When it comes to traveling, many of us have a specific way that we like to do things. Some like to plan their next vacation years in advance, while others prefer to get up and go with last-minute plans. However, when it comes to Disney Parks, some activities might require a certain amount of advanced planning. So, how far in advance should you plan a Disney vacation? The answer varies, so let’s break this down a bit to make this a little easier.
Walt Disney World
While locals and Annual Passholders might enjoy last-minute trips to The Most Magical Place on Earth, those of us coming from a distance can find planning further out more advantageous. The sooner you book your stay, the longer you have to absorb any discounts or special offers that might apply during your booked dates. With the spread-out design of the resort, Walt Disney World requires more logistical planning to allow the locations of your dining plans to match up with your intended activity for the day. Traversing across the resort is time-consuming and unrealistic. Guests can make dining reservations, Enchanting Extras Collection, tours, recreation, and other experiences up to 60 days in advance. Many of the premier dining experiences should be booked ASAP.
Disneyland
Disneyland allows a little more variation in your planning. While looking further out does give you more time to find the best deal, just like Walt Disney World, some of your plans, like dining reservations, aren’t quite so difficult to get a hold of closer to your arrival. Tickets and park reservations can be made up to 180 days before your arrival, though you can often leave these much closer until visiting at peak times, like during the holidays. Dining reservations will open up 60 days in advance. Disneyland is a much better destination for those last-minute bookings thanks to a smaller, more manageable resort footprint. This allows you to take available reservations anywhere in the resort with a relatively easy commute from either theme park you choose to visit or your hotel. Disneyland also features more nearby Good Neighbor hotels that offer last-minute accommodation options.
The bottom line is that while all options are achievable, planning a trip to Disney with short notice might leave you making compromises on availability that will affect your experience more so at Walt Disney World than Disneyland.
How Do You Plan Your Disney Vacations?
A recent social media poll we conducted showed that of those who answered, most people choose to book their vacations a few months in advance for Disney when compared to years, weeks, or last-minute options. Let us know what planning style works best for you!
Zoë Wood is a travel writer from Sydney, Australia. Since her first visit to Disneyland at the age of 6, she has spent her years frequently visiting Disney Parks and traveling around the world.
Join Zoë as she lets you in on all the tips, tricks, anecdotes, and embarrassments that arise from her family adventures.