We’ve all done it: planned to get around to something important only to find that life got in the way. If you feel that way about your Disney vacation you aren’t alone. Or maybe you’ve done all the planning but couldn’t complete check-out until the quarterly bonus check came in. And now it’s here but you’re wondering if it’s too late because you’re already inside your dining window. A frantic Google search will result in post after post saying you must book MONTHS in advance. Any influencer or Facebook group member will tell you the same. The kind of magic you were hoping for just isn’t possible at the last minute. But I’m here to tell you they’re wrong. I have 3 (proven) steps on how to book a last-minute Disney vacation.
Earlier this year we found out my husband was changing jobs and his schedule was going to be MUCH less flexible than it was before. AKA ZERO days off for at least 3 months (likely more). As a family we try to plan a getaway with our kids every quarter, so we were desperate for a last-minute trip. We started planning our Disney vacation on Wednesday and by Sunday we were checking into the Grand Floridian. We planned to drive until Saturday night at 5:00 pm, when I realized our CC points would cover all of our flights. We booked plane tickets less than 12 hours prior to departure time. I’m telling you IT. CAN. BE. DONE. Don’t listen to anyone who says it can’t, I have life experience to prove it. If you want to plan a last-minute Disney vacation here are the 3 steps to turn it from a dream to a reality:
- Delegate. I mean EVERYTHING you can. Reach out to your Smart Moms Travel Agent from our sister company, Smart Moms Travel. If you aren’t already working with one, reach out to me here, and let’s get planning. All you have to know are your dates and your budget and you’re done. You don’t even pay us, Disney takes care of that! Seriously. This may sound like a sales pitch, but the first thing you need to do to plan a last-minute trip is focus on the things that only you can do and delegate the others to someone else.
You’ll have to put in for the time off, pack (ALWAYS pack your kids’ clothes in Zip-loc bags BTW), figure out where to board the dog, etc. The list will be large but manageable when you reach out to an agent. We will start by finding you the best deal (because you don’t have time to research the latest offers and which discounts apply to your trip. You’re packing!) and help you create an itinerary that’s perfect for your family. Most people don’t realize that a lot of resort availability opens up 30 days prior to travel because that’s when final payments are due and those that booked with a $200 deposit a year in advance cancel when the rubber hits the road with a final payment. So we’ll look for availability in your budget and apply any available offers to give you the most affordable trip possible.
Did you know we also handle transportation to and from the airport? Do you need transportation with a car seat? We got you. Want to rent a stroller? We’ll have it show up at your resort. Delegate the logistics of your trip to us so you can handle the logistics of what needs to be done at home.
- Set up dining alerts. Did you know you can set up FREE dining alerts for the character meals you’re dreaming of on the dates and party size you’re looking for? Dining reservations at Disney open up 60 days prior to check-in, so people generally feel nervous to plan a trip inside a 60-day window.
HOWEVER, at the 60-day mark typically people book SEVERAL reservations at many different times to give them the most flexibility for their trip and once they finalize their plans they begin to drop extra reservations. Head over here to sign up for the free version (emails to your inbox when availability opens up) or paid (texts to your phone when availability opens up) so you can snag those reservations as soon as they’re dropped.
Also, Disney recently updated their cancellation penalty policy. Now, you can cancel up to 2 hours prior to reservation time without penalty. This means you should start checking 2 hours prior to your desired time (or wait for the alerts to come through!) to increase your chances of getting the reservation you want. And don’t worry, your Smart Moms Travel Agent will help with finding reservations for you as well. You may just find that by the time you land your agent has booked your dream reservation!
Flexible Attitude. If you pack nothing else on your trip, pack a flexible attitude. Be prepared that it might not look exactly like you imagined (does anything, ever?!) Even the most planned-out detailed spreadsheet agenda doesn’t always happen the way we expect. However, a last-minute trip to Disney is better than no trip to Disney. Could it be crowded? Yes. Could it rain? Yes. Could someone meltdown and have a bad attitude? Most likely. But all of those things are true whether you plan your trip 10 days in advance or 110 days in advance. The key to a magical vacation at Disney is enjoying uninterrupted moments with your people.
So what are you waiting for? Reach out to me here. Let’s do this. Even if you aren’t sure it will work it doesn’t hurt to reach out and see your options. Our services are at no charge to you (Disney foots the bill), so let’s get you some time away with the people you love most, creating memories you’ll cherish forever.
