1st week of December 2013 Support Group

[meredith1]

Did anyone have any luck with RO discounts for the 1st week of Dec? I didn't but oh well...it would have been nice though

We originally had a two bedroom at BLT w/ MK view. I am seriously thinking about changing to GF with a 30% discount on two rooms. That will save us $1700.

It's hard because I've had the BLT/MK view booked for a year and a half and that's been my mind set.

I am fairly confident that we'll do GF at this point. It's hard to justify 1700 bucks for BLT vs. GF.

 

[myhouseofmouse]

Well, we haven't had any luck getting a RO or FD. We might change our dates. We are using a TA and she is on vacation so I haven't been able to get much out of her other than she tried to get the RO but we are staying at POR and it would have only been a 5% discount. The discount wasn't worth the additional we would pay for tickets since that price went up. Currently, we have no discount. We are thinking about switching our dates to Dec. 12-22 but I'm on the fence. I don't want to lose all our ADRs, we'd have to upgrade rooms or switch resorts because POR has no availability for regular rooms with FD and if we did that it'd save us $500. Is all this really worth $500?! But now I'm worried about crowds for the first week of Dec. due to all these discounts not including those dates. Hmm, what to do???!!

I'm curious to see how the crowds are the first week of December as well, seeing as the hotels seem so booked-up. Touring Plans estimates that it has the lowest crowd levels of all of December, but that is of course subject to change. I expect the crowd calendar to be updated as we get closer to December...

No luck for me on RO discount for my dates (12/3 through 12/8) at POFQ. I think there were so many of us that booked ahead of time (or, as in my case, just prior to the ticket hike) in hopes of that week being available that we used up their promo inventory!! Those PINs that were going out lead us astray! Oh well, right?

I'm sorry, am I missing something here, I have noticed a lot of posts that are saying that our wonderful 1st week in December is going to be mobbed!!
Why does everyone feel that why??? what Am I missing? Now, I know OUR week is not as slow as it once was, but its still the week after a holiday week and crowds should be great. If I'm correct all the major sites still have it as one (if not the best) weeks to go still. Is everyone worried because of no FD??? or is it the hotel availability??
I am pretty sure neither have anything to do with actual crowds for that week, right??

17 weeks, right???? Can not wait!!!

 

[bas71873]

I'm sorry, am I missing something here, I have noticed a lot of posts that are saying that our wonderful 1st week in December is going to be mobbed!!
Why does everyone feel that why??? what Am I missing? Now, I know OUR week is not as slow as it once was, but its still the week after a holiday week and crowds should be great. If I'm correct all the major sites still have it as one (if not the best) weeks to go still. Is everyone worried because of no FD??? or is it the hotel availability??
I am pretty sure neither have anything to do with actual crowds for that week, right??

17 weeks, right???? Can not wait!!!

I'm curious about this too, but it does make me nervous that a lot of resorts are showing no availability for this week. We are going as planned, I couldn't get through to apply a RO discount so it is what it is. I will say I'm secretly happy the first week of Dec is not a FD week (other than the PINS that went out). We don't do the DDP so it makes it a bit easier to get a TS meal if we decide last minute that we want a sit down meal. I'm waiting for Josh at easywdw.com to update the December calendar......

 

[Luv2trav]

I'm curious about this too, but it does make me nervous that a lot of resorts are showing no availability for this week. We are going as planned, I couldn't get through to apply a RO discount so it is what it is. I will say I'm secretly happy the first week of Dec is not a FD week (other than the PINS that went out). We don't do the DDP so it makes it a bit easier to get a TS meal if we decide last minute that we want a sit down meal. I'm waiting for Josh at easywdw.com to update the December calendar......

I don't think the 1st week is going to be bad at all. I think it's a popular week with DVC (We own DVC) and it's going to be more popular this year because there are fewer weeks before Christmas than last year. That being said if you look at rack rate almost all rooms types are available. I think they have decided that this week isn't "slow" enough to offer more discounted rooms. I am hoping this changes as we get closer. We need 1 night at AKL and it's not available right now but it is available at rack. I think they believe we will pay rack rate to go that week so why offer many discounted rooms?? I am not worried at all about the crowds..

