Farthest Out you've started planning

jkl2000

jkl2000

Well-Known Member
We were last at WDW Oct 2013. Our next trip is planned for some time in the latter three quarters of 2017! (#2 son will turn 8 then, and that's when he feels he'll be ready for some of the bigger rides, which I think is correct.) BTW, I owe you all a trip report - woefully overdue!!

I've gotten the bug and got the 2016 Unofficial Guide - so I'm immersed somewhat but just for fun. And, we've started saving for the trip using the online service Digit, which takes a little money from your bank account every few days and hoards it away - a fun way to save. It does it in such a way that you feel no pain, using their own algorithms.

But I really don't know the dates at all yet. The plan is that #1 son will be a freshman in college (why am I not using Digit for that? :) ) so getting away from school might be a touch easier. We'll see.

Anyway, I know it's hard without firm dates, but anyway, if you knew you were about 1 & 1/2 to 1 3/4 years out, how much would you be planning? Maybe the fantasizing for fun, and reading up for fun is the best way, until we're one year out.
 
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The Mighty Tim

The Mighty Tim

Well-Known Member
Upon returning from the September 2012 trip, we started working out when the next trip would be. Originally it was going to be 2014, but that was quickly moved to September 2015. We didn't decide on firm dates until about 18 months out, and didn't book the trip until last October.

Having returned from that trip a couple of weeks ago, planning is already underway (at least in my head) for the next potential trip in 2018!



(Incidentally, the longest time I've ever had between booking any trip and departing on said trip was when I went to the Winter Olympics in Torino. The Games took place in February 2006, and I had my tickets booked and paid for by December 2004!)
 
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Wendy Pleakley

Wendy Pleakley

Well-Known Member
I usually have an idea of when I might go again about a year in advance. Booking varies. I like to book a minimum of six months out because of ADRs and such, but I've booked closer to the date if a trip is contingent on a certain deal (such as free dining).

Right now I'm thinking of January 2017 or Fall 2017, which I'd say is the earliest I've ever planned a trip. I use the term "planned" loosely because I'm just thinking about it, not scheduling anything.

I'm looking at the January crowd calendar and noting there are some deals being offered for January 2016, and that's why I'm thinking it might be a good time to go. The other consideration is waiting until later in the year for Avatarland to be open. I'm just not sure I can wait that long, and it's not like I won't see Avatar on a future trip.
 
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DisneyFans4Life

DisneyFans4Life

Well-Known Member
Seeing these threads reminds me of how lucky I am to be in Tampa. My wife and I are passholders and we are at Disney pretty much every other weekend (we actually are at Disney three weekends in October alone). When we plan for a long stay...we typically decide where we want to stay. If it's a more expensive hotel, then we know we need to have more time to save and then from there...estimate what time of year that would put our vacation in.We did 8 nights back in June and planned and booked everything around Thanksgiving time. We have a few days already booked in March staying at AoA and we're already talking about another shorter trip in July.

At this point, you could start looking at which resort you want to say at and possible dining options. You wouldn't be able to book any dining reservations right now, but you can still look at options/prices and start getting some ideas for budgeting.
 
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JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
I'm fantasizing and reading all the time. Disney is never very far from me whether a trip is in the works or not. I keep a Disney preplan/wish list at my fingertips where I'm constantly adding ideas and new plans for future trips. And my packing list is there also so I can make adjustments as I think of them. But when I'm about a year from a trip, I begin the trip preplan by viewing changes to the parks, restaurant menu items and attractions. I start getting info together about park refurbs, hours, and start planning out ADR's. So when its time to book ADR's & FP+ I'm as ready as I can be.
 
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Figgy1

Figgy1

Well-Known Member
My planning starts the minute we start our drive home even if we have no clue when we can get back. That said I try and book lodging at least a year out once we have our school calendars. Right now I'm trying to figure out what ADRs I want to make for August 2016.
 
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James J

James J

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
My trip next month was booked at the start of July last year, so I've been planning on and off ever since! It's the first time I'm going where I'm the only one who has been before, so all of the planning, booking ADR's, FP+ etc has been done by me. I do enjoy doing it though!
 
