Booking question (Update on page 2)

[iluvtheworld]

Please bear with me. I have read many posts and think that I have it all down pat, but need to get some reassurance to make sure we book our 1st trip correctly.

So, we are hoping to check in to BLT on December 31st. We would like 1 bedroom standard view, but lake view would be fine too. We would like to stay from the 31st to January 10th or 11th. So...do I call member services on the 31st of January and book the first 7 nights and then call back each day to add on or do I wait and call on the 6th to book the remaining 3 or 4 nights?

Do I even have a chance of getting a room with check in being on the 31st? If we call back first thing in the morning to book our room each day for the additional nights, what are the chances of it not being available?

So far it looks like the 31st will be the cheapest day for us to fly, so we want to take advantage of that. We aren't planning on visiting a park on the 31st, but would like to be able to watch the fireworks if possible!

Thanks for listening to me ramble...I just want to get this booked and then start the rest of the planning! Only 8 more sleeps until we can make the call!

 

[ToddyLu]

I would book the first seven on the first call on 1/31, then call back the following day to add each date. If I couldn't get the view I really wanted, I would take what they had and WL the other view.

Good luck I am excited for you !!

 

[iluvtheworld]

Thanks for your reply! I thought I understood, I just needed to write it down and get some reassurance. Thanks again!

 

[LisaS]

The night of Dec 31st is the hardest night of the year to book. I hope there is still something available but I expect the Standard View rooms will be sold out already to those checking in earlier than Dec 31st. Good luck and please report back to let us know if you are successful.

 

[iluvtheworld]

Lisa, I will definitely report back and let you know what happens. We are willing to stay somewhere else that night if needed and transfer resorts on the 1st. We may also just reserve a room at POP for the night if nothing is available as well.

If I am not able to get the night of the 31st booked at BLT but there is availability at another resort and then availablity at BLT for the 1st onward will I have to book the resort that is available on the 31st but then wait until Feb. 1st and call back and book my stay at BLT?

That sounds confusing to me, so hopefully someone understands what I am talking about! This is all so new and overwhelming...but very exciting!

 

[Sandisw]

Lisa, I will definitely report back and let you know what happens. We are willing to stay somewhere else that night if needed and transfer resorts on the 1st. We may also just reserve a room at POP for the night if nothing is available as well.

If I am not able to get the night of the 31st booked at BLT but there is availability at another resort and then availablity at BLT for the 1st onward will I have to book the resort that is available on the 31st but then wait until Feb. 1st and call back and book my stay at BLT?

That sounds confusing to me, so hopefully someone understands what I am talking about! This is all so new and overwhelming...but very exciting!

You would have to call back (and I understood it perfectly). It would be considered different reservations and thus the reason you have to call back.

Good luck!

 

[hollis]

If BLT is not availble for Dec 31, then you can't book that night on Jan 31, since other resort won't be your home resort and you can't book at the 11-month window.

And yes, you will have to call back on Feb 1 to book Jan 1 and beyond at BLT even if those nights are available.

 

[iluvtheworld]

Glad you were able to understand me! I never thought about not being able to book another resort until the 7 month mark! Hmm...looks like this could be tricky. I really hope that there will be at least one 1 bedroom available at BLT!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Call right at 9AM.

 

[iluvtheworld]

Call right at 9AM.

We definitely will! That's 8:00 our time but my husband will be on it!

 

[CarolMN]

Even if you can't get the standard view (and it is entirely possible that those will be booked by people arriving before you), you should be able to get the lake view when you call. BLT is a large resort, lake view rooms make up the largest category of available rooms and the 1 bedrooms fill up more slowly than the studios or 2 bedrooms.

As others have mentioned, if you have to book the Lake View, you can waitlist for standard view.

If you get the first 7 nights, you don't have to call every day t add on the last 4 nights. If you call on February 6, you can book the all of the remaining nights for your trip and are guaranteed to get them.

Here's why:

You book the first 7 nights of your trip on January 31, 2011. That means you have a reservation for the nights of 12/31/11, 1/1/12, 1/2/12, 1/3/12, 1/4/12, 1/5/12 & 1/6/12.

No one else can book "your room" for the night of 1/7/12 until February 7, 2011 when the 11 month window opens for that date. That's because MS allows those with an existing reservation to add nights to it before others without a reservation get a chance at the extra nights. So as long as you call on or before February 6, you are guaranteed to get that night.

