How far in advance do you plan your trips?

[them2854]

I'm always planning on when we'll go next. But actually putting things down and picking dates usually about 10-11 months out. Then narrowing things down from there.

 

[puppawuppa]

We try to go every year. Just the 2 of us so it's easier to plan. We start planning on the drive home. Discussing what we'll do next time, where to eat, start a countdown (336 days). We have a good game plan ready when it's time to make reservations in August ( for February trip). When we took the grandkids in October 2014, we planned and saved for 2 years.

 

[Garyjames220]

Well with me been in UK and it costing thousands to save. Normally about 2 and a half years in advance lol

 

[loves to dive]

I don't actually "plan". I go twice a year, F&G and F&W. My son has gone back to college after a stint in the Navy so if he thinks he might want to go during his break and we know when that is going to be, I'll start looking for rooms as soon as we know that date. If I'm going solo, I'll start looking for rooms about 3 months out but don't usually book until about 2 months out. If I make ADRs, which is rare, it is usually the night before or day of. FPs, again if I even book them,is usually the night before. When going for F&W, I try to book any special meals or seminars as soon as they are announced for AP holders.

 

[DWillowBay]

When I've paid off the upcoming trip, I start planning for the next trip. ADDICTION!

 

[aretha30]

We start planning a year out (usually right after we get home from our last trip) but don't book until about 200 days out. We like to play with where we will stay (moderate vs. value), and how many days we will be there. Once we make a final decision we book. I have to plan and play with everything, this holds me over until we are home again!

 

[alliecat523]

Wow...am I the only one that plans just 2-3 months out? LOL I can't stand waiting even that long to go. Can't imagine having to wait a year!

 

[DizDaD7]

Tomorrow will mark 1 week from the end of our last Disney trip and I'm already looking for when to go next, where to stay, WDW or DLR, etc.

Last year we booked 1 month after returning from a trip- 11 months in advance (renting DVC) but once plane ticket prices were released we had to adjust some dates and add a few nights.

So- how early do you start planning and booking?

It's never too early to start planning...That's what separates the diehards from the ordinary/ (I mean unordinary people)

Seriously, it's what makes the time go by when doing all the prep/homework needed to complete your Mission.....

 

[loves to dive]

Wow...am I the only one that plans just 2-3 months out? LOL I can't stand waiting even that long to go. Can't imagine having to wait a year!

Nope, that is usually when I book my resort, as I said I don't plan the other stuff, if at all until the night before or day of.

 

[Kimberly9701]

Wow...am I the only one that plans just 2-3 months out? LOL I can't stand waiting even that long to go. Can't imagine having to wait a year!

I'm with ya there! Before this trip 67 days was the farthest out that I've ever done. Had it not been for the DCL portion I would have never booked this far in advance..and never will again! To me it's actually more stressful lol

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Not quite a year, we "bounce back", and I literally started planning immediately!
It's half the fun!

 

[catfan98]

We started planning our April 2017 trip a couple of months ago...so about 14 months this time. Our last trip we didn't start planning until about 5 months beforehand. I didn't know how much planning there was to a WDW trip until I found this board!

 

[DisneyFan2013]

Tomorrow will mark 1 week from the end of our last Disney trip and I'm already looking for when to go next, where to stay, WDW or DLR, etc.

Last year we booked 1 month after returning from a trip- 11 months in advance (renting DVC) but once plane ticket prices were released we had to adjust some dates and add a few nights.

So- how early do you start planning and booking?

I book my hotel and airfare as soon as I know all the details regarding the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, which is around 4-6 months in advance. I plan all year round though.

 

[Parker Clan]

Our very first trip together in 2011 on check out day we pulled into a Publix parking lot called and booked a trip for the following year. We have gone every summer since and book around Dec.. Not too much time to wait!

 

[agavegirl1]

Currently planning our fall 2018 trip. I plan the budget well in advance so by the time I go it is paid for. I also get a general idea of resort and timing of the trip, how long to be in Orlando, what will be new and what to prioritize. All of this helps with the budget so it gets planned in. My last trip in 2014 began with three years of planning as well.

 

[karly05]

My 2016 trip is in 2 weeks, and I'm already pretty set on dates for 2017 and looking at calendars for the years beyond that.

As far as actual serious planning/booking, I won't do that until the 2017 rates come out this summer. Once the room rates are out, I'll probably get that booked by the end of summer. I won't plan park days until the easywdw crowd calendar comes out (shortly before my 180 day ADR mark). This year, I made only a couple of ADRs at 180 days, have made a few more since then, and am leaving some spots open during the trip, when I will look for some last minute ADRs, depending on whether I want TS, and what and where is available. (Advantage to being solo and flexible on where I eat.) I will look at available flights before I book the hotel, but won't book flights until about 3 months before the trip.

Like a lot of Dis-ers, I'm probably always at least mentally planning to some extent.

 

[Tomh]

We usually start planning in earnest in December for our August trip, so about 8 months.

 

[richkaryn]

I feel like I'm always "planning" (more like plotting ways to convince DH lol) my next Disney trip....usually starting on the way home from the latest trip! Sometimes it's a year or 2 between, then there was the time we did 3 time and a DCL cruise all within an 18 months span. (Though I wish that had been more planned/anticipated and we would have gotten APs. Considering APs this time and we live 9 hours away.) But DH is pretty cool...he plays it off like he's annoyed or doesn't want to....but he's always the one trying to convince me to add another day or two on. And he didn't even fuss when I suggested we try the Poly this time (we've always wanted to but haven't bit the bullet --or the dollar signs---yet. And he even said "If you can't get the Poly, at least try for another monorail resort." I would've just gone back to CBR if I couldn't get the Poly if he hadn't said that lol....

 

[Babs Johnson]

Wow...am I the only one that plans just 2-3 months out? LOL I can't stand waiting even that long to go. Can't imagine having to wait a year!

No, you're not the only one. I don't think I've ever planned any trip anywhere more than 2 months in advance. We might have a general idea of where we'd like to go 6 or more months in advance, but as for actually booking airfare, hotels, etc, nope. 6 weeks to 2 months is the norm.

Our last Disney trip in late October 2015 was booked in early September. Yes, I missed getting the 60 day FP+ for on site guests, but we managed to get everything we wanted, including 7DMT.

 

[georgina]

It varies. I'm thinking of dragging my DH back in Oct 2017 for F&W (also our 30th anniv). So that's like 19 months out. Don't really have any specific plans though. May try to rent DVC points for the first time (know that is a difficult time to get something at Epcot resorts), so I may try 11 months out for that. Then of course there are ADRs at 180 days, but if we go for F&W I don't expect to make many.