How Far Ahead Should I Plan A Walt Disney World Trip?
Let’s keep it real. Planning a trip to Walt Disney World can be a lot. So how much time do you really need to make it happen?
From my experience, if you have your heart set on a specific resort, it’s best to book your vacation at least 5-6 months in advance. If you’re more flexible on where you stay, 3-4 months can work.
Not to say you can’t plan a trip to Walt Disney World in less than 3 months, but you will need to be very flexible in making those plans.
Space at popular Disney resorts can book up fast, so if you have your heart set on staying at a resort on the monorail or Skyliner, for example, making plans earlier means you’ll likely get your top choice. Disney requires a $200 deposit to book your vacation package, so it doesn’t take too much of a commitment to be sure you have the space you want.
Worried that you’ll miss out on discounts announced after you book? The great thing about using a travel agent is that if new deals are announced that apply to your travel dates, I’ll update your trip to make sure you don’t miss out.
And once you've got your tickets, there are then opportunities to make other important reservations:
Immediately after getting your tickets, you can make Theme Park Reservations. Disney now requires that you make a reservation to the specific park you wish to visit each day of your ticket. Even if you have a ticket, if you haven’t also made a reservation you will not be allowed into the park. So you will absolutely want to do this as soon as possible!
You can make dining reservations 60 days in advance at restaurants that accept them called Table Service restaurants. Popular dining reservations can fill up fast, especially at meals where you can also meet characters.
If you’re interested in adding other limited-availability experiences such as fireworks parties or behind-the-scenes tours, you’ll want to make these reservations early as well.
Yes, this is a lot to think about. That’s why having more time to make these decisions is ideal.
And as your travel advisor, I’m here to help! I’ll be with you step-by-step in your planning so you’re feeling confident you haven't missed anything before your first day of your vacation.
Any questions about all of this or interested in getting a quote for a future vacation? Shoot me an email at becky@aboutthememoriestravel.com. You also can now find my page on the About the Memories website to complete a form for a quote as well!
