Booking onsite online

[roxiepenguin]

(whoops, realized I posted this originally in the wrong forum thread so am reposting here; crossing fingers that's okay!)

I am hoping someone in-the-know can help me understand checking onsite availability. We're looking at roughly 12/6 to 12/18. If we search for the whole time, let's say at Hotel A, there may be availability. But if we switch for 12/6 to 12/10 at the same Hotel A, there's no availability ...but it just gave us availability for 12/6 to 12/18.

Long story short, how does the system work?

(And wait, I can get a discount for using Disney Visa card?? I used that for our trip in April and didn't get a discount. I would love some pointers!! [And yes, I've been reading enough threads to make a sane person rethink their Disney trip habit but haven't found what I'm looking for. Any and all help is always appreciated!])

 

[MsThumper]

To answer your second question, getting a room discount with a Disney Visa is not automatic. There are limited rooms offered under the discount as with other types of discounts (ie. general public, AP, etc.). I applied for a Disney Visa, hoping it would give me an advantage for a better discount. Both times I booked a room under the Disney Visa, I ended up switching to the general public discount when it came out, because the offer was better.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Room availability is figured by yield management. Basically, by taking a room for days 1-3, only days 4-7 will be available for that room. If they block you, then all 7 remain available.

Their algorithm says that, as of now, of you book days 1-3, days 4-7 is likely to go unsold. But, if they block you, it is likely someone else may book 1-7.

In simple terms, they are holding out for a better offer.

 

[FSU Girl]

You can get around these blocks by calling. If you let them know you see the room available for longer than your whole stay they can escalate it up the chain to someone who can override the system and let you book. I did this for one of my upcoming stays. I saw the room available for longer, but not for the actual dates I needed. It took a while on the phone, but it got fixed and booked.

 

[roxiepenguin]

Room availability is figured by yield management. Basically, by taking a room for days 1-3, only days 4-7 will be available for that room. If they block you, then all 7 remain available.

Their algorithm says that, as of now, of you book days 1-3, days 4-7 is likely to go unsold. But, if they block you, it is likely someone else may book 1-7.

In simple terms, they are holding out for a better offer.

Thanks for confirming. This is basically what I told my husband ... he was a non-believer

 

[roxiepenguin]

You can get around these blocks by calling. If you let them know you see the room available for longer than your whole stay they can escalate it up the chain to someone who can override the system and let you book. I did this for one of my upcoming stays. I saw the room available for longer, but not for the actual dates I needed. It took a while on the phone, but it got fixed and booked.

Thanks for this!! We're going to try it!

Update: No luck. Supposedly no rooms avail for 6-10 even though rooms are avail 6-18. Frustrating to say the least. I get that they want to hold out for a longer stay and more $$, but why turn away someone who's wanting to book right away? I know some folks have said price point is what's leading them to stay off site now and for others it's the security checks, etc. I'm wondering if we just stumbled across our tipping point.