When to start planning for our next trip??

[Welivefordisney]

We are looking to go back to Disneyland in 2-3 years ( I wish it was sooner). How early do you start planning and booking?

 

[amw]

Well, I'm an anal-pre-planner I book my airfare one year ahead -- I need to, we use our aeroplan points and you need to snatch up the seats right away.

I started comparing hotels at that point, but I found in Anaheim that most places didn't provide quotes until 6 months before. Also, the 2007 passes were only available in August 2006 (unlike WDW where you can purchase them far in advance). Car rentals could be booked early too.

I guess it's never too early to start "planning." Realistically, 6 months is plenty of time for hotel, tickets, and car. Airfare depends on your situation. For my international flight -- a year, but for US national (ie southwest) I think you can only do them 4 months in advance

 

[Welivefordisney]

I think I am just really really excited about going again and the thought of starting the planning makes it more REAL

 

[blackjackdelta]

We always start about nine month's before. There are 6 of us and finding the right accomadations is sometimes difficult. We quit buying the packages, too much of a financial penalty if things do not work out.

Jack

 

[darph nader]

Well,we were there in May of 05.My DD says"Ok,lets come back in 08". No prob. Last Sept we do a spur of the moment weekender. Still planing for 08 though.
(now if the lottery would cooperate)

 

[funnygarcia]

I start planning as soon as I get home and start missing Disneyland!!

Actually, I usually have tentative plans (looking at school calendars and predict a month that will work) that start in fall for spring/summer trips. Then bang out dates about 4 months in advance. Finalizing dates based on air fare rates.

My last trip was such a wirlwind, planned it out in less than 3 weeks!

I find I pay a little too much with short planning time. But when I plan many months in advance it becomes agony to find the best deal and then second guess "but was it the cheapest rate??".

Sadly not sure when I will be back.
Need to quit the extras to save for a house.
Might squeeze in another solo trip a year from now.

 

[Danauk]

I'm planning a trip which is 18 months away! We have tentative plans and have done a lot of research so far and will continue to do so. These plans will probably change a few times before they are finalised as I learn more info and decide that I want to do more things. We will book the room probably 11 months before we travel and then book the air travel and rooms for the rest of the trip over christmas time (the air companies have sales on then) which will be 8 months before we go.
I love the whole planning stage, I guess I think that if I do a lot of research before hand if things don't go to plan then I have enough knowledge to make better judgements to go with the flow.
Happy planning.

 

[AZMickeyfans]

We start planning right after we leave. Planning is half the fun IMO! It's never too early to get into the DL frame of mind!

 

[melmacd]

On our last trip (05), we started talking about going back to DL before we had even left the park! We decided that we really wanted to take DD for her 5th birthday (this coming April).

Then in early January we went and purchased the air/hotel/tickets. I can't wait!

Good luck and happy planning!

~mel

 

[spazzyjazzy]

I book as soon as I get my taxes in February for our June or July trips every year.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

We took our first trip ever last September, and I started reading DL guide books in December/January. The deals for hotel, airfare and park tickets generally don't start until 3 months or so ahead, so I think I booked in January for an April trip. That one had to be canceled, but I was able to re-book in June for the September trip. I tell ya, that wait from April to September seemed like forever!

And you can make restaurant reservations (for character meals or other sit-down restaurants) 60 days in advance, and I believe Fantasmic dessert buffet tickets 30 days in advance.

 

[XTinabell]

I plan right away but I don't book anything until about 4 months in advance, I seem to find the best seat sales around that time and 4 months isn't a super long time to wait so the time goes by a lot quicker.

 

[kelmac284]

I plan trips years in advance as well but THIS far in advance it is mostly just getting an itinerary on my computer of what I think I want to do. I don't book rooms till probably 6 to 9 months in advance depending on when I want to go.

For example we were planning a summer trip this year which is busy season and I know you can't even BEGIN to book rooms usually till after JAN for the current year.

So I was going to book rooms in March for June.

I think you may have to go a bit farther in advance if you want REALLY busy times or a certain hotel but as long as it is 6 month or around there I have never had a problem.

We live close so airfare has never been an issue but for our WDW trips we book usually a year in advance although I don't think we HAVE to.

I think esp for Disneyland 3 or 4 months in advance is max needed unless it is a REALLY busy time you plan to go.

 

[Welivefordisney]

Thank you for all the input, I really appreciate the insight. I suppose I can just hang out on the Dis for the next 2 years and get GREAT ideas!! It is a matter of plugging in the dates and getting the reservations. Thanks!!