Already Booked Out for Thanksgiving!?

[ConnorsMama]

Our 7 month window for booking our upcoming trip opens tomorrow, and as of tonight there is hardly any availability. The only resorts that have availability for our entire stay are Animal Kingdom Lodge and Saratoga Springs.

I'm super bummed. Hubby and I are planning on renewing our vows over Thanksgiving (I'm a teacher so our dates are not flexible) and were hoping to stay somewhere new this trip.

This will be our first Thanksgiving trip using our membership. Any predictions on waitlist availability?

 

[rlovew]

You can try but if you are looking for a studio you have less of a chance- waitlist 2 high category rooms and just wait and see. I have yet to have a waitlist work unless I made it at about 11 months out but that doesn't mean it is not possible.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

So I'm confused. If your 7 month window is opening, why didn't you choose your home resort? If your home is either AKL or SSR and you wanted somewhere else, why didn't you buy there? The holidays are going to be busy as many people exercise their home option. I hate to be Debbie Downer but the holidays are not the best time to try other resorts. It just reinforces the "buy where you want to stay" principle. Best wishes on your renewal.

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[DisneyRegulars]

So I'm confused. If your 7 month window is opening, why didn't you choose your home resort? If your home is either AKL or SSR and you wanted somewhere else, why didn't you buy there? The holidays are going to be busy as many people exercise their home option. I hate to be Debbie Downer but the holidays are not the best time to try other resorts. It just reinforces the "buy where you want to stay" principle. Best wishes on your renewal.

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I agree with this. It seems your expectations are not where they should be. I would never expect to stay anywhere other than my home resort during Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Spring Break. I would also never expect to get an Epcot resort at 7 months during food and wine festival. I'm sorry that you may not be able to try a new resort, but I think you need to realign your expectations.

Waitlists do come through. But also stalk the website because you can often fill your waitlist on your own.

 

[drusba]

Wait lists do sometimes come through, as many here have reported success. If you are looking at where chances might be a little better than others, it would probably be either BWV pool/garden or BLT lake view, based on those having more rooms than other near park choices.

For future reference, Thanksgiving time is tied with two other times as being fourth in the list of hardest times to get a near park resort at 7 months out. It is tied with Columbus Day weekend and Veterans Day weekend. First, second and third hardest are, in order, first week of Dec, Christmas week, and second week of Dec. All the holidays that occur from mid-Jan through Sep are actually much easier for getting near park resorts at 7 months. Spring break, including Easter time, is actually a low to moderate DVC demand time.

 

[bonrea]

Our 7 month window for booking our upcoming trip opens tomorrow, and as of tonight there is hardly any availability.

I hope you were able to get what you wanted today. I know it can be frustrating. We have never had trouble getting what we wanted where we wanted at 7 months out. We've never done a split stay either.

I am curious about how you were able to determine that there was no availability before the 7 month window opened for you. DVC CMs will not tell you and the online features will not look up dates past 7 months if your contract isn't for that resort.

What I do is this; the Data Bases at Disney complete their updates at 6am ET (yes you question how I know this. DH is a computer geek and has tested the system remotely and the sweet spot (as he calls it) is 6:00am ET). I'm online logged in at 5:50am ET and ready to book. 11 months or 7 months. Right at 6:00am ET I click on the button to check availability and I have had no trouble getting what I want. I call at 8am when the phone lines open to confirm the reservation went through.

Disclaimer: We set realistic goals. We rarely go during the holidays simply because of the crowd levels. Even booking dining reservations have heavy competition. The one time we booked a Tree House (not SSR Home Resort) we got it online with no trouble but we were going on the Friday before the holiday week and most can't book 7 months out before us if they arrive on the Saturday before the holiday.

The best thing to do is like the others here have said. Book something, anything, home resort or not and then wait list for what you want. You may be surprised with a little magic.

 

[nalajms]

The only resorts that have availability for our entire stay are Animal Kingdom Lodge and Saratoga Springs.
...
This will be our first Thanksgiving trip using our membership. Any predictions on waitlist availability?

I'm surprised AKV and SSR are still available. I would have thought Thanksgiving night would be booked. I've already booked our airfare so there's very little chance I'll cancel our BWV or VGF rooms. Good luck with the waitlist. There might be some changes when SW release their Nov dates on 5/19.

What I do is this; the Data Bases at Disney complete their updates at 6am ET (yes you question how I know this. DH is a computer geek and has tested the system remotely and the sweet spot (as he calls it) is 6:00am ET). I'm online logged in at 5:50am ET and ready to book. 11 months or 7 months. Right at 6:00am ET I click on the button to check availability and I have had no trouble getting what I want. I call at 8am when the phone lines open to confirm the reservation went through.

I'm confused, the 11/7months windows open at 8am online and MS doesn't take calls until 9am. How are you booking at 6am?

You can see up to 7 days from the 7m mark online. If OP's not going till 11/23, they can put in 11/22 and see the week.

