what kind of planning do you do a year out?

BuzzLightyear · 06-07-2005

Just curious as to any planning ideas for a trip that is a year away.

I just wait and wait till I can at least book the resort and plane tickets.........

tiggerfan74 · 06-07-2005

We talk about our trip constantly. We are always trying to figure out exactly what we are gonna do on which day. We already have our hotel booked and paid for and we have already recieved our Florida res. PAPs. We aren't going till FEB. WE are planners and that is fun for us. My DFIL and DBIL are making fun of me for planning so far in advance, but when I have a room at the WL for a great price and they don't, we'll see who's laughing !!! Anyway, we love to plan for the trip. It is part of the experience for us.

Baloo85 · 06-07-2005

Talk about your trip!
Watch Disney movies!
Talk more about your trip!

**DisneyTeacher** · 06-07-2005

At a year out I do a lot of talking about my trip. I also have my room booked if the dates are pretty firm. I then start looking over the menus on AllEars and start thinking about where I want to eat.

Soundgod · 06-07-2005

A year out, just a rough plan for which resort and potential dates. I don't get into the meat of planning until two months out, with my dining plans firmed by one month before. As always, my trips revolve around fireworks, so I have to wait that long before an accurate schedule is posted by Disney.

robinmouse · 06-07-2005

I read EVERYTHING on the web, to the point that my family is threatening me if I don't share the computer. And I look at pictures of prior trips to remind myself what to do differently (or do again).

CaribBeachNut · 06-07-2005

We watch the new video and talk about the restaurants we may want to visit, what rides are on our favorite's list, what we will skip, what building in CBR we should stay at, and pull out the pictures from previous trips and look them over. Going to All Ears on the internet and looking at the photo galleries of the hotels is nice to do while playing a cd of our favorite wdw songs.

**Dana** · 06-07-2005

The best planning to do a year out is picking the resort and saving money. Once you actually book the resort of your choice, breakdown the costs for everything by day. Make an envelope for each day with the things you are going to need money for and their estimated cost. Every week put $20 in and seal the envelope when the amount is totaled. This is a great way to have a paid in full trip with no charging on the credit cards. You can do one for airfare, transportation and then an indiviual one for each day. I do this every trip and it's a great savings tool and a cool way to count down to the trip. You will find that you have more money to spend and a clear head with no debt afterward.

Fast Eddie · 06-09-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuzzLightyear

Just curious as to any planning ideas for a trip that is a year away.

I just wait and wait till I can at least book the resort and plane tickets.........

The wife and I start talking:
1. about which resort we want to stay in. We try to stay in a different one each time we go. Do we fly or drive.
2. We decide if this trip is just for us or with others. We decide if this is an adult only trip or with children.
3. We pick arrival and departure dates. 90% of the time we pick value season dates. We don't go during the summer any more. To Hot. We decide if one of us renews our current AP or gets an new Annual Pass if we don't have a current AP. I have a spreadsheet that I plug in number of days, cost of AP, cost of MYW tickets and cost of resort using AP discount. It automatically gives me a cost number. The number tells me which way is the most cost effective way to go.
4. We make a first pass at restaurants. Restaurant reservations are made 90 out.
5. At about 10 months out I make room only reservations. You will still have to call and get your value season/annual pass discounts when they are announced.
6. I make any special event reservations that we need, ie. MNSSHP, Haunted Hayride, MVMCP, etc.
7. Once room reservations are made I keep an eye on WDW, Disneycentral, Magictrips, and Mousesavers web sites for any breaking news.

Erin · 06-09-2005

Welcome, Fast Eddie (even though you aren't exactly "new"!!)

I talk about Disney all the time. My family thinks I'm insane.

Amelia's Man · 06-09-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baloo85

Talk about your trip!
Watch Disney movies!
Talk more about your trip!

....and log on to DisneyCentral every day to read trip reports!

**ddoll** · 06-09-2005

I purchase my airfare before reserving my hotel room. Sometimes I can't get the exact day at a discount fare, so I need to readjust. Once I find a good low fare and the air's booked, then it's hotel and then the planning what special events to try for that trip.

Waiting for the 90 day PS window is the killer!

Pooh Fan · 06-09-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddoll

Waiting for the 90 day PS window is the killer!

I couldn't agree more. We booked our upcoming trip 18 months out. I was so excited about it. I reread all of my planning books and chose which restaurants we wanted to eat at on this trip. Now, I just have to wait for the 90 day mark because I am dying to make our ADR's. It seems like time is creeping by!

