When is it too late for a February solo visit?

[Now What...]

Ok, I have a question. I am looking into taking a solo trip (my first solo) the first week of February. My problem is I cant quite commit to booking anything just yet, due to me not being sure of finances and a few scheduling issues in the near future. I am wondering when it would be too late to make actual hotel reservations and purchase tickets. I am guessing since I am a bit flexible on dates and resorts, and given the lower crowds that time of the year, I may be ok until shortly before, but wanted others advice.

 

[gzmtlock]

If you're booking room-only, you can do that at any time. You'll have to pay one night's deposit, but you have until a few days before checking in (can't remember if it's 5 or 3) to cancel with no penalty. I have to confess to being one of those folks who has booked and cancelled more room-only ressies than I have kept. But I always cancel them as soon as I know I don't want them, which is well before the cut off date.

Flight info is so heavily dependent on where you are flying from, it's hard to predict how long you can wait. . .

 

[kwdw]

I, too, would suggest you go ahead and book the resort you really want now. I'm pretty sure if you are booking the room only - you have to cancel 5 days in advance to get your deposit back. Make your ADR's now, too. (Just be sure to cancel them if your timing is wrong.) Hopefully you can finalize 60 days in advance so you can get your tickets and FP's then. But - this past March I did purchase my ticket, made FP's, and booked ADR's all just a couple of days in advance and had a great trip. (okay - no A&E FP and no BOG dinner, but hey)

 

[anne m]

i am planning a trip at that time as well, if you want we could do a meet.

 

[com_op_2000]

How are these examples of "how late"?
DW and I several times have been at DTD for the day and decided we wanted to stay the night. Called the resorts directly (back before MS was open on Sundays) or MS and checked in within 15 minutes.

At MK for the day in Feb ’14 for our anniversary, called MS @09:00, and booked a room at BLT for that night. Checked-in @11:00 and the room was ready. We did not plan on this day going like this until @05:00 while still in bed.

 

[JustCor]

I went to WDW the first week of February this year and booked POR at the beginning of January. I added an extra day to the mix at CBR and booked that two nights before I left for my trip. Both bookings went off without a hitch.

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

Hey, I'm thinking of going at the end of January and I still haven't booked anything
I'm also flying international so that's pretty risky. But the prices are good and it seems there's room at quite a few resorts so I'm not worried.

 

[Accident]

IF you want something like prearrival memory maker price or a meal plan, then you need to to have 3 days between when you book and arrive for them, otherwise if there is a vacancy, you could do it the same day you arrive if you want.

I've done as little as 48 hours. Similar situation I couldn't commit until the last second. What discounts are available is going to be the risk you take getting closer and closer.

 

[samsteele]

Watch the Presidents Day Holiday/Weekend in Feb. WDW Prices rocket and crowds go nuts in the parks. I had to choose this weekend this past Feb because of other family commitments and bookings. If you can find a way around it, definitely do. Too expensive and crowded to be pleasant.

 

[kwdw]

Room - I'd go ahead and book your hotel room. Just note the cancellation policy. I even put a note in my calendar about the last day to cancel without penalty.

Airfares - depends on where you are flying from. I can get good rates/flights to Orlando 60 days in advance (though BEST choices are more like 3-6 months in advance - and I live in a Southwest hub. 60-30 days is questionable. Sometimes 40-30 days out - you won't find a non-stop between me and Orlando and 2 hour flight jumps to 4 hours of travel. But - you can usually find a flight 15 days in advance that isn't drop dead horrible, no way I'm going to pay that price. About a week in advance - I'll only find crappy flight time/length choices and prices at least 4 times what you could have got at 60 days out. This is all going to be very location dependent..... And it is a bit time of year dependent, too. A day or two in advance - I could be looking at all sold-out flights out of my closest airport - but I could drive to an airport twice the distance from home and find a crappy flight from there - well - except not around major holidays.

As for ADR's and FP's - as long as you don't need to see Anna and Elsa or eat at a handful of restaurants - you can plan nice meal choices and FP's the day in advance pretty easily. Won't get everything you want when you want it - but you can find good enough choices to have a nice touring plan. But - since you can cancel ADR's with 24 hours notice - you could book a bunch of these now. Again - just remember to cancel if you don't go. Can't do FP's without a ticket though. A completed lyunused ticket doesn't expire - but it's not refundable. So - I don't buy my ticket in advance of knowing for sure. But - if you are okay just holding on to the unused ticket until you do use, you can buy it in advance if you want.

 

[winthropf]

I think March will be too late for a February trip.

 

[lustergirl]

Good Luck!!

 

[PirateSAM]

Ok, I have a question. I am looking into taking a solo trip (my first solo) the first week of February. My problem is I cant quite commit to booking anything just yet, due to me not being sure of finances and a few scheduling issues in the near future. I am wondering when it would be too late to make actual hotel reservations and purchase tickets. I am guessing since I am a bit flexible on dates and resorts, and given the lower crowds that time of the year, I may be ok until shortly before, but wanted others advice.

Sorry so late to offer my two cents...My advice would be it all depends on where you want to stay. I've been going the first week of February for the past three years and while it is a "low crowd" season, some resorts book up more than others. In fact, the first year I was there, my car transmission went out and I found myself stuck at the "happiest place on earth" for an additional five days while the local dealership got a new transmission installed! My resort was able to accommodate most of the additional days, except there was one day where the ENTIRE Walt Disney World resort was booked for some convention. They had only one room left out of all the properties, and I wound up having to stay at The Contemporary. I know, I know...boohoo. (It was nice, but expensive.) And, with all the south american cheer leading squads in town at the beginning of February, certain resorts may not have optimum availability for what you what when you want it.

I book my time as soon as I get my offered "max" discount, so I can begin paying it off. (BTW, the offered max discount percentage this year was less than previous years.)

It's never too late, as long as you're able to get a room. Don't forget though, booking on property at least 60 days out gives you advantage to making FastPass+ selections.

Best of luck and just do it! Maybe I'll even see you there!

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

It's actually somewhat easy to find FP+ for 1 the day before. I've had success getting 7DMT, Anna & Elsa, Wishes, TSMM and others the morning of when i'm by myself. So that's not a huge deal. The biggest problem would be hotel- but if you are flexible, you should be able to get a room somewhere. I have a trip vaguely planned for November 11- I have not even bought a flight yet. But then again, I can afford to be very flexible, as I'm staying with friends and relying on their CM discounts anyway.