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Chernaboggles

Chernaboggles

Well-Known Member
I confess, I reserved our upcoming trips (Oct 2015 and January 2016) back in February 2014, so nearly two full years in advance. The house we like to rent is very popular in winter, and I wanted to make sure we'd have it.
 
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DisneyDelirious

DisneyDelirious

Super structures are my specialty!
Premium Member
Well, I start planning in earnest during the trip I'm on. Making notes about if kids have "outgrown" a dining experience, or really loved something new we tried. At around 500 days out, I get the room reservation, and then the planning starts getting more detailed when I can change the reservation over to a package and then gets busier as I approach the 180 day mark. Sadly, then time largely slows down for me, as my wife does the shopping for items needed for during the trip. The next trip to WDW that hasn't been booked already can be booked in 104 days, which is January 14, 2016 for a May 28, 2017 trip. Not that I really keep that close of a watch on the calendar ;)
 
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BigHero4

BigHero4

Well-Known Member
I start immediately after the last trip... as like most everyone else here, we are sick, obsessed Disney planners! A little OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disney.

I'm currently about 375 days removed from our last trip. I've been researching and planning just about every day since we got back, and the next trip isn't for another 800 days.
 
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Tinkerfan4ever

Tinkerfan4ever

Well-Known Member
Normally we plan our trip about a year out so we can book our DVC at 11 months.

My sister and her family wants to come with us, but since it will be a once in a lifetime trip for them, we are waiting until their youngest is 40 inches tall. By our guess... that will be around spring 2018! And we are looking at DVC resorts now. So by that count we are about 2.5 years away.

My family will certainly go between now and then, but we are already planning the big trip with them. (Which is ok with me since I love planning)
 
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Tony the Tigger

Tony the Tigger

Well-Known Member
Typically just a few months, or whenever hotel deals are announced. We've gotten into a routine of getting APs every other year and taking short 2-3 day trips in January, April, September, and one other time between October and early December.

That said, for the first time I've been planning something more than two years out, as I want to have our 10 year anniversary dinner at V&A, which will be in Sept 2017. I'll have almost 2 years to save up points on the Dis Visa,so however much we save will determine where we stay.
 
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jkl2000

jkl2000

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
DisneyFans4Life said:
Seeing these threads reminds me of how lucky I am to be in Tampa. My wife and I are passholders and we are at Disney pretty much every other weekend (we actually are at Disney three weekends in October alone). When we plan for a long stay...we typically decide where we want to stay. If it's a more expensive hotel, then we know we need to have more time to save and then from there...estimate what time of year that would put our vacation in.We did 8 nights back in June and planned and booked everything around Thanksgiving time. We have a few days already booked in March staying at AoA and we're already talking about another shorter trip in July.

At this point, you could start looking at which resort you want to say at and possible dining options. You wouldn't be able to book any dining reservations right now, but you can still look at options/prices and start getting some ideas for budgeting.
Click to expand...

Our last trip I planned a little under 6 months out. We had no free dining, and to be honest we weren't table service people at WDW. I think we only had three table service meals in a whole week. But after that trip I get the offers from Disney so we'll see.

Now that I'm back on this forum, can anyone tell me if that Scottish guy is still around? He was planning some big last bash at WDW. Can't remember his name but I loved his posts.
 
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G00fyDad

G00fyDad

Well-Known Member
3 years. We try to go to WDW every other year, but a couple of times (in fact, currently) we had to postpone another year. Most recently it was due to a job change for me. I am no longer working in Law Enforcement. I am using my BSCJ in the field of substance abuse counseling. This job came at a bad time to plan a trip so close to its start so we postponed a year. Although I am planning the trip for next year, I am already planning our 2018 trip.
 
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Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Premium Member
jkl2000 said:
Now that I'm back on this forum, can anyone tell me if that Scottish guy is still around? He was planning some big last bash at WDW. Can't remember his name but I loved his posts.
Click to expand...
Real Mad Hatter left these forums some time ago, due to a misunderstanding and harsh words exchanged between several members.
 
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