You have to start somewhere and for us, that begins looking at a calendar and figuring out what the likelihood of getting time off for the week/weekend we want to down. Since I am always looking for a trip, I already have a rough idea about the resorts, price ranges, and what they offer. So what process do we go through???
1 - Pick a time of year to go to WDW 2 - Decide how long we want to spend there and how much we want to spend.............both decisions will then dictate where we stay and if we are adding dining plan or not and then which dining plan 3 - Start pricing packages on disneyworld.disney.go.com or looking at undercovertourist.com 4 - Deciding if we are driving or flying 5 - By this point, the stay is booked and the tickets are orders so the next is to decide about dining....whether we want to go back to our favorites or try new ones (always hitting Raglan Roads even if deciding to try new ones) 6 - If trying new restaurants, then research menus and reviews 7 - By 185 days, have a plan as to which restaurants we want 8 - 180 days out, book ADR 9 - 60 days out, book FP+ 10 - Packing and either getting to the airport or getting the car ready for the trip
That is our 10-step approach (LOL)
Prior: Offsite most every other years from 1972 - 2000
Most recent: Offsite 2001 & 2003 / ASM 2006 / Offsite 2009 / Poly 2011 / POR 2013 / CR 2014 / GF 2015 / DS Hotel 2017 / BC 2017 / POR 2018
(1) I say "Robin I'm tired of being cold, I can get flights down there in 2 weeks for 143$ each for long weekend." (2) Goto Dvcmember.com to see what's avail....Book it (3) Whatever you do... stick to your ticket (even if it says platform 9 3/4)
You have to start somewhere and for us, that begins looking at a calendar and figuring out what the likelihood of getting time off for the week/weekend we want to down. Since I am always looking for a trip, I already have a rough idea about the resorts, price ranges, and what they offer. So what process do we go through???
1 - Pick a time of year to go to WDW 2 - Decide how long we want to spend there and how much we want to spend.............both decisions will then dictate where we stay and if we are adding dining plan or not and then which dining plan 3 - Start pricing packages on disneyworld.disney.go.com or looking at undercovertourist.com 4 - Deciding if we are driving or flying 5 - By this point, the stay is booked and the tickets are orders so the next is to decide about dining....whether we want to go back to our favorites or try new ones (always hitting Raglan Roads even if deciding to try new ones) 6 - If trying new restaurants, then research menus and reviews 7 - By 185 days, have a plan as to which restaurants we want 8 - 180 days out, book ADR 9 - 60 days out, book FP+ 10 - Packing and either getting to the airport or getting the car ready for the trip
That is our 10-step approach (LOL)
That will be helpful for those planners out there!
second star to the right and straight on till morning
(1) I say "Robin I'm tired of being cold, I can get flights down there in 2 weeks for 143$ each for long weekend." (2) Goto Dvcmember.com to see what's avail....Book it (3) Whatever you do... stick to your ticket (even if it says platform 9 3/4)
Way to go Dean.....don't forget toothbrush
second star to the right and straight on till morning
We start planning before the trip we are on actually finishes. Last time we were there my wife and I decided we wanted an adult vacation with 'fun' friends or ours and to do it the week after Thanksgiving so they could experience Disney at Christmas. We sent out our an invite to our friends 20 months ahead of time so they could determine if they could get time off and child care (more like teenager care) for that week.
Since we are DVC, we then decided resort 12 months out and are now having our guest pick the places they want to eat and will follow the 180 day (dinning and Southwest Airlines), 60 day and all the other details (magic bands, DME, photo pass, etc.).
We start planning before the trip we are on actually finishes. Last time we were there my wife and I decided we wanted an adult vacation with 'fun' friends or ours and to do it the week after Thanksgiving so they could experience Disney at Christmas. We sent out our an invite to our friends 20 months ahead of time so they could determine if they could get time off and child care (more like teenager care) for that week.
Since we are DVC, we then decided resort 12 months out and are now having our guest pick the places they want to eat and will follow the 180 day (dinning and Southwest Airlines), 60 day and all the other details (magic bands, DME, photo pass, etc.).
Do you know the RFD chip in your current magic band will last about 3 years? I'm hoping the new chip one coming out has all it's kinks worked out before mine die out.....but always have my plastic card annual pass just in case my band decides to die the day I'm there
second star to the right and straight on till morning
We start planning before the trip we are on actually finishes. Last time we were there my wife and I decided we wanted an adult vacation with 'fun' friends or ours and to do it the week after Thanksgiving so they could experience Disney at Christmas. We sent out our an invite to our friends 20 months ahead of time so they could determine if they could get time off and child care (more like teenager care) for that week.
