When should I start planning next trip?

[samsid99]

Hello, all. Back again for your valuable advice. This past trip to WDW in July was just so fantastic that we can't wait to get back. We will definitely be going back in July, but would really like to squeeze in a short holiday trip depending on what baragins I can find. My question is when do you start your planning? My last two trips have been package deals. What is the best way to go about planning a trip and paying for things in segments? Or can you do that? I am also seriously considering AP's for my self and two children. I have been looking at airfares for both July 2005 and feb. And they are awfully high, so I am thinking that airfare is better to wait?? Again, thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[mad4themouse]

As you can see from my tag, I'm never truly happy unless I'm planning a WDW trip!

We just got back on Sunday and I'm thinking that Sept. would be a nice time to go...room discounts, great airfare, the kids have 9/16 off for a Jewish holiday (and wee're not Jewish). They'd only miss a day of school, I've got an AP and two 5-day PHPs that are just aching to be used. Well, you get the picture. I would just need to convince my DH that I can swing it financially.

But, I digress. To answer your other questions:

• Making your ressies and paying for the various parts of the vacation in "chunks" makes it easier and seem less costly. I always find it easier to pay for what I can when the money is available, rather than waiting until vacation time to see if I have enough to cover it all.
• If you know that you will be making 2 trips less than 365 apart, buy the APs. You can buy each one separately or you can choose to make a major investment and purchase them all at once.
• Book your room when you know that you are going for sure. Use a travel agent that will check for AP discounts for you and apply the codes when they become available. It will save you time and aggrevation, not to mention the cost of making those long-distance calls. I like Dreams Unlimited (they sponsor these boards) but most agencies that specialize in Disney will do the same thing. You will not have to put more than one night's deposit down for the room and it is fully refundable up until 5 days prior to your arrival date. You can also make partial payments on your room anytime from the day that you reserve it up until you check in.
• Airfare is kind of tricky and you just never know when a bargain can pop up. Check daily for you dates. Don't forget to consider alternate airports both for departure and arrival. Changing your dates by one day earlier or later can result in BIG changes in price, so don't neglect to look into that as well.

Have fun planning (I know that I do)!

 

[Amirah95]

2 words...START NOW!

 

[canwegosoon]

YESTERDAY

Love to plan too...just keep wondering "Why can't I be at WDW now "

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Before we moved here, we always would have at least three trips in planning stages at all times. Our longest lead time for planning purposes was when me made out 12/23/99 to 1/3/00 reservations in November 1992

We also had a couple of sudden decision trips.

For Columbus Day Weekend in 2001 we got parking at Dulles, round trip air for two from Dulles, car rental and hotel on property for four nights for a total of $513. Having APs, we almost could not afford to not make the trip.

For the opening of Journey Into Imagination With Figment in 2002 we flew down on Thursday May 30 (very late) and went home on Monday June 3. The problem was we found out about the opening the evening of May 15, and on the 16th we each had to go into our bosses to tell them we had to make an emergency trip to Disney World.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I never start planning my next trip until the drive home from my last one. Would not want to miss a minute of the magic while I am actually there.

Slightly Goofy/Linda

 

[ceecee]

We always mean to resort hop to see where we want to stay next, but just have never found the time.

 

[flamom]

i just got back from disney and i'm back on the disboard planning my next trip(lol)i would love to go during christmas(i never have but have always wanted to) if not it will be next summer. i think the planning is part of the fun.

 

[KELLY]

I go once a year so I start to plan the minute i get back. But here is the trick I plan and re-plan to adjust for codes. But here is the problem with this I purchased South West for 430.00 round trip went down to 230.00 round trip yes this if for 2 adults. So I know have a credit I have to use by April 2005 so this means we may have to book a DC for March 2005 to use my credit or we will loose it. We were staying at a moderate and now because of the Sept codes can afford a Deluxe so AKL here we come. So I start with kind of a budget and than go yea ha when savings come my way. Oh by the way this September is my second trip in less than 6 months so plan and be happy. This is an example how it can get I started with a room only at Pop went to the 7 for 5 package at CBR husband threw an extra 300.00 to stay at a moderate. Now with the September Code I have a pool view room for 147.18 that's tax included and a special moussavers ticketmaina purchase of 5 day hopper and 4 options for a total with airfare of 1770.00 for seven nights. It does work out to be 200.00 more for the Deluxe but it is a pool view and my CBR room was just a standard. Hope this can give you and idea how nuts some of are.

KELLY