How do you like to book?

[KCheatle]

For years now, I've been a big fan of taking my time before I book. I plan for months. Picking the exact dates we'll go, the exact times I want for dining and other reservations. I like to rough draft a schedule, and then revise it when park hours to come out, and then mull it over for awhile before I actually hit "Book". I really thought that was my preference for booking (given my admittedly OCD tendencies...).

BUT, this weekend, I threw an entire trip together in under 48 hours! And, I LOVED it!

Are you a "Mull-it-over" or a "spontaneity" booker???

 

[Tom]

We used to be like your first example. But now we're like your second example

 

[G8rchamps]

We only live 2.5 hours away so we often book quick trips spur of the moment. I always cheks the rates online, check prices off property just to see what the rates are for that perticular time, and then I always call to make my final booking just to be sure I don't miss any discounts.

With all that- I have a conference for 2.5 days in June and our whole trip for the week around it is planned out to the day, park, ADR, and at 60 days FP+.

Enjoy your trip- I cal litterally feel your excitement from this post and the how many days one!!!!

 

[epcotisbest]

Short notice booker here. Wife is running the Princess half marathon in a few weeks and just booked room the other day. We have booked as early as the day before. Once booked same day when we stopped at the old welcome center place in Ocala while driving down from north Georgia. We were headed to an offsite condo and when we stopped there in Ocala they had some room specials, so we grabbed one and stayed onsite a couple of nights before heading on to our original destination. That Disney Welcome Center in Ocala has been closed for years, but it used to be a must for us to stop there.

 

[skimbob]

I am a planner since a trip to WDW requires airfare as well as lodging. I am also usually racing while I am there so I have to map out my plans.

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

Ahead of time usually. However, in February of 2008 and 2011, we just decided to go to Disney World and had luck getting hotels and Advanced Dining Reservations.

 

[lunchbox1175]

As soon as I know when the trip is, I start looking at park hours and then look to make dining reservations. I usually have everything done within a day.

 

[graphite1326]

I plan months ahead and take a plan with me to the park. However, it's not really a plan but more like guidelines.

actually it lists the attraction I want to see most at the top and other attractions if we have time at the bottom. Plus it has our FP+ times and any Reservations we may have.

 

[Boardwalker]

We get the urge around 2-3 months post trip. We then start planning for about 6months out. We have a place we want to stay, and a back up plan. Always on the grounds. Not to big on the adrs, but that may change next time.

 

[NintendoDS]

We usually book around 3 - 4 weeks before leaving. Normally it isn't a problem since we don't go to many ADR's (last trip we just did all Counter Service since we had free Quick Service dining) and we try to go during slow times so room availability isn't an issue.

 

[Avenger117]

I spent a couple months finding a good date to go, making a list of potential ADRs, and a rough itinerary. Then I send it to the travel agents to nail down all the specifics and book the ADRs. Its easy and I still get to do some of the planning.

 

[SMS55]

We're Florida residents so it's not too hard to drive 3.5 hours. We've done spur of the moment trips in the slow season. Lately we book when the Florida resident rates come out because even the value resorts aren't such a value anymore. We'll pick some dates down the road. Sometimes it's about a month away and sometimes it's 3 months away. We"ll do value resorts because we're always in the parks. We aren't fans of dining reservations. You're too set into a schedule. That's too much like routines at home. Since we drive we also have he luxury of getting something to east on 192. We get gift cards to restaurants during the holidays and birthdays so that's come in handy.

 

[WDWVolFan]

Mull it over!

We don't live near WDW (9 hours driving) and besides I like to plan things and the planning just brings me closer to The World!

 

[Pocahontas]

I like to book quickly but thoughtfully. Efficiency is key, although everything must be the way I want. It takes me a week probably to figure everything out. I usually just write everything down then call to make it official.

 

[Lord_Vader]

We usually spend a couple weeks deciding which resort(s) to stay in next, make a few final timing decisions and make our reservations at least six months out so that if we decide to eat at a few TS restaurants we have time to make those decisions in advance.

 

[R W B]

I don't understand what takes so long to plan a trip? I might wait to book a little while to see if discounts come out but I can plan a week long trip in a hour, I've done it lol. Sure that was only one trip but for my others, we get it done within a day or 2 tops. I guess involving kids takes extra time but I don't see it taking weeks or months to plan lol.

I've planned and booked a week trip before only 8 days out, it was a slow time and we only do a couple ADRs, (don't like being tied down) but it can be done. I also live 10-11hrs drive time away.

 

[JohnD]

I've done both. I'm a Florida Resident as well and planned a 9/29-10/5 trip last year for months. But then there was an Orbitz special to stay at values for as low as $63. The offer came out right around Halloween. I jumped at it and stayed Veterans Day weekend with check-in on Sunday and check out Tuesday from AS-S.

 

[acishere]

There is a lot of "Yeah we should all go when ___ opens" for a while. Then when that happens there is a few months of trying to figure when people are available. Then there is the actual pricing of the trip at different times, hotels, and airlines. Then a month of "what is better for you?" Then when everyone actually gives a final answer it is booked. Then I worry about reservations and such. I have honestly no clue what MM+ is going to do to any of this either since I'm taking a year off and haven't looked into it.

I usually shop around using Google, Kayak, and Trip Adviser for the prices.

 

[Allym146]

We are at the mercy of getting time off of work since my H is a small business owner. So we plan out about 6 months in advance, figure out how long we can get off and make sure things are covered, then book. Then in the next couple months I figure out logistics.

 

[Glasgow]

Must plan in advance due to work but i really like the planning, research, details, etc. Shhh .. dont tell my DW!