MerlinMatt · 06-10-2005

Here's my typical M.O. for a planned trip:

1 year - determine trip budget discuss resort options & evaluate "other" stuff (like weather, water parks, etc.)
2-6 months - purchase airplane tickets, depending on when the good rates come out. I've discovered that JetBlue has a "sweet spot" about 3 months prior to a flight where the "cheap seats" are made available. Typically anywhere from $49 to $79 for a one-way ticket.
2-4 months - make reservations. This is entirely dependent on when discount codes come out.
4 months - create draft itinerary.
90 days - make ARs (I've never done the 120 day things, but if I were to do any of them, I'd do that too)
30 days - recheck/confirm all reservations
2 weeks - check park schedules/EMH schedules for updates. Revise Itinerary if necessary
1 week - recheck/confirm all ressies and finalize plan

For an "unplanned" trip, I really do the same things, except with a tighter timeframe. Next week's trip is really due to an e-mail I got from JetBlue about a spring sale they were having. Since there were still AP rate rooms available at the PC, we said.. "We're going to Disney!!!"

CaribBeachNut · 06-11-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dana

The best planning to do a year out is picking the resort and saving money. Once you actually book the resort of your choice, breakdown the costs for everything by day. Make an envelope for each day with the things you are going to need money for and their estimated cost. Every week put $20 in and seal the envelope when the amount is totaled. This is a great way to have a paid in full trip with no charging on the credit cards. You can do one for airfare, transportation and then an indiviual one for each day. I do this every trip and it's a great savings tool and a cool way to count down to the trip. You will find that you have more money to spend and a clear head with no debt afterward.

BRAVO! This is a TERRIFIC way to go. No credit card debt. We really enjoy our vacations knowing that they're paid for.

06-07-2005	#1 (permalink)
BuzzLightyear MB Cast Member ® Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Space Mountain Posts: 3,917	what kind of planning do you do a year out? Just curious as to any planning ideas for a trip that is a year away. I just wait and wait till I can at least book the resort and plane tickets......... __________________ 86,92,96 Offsite * 2002 AKL * 2003 BCV * 2004 Contemporary * 2005 WL * 2006 BWV* 2008 CSR * My Disney Countdown Counting down to: 108 days 1 hours 52 minutes

06-07-2005	#2 (permalink)
tiggerfan74 bouncin' in now and then Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Jupiter Florida, 2 hours south of the magic Posts: 1,803	Re: what kind of planning do you do a year out? We talk about our trip constantly. We are always trying to figure out exactly what we are gonna do on which day. We already have our hotel booked and paid for and we have already recieved our Florida res. PAPs. We aren't going till FEB. WE are planners and that is fun for us. My DFIL and DBIL are making fun of me for planning so far in advance, but when I have a room at the WL for a great price and they don't, we'll see who's laughing !!! Anyway, we love to plan for the trip. It is part of the experience for us. __________________ I love Walt Disney World!! My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Our first ever Disney Cruise!! Living the suite life on the Disney Magic!!!!

06-07-2005	#3 (permalink)
Baloo85 DC JungleCruise Skipper Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: in denial on the Nile river Posts: 1,545	Re: what kind of planning do you do a year out? Talk about your trip! Watch Disney movies! Talk more about your trip! __________________ "Please do not take any pictures while you are in line at the Jungle Cruise...they are nailed to the walls for a reason." PJ AND BALOO WDW TRIPS 2003 Oct MNSSHP (CBR) 2004 April (Grad nite) 2005 Oct MNSSHP 2005 Nov (my b day) 2006 March (spring break/POR) 2006 May (Pj's b day/All Star Music) President of the "I GO WILD FOR THE JUNGLE CRUISE" club Founder of the Pool Boys for Disney Foundation!!!

06-07-2005	#4 (permalink)
DisneyTeacher Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: WDW in my dreams Posts: 18,308	Re: what kind of planning do you do a year out? At a year out I do a lot of talking about my trip. I also have my room booked if the dates are pretty firm. I then start looking over the menus on AllEars and start thinking about where I want to eat. __________________ ~Stephanie~ 1993 Caribbean Beach Resort ~ 1996 Caribbean Beach resort ~1997 Caribbean Beach Resort ~2003 Wilderness Lodge ~2004 Beach Club Resort/Shades of Green/Pop Century~ 2005 Wilderness Lodge Resort/Beach Club Villas ~ 2006 Saratoga Springs Resort~2007 Port Orleans French Quarter/Beach Club Villas/Boardwalk Villas ~ 2007 Port Orleans Riverside~ 2008 Wilderness Lodge/Beach Club Villas~2008 Beach Club Villas~2009 Hilton Head Island~ 2009 Beach Club Villas My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Beach Club here we come 239 days 20 hours 52 minutes

06-07-2005	#5 (permalink)
Soundgod Squirrel! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Laughing on the Laughing Floor Posts: 8,802	Re: what kind of planning do you do a year out? A year out, just a rough plan for which resort and potential dates. I don't get into the meat of planning until two months out, with my dining plans firmed by one month before. As always, my trips revolve around fireworks, so I have to wait that long before an accurate schedule is posted by Disney. __________________ Do you live to eat or do you eat to live? My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Instant Single Digit Dance 6 days 3 hours 52 minutes

		MouseBuzz.com > Mouscellaneous > The Mouse Trap
what kind of planning do you do a year out?

