Did you know there was a Disney Vacation Planning Timeline? Yeah, neither did we. That is until we realized that IF you have this secret ninja information, you can pretty much get the best resorts for the best price, the best dining reservations, and the best of everything. This timeline is pretty set in stone by Disney Parks so put on your planning hat and let’s get started.
What is the Disney Vacation Planning Timeline?
Ok. So, if you’ve never planned a Disney vacation before know that there are timelines and deadlines for everything. Every. Thing. Knowing the Disney deadlines ahead of time will help you figure out what needs to be done and when. It’s O.K. if you’re in the midst of these deadlines or too far gone to make any more plans ahead of time. Get a handle on the timeline and go from there.
When is the Earliest I Can Book a Disney Resort?
499 Days Before Your Disney Vacation
The earliest you can book a Disney Resort is 499 days before your stay. 499 days is waaaaaay ahead of time, but keep in mind this is for Room Only and only if you’re staying at a Disney Resort. Why would you want to book a room so early? Well, for one thing, you only need the 200-dollar reservation fee to hold the room. This could be your best chance at making sure you have a room during the extremely busy times ahead. Also remember that you are allowed retroactively to ask for deals that pop up after the fact, like Free Disney Dining.
How do I get the Best Disney Resort Room?
We’re not going to recreate the wheel on this one. WDW prep school has broken this down for you based on each resort. Pop on over to their website to hone in on your preferred resort and the room requests that would best serve your travel needs. You can also check out all our Disney Resort Reviews to get a good idea of what’s available.
What if I’m staying off-site?
If you’re staying off-site at Walt Disney World, you don’t need to worry about this Disney Resort reservation window. Be sure to read up on our Pros and Cons of Staying Off Site post, and check out hotels.com for the best deals.
What is the Earliest I Can Book a Disney Vacation?
The Summer Before
In Mid-July Disney releases the vacation packages for the following year. This is standard. Though we sometimes wonder if Disney just does this to build anxiety. Keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog, and the Official Disney account on Twitter in mid-July for when the Disney vacation packages come available the summer prior to the year you hope to visit.
How can I make sure I get the Disney Vacation Package I want?
Reach out to an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. While we are major DIY vacationers we totally understand if your once-in-a-lifetime Disney trip needs to be perfect. If this is the case reach out to Christina at Showcase The World Travel. Give her the heads up ahead of time that you’re hoping to travel and she’ll guide you through those special deals and dates. P.S. Disney Travel agents offer their services for free, so it’s worth a look if you’re fearful of trying it all on your own or just want the added expertise!
When Can I Make Disney Dining Reservations?
60 Days Before
The earliest you can make your Disney Restaurant Reservations is 60 days before your desired reservation date, (as of 2021). There are two things to keep in mind with this one. If you are staying off-property the earliest you can book is one day at a time, always 60 days out. If you are staying on-property at a Disney Resort, you can book your entire stay with Disney dining reservations ( called ADRs- Advanced Dining Reservations) 60 days out. This perk can make all the difference if you are trying to score hard to get reservations like the Space 220 restaurant or Topolino Terrace. Check out our restaurant reviews ahead of time.
Why Should you Book Disney Restaurants so Early?
The best restaurants at Walt Disney World are table service restaurants. And they require reservations. Keep in mind that you’re also potentially up against local Florida residents and Disney Annual Passholders who already know this system. A few key restaurants always fill up and are harder to get reservations for. Disney Restaurants with hard-to-get reservations: Be Our Guest ( Magic Kingdom), Cinderellas Table ( Magic Kingdom), California Grill ( The Contemporary), and Ohana ( The Polynesian). If you have your heart set on a certain restaurant be prepared to be up at 6 am Eastern Standard time to get online or call and book.
What To Do Before Your Disney Vacation?
60 Days Before
There is a slew of mundane things that you should do before your Disney vacation. At the 60-day mark, you need to Complete Online Check-In. You can do this on the Disney website through the “My Reservations” tab. Completing the check-in online will allow you to skip the line at the resort and just use your magic band to scan into your room. Your room number will appear on the My Disney Experience app on the day of your arrival. Of course, if you get in early, you can always call or check in at the resort to be proactive. Doing the online check-in will also confirm the credit card you want to be associated with your room.
Another Disney Must-Do is to Customize Magic Bands for everyone in your travel party. This is actually one of our favorite things to do because we can match them to a special outfit, a Halloween costume, or pick the color that would be fun to decorate. No matter which color you choose your name will be on the back of it when it arrives prior to your vacation and it will stay active on your account until you deactivate it. If staying off-site you will receive a regular card ticket for your entry into the park. You could also grab a fancy magic band ahead of time and link it to your account, shop for them at shopDisney.
45 Days Before
It’s a well-known fact that at the 45-day mark flights are at their best price. We highly recommend you Book your Flight or Rental Car 45 days out to get the best price. You can pick any airline but we love Southwest Airlines for -cheaper, no seat or baggage fees and you still get a snack- flights to Orlando. It’s true we could probably write a love letter to this airline but for now, we’ll make it about the facts. Success flying on Southwest really comes down to your ability to check in for your flight exactly 24 hours before your flight. Exactly. Like watching your phone for the clock to hit the exact time of your flight the following day and have the app open and the check-in screen filled out. Or you can just spend the 15 bucks on the early bird service where you’re checked in automatically.
At 45 days your Final Payment on your Disney Vacation and Resort is Due. As a good budget strategy, we suggest you buy Disney gift cards and slowly pay down the balance. If you’ve booked only a room the remaining payment is due upon arrival.
What if I Need To Cancel My Disney Reservation or Resort?
45 Days Before
- Last Chance to Cancel Resort or Vacation reservations without a penalty fee.
- Last Chance to Make Changes to your Resort or Vacation reservation without a penalty fee.
Disney sticks pretty closely to the 45-day mark for penalty fees. If you’re going to cancel or adjust ( add a person, change a room, etc.) call 46 days before. They will more than likely try to just reschedule your vacation for another time. Do whatever you gotta do, but check out the full Disney cancellation policy for details.
3 Days Before
Cancellation at this point results in the loss of the entire vacation amount without a refund.
What if It’s a Last-Minute Disney Vacation?
If you’re tackling Disney last minute, never fear! We recently just had a last-minute Disney vacation over a long weekend with some success. For reservations consider an off-site hotel or the Swan and Dolphin which is our top pick. The hotels at Disney Springs will get you close to the action as well and can often be budget-friendly in the off-season. Again, check hotels.com for deals. For dining reservations, be sure to check the My Disney Experience App. While it is not impossible to book amazing restaurants for dinner last minute, know that some restaurants just won’t be available, so be flexible.
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