Being a vacation planner specializing in Disney vacations, I think the question I get most often is "when do I need to start planning?" The truth? About a year in advance. Here's the breakdown:
When to book: 7-9 months prior to the month you want to travel. Why? Because this is when you'll find great availability in just about any resort of your choosing! If discounts are released that apply to your vacation, those can be applied to existing reservations - no need to wait until a promotion is released in order to get a discount!
Advanced Dining Reservations: 180 days prior to check-in. Now, I know it sounds crazy - why would you ever want to choose where you'll be dining 6 months from now? But with Disney, it is SO necessary. Some of the very popular restaurants, such as Cinderella's Royal Table, Be Our Guest and Chef Mickey's are slim pickings when it comes to reservation times if you don't reserve around the 6 month mark!
FastPass+ Selections: 60 days prior. If you are staying on Disney property, you get the first access to attraction FastPasses! (If staying off-property, your selections window opens at 30 days prior). This is so necessary! There are some super popular attractions (like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom and Toy Story Midway Mania in Hollywood Studios) that go super fast as soon as that window opens, especially during the busy times of the year! Plus, Epcot has a major Frozen themed attraction coming this year, that's sure to be a popular attraction - you'll need a FastPass+ for that one!
*You can also start your online check-in at 60 days!
Final Payment: 30 days prior to check-in. When you book a Magic Your Way package, you pay a $200 deposit, and then the rest isn't due until the month prior to your trip. This is great news for a lot of folks! I personally love it because it gives me time to save up for my trip! Final payment is due 30 days prior, and as soon as you pay for your trip in full, your Magic Bands will be ready to be shipped to you!
Magic Bands: 2-3 weeks before you leave! These handy little gadgets are your "key to the World". You can customize the name and color on the band, and will be sent directly to you in a discreet shipping box, just in case the trip is a surprise for your family! Acting as your room key, park tickets, FastPasses, dining credits, and even credit card, Magic Bands are worn during the duration of your trip - so be sure to pack them in your carry-on and not in your checked luggage!
I hope this explains the ideal planning timeline of a Disney vacation a little bit better! While flying by the seat of your pants is totally doable, to make the most of your trip, you'll definitely want to do a bit of advanced planning!
But better yet... why not let ME do all the legwork for you?! Read more about my free planning services here, then contact me to work on your next vacation! You can contact me at Haley(at)travelwiththemagic(dot)com. Be sure to 'like' my Facebook page for the latest in Disney news!
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