When Should I Book My Disney Trip?

Disney planning runs on a series of windows, and hitting them in the right order is half the game. Here's the full timeline I keep my families on: **16 months before arrival:** • Disney opens resort reservations • Rarely necessary unless you're targeting Christmas or New Year's week **8–12 months before:** • The ideal window for the best room selection • Just about every room type is still available • Early enough to catch promotions as they're released **6 months before:** • Popular room categories at Deluxe resorts may be getting tight • Still a fine time for Value or Moderate resorts **60 days before check-in (6:00 AM ET):** • Dining reservations open — and this one is competitive • Book character meals and signature restaurants right away • This is a window I handle for you **30 days before:** • Disney's cancellation-fee period begins **7 days before check-in (7:00 AM ET):** • Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections open for resort guests • Grab the hardest-to-get attractions first **Day of visit (7:00 AM ET):** • Lightning Lane Multi Pass opens for day guests • Individual Lightning Lane purchases become available

The 60-day dining window and the 7-day Lightning Lane window are exactly where having an advisor pays off. Character meals like Cinderella's Royal Table and Chef Mickey's fill within minutes, and signature spots like Victoria & Albert's and California Grill are nearly impossible to land unless someone is booking right at the 60-day mark. That someone is me. I already know which restaurants and rides to prioritize for your family, and I'm the one up at the 6:00 AM booking window — so you don't have to set an alarm or stress about missing your slot. For Lightning Lane, I'll tell you which attractions to grab first (usually the newest or most popular — TRON, Guardians of the Galaxy, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train) and map out a realistic flow for each park day, so you can make your selections in the app with a plan already in hand.