How soon to plan March 2026 trip?

You can certainly begin to make budgeting and activity planning decisions immediately.  You should also be able to book your accommodations at this point.  In fact, you should book where you want to stay as far in advance as possible since some room reservations can fill up quickly and, the closer you get to your actual vacation time, the harder it can be to obtain some reservations.  Your dining reservations can be made 60 days in advance of your arrival and, if you are staying on Disney property, can be made for the length of your stay.  

Since ride passes now require payment, you need to decide whether you will purchase these passes or stick with standby lines, or some combination of both.  If staying in a Disney room, you can purchase passes up to 7 days in advance or, if offsite, up to 3 days in advance.  Ride slots, especially for popular rides fill up quickly and, if you wait until the day of to book. you may end up with some very late lightning lane rides.  These can also have a large impact on your budget so be sure to read up on how they work, when to book, and costs so you can keep your budget in check.

Be sure to keep on eye on restaurant menus and costs.  Dining costs have gone up at Disney. In particular, the cost for table service meals may be quite a lot more than you might be expecting.  

Happy planning!!