Booking for early April 2008?

[mrsmagic]

After 2 fabulous trips in January, we are going to battle the spring break crowds next year. Our break is April 5-12 2008, so I'm "hoping" that it won't be as crowded because Easter is early. Either way, we're going!

I'm curious about booking condos during that time. Right now I could get a 2 bedroom at Cypress Pointe for about $700, which would be fine. The bargain hunter in me wonders if I could do better, or does it get more expensive as the trip gets closer.

Anyone with experience at spring break care to comment?

Thanks!

 

[Mainebound]

After 2 fabulous trips in January, we are going to battle the spring break crowds next year. Our break is April 5-12 2008, so I'm "hoping" that it won't be as crowded because Easter is early. Either way, we're going!

I'm curious about booking condos during that time. Right now I could get a 2 bedroom at Cypress Pointe for about $700, which would be fine. The bargain hunter in me wonders if I could do better, or does it get more expensive as the trip gets closer.

Anyone with experience at spring break care to comment?

Thanks!

We go in March every year, which is our university's spring break. We have already booked next year's pool home, but I definitely paid more than I would have if I had waited. Easter is in March (I think?) in 2008, and I did see that some homes were already booked for our week.

this year money was not an issue for us, but if it were, I would definitely trade having "exactly exactly every single thing I want" for several hundred dollars saved.

 

[4eyedbuzzard]

The bargain hunter in me wonders if I could do better, or does it get more expensive as the trip gets closer.

Anyone with experience at spring break care to comment?

It's a Catch 22. There may well be "fire-sale" prices on lodging at the last minute, but they will often be the least in demand properties(and there is usually a reason for that); getting airfares and even rental cars can also be a problem the longer you wait, especially during "spring-break" times which are "peak season". Generally, my experience is that the longer you wait, the more you must compromise. I prefer to book as soon as I know what dates I can get off from work and work around that, trying to balance arrival dates, midweek vs weekend vs redeye airfares, etc, etc. I doubt I get the cheapest vacation, but I get one that is within my budget with pretty much everything I want. Sitting there up against ressie deadlines as more properties get booked, or waiting for airfares to drop in order to save a couple hundred on a week long WDW vacation isn't for me. Then I wind up with really early or really late flights, a rental car company with a line longer than Soarin', and accomodations that weren't my first choice. Just from experience, you can really screw up a vacation by trying to save every penny.

 

[mungo]

Many schools in the Uk are only having a long weekend for easter and the school holidays are actually the first two weeks in April

 

[4eyedbuzzard]

Good info to know. After Canada I believe the UK is WDW's largest foreign market, and tourism is rebounding back to prior 911 levels.

 

[wilma-bride]

We are from the UK - we have just booked for April 10th to 24th, although the school holidays are actually the 5th to the 19th.

We are hoping the worst of the Spring Break crowds will have died down by then - wishful thinking maybe

 

[HeatherC]

I think you will be fine finding a deal later if you decide to wait. There are SO many lodging places in the area even during the busiest times we have always been able to find a nice place.

We have been going President's Week for the last couple years which is extremely busy and still have found deals.

What you could do too, is book a place now to hold your spot and then cancel if you find something better later.

HeatherC

 

[Mainebound]

I think you will be fine finding a deal later if you decide to wait. There are SO many lodging places in the area even during the busiest times we have always been able to find a nice place.

We have been going President's Week for the last couple years which is extremely busy and still have found deals.

What you could do too, is book a place now to hold your spot and then cancel if you find something better later.

HeatherC

I don't know... often deposits -- which are up to 20% -- are nonrefundable.

But I agree on the ability to find great last minute deals, expecially in the more "unsung" developments, like Oak Island, Indian Creek, etc., and especially further out in Davenport. If anyone isn't sure, just look on VRBO for availability for next week. I think it will prove my point.

 

[CoralCayTownhome]

You are bound to find something if you hold off a bit longer. The easter break for the UK schools will however be busy but with easter falling in March all the schools seem to be doing different holidays

The only problem with leaving it late is if you find something you really like and then it ends up being booked if you wait - but that is the risk you take.

 

[5mins2disney]

I wouldn't wait....you're asking about what will still be the peak season next spring. We've already been getting bookings for this period next year, it looks like it's going to be a VERY busy Easter break period next spring. I predict it will be packed from mid Feb through late April, with most places booked solid through that date range. (Disney thinks so too if you look at their rate calendars, and they're far smarter than me at this sort of thing). Point being, if you look now, you will have wide open choices...if you wait...well..the best places will be long gone...sure, you will still find something most likely..but the closer you get to the date..the harder and harder it will become.

I can tell you this based upon our experiences...up until New Year's....meaning the latter part of Dec...the vacation industry or bookings crawled to pratically a standstill last Dec, everyone was off worrying about the holidays. Right after New Year's, we had more inquiries for a few weeks than we've seen all year long...it went through the roof! So, if you do wait...my suggestion would be book in late December, don't wait until Jan.

If you're considering a vacation home rental just check the cancellation policies. Not all are that excessive, we charge $50 for a cancellation greater than 6 weeks prior to arrival for instance.

I also think that for the very peak times, like March / April...you're not as likely to find deals..as say a less popular month, so if you wait you're definitely taking a big risk. The deals you will find might be someone with a last minute cancellation or a place that hasn't been able to get a booking for some reason.

 

[mrsmagic]

Wow, thanks for all of the great advice! Of course when I went over this with my DH, he said that he wanted to stay in a 3 bedroom townhouse at Windsor Hills with a splash pool, and he could commit to going for sure in December. I'm glad I didn't book the condo!

I'm trying not to let all of the crowd talk scare me off! We agreed to try this once at spring break. Thankfully we have been to Disney enough that we aren't trying to "see everything". We mostly want to get away from the Michigan snow!

 

[kerry34]

Wow, thanks for all of the great advice! Of course when I went over this with my DH, he said that he wanted to stay in a 3 bedroom townhouse at Windsor Hills with a splash pool, and he could commit to going for sure in December. I'm glad I didn't book the condo!

I'm trying not to let all of the crowd talk scare me off! We agreed to try this once at spring break. Thankfully we have been to Disney enough that we aren't trying to "see everything". We mostly want to get away from the Michigan snow!

Spring Break is crowded but manageable if you do the parks at opening. We have been in March and a few times in April and did fine as long as we had a plan. December is also a great time to go since there are all the Christmas decorations displayed. We were there Christmas 2005 and even though it was very busy it was alot of fun. Either way you will have fun.

 

[AllesonWonderland]

I'm trying not to let all of the crowd talk scare me off! We agreed to try this once at spring break.

We visited WDW for the first time over Spring Break. I too was worried about all the posts from people talking about how horrible Spring Break crowds were. I didn't think they were bad at all and would have no problem going over that time again.

Also, we stayed at a Windsor Hills townhouse and LOVED it! My 6 year old still talks about moving there when he grows up. LOL We booked early, (in May 2006 for a March 2007 stay.) I was fine with the price we paid, though I didn't check to see if there were any 'last-minute' deals.

Have fun!