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Planning a Last Minute Disney World Trip

While it's recommended you begin planning your Walt Disney World vacation more than 6 months in advance to ensure the best selection of resorts and restaurants, you can still plan an amazing vacation if your planned trip is much sooner.


What may seem "last minute" to some is not technically "last minute" when planning a trip to Disney World. Believe it or not, a trip planned less than 180 days in advance can actually be "last minute!" While it can be done with careful planning, there are some things to consider.


1. Resort availability may be limited. 

Popular resorts with certain views and locations are reserved well in advance. You may have to be flexible and open to different resort options, dates, and price ranges. Booking well in advance (at least 8-10 months) guarantees the best resort availability and options, which can also help you stay within your budget.


2. Dining reservations are booked 180 days in advance.

While this seems crazy to book dining this far out, the most popular restaurants are booked the morning that dining reservations open. Marvelous Mouse Travels agents are awake when the booking windows open for their clients to grab those dining reservations! If you've booked your vacation inside that 180 day window, plenty of restaurants will still be available. It may be harder to find the more popular reservations, but this is where using a travel agent comes in handy, since you'll have someone who will keep working on finding the dining you are looking for. Reservations are canceled often so don't lose hope! If you're using a dining plan, you will not have to worry about this with the Quick Service Plan.  Quick Service restaurants do not require reservations, so you can eat anywhere you choose at any time.

If you're using the Disney Dining or Deluxe Disney Dining Plan, you should consider what time of year you're traveling.  If the trip is planned during a popular time of year, reservations may be completely booked. You can consider alternate times (ex: late or early lunch), "hidden gem" restaurants that aren't as popular but are still delicious, and eating at Disney Springs or a Disney Resort.  Moderate and Deluxe Resorts have amazing Table Service restaurants that often don't fill up as quickly as the restaurants inside Disney Parks.  You should consider how important it is for you to eat at the popular restaurants at the best times when making this decision to book after the 180 day mark.


3. The next issue you may run into is booking less than 60 days in advance.

Those staying at Disney Resorts can make Fast Pass+ reservations 60 days before the start of their trip. Again, popular reservations are often gone the day of booking. Disney World only offers a limited number of Fast Pass+ reservations on each attraction per day and per time window. If you must ride the most popular rides at Disney (such as Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Frozen Ever After, Toy Story Mania, Flight of Passage, some character meet and greets), they will probably be booked at the 60 day booking window. You can still wait in the stand-by line if you don't have a Fast Pass+ but this means you must plan more carefully with what attractions to visit and when to do so.

This is definitely not to discourage you from planning a "last minute" Disney trip, but instead to make you aware that it may require more planning and preparation for what you plan to accomplish.  We can sprinkle some pixie dust to help you plan your days and still have an amazing time!

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