Timeline for Disney Park Vacation Planning

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Disney vacations are complex and require a lot of planning. To give you a sense of where to begin, this timeline for vacation planning outlines when to tackle each step in the planning process.

PLANNING TIMELINE

As soon as you can:

Start saving and budgeting

Decide when to visit and how long to stay

Explore the official Disney resort apps and websites

12 months to 61 days in advance:

Make hotel reservations

Get airline tickets or arrange to drive or otherwise get to the Disney parks

Purchase park tickets and link them to your Disney account as well as linking all your traveling companions Disney accounts together 

Plan which parks you’ll visit on each day and which days, if any, will be non-park days

60 days in advance:

Make dining reservations

Make reservations for extras like tours, makeovers, and lightsaber building

Anytime before your trip (the earlier the better):

Explore maps and entertainment options to decide on which experiences are your priorities

Research time-saving and line-avoiding strategies

Arrange rentals for strollers or ECV’s

Arrange grocery delivery

Familiarize yourself with transportation options from your accommodations to the parks

Review packing lists and prepare what you’ll need to bring with you

7 days in advance:

If you are visiting Walt Disney World and staying at a Disney hotel, you can now make Lightning Lane reservations (No advance LL reservations at Disneyland)

3 days in advance:

If you are visiting Walt Disney World and staying off property, you can now make Lightning Lane reservations (No advance LL reservations at Disneyland)

Most Disney hotels and some off property hotels will allow mobile check in a few days before you arrive