I'm often asked the question: How far out should I be planning my Disney vacation? My response: as soon as you know you want to go! Ideally, you would start planning at least 6 months out. That's a great time to order your free vacation planning DVD (click here). Here's a brief rundown of what to do when:
Six months out: Sign up for email updates on money-saving web sites. (Call or email me for a list of my favorites!) Check to see if Disney has any special events during your travel dates. (While some events add value to your stay, others might cause the parks to be more crowded or even to close earlier than normal.) Decide on a resort and make your reservation. (Deposits at WDW resorts are refundable until within 5 days of your trip, and you can call any time to change or cancel a reservation if you find a better deal). Start looking into flights and book if your travel dates are set and you find a good deal. (Note any fees to change/cancel reservations, and be certain of your plans before you book.)
Four to five months out: Decide what type of park tickets you'll need and purchase them from Disney or an official ticket outlet. Decide if you'll purchase the Disney Dining Plan (only available to those booking a Magic Your Way package--which is any package that includes tickets and resort stay). There are several different dining plans at Disney. Click here to see them.
Three months out: Check refurbishment schedules to see which, if any, attractions will be closed during your stay. (There's nothing you can do about this, but it helps to manage expectations if you know that, for example, that Space Mountain is closed until winter.) Make Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs). This is especially important for character meals, as the most popular ones fill up within hours if not minutes. If you're on the DDP, you'll want to make all your table service meal ADRs to be certain you can take full advantage of your plan. (You can always make changes, and those that require a credit card to hold the reservation are refundable until 48-hours before you dine.)
One to two months out: Check the park hours for your travel dates, and begin creating a touring plan. Decide which park(s) you'll be visiting on which days, and prioritize your attractions list. (If you attend a Disney 101 Boot Camp, you'll learn the best touring methods based on what attractions you want to see, as well as what days are best to visit each park.) Order your free customized maps, based on the attractions you want to see, here. This is also a good time to make arrangements for any pets you'll be leaving at home.
Ten days out: Complete on-line resort check-in. Re-check refurbishment schedule and park hours, as these are always changing. Confirm ADRs. Confirm ground transportation. If you'll be driving, program important addresses into your GPS. Start packing!
One week out: Check the Orlando-area weather forecast. Do final laundry and finish packing (don't forget necessary travel documents). Stop mail and newspaper service. Refill prescriptions. Let neighbors know you'll be traveling.
One day out: Double-check your packing list. Confirm pet arrangements. Set light timers. Get a good night's sleep!
The best Disney vacations are well-planned vacations. Happy planning!
Six months out: Sign up for email updates on money-saving web sites. (Call or email me for a list of my favorites!) Check to see if Disney has any special events during your travel dates. (While some events add value to your stay, others might cause the parks to be more crowded or even to close earlier than normal.) Decide on a resort and make your reservation. (Deposits at WDW resorts are refundable until within 5 days of your trip, and you can call any time to change or cancel a reservation if you find a better deal). Start looking into flights and book if your travel dates are set and you find a good deal. (Note any fees to change/cancel reservations, and be certain of your plans before you book.)
Four to five months out: Decide what type of park tickets you'll need and purchase them from Disney or an official ticket outlet. Decide if you'll purchase the Disney Dining Plan (only available to those booking a Magic Your Way package--which is any package that includes tickets and resort stay). There are several different dining plans at Disney. Click here to see them.
Three months out: Check refurbishment schedules to see which, if any, attractions will be closed during your stay. (There's nothing you can do about this, but it helps to manage expectations if you know that, for example, that Space Mountain is closed until winter.) Make Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs). This is especially important for character meals, as the most popular ones fill up within hours if not minutes. If you're on the DDP, you'll want to make all your table service meal ADRs to be certain you can take full advantage of your plan. (You can always make changes, and those that require a credit card to hold the reservation are refundable until 48-hours before you dine.)
One to two months out: Check the park hours for your travel dates, and begin creating a touring plan. Decide which park(s) you'll be visiting on which days, and prioritize your attractions list. (If you attend a Disney 101 Boot Camp, you'll learn the best touring methods based on what attractions you want to see, as well as what days are best to visit each park.) Order your free customized maps, based on the attractions you want to see, here. This is also a good time to make arrangements for any pets you'll be leaving at home.
Ten days out: Complete on-line resort check-in. Re-check refurbishment schedule and park hours, as these are always changing. Confirm ADRs. Confirm ground transportation. If you'll be driving, program important addresses into your GPS. Start packing!
One week out: Check the Orlando-area weather forecast. Do final laundry and finish packing (don't forget necessary travel documents). Stop mail and newspaper service. Refill prescriptions. Let neighbors know you'll be traveling.
One day out: Double-check your packing list. Confirm pet arrangements. Set light timers. Get a good night's sleep!
The best Disney vacations are well-planned vacations. Happy planning!
Good timeline!! When it comes to Disney, you can never plan too much!!
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