How far in advance can you book a trip?

[TakeMe2TheMagic]

I am ready for another trip, but DH and I are not planing on going for another 2 years. So I was wondering how far in advance can we book our trip? I want to book it as soon as I can so I can start obsessively planing :ROFLOL:

 

[Monty]

Staying on-site, you can book room-only at the resorts 499 days before your planned departure date. You can book packages when pricing is released in August of the preceding year [or up-grade your room-only reservation to a package] when they release the package pricing. You can book ADRs 180 days prior to your arrival date [if staying on-site] for an up to 10 day stay or 180 days in advance of the individual meal if staying off-site.

Off-site bookings can be made whenever the company or individual you're booking with is willing to accept [some take bookings two or three years in advance].

 

[Sam02]

Through Disney you can start by booking a room-only reservation 499 days out from the day of check-in. Then when the new hotel/ticket/dining plan rates come out you can convert it to a MYW package. When you originally book the room only you need to pay a deposit equal to one nights stay, then when you convert it you get a refund on that price and pay the $200 package deposit.

I don't know how it works for travel agents. I'm sure someone with Kingdom Konsultants could advise you on that.

BTW I'm counting down the days to my 499 day mark - 21 and counting.

 

[Monty]

Through Disney you can start by booking a room-only reservation 499 days out from the day of check-in. Then when the new hotel/ticket/dining plan rates come out you can convert it to a MYW package. When you originally book the room only you need to pay a deposit equal to one nights stay, then when you convert it you get a refund on that price and pay the $200 package deposit.

I don't know how it works for travel agents. I'm sure someone with Kingdom Konsultants could advise you on that.

BTW I'm counting down the days to my 499 day mark - 21 and counting.

Not wishing to throw a damper on your anticipation, but JPVonDrake has said the 499 days clock is counted back from your check-out date, not check-in. Have a look at this post.

 

[Kingdom Konsultant]

We have the same policies that Disney has.

Pam

 

[Sam02]

^Because of his post I called to verify. I did this because when I've called Disney to get answers to questions (I've been designated the planner for our family get together) I've been told 499 days from the day of check-in multiple times. So I called again just to be sure (I'm quite OCD that way, guess that's why they made me the planner...:ROFLOL and the rep I talked to verified with her supervisor that it is from the day of check-in. I guess now it will be verified once and for all when I go to book on Jan 20th.

 

[Monty]

^Because of his post I called to verify. I did this because when I've called Disney to get answers to questions (I've been designated the planner for our family get together) I've been told 499 days from the day of check-in multiple times. So I called again just to be sure (I'm quite OCD that way, guess that's why they made me the planner...:ROFLOL and the rep I talked to verified with her supervisor that it is from the day of check-in. I guess now it will be verified once and for all when I go to book on Jan 20th.

:ROFLOL: No worries, I'm OCD too! [Digging up JPVonDrake's post isn't something 'normal' people would do :shrug:].

 

[TakeMe2TheMagic]

thank you everyone for your answers. Looks like it will be another year before I can book our trip.

 

[coltow]

My first son was born in 2003, at the time I also had 1 neice (who's now 16) 1 nephew and 2 more nephews on the way. My sister and I had said that we should take 1 big family Disney trip before all the boys start school. We officially began to plan our August 2008 trip about 18 months out. We began by asking friends and family if anyone would be interested in going with us. 14 people agreed to go (with 3 still on the fence).

We then needed to pick a timeframe. We originally wanted October, but with 2 teachers and 2 kids in school we had to pick a summer time. I went in July 2006 and vowed never again so August it was. Then we looked at the 2007 hours to get an idea as to when the parks began to close early. Most people didn't care when we went so we selected the 12-20 flying mid week seemed to work out good for us in the past so we stuck with what worked for us. Once prices for 08 came out we booked with Marie @ KK, though had to downgrade from AKL to POFQ due to pricing.

We are now deciding on restaurants with our 180 days coming in February. See, so it's never really too early to start planning.