When we talk about planning for your Disney vacation, we often assume that there will be several months to fill in while you wait. For many, Disney trips need to be planned a long way out in order for everything to come together nicely. You might be working with international flights, long-distance bookings, or tricky work commitments. In any case, the majority of us are planning our trips with a lot of time to spare. However, sometimes, just sometimes, the stars might all align just right, allowing you the rare opportunity to plan a last-minute Disney getaway.
Planning for your last-minute Disney adventure looks a fair bit different from long-term planning. While you will want to cover all the same bases, how you check them off will change, and there are definitely a few advantages to be had. If you’ve decided to squeeze in some Disney magic without much time to spare, it’s unlikely that you have your heart set on a single dining venue or that specific resort room. That change in expectations is what can open up your mind to new experiences.
When booking your restaurants, if you have a specific location in mind, you’ll likely find that most of the popular time slots are already taken. Be sure to check again the day before and the day of your intended visit, as same-day cancellations often open the door for you to swoop in. In the meantime, take the opportunity to try something completely new. Your trip was a surprise when you decided to go, so why not flip the whole experience and create some ‘firsts’ to mark the occasion?
You might be set in your ways when it comes to your accommodation. We all have our favorites that we like to revisit, but on a spur-of-the-moment trip, a new resort might be calling your name. See what sort of deals you might be able to score at a higher-level resort than you possibly usually stay at. Depending on capacity, there might be an opportunity to upgrade from your usual digs.
If your last-minute stay also comes with a relatively limited time frame, plan your park days wisely. Don’t waste time on lunch reservations or late breakfasts; quick service on the go will give you the best chance to tick off those main attractions that you don’t want to leave without enjoying. To visit all four Walt Disney World parks in a couple of days, you might need to invest in a Park Hopper ticket so that you can leave one park and then enter another on the same day. For Disneyland guests, you can easily enjoy each park over two days without the need for the extra expense of Park Hopper.
Even though the planning process can be stressful at times, taking a trip on short notice might be the best way to enjoy what Disney has to offer without all of the dramatic lead-up that can make things feel difficult. Do you have last-minute Disney planning tips to share? Add them to the comments below or start a conversation on our Community Boards.