I allocate enough points so that I can book from Thrus/Fri on, even if our plan is to start Sat. You never know what airfare will be like. I learned this the hard way

 

[DVC Sue]

I would book either AKV or SSR for the whole stay and waitlist single nights at a resort I would rather stay at. You have a better chance of getting single nights. If the waitlists come through, MS can combine the nights into 1 reservation. However, you may end up with only some of your nights that way. Also, don't cancel or modify your reservation at AKV or SSR until you have a reservation at another resort that suits your needs.

 

[thepops]

you could buy some VGC points direct and let your guide work their magic to getting a reservation there (and if they can't do it then you'll have to rethink adding on the points )

 

[twinsouvenirs]

We are going the week before the marathon--we booked at one of our home resorts, SSR, and we'll waitlist wherever else at the 7 mo mark as needed. However, I have informed everyone to expect that we'll be at SSR. Luckily, we love it! We too are hoping to check out a few different resorts before repeating though.

But don't be too discouraged, we booked AKV for Memorial Day and then decided a few months ago to try for BWK because it was walking distance to Star Wars Weekends and the World Showcase.... and we got it. Lots of people may be thinking what you are--I want to switch at 7 mo!

 

[Sandisw]

I'm surprised AKV and SSR are still available. I would have thought Thanksgiving night would be booked. I've already booked our airfare so there's very little chance I'll cancel our BWV or VGF rooms. Good luck with the waitlist. There might be some changes when SW release their Nov dates on 5/19.




I'm confused, the 11/7months windows open at 8am online and MS doesn't take calls until 9am. How are you booking at 6am?

You can see up to 7 days from the 7m mark online. If OP's not going till 11/23, they can put in 11/22 and see the week.

I allocate enough points so that I can book from Thrus/Fri on, even if our plan is to start Sat. You never know what airfare will be like. I learned this the hard way

To check availability prior to the real 7 month window, someone can plug in dates a few days early and go out 7 days and get an idea of what is there for the first few nights.

For example, say I want to go August 10th. My 7 month window opens January 10th. I can go online though on January 6th and it would give me what is available from the 6th through the 13th...that would let me know if things were still available for those first few nights.

Obviously, things change and its just an idea, but its a way to know ahead of time if what you want could be easy or hard...I think we also have to remember that others are going to try and change out at 7 months so that could free things up a bit as well...

 

[yeahdisney]

Couple years ago we wanted beach club for the thanksgiving week. At the 10 month mark it was booked. We went with a split stay, wait listed, it did not come thru.

 

[ConnorsMama]

So I'm confused. If your 7 month window is opening, why didn't you choose your home resort? If your home is either AKL or SSR and you wanted somewhere else, why didn't you buy there? The holidays are going to be busy as many people exercise their home option. I hate to be Debbie Downer but the holidays are not the best time to try other resorts. It just reinforces the "buy where you want to stay" principle. Best wishes on your renewal.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

We do not want to stay at our home resort this trip, which is SSR. Buying there was our best option at the time, as we wanted to purchase a direct resale from Disney. We love SSR, but tt would never be our goal to always stay at our home resort anyway. I am aware that the holidays are a busy time, but as a teacher I am not left with many options for travel.

I would also never expect to get an Epcot resort at 7 months during food and wine festival.

FWIT, the Food and Wine Festival is not going on over Thanksgiving, as it ends on November 10th.

I am curious about how you were able to determine that there was no availability before the 7 month window opened for you. DVC CMs will not tell you and the online features will not look up dates past 7 months if your contract isn't for that resort.

What I do is this; the Data Bases at Disney complete their updates at 6am ET (yes you question how I know this. DH is a computer geek and has tested the system remotely and the sweet spot (as he calls it) is 6:00am ET). I'm online logged in at 5:50am ET and ready to book. 11 months or 7 months. Right at 6:00am ET I click on the button to check availability and I have had no trouble getting what I want. I call at 8am when the phone lines open to confirm the reservation went through.

Disclaimer: We set realistic goals. We rarely go during the holidays simply because of the crowd levels. Even booking dining reservations have heavy competition. The one time we booked a Tree House (not SSR Home Resort) we got it online with no trouble but we were going on the Friday before the holiday week and most can't book 7 months out before us if they arrive on the Saturday before the holiday.

The best thing to do is like the others here have said. Book something, anything, home resort or not and then wait list for what you want. You may be surprised with a little magic.

We simply plugged in our dates starting on the 22nd instead of the 23rd to check availability as best we could.

Thanks for the advice on trying to book!

I would book either AKV or SSR for the whole stay and waitlist single nights at a resort I would rather stay at. You have a better chance of getting single nights. If the waitlists come through, MS can combine the nights into 1 reservation. However, you may end up with only some of your nights that way. Also, don't cancel or modify your reservation at AKV or SSR until you have a reservation at another resort that suits your needs.

Thanks for the advice!

To check availability prior to the real 7 month window, someone can plug in dates a few days early and go out 7 days and get an idea of what is there for the first few nights.

For example, say I want to go August 10th. My 7 month window opens January 10th. I can go online though on January 6th and it would give me what is available from the 6th through the 13th...that would let me know if things were still available for those first few nights.

