When do you start planning?

[hopingtogo2005]

How far in advance to do you start planning for your disney trip? We went last year and I want to plan our next trip for Dec 09.

[faline]

I start planning as soon as I know the dates I'm going to return!

I book as soon as I can and since I usually book room only, I'm not as limited as folks who are booking packages.

[buzznwoodysmom]

I start planning as soon as I know our dates.

Normally we book something right after we return from a trip. There is no better cure for the WDW blues than to begin planning your next trip.

[KylesMom]

Same with us - we usually pick our dates for the following year as soon as we return, and then as soon as Disney releases room-only rates, we reserve with AAA discount through MJ. It's nice to get a head-start on paying for our accommodations, and we can start counting down again!

[bruin1344]

we are going in august and we booked all our dining reservations in march

[MickeyMomof2]

We went last September, and I already have some plans sketched out for a Dec. 09 trip. Planning is part of the fun!

[MickeyMousse]

We start planning our next trip on our way home! We usually drive, so we have the time to toss dates and resorts around.
I just booked our 2/09 trip this past Monday! The countdown has begun!

[Polynesian Dweller]

We usually pick our week about 10 months out. The real planning, room reservations, starts about 8 months out since at 180 days (6 months) is when ADRs have to be done.

[Goofeygal]

We start planning as soon as we know the dates we are going. It may even be over a year ahead of time LOL.

[Wrigley]

I start planning the second I get DH to agree to go! We are going on our next trip Oct/Nov 09 and I have been planning for a few months already. To me, that is a big part of the fun and excitement. I am a huge planner and list maker for just about everything and so I love to plan our trips!!!! 16 more months to go!!!!!!

[disneymom15]

Usually once I have a date in mind.

[Mickey'sGirl]

We plan in two year cycles -- as we like to purchase AP's and get the most bang for our bucks! Our next two trips are tentatively scheduled for Aug 2009 and July 2010 (Yikes!) .... with hopefully a little wintertime jaunt in between.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

We never really stop planning!

We always are thinking about the next trip, and what we'd like to add or change.

But, the hard-core planning starts as soon as packages are released for the next year...we book our dates and start counting down to the ADR window.

[mickey&missy]

I think I'm probably in the never stop planning group. Every since our 05 trip I've always got something in the works! I started planning our October 06 trip more then a year in advance. I had our trip this March in my mind since returning in 06. Before our March trip I had already spoken to my sister about our trip in January 09!

It's nice to know there's a new trip on the horizon, even if it's a year away!

[tadshome]

I start planning as soon as I book my trip. I am already planning for our August '09 trip It makes me happy planning for Disney

[Kairi_7378]

On the Magical Express on the way to the airport! We always have something that we want to try "next time."

[sisterslovindisney]

We are going in Jan 2010 and we have already started planning. We have a very large group (about 7 families) going and about half have never been to WDW. We are all meeting at my home this Sunday to watch the planning video and review the tenative pricing I got from MJ. We need a lot of time to plan so everyone can save money. The kids are all involved in saving too. Planning is half the fun of the trip!

[longing4magic]

I start planning as soon as we know our dates. Which is usually 1 1/2 years in advance. People that don't vacation in Disney probably think that we are crazy. Planning is not only fun but necessary to get the most out of your trip.

[AHOTE]

We go every years so we start planning while we are at WDW. I carry a small note book and pen to make notes on the things we've done and/or missed for whatever reason. It gives us an idea of how we can structure our next trip to either include something or to leave out a particular event etc.

[Young@Heart]

We're always in some stage of planning, but we start making concrete plans as soon as we have a definate date set. Then, it really kicks into high gear when we've booked our trip. I always celebrate by buying a new Passporter the day we officially book everything. From that day on, it's WDW planning non-stop (at least for me). And this can be 6 months or more! Thank goodness DH loves WDW as much as I do, or he'd be about ready to strangle me.