What do you "planners" book first?

[3PRINCESSMOM]

For you SUPER PLANNERS out there, which component of your WDW vacation do you book first? I think my thought process has been scewed these past couple years by the ease of availability of all aspects; WDW resort rooms, air fare, rental cars, etc. For the last few years I have reserved my car real early, then secured decent air fare, all the while knowing we would get a discounted room if we were a little flexible for our early December stays. Since this is our first time having AP's we are planning an additional late Summer trip for the first time. Now this will be a whole new animal, won't it? Everything seems to be priced differently. I am very tempted to do something I have never done, reserve a room before discounts become available and hope to get one applied if they become available. What do you think? Please advise!

 

[dmaz]

This year I picked the week I wanted to go. Then when 90days came around I made a few PS arrangements that I knew I wanted.
I didn't book my hotel until the first set of codes came out. I knew we would not be staying a a busy time of year and that either the codes or availability would make our decision. We figured out our budget as if we would have to pay rack rates that way we knew what we could afford when the rates came out. And if they didn't we would just have to pay the rack.
We are driving so airfare and rental car don't come into play.

This of course, will not work if you're going at a busy time or have a specific hotel you want.

BTW we are paying 50% off rack @ a mod. Thank goodness for those codes.

 

[niks81]

Well typically what I have done before is decide on a tentative set of dates. Then I start scouting for airfare. I start with the airfare because that is the one thing you can't change without it being a royal pain Once I get the fare I want (maybe having to change the dates a little to save $) then I figure out where I want to stay and do the resort part of it. We don't use a rental car at Disney...always used a towncar so that's been no problem.

Have fun

 

[ead79]

I always book my resort first. We drive down, so we don't have to worry about airfare. I typically book my resort at rack rate (or AAA rate), then apply a discount code when it becomes available. I then make a spreadsheet with a plan of what parks we plan for what days and the restaurants we would like to eat at. I then make PS arrangements at the 90 day mark. After that I fine tune the itinerary and dream of WDW.

 

[McCall]

If I find an airfare I like I will then check and book a room where I want it and only then book the non refundable air. If codes come out for the room later I can always apply them or change booking but I HAVE a room worst case if nothing else is available.
I then book car, scooter rental and PS's Oh yes and park and fly hotel room for night before flight out.

 

[TJA]

I book our resort first, but only after AP rates come out. The discounts determine what resort I stay at too. This May I had my heart set on Poly, but the discount was not good enough, so I booked Contemporary. I know I'll get good airfare because I always book my resort stay for arrival and departure on a Tues, Wed, or Thurs. as my airfare is usually cheap for mid-weekdays.

 

[AspiringCindy]

We book our resort 9-12 months out with the best discount we can get(usually AAA). We don't worry much about the airfare because if we can't find an airfare cheap enough...then we drive. Hopefully as the vacation nears, we apply any codes that are available to our ressie! 4 months out, I construct and re-construct our itinerary to plan out our PSs so they are ready for the 90 day mark!

 

[goodferry]

We decide on dates first, based on the kid's school schedule. Then we book airfare, mostly because we want a good rate, but also because we don't want to fly at 4 in the morning and have layovers. We have four kids so minimizing the time spent with the airlines is important to our sanity and to those flying with us They we choose the resort we can afford and book it. Then I watch for codes to be released and either apply it to our room to reduce the cost of our stay or upgrade our room. From there I decide where we want to be on what days and then make our ps arrangements. Have fun!

 

[shelleybell]

I first narrow down a 2 week period, then search for airfare. With the airfare paid, I make my ressies with AAA discount and wait for codes. If they do come, great, more money left in the Disney pot.

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

We were back and forth about when to go.

Then I heard codes were coming out, that helped. I reserved, than called following day with code, bought an AP.
Then airfare
Then transportation from airport
Within a week or so after researching what things were most important for us to do
I booked Segway Tour at Epcot- didnt get first or second choice, have to go on a Sat.
Then I booked lunch reservations for first day we arrive- 50s Prime Time
Then Character Breakfast for first morning there.
Dinner reservations at BoatWright's POR, followed by reservations for a carriage ride.
Its important to get a rough idea of what days you will do what parks, then think if there places you HAVE to eat and need PS to eat at.

Hope that helps!

Have a great trip!!!

 

[ColoradoDis]

My kids are older now, so the school/sports schedule drives our travel dates. I then purchase the updated Passporter and Unofficial Guides and become obsessed with the DIS Boards.

