How soon to start planning?

DimpledDevil18

DimpledDevil18

Well-Known Member
Finally after over 5 years of being away from WDW (our last trip was Aug 2008) my family is shooting for a trip to Disney sometimes next summer. We aren't exactly sure of dates just yet because we have typically taken our trips in mid to late August. Now however I am living down South and am a teacher, so we would probably have to push our trip up a few weeks. As of right now we will definitely be shooting to spend 7 days in Disney with the possibility of adding it to 10 days for us to do Uni and Sea World. We will be planning to say on property just not sure where yet. We have typically stayed at values and gotten three rooms, but if we got a deal for a bigger moderate room it may be better off for us to stay there. We will also most probably be trying out the DDP for the first time.

I know it's still over a year away, but I absolutely cannot wait to begin planning! When is the earliest that you think I should be able to start?
 
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JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
Over 5 years since you went... start yesterday. I'd start pouring over the new guide books, researching the Disney sites to see what I've been missing out on. Get those planning schedules up and put down ideas of what you want to accomplish. Look at the new places to dine and the updated menus. Get on the Trip report section and review other's trips , decide on which resort best suits you. And by all means get on with your savings cause the cost of everything has increased since you were there last.
 
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Mikester71

Mikester71

Well-Known Member
We had been going every two years (up until this year :() and would immediately start thinking about our next trip upon returning from the trip we were on. We like to go for 10 days and visit a few other destinations in the beautiful Sunshine State while we are down there, so like to save up for two years between trips so that we have lots of spending money to go down with. Like my wife always says, we are on vacation and don't want to have to worry about whether or not we have enough money while down there. We only go every two years and are down there to have a good time and enjoy ourselves!

As for the WDW part of the trip, we don't usually do TS or the DDP, so we don't have to worry about ADR's and that 180 days out. You, on the other hand, will definitely want to keep your eyes open for that mark since you are going with DDP. We do like to go into our local CAA office and book our trip a year or so out though and put money down on it and then pay on it throughout the year. We find it makes the trip seem more like a reality and helps us count down the days until we are on our way.

Have fun planning and hope it flies by for ya! :)
 
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nc_disneyfreak

nc_disneyfreak

Well-Known Member
good ideas everyone! we (like some others) go every two yrs. (2010 and 2012 so far) I always start planning the day after we get back, and my fiance and kids get more excited when were about one yr out. its hard and sometimes feels like im spinning my wheels planning something that is still two yrs away, but it feels like im still there while im keeping up to date of all the construction news and photos, new menus and parades, etc....ok, so the REAL planning starts about one year away when we book our package and start making payments etc. its been 5 yrs since youve been and there is so much new things to get up to date on....like a previous poster said, get your hands on the updated guides, stay on these forums and dive head first....like you, our planning starts NOW for our april 2014 trip! happy planning!
 
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DimpledDevil18

DimpledDevil18

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Haha... Thanks guys! I guess I'm a bit overwhelmed on where to start exactly and I'm afraid of getting my hopes up if it winds up not panning out. My Dad wants to book it through AAA because he says he usually gets the cheapest rates through there. I don't think we can do that until it's a year out, right?

I guess the first part would be figuring out where we want to stay. There will be at least 5 of us going. (Possibly 7 if my brother and his future wife decide they want to come, but they are not big Disney people so I doubt it). We are all adults now, so squeezing 5 of us into one room is not an option. On our last trip we actually booked three rooms at Pop Century. (One for my parents, one for my sister and I, and one for my other brother who snores something awful!) We enjoyed Pop, but would like to maybe experience Art of Animation. Also I know they have family suites now and I wonder if a suite would be a better deal for us?

Then of course I'm already trying to decide where I want to eat! Le Cellier is my top, absolute, must get an ADR for, choice since I've never eaten there and have heard nothing but amazing things about. We always do the character breakfast at O'Hana, so that'll probably also be another must do. My family has also requested we eat at San Angel Inn again. We also enjoyed the 50's Prime Time Cafe, but I want to experience some new places too. Ahh, so many desicions!
 
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Disvillain63

Disvillain63

Well-Known Member
It's never to early to start planning. I've got a trip this September and October, and I'm already planning for March 2014 and thinking about the trip in 2015...we always took the kids just before they turned 3, so the DGS will be about to turn 3 in 2015...I foresee a trip to WDW!!!:cool:
 
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SkipperButler

SkipperButler

Active Member
DimpledDevil18 said:
Finally after over 5 years of being away from WDW (our last trip was Aug 2008) my family is shooting for a trip to Disney sometimes next summer.
Click to expand...

When you say next year, do you mean summer of '13 or '14?

DimpledDevil18 said:
We have typically stayed at values and gotten three rooms, but if we got a deal for a bigger moderate room it may be better off for us to stay there. We will also most probably be trying out the DDP for the first time.
Click to expand...

Since your last visit, Disney has gone BIG in the vein of Family Suites at the All Star Music and Art of Animation Resorts. These rooms can typically sleep up to 6 adults with two bathrooms, and a small counter area with sink, fridge, and microwave. If your brother and his fiance are going, then you could always add on another Standard Room.

At All Star Music, the Family Suites are near the Standard Rooms. At Art of Animation, the two room types are separated into different areas. The Suites are in the Nemo, Cars, and Lion King areas of the resort, and Standards in the Little Mermaid section. If you decide to do the Suite and Standard at Art of Animation, request a Lion King Suite since it is closest to the Little Mermaid area.

When it comes down to when you should start planning, lock in your travel dates as soon as possible. While you are waiting to lock in your dates, now is the time to research all the things you want to see including new rides, restaurants, and entertainment. When you finally know your dates, this will come in handy because you'll already know what you want to do and can then try to book everything in one shot.

Word of warning, because you are traveling with multiple parties, (parents, siblings, etc.) please know that the longer it takes to get everyone's travel times together the less amount of time you will have to make reservations, and things could be completely booked the longer you wait.
 
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