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How Far In Advance...
- Thread starter britdaw
- Start date
FLDIS86
Member
You are not alone. I booked my vacation plans in Jan and our trip is coming up in May. You have to make reservations for ADRs way in advance if you want open ended pickings of your favorite restaurants. I'm in a pickle right now with reservations because someone in my group decided they wanted to go to Animal Kingdom our first day there when I already had planned for us to be in Epcot, so all my dinning reservations had to be canceled and I am attempting to get the same places for the next evening...proving impossible. You can plan as much as you want but something always happens to change them. Have a back-up plan that's what I always make sure to do! Good luck.
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As a rule I take a vacation every 4 months or so... my Disney vacations usually happen every May for the most part. So technically all the reading I do on the boards all year constitute the start of my perpetual planning for the next visit. LOL
But in actuality, I usually book sometime in February and make ADRs etc around that same time, so I guess about 3 months ahead of time. That means I'm really never getting 180days out reservations. But I can usually get things that appeal to us.
Perhaps I will be more diligent for 2012 (2011 is Disneyland so no need) so I can get ADRs for the Rose and Crown to coincide with Fireworks, and the chef's table for V&As.
But in actuality, I usually book sometime in February and make ADRs etc around that same time, so I guess about 3 months ahead of time. That means I'm really never getting 180days out reservations. But I can usually get things that appeal to us.
Perhaps I will be more diligent for 2012 (2011 is Disneyland so no need) so I can get ADRs for the Rose and Crown to coincide with Fireworks, and the chef's table for V&As.
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IndyDisney
Member
Like said before, I'm usually in some stage of perpetually planning our next trip. I usually start a year out looking at dates and getting a loose budget together. I usually book 7 to 8 months out and prep my ADRs to be ready for the 180 day mark. At about 90 days I start my hourly scheduling outline. Granted, we rarely stick to it, but at least it's a list of stuff we're to do during our trip.
Cheers,
Indy
Cheers,
Indy
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Mongomil
Well-Known Member
I have done a few different times. But I now try to start about the 185-190day out mark so that way I can figure out my ADRs before the time starts. I dont like planing that far out but if we dont get our ADR's then we dont get what we really want. But once they are done I try to forget about planning to much untill about a month out. But one thing is I just cant stop looking at info. So I guess I am always planning. My wife asked me to say out loud "Hi, I am Mike and I am addicted to Disney World." BUT I WOULDN"T but I am.
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PurpleRose
Active Member
This trip isn't really mine to plan. I was just invited and all the ADRs and such had already been planned. But typically once I have the date set, about 4 months out or so is when my planning gets in gear. Scheduling ADRs and whatnot. Right now I'm 12 days out from my next trip and I already have my bag packed for the plane. :sohappy:
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HouCuseChickie
Well-Known Member
It depends on the trip. Up until our Dec trip...we just kind of went with very little planning. That also probably came from my time living in FL, where I could just hop in the car and be at WDW in a few hrs. Our Dec trip was our girls' first trip- so I spent years planning. In fact, DD2 wasn't even born when I started planning. What's funny- we're going back in August (will wind up being about 6 mos of planning) and I'm having planning nightmares...not b/c I'm having any problems, but b/c there's really no planning for me to do right now...planning withdrawal!!! :lol:
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ShookieJones
We need time for things to happen.
Well i have to go through the initial stage after we get back from our trip to convince my wife we should go on another trip....otherwise i would start planning my next trip a week before we left on our current one. This way i wouldnt have that feeling as the vacation week wore on like...shoot its almost over
!!!!
!!!!
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Mikester71
Well-Known Member
Oops...didn't finish reading the thread title before I voted and voted for the wrong option! :ROFLOL: Although I voted for "at least a year" and we do book, start paying and plan somewhat for the trip that far out, we mostly wing it as soon as we get down there. Never decide what park we are going to hit up on any given day until the night before or the day of.
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CAPTAIN HOOK
Well-Known Member
We last travelled in December 2008 - that was booked in Feb 2007 !!!!
Our next trip will be August 2013
We're already pricing it up, looking at the park hours and EMH schedules for this August. By the time 2013 comes around, the planning will be more involved than that for the last shuttle mission :ROFLOL:
Our next trip will be August 2013
We're already pricing it up, looking at the park hours and EMH schedules for this August. By the time 2013 comes around, the planning will be more involved than that for the last shuttle mission :ROFLOL:
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TxNewsies
Member
I am a major planner and hate doing things at the last minute. Plus, we take advantage of making payments through Disney and the earlier we book the longer we have to pay off the trip.
But we also have different plans every year for our trips - meaning people joining us. Our trip last summer - we didn't book until 8 months before but we had to planned for a year and a half since we were going with family. Same thing with our trip this summer with friends. I'm ready for summer 2012 for my dad is joining us with my little sister (she will be 10) for her first trip!! I can't wait to experience Disney with her! She has been begging dad to go to Disney World. It is going to be so much fun!!!
But we also have different plans every year for our trips - meaning people joining us. Our trip last summer - we didn't book until 8 months before but we had to planned for a year and a half since we were going with family. Same thing with our trip this summer with friends. I'm ready for summer 2012 for my dad is joining us with my little sister (she will be 10) for her first trip!! I can't wait to experience Disney with her! She has been begging dad to go to Disney World. It is going to be so much fun!!!
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zurgandfriend
Well-Known Member
I start planning my trips on the DME as I head to the airport. Usually 12-18 months in advance.
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baanman
New Member
8 Months
It has turned into a tradition.
Get our taxes finished. See how much of the trip our refund will fund.
Make reservations in March for October.
Purchase air as soon as schedules are available since rates will only be going up as the time gets closer.
As soon as October hours are posted, plan dining.
At day 180, make dining reservations online. It has been pain free for us, however, some folks have run into issues with the online dining.
Next, we think of a creative way to surprise the kids. We are running out of ideas though.
Then, the planning is over and we relax.
It has turned into a tradition.
Get our taxes finished. See how much of the trip our refund will fund.
Make reservations in March for October.
Purchase air as soon as schedules are available since rates will only be going up as the time gets closer.
As soon as October hours are posted, plan dining.
At day 180, make dining reservations online. It has been pain free for us, however, some folks have run into issues with the online dining.
Next, we think of a creative way to surprise the kids. We are running out of ideas though.
Then, the planning is over and we relax.
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CAPTAIN HOOK
Well-Known Member
Don't tell them, leave them at home and see how long you're gone before they notice :shrug:
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Spike-in-Berlin
Well-Known Member
Being German a trip to WDW is not just a simple disney-trip down to Florida but a trip to the USA so the Disney-planning is part of the entire vacation planning which has to be done at least 6 months ahead. However the length of the stay at WDW expanded from one day in 1982 to 11 days last time and the next time it will be at least 12 days to two weeks, so it has consumed nearly the entire length of the trip.
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iconjunkie
Member
We booked our trip 7 months before hand. We knew we were going in May, so we called in October. However, we didn't start seriously planning the itinerary until December when myself and my friend who is coming with me could actually meet face to face and plan it all out on paper.
Now that all the major stuff is done (including final payments), it feels weird not having anything to do besides wait.
Now that all the major stuff is done (including final payments), it feels weird not having anything to do besides wait.
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