The first thing I book is airfare and then resort at rack rates. I use a travel agent so I count on her to get us a better rate when the codes come out (worked so far). I then book the rental car.

Since the ticket price increase was announced yesterday, I bought our APs before we got there. Otherwise, I would have waited until we arrived.

 

[BambiTamby]

I do it the same way as AspiringCindy and ead79....

I get the room I want first, usually at rack or AAA rate.
If I can apply codes later, great!
If not, I still have the room I want.

We usually fly free since I rack up frequent flyer miles/points with my business, and I let the concierge staff take care of my important PS's and arrangements.

Different strokes for different folks!

 

[3PRINCESSMOM]

After reading these responses, discussing it with DH, and thinking about it I have decided to book airfare first, then our resort dates with AAA. We'll wait on AP rates for post-7/4 for a discount to be applied. Trying to be an optimist, (which doesn't come naturally, by the way), I feel good about AP rates becoming available, though. We also feel the airfare now is, well fair. If they come down, we'll get credit and use it toward our December tickets. Like I said, since we have AP's this year, this August trip is a bonus. I will later think about PS's. We'll only plan a few, as this will be a tighter budget than December. Thanks again, everybody!

Anyone else care to add suggestions... I'd love it.

 

[Grumpy37]

I've noticed airfares from flyover country to MCO seem to be about the best in that "95 to 85 days prior" range. So we watch for the AP rates and the airfares for the times we can all get away, and wait for serendipity to happen. It never hurts to book a AAA room-only rate well in advance since it can be changed or cancelled up to 5 days in advance, this has also worked out well for us. Esp. for those times when AP rates are scarce (holidays).

 

[bhillier]

If you have girls once you have your air and hotel dates figured out you may want to make a PS for a character meal c the princesses either in the mk @ cindi's castle or epcot. I made the mistake of thinking that we would'nt do that "character thing" and now both are sold out (May) If this sounds like something that your family might enjoy - don't wait Have a great trip and injoy the planning it can seem like a bit much at times but it's also been a lot of fun for me.

 

[Steffy]

As I am driving my family crazy with my constant planning...

The first thing I do is choose my dates. Then I tell my travel agent my dates. Then I choose a resort. Then I drive her crazy changing resorts every week. BTW,

I change resorts because I look at videos and the the travel channel, and then I look at the DIS, and then I look at the planning videos, and then I look at my pictures from previous trips. Crazy.

Then I obssess about my ps. Where to eat? When to eat? Do we want to do CRT? What about places we haven't eaten yet? What day to do special events? Pirate cruise? GF cooking experience? Candelight Processional? Who is going to be there? What day? What restaurant? Should we do the Illuminations cruise?

Now it's airfare.... decide if I'm renting a car because I want to do RPDE. Taxi? Do we want to do Autotrain? Tiffany Towncar? Happy Limo? Rent a car for just one week? Will they deliver the car to the Poly?

So anyway, that is how I start planning. BTW, I also have so many guidebooks... I have a Passporter in each bedroom, one at work and the leather bound one in my Disney bag... I have several copies of the Unoffical guide, half dozen Birbahams (sp)books, just bought 2004 for Kids the other day. Have the Wiley book, 2000 and 2002 (they are in the other room)

Yes, I'm a serious planner...

 

[BambiTamby]

LOL, Steffy!!!!

And if you're like the rest of us, you can recite almost every page of the newest Birnbaum edition!

Gosh! Us DISers ARE another breed!

 

[Ambassador]

First, we get over the sorrow after the end of another wonderful trip to WDW. Then we immediately start planning for a new trip the very next day. Second, we tentatively plan a few times to travel, based on Mrs. Ambassador's social calendar and other embassy protocols. The booking order depends on the deals, but usually room first, flights (sometimes adjusting length of stay for better fares), priority seatings, transfers or car rental, park tickets, and finally netgrocer delivery. We do fax room requests four days prior to arrival. Then it's back to diplomacy for the Ambassador. Got to amass the small fortune somehow.

 

[jaysue]

We book airfare first and foremost - gives us an idea of how much the trip will cost. We are DVC members so we know how much our accomodations will cost - we book this up to 11 months out. Priority Seatings, we usually book out around 60 days from trip as our plans finally come together.

We need to book airfares upfront since with 2 young kids and only one scheduled airline between Toronto and Orlando (Air Canada) we have only one choice. As the kids get older we might consider flying Jetsgo into Sanford or a stopover using a Delta or US Air or something like that

thanks
jaysue