I am often asked when to book Walt Disney World trip. You can usually book your trip about a year in advance. Specials are not available that far out, but you can book a room or a package at rack rate (regular price). If you book a package, you will have to pay a $200 deposit. If you book room only, you will need to pay the rate for your first night.
If a discount comes out between now and then, you can easily have the special applied to your vacation package. Just call Disney (or your Disney authorized travel agent) and let them know which special you want to apply to your reservation. Everything carries over and you are not charged a fee to make this change until 45 days from your arrival date.
Disney will not apply a discount to your reservation unless you contact them. A Disney Authorized Travel Agent, like Destinations in Florida, will watch for these discounts for you and apply them to your reservation. Disney Authorized Travel Agents are no additional cost to you, but get their commission directly from Disney. This is one of the many benefits of using a travel agent.
Disney dining reservations are available 180 days from your arrival date. If you have your reservation number for your stay, you can book up to 190 days from your arrival date. They call this 180 days + 10 and it’s a courtesy offered to those staying on site. The great thing is that you won’t have to call or go online 180 days from each date of your stay.
When do you book your trip?
Learn more about planning your Walt Disney World vacation. Plus overwhelmed with all the planning? Destinations in Florida can help you plan your perfect trip.
Allison W. says
My mom and I were just at the Disney World last month (Jan 12-17). The craziest thing about our trip is that we didn’t decide to go until that previous Friday! It was probably one of my favorite trips to the parks and my first one as a “grown up”. The only thing we missed out on was a dining plan (you need at least a week in advance to obtain one) and the fast pass system (but the crowds were so small that we didn’t need them).
Kadee says
Were you there during MLK weekend? Just booked my family’s first trip for January 2017 and we’ll be there the week before MLK including that Saturday and Sunday. I’m wondering what to expect with crowds.
Teresa M. says
We’re going to WDW in August and I’m already planning in my head where to stay and what new restaurants to try during our next trip in 2014!
Sarah says
Oh, and to answer your question, we book as soon as the deals come out for the summer, usually in the fall for the spring trip!
Sarah says
We have our fingers crossed that free dining is going to come along again for this next spring/summer. We have a budget that we stick to, and either we’ll go for 8-9 days with free dining or 4 days without. Fingers crossed we can stay for the longer trip!!!!!!!
Kristen says
Whoops. I meant March to say October. Clearly it’s too early in the morning for me still ;)
Kristen says
When we went this past February, I had booked in March. With next May’s trip, I’m thinking I’ll pay off most of the wedding costs and then book the room. (Yay for annual passes coming with the wedding package!)
laurie says
I am always planning our next trip…but i book at the 190 day stage so I can get my adr’s going. I really enjoy the whole process of planning park days, adr’s and keep printed lists of what else can do…free things, best snacks by park, monorail, candy and drinking crawl blogs,
Barbie says
We are military so we always get our tickets thru the MWR on base. I always book thru Travelocity & I’ve been able to get some great last minute deals on airfair & hotel. Last year we booked in middle of July for last week in September & stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge for significantly less than we paid for a week in March at Port Orleans French Quarter. We have no kids so we aren’t picky about where we eat..usually just do whatever is available with no ADR’s
April says
We went last year in October – the week of Columbus Day because our boys were out of school. It was more crowded than what I had expected and it was hotter than I expected too. But we had a great time. The longest line we waited in was for Soarin’ at Epcot and it was 70 minutes, I now understand that’s nothing if you’re comparing to other times of the year. We had a great time and took advantage of the Halloween party. It was a lot of fun, nothing I would do every trip but my boys 2 and 4 really enjoyed it! We plan on going again October 2012.
Liz says
Traci, My family was there at the same time. Wasn’t our first choice for timing but DH was receiving his Masters from a nearby University that Thursday. Our little one is starting kindergarten next month. I’ve still got the fever and have already started thinking about our next trip. I’m still not used to spring break for primary schools. Any one have experiences visiting in early April?
Whitney says
My son is not even 2 1/2 and we did the playhouse disney character dinning. Seemed like a great option for younger kids. We booked May 2nd when the free meal plan deal started and were going September 16-25!! :)
jennifer says
I called on July 5th and booked our trip for September 5-9 2011. Just got a whim, and decided to go, and here we are, 41 days out!!!! wooohooo!!! We’re not doing any character dinners, since my daughter will just barely be 2, so I’m not really sure how she will react to them, but I did look, and I could have had a breakfast reservation at the Royal Table, dinner at Chef Mickeys, and dinner at Ohanas! The reservations are still out there!! I’m hoping that means there aren’t going to be big crowds!!!!
Abigail's Mommy says
It shouldn’t be bad because school just started.
Traci Benefield says
We have been to WDW 4 times since Feb 2007. Our 1st trip was Pres Week and it was extremely crowded. Our 2nd was the weekend and week following Labor Day. The least crowded we have experienced. My recommended time for our experience though it was still hot. Last year we went during the 3rd week of Sept. Very good crowds, though not as low as before. We just got back during th last weekend of June. Extremely crowded! Extremely HOT. RAINED ALOT. I do not want to go back in the summer. If you can only go when school is out then that is what you have to do. If you can go when school is out it will make your vacation so much more enjoyable.