To summarize what follows, the distinction between your different intents is defined less by the verb tense and more by the precision with which you specify future plans or appointments.
If I've already booked a flight or have made an appointment, respectively, it's a (personal) arrangement, thus present continuous:
Next month, we're spending our vacation/holidays in Canada.
I'm seeing the doctor tonight.
This is correct and acceptable usage, whether you've encountered it personally or not. The implication here is that plans have been made, whether plans for travel or an appointment, and you have every intention to follow those plans.
I would use present tense, though, when I give the exact time as I give the exact schedule. Or is present tense wrong altogether?:
We spend our vacation/holidays in Canada from September, 1st to the 12th.
I see the doctor at 6 o'clock.
What looks like simple present tense here is actually the habitual present. It reads that you always spend your vacation/holiday in Canada from September 1 to September 12, or that you regularly see the doctor at 6 o'clock (perhaps you're married to this particular doctor).
If I haven't taken any actions but it's decided, it's my/our intention, thus going-to-future:
Next year, we're going to spend our vacation/holidays in Canada.
I'm going to see the doctor soon.
Actually, this has similar meaning as your first example, but it's the lack of precision regarding the time frame ("next year" and "soon") which indicates that you're still in the planning phase.
We're going to spend vacation/holiday in Canada from September 1 through September 12.
I'm going to see the doctor tonight.
There are, of course, two verbs here: "am/are/is going" and "to spend/see". The use of "am/are/is going" means that you have the intent of pursuing completion of the infinitive ("to spend/see"). As above, it indicates that you are well within the planning phase and the precision of the dates indicates how far along you are into the planning phase.
If I/we haven't made any decision, let alone take any actions, it's a prediction/opinion/hope, thus will-future:
(I think,) We will spend our next vacation/holidays in Canada.
(I think,) I will go to the doctor.
Actually, saying "We will spend" or "I will go" gives it a particular firm feeling, so "I think" would be mandatory to soften this. As with "We're going to" or "I'm going to", it indicates that you are in the planning phase and the generality of the time frame indicates that, while the destination has been decided, the time has not.
As mentioned above, prefacing this with "I think" softens it somewhat but, believe it or not, does so in different ways.
I think we will spend our next vacation/holiday in Canada.
With the disagreement in number, i.e., "I think" and "we will", this implies a personal wish regarding the following: "I would like us to go to Canada, but I don't know if the family does."
We think we will spend our next vacation/holiday in Canada.
I think I will go to the doctor.
Now that the number matches ("We think we will" and "I think I will"), this states a desire to do something while indicating little progress in the planning process.
Another reason for will-future is when I make a promise, or a spontaneous decision:
Yes, we will spend our next vacation/holidays in Canada.
Yes, I will go to the doctor.
In the right context, this is correct. Of course, if you're spontaneously deciding on the destination of your family's next vacation/holiday, you should be sure that the family will go along with it. Otherwise, you might say, "Yes, I'll encourage the family to spend our next vacation/holidays in Canada," or, "Yes, I'll propose that we spend our next vacation/holidays in Canada."
This is also the speech you might use to placate someone who is nagging you to do something. You'll get mixed results because, while you're using the firm "I will" or "we will", you're not providing a precise time frame, so it has a balance of firmness and indicates a lack of progress into the planning phase.
There are so many possible contexts that I shall focus on one difference that I see.
The plane leaves at 3 tomorrow.
This is the scheduled and expected occurrence.
Example
"When does the plane leave?"
"Let me see -- the timetable says that the plane leaves at 3 tomorrow."
The plane's leaving at 3 tomorrow.
This is a contingency occurrence.
Example
"When does the plane leave?"
"Well, according to the help-desk schedule, the plane is leaving at 3 tomorrow."
"That's surprising - doesn't it usually leave at 2.30?"
"Yes but there is a special flight passing through so things have been changed."
Comment
The latter event is timetabled -- it is scheduled. However it is not habitual.
Best Answer
You have been taught an incorrect distinction.
All the constructions used for future events—will VERBinf, BE going to VERBinf, BE VERBpr.ppl, will be VERBpr.ppl, BE going to be VERBpr.ppl, BE to VERBinf and even VERBfin—are practically equivalent.
There are no doubt statistical preferences in different situations: BE to VERBinf tends to be used more often with situations involving some sort of obligation, will VERBinf tends to be used more often with earnest promises, VERBfin tends to be used with situations when the speaker is consulting a calendar or engagement book (and with translations of Richelieu’s instructions from The Three Musketeers!), and so forth.
But none of these tendencies rises to the level of a grammatical “rule”.