Obviously, things change and its just an idea, but its a way to know ahead of time if what you want could be easy or hard...I think we also have to remember that others are going to try and change out at 7 months so that could free things up a bit as well...

 

[ConnorsMama]

We are booked at AKL with a Savannah View, and will be very happy with that if our waitlist does not come through.

I would book either AKV or SSR for the whole stay and waitlist single nights at a resort I would rather stay at. You have a better chance of getting single nights. If the waitlists come through, MS can combine the nights into 1 reservation. However, you may end up with only some of your nights that way. Also, don't cancel or modify your reservation at AKV or SSR until you have a reservation at another resort that suits your needs.

Sue, I just want to ask a clarifying question if that is okay. Do I waitlist single nights only, as opposed to a week, or split week? Thanks!

 

[Sandisw]

We are booked at AKL with a Savannah View, and will be very happy with that if our waitlist does not come through.



Sue, I just want to ask a clarifying question if that is okay. Do I waitlist single nights only, as opposed to a week, or split week? Thanks!

You an set up a maximum of two wait lists and obviously, its easier to get less nights than more...I don't think I would go with only one night wait lists...I might put in 2 night wait lists...one for the first two nights...and one for the last two nights...this way, you have it at the beginning or end of what you have, providing you are okay with the split stay option...

If one of those two comes through, then you can start with adding the one night wait list at a time.

I would also recommend stalking the website...I just picked up two nights at VGF this summer by finding one open and wait listing the other...I also picked up two nights in a SV room at BLT by doing the same thing...wasn't there for days and then alll of sudden, two nights of the 3 I wanted were..I grabbed them and now only have to wait list one night...

In 2012, I ended up, through wait lists, etc. getting a long weekend in October during Food and Wine for a 1 bedroom boardwalk view starting in June through wait lists and stalking the website...it took a while and I was willing to go with split stay, even for the 4 night trip, so it worked for me...nothing is ever impossible!

Good luck!!!

 

[nalajms]

If OP has 7 nights booked at AKV and wait lists the first 2 nights at BWV, when the WL comes in, will it only replace the first 2 nights at AKV? Or will it cancel the whole 7 nights. This is assuming the WL is setup to replace a reservation.

 

[Sandisw]

If OP has 7 nights booked at AKV and wait lists the first 2 nights at BWV, when the WL comes in, will it only replace the first 2 nights at AKV? Or will it cancel the whole 7 nights. This is assuming the WL is setup to replace a reservation.

You have to set it up to cancel just the same two nights...and then it will replace just those nights and not the entire reservation...I have done that before.

When I do it online, I do give MS a call or contact them through the chat feature on the website to make sure it is listed correctly. Every time, they have confirmed that it is listed to only cancel the same nights as the wait list..

 

[Sammie]

Our 7 month window for booking our upcoming trip opens tomorrow, and as of tonight there is hardly any availability. The only resorts that have availability for our entire stay are Animal Kingdom Lodge and Saratoga Springs.

I'm super bummed. Hubby and I are planning on renewing our vows over Thanksgiving (I'm a teacher so our dates are not flexible) and were hoping to stay somewhere new this trip.

This will be our first Thanksgiving trip using our membership. Any predictions on waitlist availability?

My two favorites.

 

[staceymay00]

We do not want to stay at our home resort this trip, which is SSR. Buying there was our best option at the time, as we wanted to purchase a direct resale from Disney. We love SSR, but tt would never be our goal to always stay at our home resort anyway. I am aware that the holidays are a busy time, but as a teacher I am not left with many options for travel.

Not a teacher but have kids in school and don't pull them out for Disney, so have also found it difficult to switch resorts at seven months. We don't mind always staying at our home resort, though. Thanksgiving is really difficult at 7 months at most resorts, but I'm sure people sometimes get lucky with wait lists and stalking the website. Spring break was a much easier time for us to book almost anything we wanted at seven months. We don't go to WDW in the summer, but from what I've read it is an easier time to switch at seven months than Thanksgiving. Good luck, hope you are able to switch to the resort you want, but if Thanksgiving is when you'd like to regularly use your DVC then I think you'll need to be at peace with stays at your home resort or be ok with a split stay (if you are visiting for the full week - earlier in the week is a little easier to get at seven months).

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[Canadian Disney Mom]

OP - don't be discouraged and keep looking! Get yourself waitlisted, but also stalk the member site.

We too are arriving Nov 22 and want a studio. We own at SSR and will be checking out Nov 29th. I originally booked SSR for the whole week at 11 months. Since last week I have been piecing together reservations at other resorts - it looks like we will have to do a split stay, which we enjoy as it allows us to try multiple resorts we may not have tried before.

As a result of my own stalking, I have been able to secure the first 4 nights at VWL (Nov 22-26) and then the last 2 at BCV (Nov 27-19). We just need to fill in the night of the 26th with one of those resorts and we will be good. I will likely continue to try to get the whole week at one resort, but I do not expect it. It has taken me alot of work and I check the site at least once an hour, but it is possible to piece together a reservation. It's easier if you have lots of points to play with. We are lucky that we have 400 points and this is only a week long trip so it gives me enough points to play.

Good luck!!