When should I start planning my Disney Vacation?

I plan on going to disney world in December 2009. I plan on staying there for about a week (6 - 8 days). It'll just be me (21) and my 4 year old cousin. So when should I start planning it? And what are some tips that you can give me on saving money and traveling with a 4 year old? Also when should i start preparing him for this vacation? Should I start watching alot of disney movies with him now?|||Ok, let's answer in the order you are asking...





1) Start planning your vacation now, reservations are already being accepted up to and including 12/31/09. Depending on when you want to go prices vary significantly. If your dates are flexible you can save a pretty penny. And, Disney is now enforcing a 45 day rule that your vacation has to be paid in full by 45 days prior to your vacation.


December 1st - 7th = $554


December 22nd - 28th =$945


This shows the significant price difference for 6 nights at the Pop Century resort just a few weeks apart.


Please note: ticket prices do NOT vary with the season, ticket prices are what they are.





2) To save money stay in a value resort (All-Star resorts or Pop Century). Figure out how many days you need and buy the tickets when you book your hotel room. You get little perks when you book both together. Don't pay for options on the ticket, like water parks that you won't use. The park hopper option is great if you want to go from one park to another, but it is not a necessity... you can exit and re-enter the same park as many times as you want during the day.





3) You can tell him whenever you want that he is going to Disney and to see Mickey Mouse... I don't know how well he will comprehend though that it isn't for a year plus still.





4) You don't have to watch Disney movies if you don't want to. It isn't required, there aren't quizzes or anything, but if you enjoy the movies, pop one in and watch to your heart's content.





I recommend a day or two, at least for the Magic Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom has the most rides in it for his age range. Epcot and Hollywood Studios aren't really "child" friendly parks. Yes, you will both have a good time there, and there are things that he can go on, but not as many rides to choose from as the Magic Kingdom. Likewise, Animal Kingdom is more "adult" rides, but I may be biased I don't like Animal Kingdom. I have been there twice, and will not go again... looooong lines, saw 0 animals on safari ride, and too much walking. Just my opinion though.|||We are leaving in 17 days and I started planning last December.


If you go online and stay at a Disney resort, you can pay them a little at a time. The trip needs to be paid off 45 days before you arrive, but that will give you time. We get the dining plan because you don't have to budget for food, it's included in the payment plan. We will be traveling with a 2 and a 4 year old and we started talking about it in May. We have watched Disney movies and borrowed Disney World travel books from the library so they can see what to expect. The other thing we did was to make a circle chain, you know the kind where you link pieces of paper together, with the date on each circle and we've had the kids take off 1 circle link each night before bedtime. The last one is dated the night before we leave, so they know once that one is gone, we get up and go to WDW. It's been a great visual for them and we haven't had to hear "how long before we go?' too much.


Have fun and enjoy, take lots of pictures because he may not remember much of the trip as he gets older. I|||I think you should order a FREE Disney vacation planning DVD it is so helpful and tells you what you need to know about hotels parks and everything in between.





https://www.disneyvacations.com/dv/en_US鈥?/a>





You dont have to brainwash the child with Disney movies he will enjoy no matter what. lol How about the Disney channel;