06-07-2005	#6 (permalink)
robinmouse Senior Mouseketeer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 319	Re: what kind of planning do you do a year out? I read EVERYTHING on the web, to the point that my family is threatening me if I don't share the computer. And I look at pictures of prior trips to remind myself what to do differently (or do again). __________________ --Robin-- Wilderness Lodge in June 2007!

06-07-2005	#7 (permalink)
CaribBeachNut Big Cheese Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 910	Re: what kind of planning do you do a year out? We watch the new video and talk about the restaurants we may want to visit, what rides are on our favorite's list, what we will skip, what building in CBR we should stay at, and pull out the pictures from previous trips and look them over. Going to All Ears on the internet and looking at the photo galleries of the hotels is nice to do while playing a cd of our favorite wdw songs.

06-07-2005	#8 (permalink)
Dana Super Mod/Packen' Kracken Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Joisey Posts: 23,782	Re: what kind of planning do you do a year out? The best planning to do a year out is picking the resort and saving money. Once you actually book the resort of your choice, breakdown the costs for everything by day. Make an envelope for each day with the things you are going to need money for and their estimated cost. Every week put $20 in and seal the envelope when the amount is totaled. This is a great way to have a paid in full trip with no charging on the credit cards. You can do one for airfare, transportation and then an indiviual one for each day. I do this every trip and it's a great savings tool and a cool way to count down to the trip. You will find that you have more money to spend and a clear head with no debt afterward. __________________ ~82 off-site~91 off-site~97 ASMusic~ ~00 ASMovies~02 Wilderness Lodge~04 Animal Kingdom Lodge~ ~05 Animal Kingdom Lodge & Polynesian~ ~05 Port Orleans French Quarter~06 Old Key West~ ~07 Port Orleans French Quarter~08 Old Key West~ ~09 Saratoga Springs~10 Port Orleans Fench Quarter~ My Disney Countdown Counting down to: 10 day do all or die trying trip. 270 days 15 hours 52 minutes

06-09-2005	#10 (permalink)
Erin Scooter Princess Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Welaka Posts: 9,771	Re: what kind of planning do you do a year out? Welcome, Fast Eddie (even though you aren't exactly "new"!!) I talk about Disney all the time. My family thinks I'm insane. __________________ Team Jake! http://www.twitter.com/IamBubbles www.facebook.com/scooterprincess

06-09-2005	#12 (permalink)
ddoll Singing In My Head Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: RI Posts: 5,257	Re: what kind of planning do you do a year out? I purchase my airfare before reserving my hotel room. Sometimes I can't get the exact day at a discount fare, so I need to readjust. Once I find a good low fare and the air's booked, then it's hotel and then the planning what special events to try for that trip. Waiting for the 90 day PS window is the killer! __________________ Moderator of DVC, Disney Company • 3/96 Offsite • 9/98 Villa • 10/98 Dixie Landings • 8/00 Villa • 6/01 Disneyland, CA • 5/02 Villa • 6/03 Villa • 11/03 Wilderness Lodge • 8/04 PopCentury, Swan & Royal Pacific • 12/04 Swan • 8/05 Swan & Hard Rock Hotel • 11/05 Swan • 1/06 Swan • 9/06 Disneyland, CA• 12/06 Swan & HRH • 1/07 Swan • 10/07 Hard Rock Hotel • 12/07 Hard Rock & Swan • 1/08 Boardwalk• 10/08 Villa• 1/09 Swan • 8/09 Condo • 1/10 Swan & PBR My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Viva Las Vegas! 15 days 22 hours 52 minutes

06-10-2005	#14 (permalink)
MerlinMatt DC Grand Poohbah Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Boston Posts: 3,498	Re: what kind of planning do you do a year out? Here's my typical M.O. for a planned trip: 1 year - determine trip budget discuss resort options & evaluate "other" stuff (like weather, water parks, etc.) 2-6 months - purchase airplane tickets, depending on when the good rates come out. I've discovered that JetBlue has a "sweet spot" about 3 months prior to a flight where the "cheap seats" are made available. Typically anywhere from $49 to $79 for a one-way ticket. 2-4 months - make reservations. This is entirely dependent on when discount codes come out. 4 months - create draft itinerary. 90 days - make ARs (I've never done the 120 day things, but if I were to do any of them, I'd do that too) 30 days - recheck/confirm all reservations 2 weeks - check park schedules/EMH schedules for updates. Revise Itinerary if necessary 1 week - recheck/confirm all ressies and finalize plan For an "unplanned" trip, I really do the same things, except with a tighter timeframe. Next week's trip is really due to an e-mail I got from JetBlue about a spring sale they were having. Since there were still AP rate rooms available at the PC, we said.. "We're going to Disney!!!" __________________ Erin's still my favorite.

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