Wanting to Plan a Trip in 2011... Need help PLEASE

[joyfullyblessed]

Hello Everyone!

My husband and I are HUGE Disney fans, but we haven't had our Disney fix for a few years now. We wanted to go this year, but the budget won't allow, so now we are looking at going in 2011.

We would like to book a trip fairly soon and get on a payment plan so that the trip is basically paid for by the time we go in 2011. Most likely, we will go in December 2011. It will probably be the first week in December. We LOVE Christmas at Disney and it will be the first time taking our son, who will be newly seven at the time.

We want to make this trip extremely special for him, but it has to be affordable too.

My question is.... if we book a trip in the next month or two, how do we go about getting any of the great discounts that come about for 2011? Will we not be able to qualify for any of those discounts if we book now? I want to make sure we get the best deals possible.

We will most likely stay at a value resort, get the quick service dining plan, and we KNOW we will want to go to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios for sure. We are undecided about going to Animal Kingdom and Epcot this time around, even though Epcot is our favorite, we aren't sure how our son will like it.

Anyway, ANY advice is welcome. I really want to get the ball rolling on this trip as I want to make sure it is going to happen next year and not get disappointed again. Also, do you think I need to subscribe to Tour Guide Mike to get more pointers and know when the discount codes are coming?

Thanks so much, and have a wonderful day!!! : )

 

[lovetoscrap]

Right now Disney isn't taking bookings for 2011 yet. You will have to wait until they announce that they are doing reservations for 2011.

You will be able to apply discounts later, but you will have to monitor the boards and call to make changes, or book through a Travel Agent that will do that for you. You have until 45 days before the trip (with a package) to pay in full and make changes without penalty. But booking now does not insure you will be able to keep the same resort/room type if a discount comes out. They block specific things for the discounts and so you may have to choose a different resort or a different room type in order to get a discount. You can read about people having to do this on the Codes and Rates board.

 

[Metro West]

 

[coruth4]

I believe you can book a package 500 days out - I did that with my last trip. We went in December 2009 and I had booked in August 2008! I watched the forums and as discounts were announced I was able to call and have it applied (I was able to get free dining through a PIN code!!).
Tour Guide Mike is good for crowd levels and stuff - but I prefer the disboards to track discounts.
I am planning a trip for November 2011 myself and I know my booking window opens the end of June (based on what I wa able to do last time). I also like booking so far out and having everything paid off before even getting on the plane. And it allows to save some money for those little extras!

 

[sisaaliyah]

As the previous posters have said just watch the boards for discounts coming out and then have it applied. If time permits, I would visit all four parks though.

 

[es45]

Think about doing MK twice for this trip. We did that the first time we took our daughters and it made all the difference. The girls were so engrossed in taking in everything around them that they moved slowly through MK that day. Knowing that we had a second day was great.

It is also the perfect excuse to plan another future trip to get in the parks that you missed the first time. Welcome!

 

[serene56]

I have been planning my September 2010 trip since Dec. 2005.

I priced out packages in 2008 so I can get a handle on about how much it will cost. (I was not that far off the number either)

Our package was booked in August on 2009 when resorts came out with their rates. (tickets also go higher is August)

 

[Happiest mommy]

learn something new every day, had no idea we could reserve 500 days out kool!

 

[siskaren]

Well, actually you can only do a room only reservation at 499 days out. Packages for 2011 can be booked starting in August of this year.