Advice/Experiences Thanksgiving

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

My husband and I just decided to spend Thanksgiving at WDW.

I just emailed in our request to member services for a 2bd villa at any DVC resort from 11/21 (the Tuesday before Thanksgiving) to 11/30 (the Thursday after Thanksgiving). We are not picky about view or location - we simply want to be together in a 2bedroom.

We always go during very quiet seasons (September and January - usually). So, we have no idea how the process of holiday booking goes.

What are our chances for getting this reservation since it's only about 5 months away? How do waitlists generally work (we've never had to be on one)?

I am really nervous about this - because we're trying to coordinate our oldest son who will be in Florida at college - we don't want to put off buying him a plane ticket to NY in the hopes he can just drive up to Orlando - Of course, with the 4th of July holiday - it'll take longer for me to get an answer from MS.


I'm sure some of you have had experience with this time frame. Is it crazy busy?

Thanks for any assistance, advice or sharing of past experiences you can offer!!

 

[denecarter]

Last year, on the 4th of July, my brother told me he wanted to go (and take his family) at Thanksgiving with DD and I. I was able to get an OKW GV for Sunday through Tuesday nights. We waitlisted for Wednesday through Thursday nights, but it never came through. We used CBR as our back up.

Thanksgiving week was busy, but not as busy as Christmas Week and maybe not even as busy as the week before Christmas. It was mid-summer busy, but with better weather.

Hope you get a room.

And you'll need to make Thanksgiving ADR as soon as possible (it may be too late already with the 180 day window). I was lucky enought to still have a 90 day window to work with.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Call MS as soon as they open. I don't think you will be lucky enough to not go on the waitlist. We made our reservation fot Thanksgiving week at VWL at 11 months and changed a few of the days exactly at the 7 month time frame. If we hadn't done that, we wouldn't have been able to get it.

You might also request two studios.

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

thanks to both of you for giving me the advice. I'm going to call first thing Monday morning - I will keep you all posted! We own a retail store, so the thought of going away on what is the busiest shopping day of the year never occurred to us - but, we have a great crew and we're just going to do it!! It has to happen for us!! I'll need the vacation to get through the rest of the crazy month working 18 hours a day!

<---I looked for a smiley that was praying and couldn't find one!

 

[Mahusky]

Best of luck...... Maybe you will luck out! Last year I called MS late (like October for my FIL) and all nights were available except for T-Day night. You might want to break your ressie up?? I would ask MS if not available if it is just one night or nights that make your dates unavailable. I would book a cash room if you are not succesful getting a room.

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

Hi all,

Called this morning and was waitlisted for the first four nights. We got our first choice for the last 5 nights.

I may go ahead and book a cash reservation for the first four nights at one of the MK deluxe resorts - we were really into relaxing the first four nights anyway, because we kind of expect the parks to be really crazy. My whole family loves the MK resorts, because it really makes them feel like they're at Disney - and we haven't stayed there in so long. We always book two rooms when we stay in a regular hotel, so it's not worth it at all to use our points.

Thanks again for the advice - I have booked our plane tickets (great fares on Jet Blue) and am going to go ahead and book my son's flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Orlando once Southwest opens November dates - we will pay cash if we have to - leaves us more points for the rest of the year!!

If the waitlist comes through - we'll cancel the other ressie. I'll keep you all updated!

Many thanks again!