Calling FirstNO-SOG question

[jsmith]

I was wondering if you would know or can find out-the other AFRC's are holding blocks of rooms specifically for booking by troops on RandR from OIF or OEF-those people usually can't book more than 21 days in advance. Also, they are running discounted packages as well. Is SOG doing this? MY DH's R&R willl likely fall in the July-Oct time frame and since one of our sons goes to school in South Carolina and will be working a summer research Grant at CFU in Orlando, WDW would be the ideal place for us to take it-but since the last time we went to SOG we had to book more than year in advance I don't know what the chances of getting a room would be.
Thanks for your help
Julia

 

[cheeringmom]

Julia, not sure if I can help, but I put my name on a waiting list 3 mos out and they called me a week before and offered me a room at CR. But if I were you, I would book elsewhere-just in case-so you are not left w/o a room. Give it a try and tell them your situation. Might help. good luck

 

[castlegazer]

It is so hard to say since its been so long since the actual SOG has been open. Last year we only booked our vacation three months out and were given an SOG overflow rate for FtW so we were accomodated through SOG that close to arrival. Would we have gotten into actual SOG, I have no idea. This year we booked actual SOG only last month for April, got the room with no problem, but then had to cancel.

Best bet is as said above, call them and discuss it.

Oh, and no discounts for SOG - just paygrade rates.

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by jsmith
I was wondering if you would know or can find out-the other AFRC's are holding blocks of rooms specifically for booking by troops on RandR from OIF or OEF-those people usually can't book more than 21 days in advance. Also, they are running discounted packages as well. Is SOG doing this? MY DH's R&R willl likely fall in the July-Oct time frame and since one of our sons goes to school in South Carolina and will be working a summer research Grant at CFU in Orlando, WDW would be the ideal place for us to take it-but since the last time we went to SOG we had to book more than year in advance I don't know what the chances of getting a room would be.
Thanks for your help
Julia

I'm not sure how much this will help, but when I was there, there were only a few times blocks of rooms were held. One was when that dumb golf tournament came to town. Others were if we were having some higher ranking people at the resort for a mini-convention, but we (regular agents) never handled any of that. There was another office that handled group bookings.

To my knowledge, the rules have not changed: SoG is booked on a first come, first served basis. There are waiting lists (they used to close out w/in 30 days of the arrival date as well as when "x" number of people were put on the list).

At this point, I would bet Jul and probably most of Aug is sold out. There are probably still some dates in Sep and Oct, but I'm betting parts of each month are all ready gone (my timing may be a little off since I'm not used to seeing how quickly almost 600 rooms sell out). You can reserve 30 nights a pop (unless the rules have changed). When I was in the military, I knew I would be coming back to SoG the following Jun. Being able to book 53 weeks out, I'd make my ressy for the first part of my trip while there. By the time I drove back to TX and got settled in, I could add more time. I'd usually reserve about 3.5 weeks. Mar/Apr time frame, I'd have a better idea of my work schedule (I was lucky enough to work in an environment that leave was also based on first come, first served, regardless of rank and I was always #1 on the list for my dates) and pare down the ressy to the 10-12nts I truly needed, thus freeing up nights in advance for others on the list.

If you have some kind of an idea (maybe have your dh ask if "mid Aug to mid Sep looks good" at work?), you could always call and make a ressy for what you can get. You can cancel it later.

As for the waiting list, and this applies to every one,....well, when I was doing it, I would look at the small (very small) area we had for notes. A guest would go on for (example) 21 nights, but I would put a note for myself that the guest was looking for any 7nts w/i that time. It gives those who are figuring out who can be called a LOT of leeway in contacting you as compared to someone who only wants "Aug 7 for 7nts". It's something to consider, but again, I know how I did the waiting list when I was there. Not sure who, or how, it's being done now. Others didn't pay attention or didn't care, but it certainly can't hurt. It can also work this way: Yes ressy agent, I'll be happy to go on the waiting list for Aug 7 for 7 nights, but would you please make a note to call me if a minimum of 4 become available (for 99% of guests, it's not worth coming if you aren't getting at least half of what you're looking for)? This also made my life much easier. I could offer 4 (the less amount of nts you're looking for, usually, is easier to get) and the guest could still remain on the list for the other 3. Not always, but more often than not, the other 3 became available. 3 is easier to get than 7 but the list is NEVER a guarantee and many guests had to have one.

I wouldn't count on any discount packages. SoG has never had them (contrary to some guests' beliefs, the gold leaf package was never a savings package...only a package of convenience), although I did hear a rumor that they would upgrade the gold to make it a savings. I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[jsmith]

Ok thanks but I don't think I made my self very clear-too many acronyms I guess so let me try again. The Hale Koa, and Garmisch Chimsee, which both follow the same booking rules as
SOG, are now specifically holding blocks of rooms to be booked only by troops on Rest and Relaxation leave from either Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. These are people who can not book more than 21 days in advance because that is as far in advance as the soldier will know he is getting leave-it is not a "does mid-August to mid-September" look good thing it is a "The commander decides it is your turn for R&R kind of thing. My estimate of the time frame is based on the fact that they are told that R&R will fall between the end of the third month "in country" and the beginning of the tenth and his unit is scheduled to leave MOB station for the sand at the end of January. He will voluntarily push him self down the list to allow people with small children to take leave first because thats what he does.
As for the discounts-The Hale is giving the lowest rate for your rank with upgrade to the best room available at check in (if you book stardard garden view and when you check in deluxe ocean is available you get deluxe ocean at standard garden rate) and discounts on 4 dinners shows (luau, magic of Polynesia ect) and Garmisch is doing a flat $60 per/room per night with two meals included. To get these rates you must show active duty ID and DA31 authorizing leave at check in. That is what I was looking for-and it seems unlikely that they would not be doing something similiar since they are , in fact all owned by Army Community and Family Services. I guess I will need to do some further investigation but thanks for your time-I appreciate it and all the input you give here.

 

[kadaten]

Good luck getting some R&R time for you and yours!

Best bet, like you've realized is to give them a call. Be prepared for them not knowing what they're going to be able to do for you then. SOG is kinda up in the air right now for anything past March. That's when they're supposed to reopen, but that's not looking so good. But, Disney can't guarantee them all the rooms at the Contemporary any longer, so they're not sure where they may be putting people, or how many rooms they'll have for use for SOG guests.

Guess you'll get a better idea as it approaches! Hopefully by the time you get your R&R dates they will have figured out things over there and will be ready to help! Good luck!
Katie

 

[jsmith]

Thanks everyone-with some additional investigation i was able to answer my own question sort of-SOG does have an R&R package that is available after March 2004 that includes meals and some other perks but they do not apparently have the rates set or they are not going to do special rates, which, as I said above is kind of surprising. I guess i will call when I have dates and see whats available and investigate some other possibilities in the meanwhile!
Julia

 

[tkd lisa]

Julia: I just wanted to send you some pixie dust and encouragement in trying to work through this with your loved ones overseas. I know it's not easy with them gone, and I just wanted to say thanks to you and your family, and I certainly hope SOG offers this to those serving in OEF and OIF. They (and their families) deserve it!!