Trip planning order?

[pdxJolene]

Currently I am planning my first trip to WDW! It will be me & my DBF in Feb. I already have the basics planned (dates, hotel, tickets needed, dining plan, airline tickets, etc...) but I am curious about what order everyone plans there trips. Do you start with dates and then decide on the hotel? How long before when? etc... I'd love if you could share your trip planning "check list" all the way down to last minute packing the night before you leave!!

I tried to search (both here and google) and came up empty handed. I know for weddings and such they have check lists "1 year out.. 9 months out... 6 months... etc.." but I can't seem to find anything similar for Disney! I'm just freaking out that I'm forgetting to plan a big part of our trip!

Any help would be great

 

[Local_Girl]

We usually pick our dates, then decide on a hotel. We drive, so I can't speak about airline tickets. Probably one of the most important things you need to know now is that you are approaching the 180-day mark (180 days prior to your trip), which is the first day you can make Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs)...This is especially important if you want to dine in one or more of the popular restaurants, as reservations get snatched up pretty quickly.

Wanted to add...we've been planning our upcoming Thanksgiving trip since the first of the year. I do a lot of research to find the best deals. Some times that means going with non-refundable options, but it's a gamble.

I have a trip packing list that I add to (and subtract from, occasionally!) constantly, and I've already started buying stuff a little at a time to prepare for the trip.

 

[rosiep]

Hi!! I'm in Portland too. I start with a general idea of when I'd like to travel based on Disney promotions or what not then I look at airfares. I have a rather flexible schedule at work and so if it's cheaper to fly out on a Tuesday or Thursday I'll start there, then I book the resort.

I usually fly Delta and book 3-6 months out. I have had the flights change but only slightly.

Don't know if you know this site but I love it: http://www.bing.com/travel/

 

[Corwin]

Before we bought into DVC, we usually did this:

1. Pick trip dates (~9 months out).
2. Book resort (~6 months out).
3. Book airline tickets (~6 months out).
4. Pick days to spend in each park based on crowd calendars (~6 months out).
5. Pick restaurants (~6 months out).
6. Make ADRs (180 days out).
   (Wait for months. Start early planning for next trip! )
7. Buy tickets from Undercover Tourist (~2 months out).
8. Pack.
9. Leave for trip!

Now that we are DVC members, it's changed slightly:

1. Pick trip dates (~1 year out).
2. Book home resort (11 months out).
3. Change to non-home resort if desired (7 months out).
4. Book airline tickets (~6 months out).
5. Pick days to spend in each park based on crowd calendars (~6 months out).
6. Pick restaurants (~6 months out).
7. Make ADRs (180 days out).
   (Wait for six months. Start early planning for next trip! )
8. Pack.
9. Leave for trip!
10. Buy annual passes at park.

 

[lizerbug]

I just wanted to say hello. Another Portlander here

 

[pdxJolene]

Hi!! I'm in Portland too. I start with a general idea of when I'd like to travel based on Disney promotions or what not then I look at airfares. I have a rather flexible schedule at work and so if it's cheaper to fly out on a Tuesday or Thursday I'll start there, then I book the resort.

I usually fly Delta and book 3-6 months out. I have had the flights change but only slightly.

Don't know if you know this site but I love it: http://www.bing.com/travel/

Whats with the weather today? Makes me want FL even more

Thanks for that site, I didn't know about it!

I just wanted to say hello. Another Portlander here

Another Portlander? I wouldn't have expected so many of us on the WDW side of things

 

[pdxJolene]

Before we bought into DVC, we usually did this:

1. Pick trip dates (~9 months out).
2. Book resort (~6 months out).
3. Book airline tickets (~6 months out).
4. Pick days to spend in each park based on crowd calendars (~6 months out).
5. Pick restaurants (~6 months out).
6. Make ADRs (180 days out).
   (Wait for months. Start early planning for next trip! )
7. Buy tickets from Undercover Tourist (~2 months out).
8. Pack.
9. Leave for trip!

Now that we are DVC members, it's changed slightly:

1. Pick trip dates (~1 year out).
2. Book home resort (11 months out).
3. Change to non-home resort if desired (7 months out).
4. Book airline tickets (~6 months out).
5. Pick days to spend in each park based on crowd calendars (~6 months out).
6. Pick restaurants (~6 months out).
7. Make ADRs (180 days out).
   (Wait for six months. Start early planning for next trip! )
8. Pack.
9. Leave for trip!
10. Buy annual passes at park.

Thanks! Thats about what I came up with and it sounds good to me

 

[lizerbug]

The weather is supposed to be like this through the weekend, so I hear. I've been trying to avoid the news, with what's been going on here the past 2 months, so the forecast may have changed

 

[Penelope2000]

We visit WDW during value season, and as we need 4 plane tickets, I need to keep airline costs down as much as possible. The least expensive flights happen mid-week, so I plan around that. Prices drop about 2 or 3 months prior to a flight, so I need to wait until they drop. We paid less than $200 RT per ticket this way.

Every morning, afternoon, and evening I check flight costs. This way I found a flight that was put on in the afternoon, and I paid over $300 less (total for the 4 of us) than I otherwise would have, just by checking the flights dutifully. We ended up on JetBlue direct flights. The only other airline that came close in price charged for any checked baggage, and was not non-stop, so the fees were higher. If I take into account needing to check two bags, both ways, that is another $100 or so. The extra fees add up as well.

After booking the flights, I finalize my resort reservations.
I have had an idea in mind of where I want to stay in Disney World, and have checked the prices, and put together a spreadsheet of various options. Examples: "Dining Plan with no discount for 2 rooms at a Value resort"; or "No Dining Plan with 40% discount at a deluxe resorts which has a daybed, all food OOP." I crunch the numbers, find which works best for us, and run them by Dh, and reserve a room.
As you probably guess, I make my plans about 3 months ahead, not the 6-12 so many on the boards are fortunate to be able to make. By waiting that long, I am able to find some exceptionally low flight costs.

 

[Dismom55]

I first pick my dates and resort then wait for Disney to release the rates and I book my Disney resort thru my trusted travel agent. By the time I contact my TA, I have already decided where I want to eat, DDP, park hopper etc. Before I contact my TA I have already decided what park and what day I tell her what ADR's I want, any other activities that need booking and sit back and let her do all the work. My TA gets me any discounts that can be applied, even after I have booked, she costs me nothing but saves me lots of time and frustration.

We drive, so airline tickets are not an issue, I do not want all those miles on my car, so we rent. As soon as I can I start booking my rental, then I keep going back and checking to see if I can get a better deal, once I do I cancel the more expensive and so on. Making sure to allow one extra day before and after our trip so we are not rushed in getting the rental back.

We stop on the way down and back, so I also book my hotel stays just as soon as I can. We have done the trip several times now, so I know what cities I will need reservations for. I found this a good idea when having a bit of trouble booking a hotel due to college agendas. I find I get better prices by booking early most times. I will go back and check prices from time to time, and of course rebook if I can get a better rate.

I do book early for peace of mind, but am a bargain hunter so I keep checking.

I make my packing list and start buying anything I might need as early as a year ahead as things are on sale, especially seasonal items and pack them in the suitcase as I purchase them, that way I do not lose the items and have to repurchase.

Then I start planning my decorations for the room and my Tip envelopes. Getting those items made and prepared way ahead of time.

Last is packing and waiting, I pack just as early as I can. We pack the car the night before we leave and get an early start on departure day, usually around 5a.