter service the rest of the time. Got most fast passes that we wanted - everything except SDMT.

Have fun/ I know we did!!!

 

[DizzneyDi]

Unless things have changed recently you don't have to have the luggage tags supplied by Disney. All you have to go is show the Magical Express CM the tags issued by your airline and they will locate your bags and ship them to your resort.

That was one of our main concerns. So we will get Magic Bands and luggage tags in time? I'm not too worried about the bands, but I sure would like to have luggage tags to avoid having to claim our luggage at the airport.

 

[Eastern]

That was one of our main concerns. So we will get Magic Bands and luggage tags in time? I'm not too worried about the bands, but I sure would like to have luggage tags to avoid having to claim our luggage at the airport.

I've booked as close as three weeks prior on two occasions and both times we got our bands and luggage tags. The bands ship quickly so customize them immediately. The luggage tags were delivered via FedEx.

I even forgot to sign up for Magical Express this last time. I signed up less than 10 days out and got the tags several days before the trip.