 

[bas71873]

I don't think the 1st week is going to be bad at all. I think it's a popular week with DVC (We own DVC) and it's going to be more popular this year because there are fewer weeks before Christmas than last year. That being said if you look at rack rate almost all rooms types are available. I think they have decided that this week isn't "slow" enough to offer more discounted rooms. I am hoping this changes as we get closer. We need 1 night at AKL and it's not available right now but it is available at rack. I think they believe we will pay rack rate to go that week so why offer many discounted rooms?? I am not worried at all about the crowds..

Thanks. That makes me feel better. Now if I could just decide where to stay....POFQ or Swan

 

[CaliKT]

I don't necessarily think the parks are going to be more swamped than usual in early December. I wouldn't make that decision, anyway, based on the dates offered for the promotions. I think the reasoning behind when and why Disney offers certain promo discounts is incredibly complicated and not based upon expected attendance at the park gates!

 

[sabcook]

I was hoping for a RO at Wilderness Lodge but of course there was nothing. What I was able to do was to switch to GF for the same 8 nights (nov 30-December 8) and with the discount it is $20 bucks less than staying at the WL. I would rather have saved the $1000 or so but in the end, I'll be super happy with the swap - especially on our anniversary trip!

 

[Ana~n~Joseph]

I don't think the 1st week is going to be bad at all. I think it's a popular week with DVC (We own DVC) and it's going to be more popular this year because there are fewer weeks before Christmas than last year. That being said if you look at rack rate almost all rooms types are available. I think they have decided that this week isn't "slow" enough to offer more discounted rooms. I am hoping this changes as we get closer. We need 1 night at AKL and it's not available right now but it is available at rack. I think they believe we will pay rack rate to go that week so why offer many discounted rooms?? I am not worried at all about the crowds..

I hope it's not too bad. I'm still nervous but I usually always go in September which is pretty slow so I'm not used to all of this craziness. I've told myself that I've done Christmas week before so I can def handle heavier crowds ... just gotta keep reassuring myself it will be good. it could def be worse, I could be stuck at work that week

 

[dawgsgirl]

I was unable to book a RO discount at CSR for Dec 4-10. I was able to secure the discount by adding 2 days to the end of stay. Now have reservations with the discount for Dec 4-12. I will call back later to drop the last 2 days. It might be worth a try!!

 

[Tropics]

I gave up on booking with Disney directly since I can't get any discounts through them. I will be cancelling my direct bookings and going with a travel agent who can get me discounts for the first week of December.

 

[Luv2trav]

I hope it's not too bad. I'm still nervous but I usually always go in September which is pretty slow so I'm not used to all of this craziness. I've told myself that I've done Christmas week before so I can def handle heavier crowds ... just gotta keep reassuring myself it will be good. it could def be worse, I could be stuck at work that week

We went the same week 2 years ago and came HOME with 28 unused fastpasses. Normally we give them away on our way out of the park (This was before they held you to the time on the fastpass) but we thought we might use them later and never needed them. It was similar dates and it was hard to get DVC room reservations that year too. I am not worried. I believe it will be busier than that year but nothing like what people are thinking it will be. It's become a more popular time but still nothing compared to spring break, summer and Christmas week. You will be fine.

 

[ktlm]

I hope it's not too bad. I'm still nervous but I usually always go in September which is pretty slow so I'm not used to all of this craziness. I've told myself that I've done Christmas week before so I can def handle heavier crowds ... just gotta keep reassuring myself it will be good. it could def be worse, I could be stuck at work that week

We've been the week after Thanksgiving the last 4 years. I think it will be a little more crowded this time because there is less time between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, which is why I think the discounts are harder to get. We wanted to bounceback from our trip last year (which we have been doing for 3 years!), and for the very first time the bounceback was only good for a couple of days of the trip and they weren't letting you have the rate for the full week, even if you checked in on a bounceback day. It will still be a great week to go! The crowds aren't bad at all, so a little bit of an increase shouldn't be a big deal. The only thing you have to mess with is working around the parade taping at MK.

