Booking for January, 2009?

[tnd]

Hello All! My husband and I are thinking about a trip to WDW in early January, 2009 and I notice that I can't look up packages for any dates after Dec. 31, 2008. I read on here that you can make reservations 499 days out, but that the rate is not guaranteed. That would be fine, I'd just like to get ballpark prices for the different resorts we might be interested in. Does anyone know when the website will let you start looking for dates after 2008? Any info would be much appreciated.

Also - any insight about the crowds in early January would be very helpful. We're thinking about going from the 2nd to the 9th or thereabouts.

Thanks in advance!

 

[mommyluvsnoah]

I am no expert (planning our first trip for 2009) but I have been told that 2009 package rates should be out around August. You can reserve a room right now and then upgrade to a package after the rates are released. I have been going by 2008 rates for the same month we are planning on attending in 2009 to get ballpark figures. HTH. ANyone please correct me if this info is incorrect.

 

[mousiemom]

Yeah, that should be coming out in Aug. this is the time we go every year. i love going in Jan. but let me tell you. we went this past Jan. the week of Jan. 1-6 and it was so crowded!!!! i will never go that close to a major holiday again. now, we usually go MLK week and the crowds are great cause the kids are in school except for that Mon. we are going this week in Jan. 09. I went to WDW last yr: Jan, May, Aug, Sept, Dec. & Jan. and Jan. is my favorite time as far as crowds go and lines. i can't wait to book our trip!! we are going to Disneyland in June and we are so excited!!
mousiemom

 

[tnd]

Thanks to both of you! That really helps. I will try looking up room only rates now. We need to get some numbers so we can start saving now.

Hopefully early January will be okay. We have very limited time periods where we can take off a week or so because of my class schedule and my husband's job. I am hoping by going after the 1st of the year we can avoid some of the major holiday crowds.

 

[TaraZ]

I called last week to book our Jan 09 trip... be advised... you will be quoted the highest rates from THIS year as your room rate... even if you are travelling at value season (like we are). The CM who booked my trip said they will be adjusted once 09 rates are released (she gave me a May-July timeline).

We are going the last week og January-- what about you?

 

[hansel1]

Our month of choice has been January for the past 3 years. Having said that, the crowds seem to have gotten larger every year. January was a slow time but now its not as slow as it had been in the past.

Room Only rates usually come out in mid July.

Packages come out around mid to late august.

If you book a room only prior to the rates coming out you will be charged the highest rate and then be credited the difference when the new rates come out.

If you book a room only and want to later book a package, you will need to cancel your room only reservation and book a new package when the rates come out.

I have never had a problem changing my reservation from a room only to a package.

 

[tnd]

I really appreciate all the info. I guess I'll just use the current rates on the site and hope that they'd be a bit cheaper after the holidays. I wish we could go later in January, or even February, but I'm in law school, and I really have to show up to every class, so we'll have to go in early January. I'm thinking either the 2nd or 3rd through the 9th or 10th. I definitely want to have more time there during the week (hoping it's less crazy than weekends).