This is just a general curiosity question... how far out do most of you begin planning your trips?  Immediately after you book it, even before you book it.... or not until the last few weeks?? 

Share with us the how, when and why that works best for you... maybe it will inspire some to hurry up, others to slow down and relax... and most of us to just keep on keepin' on the way we always have, but just like sharing!!

It can vary for me. I planned a lot when I went w/ Rach in Aug. but not too much for the Dec. trip... I've been busy.  I think I'm motivated by what's been done before. When I went w/ my parents in Dec. 06 it was their first time on DDP so I planned it down to every TS and which park when from 180 days out.

This year nothing is new so I haven't worried about what we are doing. I really should though?

When I first booked for December (back in March? I dunno) I made out an itinerary for it, and I set it aside and haven't touched it since. At some point I'm going to format it to fit on the back of the Mickey paint chips from Home Depot and glue them to the back, laminate them, hole punch them, and stick them on a binder ring. I did that on my last trip and they are cute and just get tossed in the bag. AND they're downpour-proof! (Important because I usually go in August so now it's just a habit to laminate them LOL.) Actually, I just like packing tape.

It really depends on the trip how far out it's planned and how much planning I do for it. When I went on my pseudo-solo trip in August 07, I didn't plan much ahead of time because I didn't have my friend's CM schedule very far in advance. Also, since I was by myself, I didn't really need a plan. I just did whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I was the Queen.

Our August 06 trip was planned and booked 4 days before we left. It was like a "hey let's get out of here for a week!" thing. It's TOO HOT in NYC! Let's go to FLORIDA! (Okay, so my reasoning skills may be slightly flawed.)

And my mom still does not let me live down the fact that I used to laugh at my dad for his detailed itineraries....because mine put his to shame! (WHERE is that laughing smiley?)

We pretty much do everything just a couple of months before, usually. We don't eat at many sit down places so no ADRs to make, maybe just 1 or 2.

Well, we just got back in September and we have already started planning for my nbirthday again next year! Of course we have no idea if we'll be able to pull it together but it's SO much fun planning isn't it?