Since we are DVC, we then decided resort 12 months out and are now having our guest pick the places they want to eat and will follow the 180 day (dinning and Southwest Airlines), 60 day and all the other details (magic bands, DME, photo pass, etc.).
We haven't flown southwest since Jan '14. For us... US air, american, spirit, frontier, and jet blue have been beating their prices. We go about every 3 months.
We start planning before the trip we are on actually finishes. Last time we were there my wife and I decided we wanted an adult vacation with 'fun' friends or ours and to do it the week after Thanksgiving so they could experience Disney at Christmas. We sent out our an invite to our friends 20 months ahead of time so they could determine if they could get time off and child care (more like teenager care) for that week.
Since we are DVC, we then decided resort 12 months out and are now having our guest pick the places they want to eat and will follow the 180 day (dinning and Southwest Airlines), 60 day and all the other details (magic bands, DME, photo pass, etc.).
We haven't flown southwest since Jan '14. For us... US air, american, spirit, frontier, and jet blue have been beating their prices. We go about every 3 months.
Dean I also have learned different airports have different prices.....Erie, PA is halfway between Cleveland, Ohio and Buffalo, NY and depending on the airline and the airport the price difference in a flight can be as much as $100..... craziness!
second star to the right and straight on till morning
Unfortunately, I only have one airport near me so I don't have the options. Though Southwest has a 6:00 AM flight down and a 9:00 PM return, but direct so it usually works out best for us when going to Disney.
Unfortunately, I only have one airport near me so I don't have the options. Though Southwest has a 6:00 AM flight down and a 9:00 PM return, but direct so it usually works out best for us when going to Disney.
Those are the times I shoot for. For those times if they're nonstop they cost a premium here (250 and up). I've gotten flights for as little as 18$ round trip. Last one with SW was 330. too much money.
Last Edit: Jan 4, 2017 18:33:13 GMT by DisneyfanDean
You have to start somewhere and for us, that begins looking at a calendar and figuring out what the likelihood of getting time off for the week/weekend we want to down. Since I am always looking for a trip, I already have a rough idea about the resorts, price ranges, and what they offer. So what process do we go through???
1 - Pick a time of year to go to WDW 2 - Decide how long we want to spend there and how much we want to spend.............both decisions will then dictate where we stay and if we are adding dining plan or not and then which dining plan 3 - Start pricing packages on disneyworld.disney.go.com or looking at undercovertourist.com 4 - Deciding if we are driving or flying 5 - By this point, the stay is booked and the tickets are orders so the next is to decide about dining....whether we want to go back to our favorites or try new ones (always hitting Raglan Roads even if deciding to try new ones) 6 - If trying new restaurants, then research menus and reviews 7 - By 185 days, have a plan as to which restaurants we want 8 - 180 days out, book ADR 9 - 60 days out, book FP+ 10 - Packing and either getting to the airport or getting the car ready for the trip
That is our 10-step approach (LOL)
We are "every year or every other year" visitors. We still use this system when booking. We usually decide while at the park, what we want to do next time and make notes. But the 10 Step Approach to Disney, is the best way. Thanks Doc for writing this out!
We haven't flown southwest since Jan '14. For us... US air, american, spirit, frontier, and jet blue have been beating their prices. We go about every 3 months.
Dean I also have learned different airports have different prices.....Erie, PA is halfway between Cleveland, Ohio and Buffalo, NY and depending on the airline and the airport the price difference in a flight can be as much as $100..... craziness!
When you understand where some of the pricing comes from, it makes sense. Prices vary depending on the rent the airport charges the airlines, the taxes for that area (fuel taxes and airport taxes) and the price of fuel in that area. All those factors affect the prices the airlines charges with is why you flight into Cleveland would be different than your flight into Buffalo. It also depends on the terms of the contracts the airline companies have with the airport. Once you consider all those plus others, it is understandable how prices vary ever if it doesn't make sense to us non-airline people.
Prior: Offsite most every other years from 1972 - 2000
Most recent: Offsite 2001 & 2003 / ASM 2006 / Offsite 2009 / Poly 2011 / POR 2013 / CR 2014 / GF 2015 / DS Hotel 2017 / BC 2017 / POR 2018
Our thought process starts much like pcs while our current trip is going on. We usually look for something we have not done or a ride we did not do. This upcoming trip is about making sure we get on the Riverboat and trying Raglan Road (heard good things about it from somewhere???) So we know Magic Kingdom and Disney Springs are the must do's and go....
