ASM Family Suites are BLOCKED for the holidays ??? What gives???

[Syndrome]

Hey all,
Just wondering if anyone else has run into this yet...........
I am trying to reserve the ASM Family suites for 1/1/2008 - 1/13/2008. I reserved what I could months ago.........1/2/2008-1/13/2008, ASM Family suite. I keep calling to get 1/1/2008 added in, but keep getting the "no availability" let down.
Since we cant check on-line for just 2008 yet.........I keep doing "back dating" checks for the Family suites, for weeks now. This is how it gets really frustrating.........The Family suites are COMPLETELY OPEN from the middle of 12/2007 through the middle of 1/2008. I can book it right now online or by phone, for a month straight if needed. But ........CRO will not let me add in the 1/1/2008 day I need.......even though its available!!! I keep questioning.........about 5 phone agents now........why this is, and they say the room is unavailable to book on 1/1/2008.........UNLESS you are staying during the holiday week..........they said its blocked off, with priority going to guests that want to book during the holiday week. Its not that the room is unavailable per say, its just unavailable to me! I could book from 12/31/2007 through 1/13/2008.........but that will be at the FULL HOLIDAY RATE. Maybe WDW is starting to modify some of there seasonal pricing structure???
I have never heard of such a thing with WDW before..........I have always been able to book whatever day I needed..........never heard about blocked rooms.........up untill now!!! Its not like I want to stay for 1 day.......I need to add it to our 2 week stay!!!! We have been going to WDW for YEARS..........always checking in on 1/1........for the first 2 weeks of Jan. I am not sure what changed now????
Anyone else ever hear about this before ???
Later...........Syndrome

 

[Disneefun]

I haven't heard anything with hard proof about this, but I know at Fort Wilderness there seems to be something similar going on with the campsites. I've heard of people who can't get certain dates -- and those dates happen to either be either the beginning of value season or the last date before holiday pricing begins. I think Disney is trying to minimize the number of people booking at value season rates and trying to "force" people to pay the higher rate -- particularly at FW where the snowbirds come and stay for months. There's probably some similar rationalization at the suites and they're hoping for people who want a longer stay a holiday rates.

What I have heard that works is to book whatever they'll let you -- for example, book 12/31 - 1/13. Then wait a few days and call and drop the day(s) you don't want. They'll let you do this with no problem and your ressie will adjust accordingly to the new "season" you rate falls into. At least so far this works....

 

[CanadianGuy]

This is the first time I've seen this being explained so clearly.

I've never seen it explained so well. Clearly Disney thinks they can sell these rooms at the higher 'holiday rate' and they are going to try and do so.

Knox