You could choose to call on 2/1/2011 to book 1/7/12 and then again the next day to book 1/8/12 and so on, but there's no need. One more call, carefully timed, will do it for you and better yet, there's no need to call first thing in the morning when MS is crazy busy. Mid day or late afternoon when MS isn't busy will work just fine.

If you want to check out on 1/11/2012, you only need to call one time to get the last 4 nights. And you can make that one call anytime on February 4, 2011 or February 5, 2011 or February 6, 2011.

Sending pixie dust so that you get the first 7 nights. That' the key!

 

[iluvtheworld]

Carol, Thank you so much!!! Everyone is so helpful on the Disoards! I truly do appeciate it! Everyone time someone responds to a post, I always end up with another question.

So, if we are able to get a lake view 1 bedroom for the 31st, (and waitlist for a standard view) and I would like standard view for the remaining nights, would I only be able to book that initial night when I call on Jan. 31st and then (because we would be switching to a different view) have to call again on Feb. 1st to book the other view?

 

[iluvtheworld]

By the way, thank you to everyone for being so patient. I feel like I am repeating myself (kind of with different scenarios that are somewhat similar!) but I just want to completely have this all figured out if possible! I truly appreciate all the the feedback and advice!

 

[CarolMN]

Carol, Thank you so much!!! Everyone is so helpful on the Disoards! I truly do appeciate it! Everyone time someone responds to a post, I always end up with another question.

So, if we are able to get a lake view 1 bedroom for the 31st, (and waitlist for a standard view) and I would like standard view for the remaining nights, would I only be able to book that initial night when I call on Jan. 31st and then (because we would be switching to a different view) have to call again on Feb. 1st to book the other view?

When you call on January 31, you should book the most you can, which would be 7 nights. If you can't get standard view, then book 7 nights in the lake view. Ask to waitlist for the same 7 nights in a standard view.

If you are lucky enough to get the standard view, then proceed as described in my post above - call once more to add on the last 4 nights of your trip.

If you have to book lake view, then call back on February 1 (at 9 am Eastern) and see if you can get 7 nights in a standard view, starting on 1/1/2012. If not, just say thank you and then call back again on February 2(at 9 am Eastern) to see if you can get 7 nights in a SV starting with the night of 1/2/2012. When you get a 7 night standard view reservation, ask to change your original waitlist to just the nights you need - either just 12/31 or maybe 12/31 & 1/1, or maybe 12/31, 1/1, & 1/2. Also ask to cancel the lake view reservation nights that you no longer need because you got the SV reservation for those nights. Keep the first night or two of that reservation (whatever you need) so that you at least will have somewhere to stay for the entire 10 or 11 nights of your stay.

Since most schools will start up again on January 2, 2012, you really should be able to get a SV reservation starting on 1/1/2012 or 1/2/2012 without a problem. Once you get that, you can breather easier.

You will have to call back to add the last night or two to the end of the SV reservation and of course, you will be waitlisted for the first night or two (but still have the Lake view room for those nights). The chances are good for the waitlist to come through. Worst case is that you spend the first night or two in a lake view and then move to the SV for the remainder of your stay.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[castleri]

When I tried to book a 1BR at BLT for early Dec last year at the 7 month mark (I know that is a hard time to get) the helpful CM told me to WL for LV since there were only 14 rooms in each of the categories (studio, 1BR, 2BR) in the standard view available for point reservations at that time. If more units have been declared into inventory there are probably more available now but it will still be very limited until the entire resort is sold out. Good luck with your reservation - NYE is truly a great time at Disney

 

[goofy2008]

good luck.
We been there, and it all works out..

 

[iluvtheworld]

Thanks for the explanation and suggestions Carol. Thanks to everyone who has given us pixie dust and good luck wishes. I will be sure to report back to you all on Monday!

 

[iluvtheworld]

Thank you everyone for your wonderful advice! We were able to secure our reservation for New Years Eve! We have booked 7 nights and now just have to call back to keep adding on our days for the rest of the trip. I am so excited! I am very grateful to all of you on the Disboards for being so knowledgeable, kind, and helpful! Thanks again!

 

[palaemon]

Thank you everyone for your wonderful advice! We were able to secure our reservation for New Years Eve! We have booked 7 nights and now just have to call back to keep adding on our days for the rest of the trip. I am so excited! I am very grateful to all of you on the Disboards for being so knowledgeable, kind, and helpful! Thanks again!

Yea, but is was it SV or LV?