when to start planning?

[rings]

how soon do you all start planning your trip? It's my firt time and we are off in january and i dont know when and where to start do i really need to plan it all out?

 

[KayleeUK]

Don't laugh...but I am always planning

I sort of know all of my PS's for our next trip.....Oct/Nov 2005! I am always making notes to help with my trips LOL

You haven't got long, you had better start planning NOW

 

[alexandra uk]

I'M STARTING TO PLAN FOR 2006

 

[allie5]

Never too soon to plan!!

You will have a much better holiday if you spend some time reading up and planning before you go. NOW is a good time to start! You may want to begin to start thinking about an itinerary, places you want to eat, whether you need to make any reservations (Priority Seating). I find it helpful to have a list of days the park opens early (EMH days) and plan to avoid them if you are staying off site, or make full use of them if you are on-site.

Once you have a rough idea what sort of holiday you want, you can then think about which attraction tickets to buy. If you have very small children (under 5) and its your first trip, then maybe a 10 day Disney Hopper would be better than trying to cram in Universal & IOA. If you are taking older children, then a 50/50 split maybe better...5 day Disney Hopper, 4 day Flex ticket for example.

Planning like this makes for a more relaxed holiday! My main planning tips would be:

Buy Simon's Brits Guide ASAP!
DONT try and cram too much into one holiday.
Be aware some Parks are busier on certain days than others.
Make your itinerary flexible.
Allow a couple of days to wind down from the parks and go shopping or do an airboat ride.
Keep reading the boards for great tips!

Have fun.....planning IS half of the fun for me!

Allie

 

[Miffy2003]

I've been planning for Dec 2004 for 15 months (!) and we've still got another 7 months to go...and my plans are in full force for August 2005 (just can't be definite until DH knows when he can get time off work)

I may be sad but I feel I am in good company on these boards!!

Karen

 

[rings]

thanks for all of thr replys how do i find out about the park opening times? also where such i got to eat any nice places also vegi and its just me and my boyfriend going so no children

 

[KayleeUK]

Here is a link to Park Hours and the Dis Restaurant Reviews

If you post a new thread on Vegetarian Dining I am sure you will get loads of replys

 

[MsPennieLane]

Hiya, I find planning is half the fun, I love it! We know what PS's we'll need for Christmas and when to book them, I have Simon's guide and a Passporter and am always on the boards looking for more info. We're going in December, hoping to go next year and we're going in 2006 with my mum and her partner. Have fun and enjoy the planning.

Anz

 

[signtalker]

Ive been planning since last year LOL, and we dont go to WDW again till 2005, we have a Vegas trip in just over 2 weeks , and Im already sussing out 2006 !!!!

Schedule for 2005, was practically finished today(and will be fine tuned untill the week before we go!).

Im always in planning mode!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TinkTatoo]

Well..... we are going in August which I booked right after we got back last year, and because both our children have Autism I don't "military"plan each day - I have an idea of which parks to do when and book a couple of PS's but then when we are there we play it by ear.

BUT .... I do plan holidays and have already booked our villa for 3 weeks in summer 2005 plus I know that we want to suprise the kids with 5 nights in Animal Kingdom Lodge after the villa and will book this if the $ strengthens or once the room rates come out later this year. I will book a flydrive 11 months out - once the airline releases prices.

With the great advice I recevied from the boards I have also planned to buy AP's for our 2005 trip (can't do it this year as I have ordered and paid for 30 day FITS tickets)

SO....... with the AP's in mind I contacted our villa owners for 2005 and booked their villa for another 3 weeks in summer 2006 I am also planning to get the most out of out AP's and am deciding which Disney hotel to book for 5-7 nights before the villa - currently thinking about POP as the kids would love it.

Sad I know but what the heck

 

[Duggas]

We're booked for next June and we've been planning that for at least 6 months already.
Also, we want to renew our wedding vows at Disney for our Silver Wedding Anniversary in 2010 and we have a tentative plan for that already as well!

I think the general message is that its never too early too plan, its more of a problem if you go without a plan.

 

[coppertop]

We are going in October this year and I have a fat A4 file full of details printed off the 'net which gives details of what we are doing every day. I have even got menus in each day's packet for where we are eating that evening. This file has been made out for months, but I am continually checking details on websites and making any small changes as and when necessary.

 

[shellbell]

We booked our trip on June 15th last year and have been planning ever since. It helps the time pass and its exciting planning everything, even though our plans change from week to week:thewave:

 

[fizz13]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one with Disney mania. When we went 2 years ago, my husband was sick of it before we even got there! OK, Maybe there is such a thing as obsession but this is
all part of the Disney experience and my holiday would not be the same if I didn't do this. All I can say is plan away and enjoy every minute of it!!