499 Days before booking Fort Wilderness Campsites?

[RandolphNY]

I have been watching ever since the 2017 schedule came out to book from 12/17/17 to 12/23/17.

I immediately attempted to book and there were no sites available. Earlier this week, I called and was advised that you can not book until you hit the 499 mark.

a) is this true or am I screwed?
b) if this is true, is the 499 days based on last day?

Any thoughts?

 

[FtW Mike]

I was always of the opinion that it was 500 days from check in our TA advised us no its 500 days from check out at premium times like you want she books us for 1st day as soon as she can then everyday adds until we are fully booked

 

[tiggerdad]

Yes, 500 days from the checkout date is what I was told.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Yes, 500 days from the checkout date is what I was told.

Which is 499 nights.

 

[tiggerdad]

Which is 499 nights.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) People do get confused by the 500-day or 499-night designation.
2) Remember, rooms and sites are booked/billed by the night, not the day.
3) A very common mistake.

 

[peg110]

Also that far out, you must CALL to book. You cannot book online. Typically the rates are not yet set for that far out either, so you will have to pay (either the deposit or whatever else you choose to pay beyond that) the rate that is current but expect an "Adjustment" when the appropriate rates are published.

 

[Disneymom20]

I am having the same trouble. I just got off the phone with Disney and they told me to book one night at a time. We are planning to go December 20-27th, 2017. Is it usually this hard to get a spot? Would it make a difference if I went with a Disney travel agent?

 

[tiggerdad]

I am having the same trouble. I just got off the phone with Disney and they told me to book one night at a time. We are planning to go December 20-27th, 2017. Is it usually this hard to get a spot? Would it make a difference if I went with a Disney travel agent?

Yes, it is the busiest time of the year at Disney during your visit dates. I'm not sure how an agent is going to get them any easier than you as long as you keep getting the one night at a time you should be able to put it together.

 

[Disneymom20]

Thanks so much! Does the one night at a time usually work if I log in right at 7am? The Disney representative said I could do it online each morning, is this correct? I guess I better set my alarm!

 

[bama_ed]

I am having the same trouble. I just got off the phone with Disney and they told me to book one night at a time. We are planning to go December 20-27th, 2017. Is it usually this hard to get a spot? Would it make a difference if I went with a Disney travel agent?

If you can only reserve forward to a check-out day at the 500 day mark, 500 days from today August 5, 2016 is December 18, 2017 according to this date calculator: http://www.timeanddate.com/date/dateadd.html . So if you want to check out on December 27, 2017 which is 9 days later, wait 9 days from now which will be August 14 then book it all at once. While Christmas is popular, it doesn't disappear at the 500 day mark. You don't want the hassle of several one day reservations (and managing magic bands, tickets, ADR's, etc.).

TA have to play by the same rules we do. So call on August 14th or later.

Bama Ed

 

[peg110]

Additionally, reservations typically require a 1 day deposit. If you make seven 1-day reservations, then you will have to pay for the whole thing, up front with the deposits. I agree with Ed, I don't believe it will fill up THAT quickly.

 

[jv3cv1]

I'm looking at Dec 18 - Dec 29 2017 also Last year we book in Sept 2014 for Christmas Week 2015. We are going Oct this year should I wait to see if I get a bounce back offer or just book in another week. I have never had a bounce back unless we were at one of the Deluxe Resorts. Does the Fort give bounce backs.

 

[jv3cv1]

I'm looking at Dec 18 - Dec 29 2017 also Last year we book in Sept 2014 for Christmas Week 2015. We are going Oct this year should I wait to see if I get a bounce back offer or just book in another week. I have never had a bounce back unless we were at one of the Deluxe Resorts. Does the Fort give bounce backs.

Never mind on the bounce back I found mine from last year only good at other resorts.

 

[bama_ed]

Campsites never bounce back...

 

[tiggerdad]

Campsites never bounce back...

The demand is too high, they know they don't need any additional reasons to fill them up. If only the idiots would put in more sites...converting 2100 loop was a nice start, but they got plenty of space to expand some more loops in.