They say that planning a Walt Disney World vacation is half the fun, and I’m inclined to agree. As a theme park journalist who has visited Disney World countless times since the age of 4, I’ve made it my business to live in the world of vacation planning and preparation. What I’ve learned over time is that there are certain mile markers leading up to the trip you need to know about. For better or for worse, planning a Disney World vacation can feel like a “hurry up and wait” process, depending on how far you begin planning.
If you are considering a vacation in the next year or two, there are steps you’ll want to keep in mind roughly 12, six, and two months prior to the trip. Of course, many of these steps are rough estimates, and planning a Disney World vacation can happen at any time (with a few important hard dates you need to keep in mind). For the sake of keeping things organized, here is an outline of what you should be prepared to do as you count down the days to your next Disney World vacation.
12 months before: budget, book hotels, and buy park tickets
You can start dreaming up the perfect Disney World vacation as far out as you want (if you ask me, I’m always dreaming a couple of years ahead of time!). However, for booking, the earliest you’ll likely be able to make hotel reservations or vacation packages is 18 months in advance. Disney World usually releases the first wave of next year’s dates around mid-summer.
That said, unless there is a very specific resort or week you need to book, you can start to think about booking your flights, hotel, and park tickets around a year before your vacation without any issues.
Before booking, it’s important to figure out your vacation budget. You can map out your dream vacation and determine how much you need to save, or you can decide on a budget and assess how much vacation you can fit within your means. No matter how you budget, it’s important to be mindful of each line item as you go.
Oftentimes, there are deals to be had on your room-only reservation or vacation package. Disney World typically releases these deals a season or two in advance (so if you’re looking for summer deals, be on the lookout in the winter for promotions). You can either wait to book for these deals to roll around, or if your vacation is already booked, you can call Disney and see if you can apply the latest promo to your trip.
When it comes time to book your hotel, there are a few decisions you need to make to narrow your choices. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What is your budget for your hotel accommodations? Are you looking to save or splurge?
- Is staying on Disney World property a must, or are you exploring off-property hotel options?
- If staying on Disney World property, is there a particular theme park you would like to be closer to?
- What resort amenities are you looking for? Do you need a great pool for the family? Would you like on-site dining?
I like to make sure my hotel and flight tickets are secure first, and then I shop around for deals on flights. Once these items are locked in, you can sit back and relax before your next important check point. Or, if you’re like me, you can read every guide book and article in the meantime to cram as much Walt Disney World information as possible.
READ MORE: WAYS TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR NEXT DISNEY WORLD VACATION
6 months before: after hours events, the Dining Plan, and more
As you get closer to your Walt Disney World vacation, you’ll need to make a few additional important decisions. Around the six-month mark is when you’ll want to start thinking about a couple of additional purchases, as they can sell out or be difficult to add to your trip after arrival.
These add-ons include, but are not limited to:
- Tickets to Disney After Hours
- Tickets to holiday events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and Disney Jollywood Nights
- Vacation package add-ons like the Disney Dining Plan
- Ticket add-ons like Park Hoppers
Revisit your vacation budget and see what you have available to spend on these. Depending on how long your vacation is, tickets to an after hours event can be invaluable in giving you more time in the theme parks to enjoy rides with little to no wait. If you have a longer visit, they may not be necessary, but seasonal events can give you exclusive access to limited-time holiday offerings.
The Disney Dining Plan can be added to your vacation package up until your arrival and check-in day. However, I recommend you decide well ahead of time whether you’re going to buy it so you know how many dining credits you have before your Advance Dining Reservation window opens (more on this in a sec).
READ MORE: SHOULD YOU ATTEND DISNEY AFTER HOURS ON YOUR NEXT DISNEY WORLD VACATION?
2 months before: dining reservations and Lightning Lane
Your Disney World vacation is right around the corner! This is when things get really exciting. Given you’ve done everything in the previous steps, there isn’t much left to do, but it’s vital to the ease and success of your trip overall.
Sixty days prior to arrival, your Advance Dining Reservation window will open. If you’re staying in a Walt Disney World resort, you’ll be able to book for the entirety of your vacation (or for 14 days, whichever is shorter). If you are staying off property, you can book sixty days out, one day at a time. Some restaurants are harder to grab reservations for than others, so if there’s somewhere you really want to dine, it’s important to be logged on and ready to go at the 60 day mark (reservations typically open around 6:00 AM EST).
The other important date you’ll want circled on your calendar is seven days prior to arrival if you’re staying at a Disney World resort. This is the day you can begin purchasing Lightning Lane passes and booking return times. Similar to dining reservations, you can book for the entirety of your vacation at this time. If you aren’t staying on the property, you can do this three days before each park visit.
The last step is to pack! Congratulations, you’ve made it to your Disney World vacation. As I mentioned in the introduction, you can speed up or slow down a lot of these steps depending on when you begin to plan your trip. But I hope this gives you a general outline of when to plan your trip so it isn’t an overwhelming process, especially if it’s your first time planning (or first time in a while!).
READ MORE: HARD-TO-GET DINING RESERVATIONS AT DISNEY WORLD FOR 2026
Disney World Planning Timeline for Families: What to Do 12, 6, and 2 Months Before Your Vacation was originally published on The World of Spark.
