skilled at last minute trip planning

[Lorelai]

Anyone skilled at planning a Disney trip last minute??

I am a total Disney addict who has no idea how to plan a successful Disney trip less than a year in advance.

Actually, I usually plan like 18+ months in advance. So......with that being said, I'd like to know if anyone out there can please give me tips as to how to plan a trip for a family of 5, in less than two months.

Don't get me wrong, I'm totally psyched that my husband has this business conference in our favorite place on the planet, I'm just a total control freak and I like my trips really well organized (meals set, park days well thought out, knowing what's happening with attraction closures).

Okay, I'm feeling dizzy at the mere thought of a last minute trip now. Help. Thank you!

 

[poohs4me]

For us 2 months is a pretty long period of time to be planning. We often plan trips with just enough time for airline tickets.

Get those ADRs as soon as you can, if unable to do so now. Check at the park when you first get in. We have scored several same day reservations that would have been considered prime.

 

[NMAmy]

Well, we're going to WDW next Friday, 2/10. I booked the entire trip the weekend of January 14th. Now that's the absolute quickest I've ever thrown one together but we went twice in 2004 so it didn't turn out to be that big a deal--I knew exactly what I needed without stressing. Usually I have at least 3 months.

Surprisingly, it wasn't that difficult. I had no problems with ADR's--that's what I was most concerned about with so many people using the dining plan but I was able to get every restaurant, time, and day I wanted.

I'm a control freak, too, so I just did everything at once over the weekend. First airfare. Then the hotel--the Dolphin. I called about a problem I was having with my spg account and while I took care of that, the kind lady who helped me was able to help me get a lower rate than the internet rate. Then I set up the towncar to and from the airport.

Then I went on the DIS, pulled the park hours, and figured out what days we'd be where and called in the ADR's.

Just tell your family if they want to have a good time, they need to give you a block of time to do your planning! And, hey, you'll be at WDW--even if everything isn't perfect, you'll still have fun.

 

[1MegMeg]

I agree with Pooh - go ahead and book your ADRs now. You should be well withon the booking period, so I would take care of that first. Next, I would look on WDW's website and see what attractions are going to be closed, to determine if that's going to make a difference with what parks you go to. How long are you going to be here for?

 

[lauritagoddess]

I booked our trip 2 weeks ago and we're going on 2/28. I was able to get the dates I wanted for reservations, booked a Magic Your Way package through the Disney site. I got all the ADRs I wanted too. This is totally unusual for me too, I'm a consummate planner, but I just figured I'd pay a little more and let Disney take care of some of the planning for me by getting the package. I've also spent the last two weeks reading this board alot to get tips and going through some Disney books. I'm sure I'll be doing the same for the next 25 days, lol.

 

[Lorelai]

These are all great ideas. Thank you so much & please keep them coming.

It looks like the trip will be anywhere from four to six days. We usually spend eight or nine days, so it's much shorter than we're familiar with.

By the way, if you had to eliminate one park - which would it be? Just in case it's only four days, I think we might only have three park days. Ahhhh! I'm still freaking out about this time frame. But I'm excited, very excited. But very nervous.

 

[Lorelai]

Also, will Expedition Everest be open soon to everyone? If so, we'll have to go to AK.

 

[Fooboy]

Hi there!
Get your airline tix,
Map out the calendar for what park on what day.
Get schedules for parades and fireworks so that you can work ADRs around that.
Get ADR's asap

Good Luck!
Foobs

 

[Lorelai]

Thanks Foobs - I totally didn't even think about parades & fireworks schedule -what am I thinking???

 

[bbutters]

We booked our trip just before Christmas....It will be our first family vacation to WDW.....I've been an obssessed fool about reading up on all the parks, making notes on hours, parades, fastpass rides, rides that we will probably have to switch off on.....we are NOT planning on any ADR for the simple fact that we are going to do counter service/food court food and bring food for breakfast and snacks ourselves....so, i don't have THAT to worry about.....just the packing and cleaning and making sure the pets get loved, etc.....10 DAYS!!! I feel like there is still so much to do! I just want it to be a great trip that we all enjoy!!!