Well, tried again this morning, and Boardwalk was the only deluxe available for that week on the RO- standard room was the only thing available. Thought about it, but not sure about staying there without any CS at the resort. I wasn't sure just how far the closest place to grab CS breakfast is from there. DH usually grabs breakfast for everyone and brings it up to the room. It would definitely be nice to walk to EPCOT and DHS though. I guess I will just keep trying and see what else pops up. Still thinking about just cancelling everything we have for that week. We have a couple of trips booked right now, because we were debating when to go and hoping for discounts. So far, we aren't having much luck!

 

[myhouseofmouse]

Well I'm glad everyone so far seems to agree that OUR week is not going to be too bad crowd wise. Now I would love to save the money with the FD offer, but as another poster pointed out, it should have with crowds that there is NO FD our week.

Something I else I was thinking, let me know if any of you agree...

I find the dates that Disney picked so weird this year. (Especially the fast that a lot of people will be getting FD during the week of Thanksgiving and Xmas...That one makes not sense at all!)
Does anyone think that the reason certain weeks (especially ones that have almost always been there before) has a lot to do with the new Fastpass+ system. Noticed that in OCt/Nov/DEC, pretty much the first week is not available for the FD discount. The more I think about it, the more I think they have these set aside to either do more testing or possible a rollout for the Fastpass+ Am I just reading into this or is this maybe a possibility?

 

[juljas]

Still trying to get Beach Club for December 9th and 10th. Saw those date pop up for our room type - but only if you booked 9th through 16th ?? but didn't call quick enough - shouldn't have hesitated.. Still lots of time to go so will keep watching and hope for

 

[Viva Las Disney]

It seems like everyday there are more rooms available our week. I'm still trying to get the RO discount at POFQ so I'm checking daily and in the last few days it went from no availability for any room type to standard, garden, and river view all now available. Still no discounts but hopefully as more and more people cancel/move the discounts will come.

I've noticed availability opening up again at POR, WL, and AKL also.

I think a lot of people that scheduled our week expecting FD are starting to move.

 

[TACK]

Like everyone else I was so surprised that the week after Thanksgiving was not included. I'm still going anyways, and will do room only. The only issue I have is what will I do next year. I always took after thanksgiving time off for the past several years so I will have to rethink this. It ties into my airfare because I usually use my points and that you have to book way ahead.

I'm more puzzled than anything else as to why they did not include it.

 

[Ana~n~Joseph]

I took a chance and rebooked my trip with a TA that is running a TA exclusive discount. I was able to save $800....I had to give up my Woods View for a Standard but totally worth it!

 

[The Sasquatch]

We have been pretty lucky but have been checking all day since the RO was released.

I had booked a 1 bed BWV 11/30-12/7 yesterday with the RO

I cancelled that tonight and booked a 1 bed BCV 11/30-12/5 and a WLV studio 12/5-12/7 both with the RO discount.

It takes a lot of time and effort but don't give up. People are canceling and changing reservations constantly.

We are still shooting for a 1 bed WLV for the whole week.

 

[juljas]

Keep trying everyone who hasn't yet got what they are after!! We originally were booked BC 12/01 - 12/11 Garden View - unable to apply discount. Changed to YC Lagoon/Pool for same dates $700 cheaper. Eventually switched back 12/01 - 12/09 BC Lagoon/Pool view with last two nights at YC Lagoon/Pool. Last night got 12/01 - 12/14 at BC Lagoon/Pool with RO discount - this was not available online but cast member said was showing on her screen? Still will be $600ish less that the garden view room I had originally booked.

I took it and will cancel the last few nights in the next 24 hours.

 

[kfelaco]

I took a chance and rebooked my trip with a TA that is running a TA exclusive discount. I was able to save $800....I had to give up my Woods View for a Standard but totally worth it!

My original package that I booked in Feb for Nov 30-Dec 7 was a TA exclusive package as well. It's a 10% RO discount at POFQ, locked-in ticket prices before the increase AND a free water park option ticket included. Our total savings (2 rooms/6 people) is $900. If we did the 20% RO promotion for POFQ through Disney, I would actually lose savings because of the new ticket prices with a total savings of "only" $500. So we're staying put with our original booking and praying that MAYBE FD gets opened up for our week......