How far out do you plan the next trip?

[LetsGoAgain]

So, we have decided to go in May and December of next year. I was going to start planning but didn't know where to start since it is a ways away.

How far out do you start planning? What kind of plans do you put together?

Right now we are just trying to think about how we want our days to go. Commando or relaxed. Lots of character dinners or just a couple. We already know we are staying off site and will purchase APs. I can't wait for our trips. I am hoping they will do the free dining and I can convince DH to squeeze in an on property stay in September 09!

Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[disneygirl1]

I usually start planning my trip about a year to 9 months out! We went to Disney in October last year and I started seeing hints of the Christmas decorations and decided that I wanted to go in the winter of '08, so I booked by upcoming December trip on New Years day!

The anticipation and planning of the trip is just so much fun!

 

[Tinkerbella16]

We usually wait a few months after we get back from wdw to plan the next one. The past few years we've been planning our trips about 8 months in advance. It builds the excitement, knowing that we are going again so the anticipation is just awesome! This year I planned our whole trip for November by myself, booked it 6 months in advance...much better that way and it made it even more exciting. I was supposed to take a solo trip bc no one wanted to go...then I booked it and my mom decides to go so I was very excited about that. I knew by me just booking it, someone would get jealous and wanna go. We are just going to play each day by ear and take our time with things... cant wait!!!

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

We fly to WDW on December 25th 2008 :sohappy::sohappy: We booked the trip in May 2007. We had to know at that stage on what dates the schools went back in January 09 so we knew when we had to fly back.

 

[DisneyPirate85]

It seems we are always planning. We usually start our next trip before we go on current one and we go twice a year July 4th week and Christmas time:lol:. We always look for specials but since buying into DVC and getting an AP for the most part its pretty easy anymore.:wave:

 

[magicalmemories]

I just made our May 2009 reservations. I havn't done more than that (like planning the days or eating, YET!) I as soooo looking forward to it. I like the planning as well, but we usually just kind of go with the flow. Have a select few MUST DOS, but with a special needs child, we go by her schedule and needs. Usually works well, and we get in what we were looking forward to.
Can't wait till May!!

 

[devoy1701]

We started planning out Dec 2009 trip to Disneyland this past May...that would be 20 months out...

I'm a sucker for planning!

 

[Tinkwings]

Always trying to figure out how to get there I suppose, but usually start mentally planning actual logistics as soon as we get home....then it's a matter of consulting the school calendar since I now have a high schooler and am doomed to comply with high season prices and crowds....but alas I figure it's better to go configure your day around the crowds, absorbing the higher resort costs....than NOT GO AT ALL!!!:king:

I start searching for what I know to be the best airfare and once I seal that up, I call the resort....and third, purchase tickets before the annual increase in August...then it's a matter of racking up Disneycard points to help offset the food budget, and figure out how to save/sell things on ebay to finance the rest....I really tried to get a heap of ADR's this year but the darn switch has left me in limbo....the hotel has my requests and says they will input them ahead of callers when the system comes up....:lookaroun....sure hope that goes smoothly....I sure wouldn't want to be in THEIR shoes that first day with the onslaught of people calling for the busy season. This year I made ADR's almost every night and figure I can always cancel once we get there and plans change....:animwink:

 

[Tinkwings]

WOW Devoy your fist DL trip....now that is something I would like to plan....sure wish I had some local friends or relatives....

 

[CuriousDeGeo]

As soon as we leave the exit gates.... Ok not exactly but we generally have a rough plan of what we want to do right after our vacation and then start the real planning about 8-10 months out.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

As soon as we leave the exit gates.... Ok not exactly but we generally have a rough plan of what we want to do right after our vacation and then start the real planning about 8-10 months out.

Basically...I'm always planning,wishing,and hoping.

 

[pcarathers]

Um, we're going to the World in December of this year and I'm already planning a large family trip for 2010. There will be about 20 of us, so I'm already narrowing down resort choices, and what I think the others will want to do. Of the 20, 4 of us have been several times & 3 others went with us last year, so I want to make this an extra special trip for them because they will probably never make it back. So I've already got a basic itinerary ready, resort choices, possible meals, etc.

Yes, I'm a sick person. :lol:

 

[CBug88]

Sometimes, I don't think the planning ever really ends/starts. Even in WDW, I start thinking about new things I would like to see and do the next time I visit. As soon as we get home we start organizing ideas, then we usually make reservations a/b 6-8 months before (at least this time we did, it has been earlier in past years!)

 

[shoppingnut]

Always planning, always scheming for another trip. It never ends.

BTW since you are buying AP's depending on when you go in December there might be an AP rate and there are usually AP rates in May, so it might end up less expensive to stay on property. Just something that you should keep in the back of your mind.

 

[RussJT]

We start planning the moment we leave... even if we know it is going to be two years before our next one. On the way home after each trip we discuss what we liked and would therefore want to do again and what we might want to do differently on the next trip.

 

[Jessie&Buzz]

I just booked our trip for Oct 09 tonight. We have 14 months to plan. I've been keeping up on things and talking with my daughter about what things we want to do. My hubby on the other hand doesn't want to talk about or even plan it until closer. He does know he has to help pick meals before our 180 day mark but that's about as much as he'll do.

 

[susieqt83]

I'm going on my first solo trip next May, and I've been "casually" planning for the past month or so. Just racking up ideas on how I want to spend my days and whatnot. It's adding to my excitement!!!

 

[santa's surpriz]

I am with ya on the 14 month mark. Last trip was Decemberr 2007. We are going back January 2009. I think I started planning the next trip about a week after returning! I am still planning even with 5 months to go I am still tweaking the schedule. Adding more days and trying not to go over board, but that never works out well! I cannot do budget trips very well. I plan each trip as if it were last vacation ever! No matter how long we stay 5-12 days always spend just about the same amount of money. I save more in some areas and splurge in others so it averages about to be same. Luckily it is just me DD6, so I only have to think about what we like...planning is obsessive!