Checking availability- website vs phone?

[MeyersDVM]

We just decided to add an additional night for a quick December "babymoon"
We have a FL Res rate booked for Dec 10 at WL Courtyard view and would love to stay Dec 9 as well. There are no FL Res rate rooms available for that date, but I did see standard view rack rate rooms on the website. I called CRO today and we can get into AKL for both nights with a code that also gives us a $75 dining card, but she had nothing at WL. I know lots of people change ressies, so I am hoping that I can keep checking back and one will open up at WL for 12/9. Does the WDW website have the same availability info that CRO does? It is much easier for me to just check the web.
Since our trip is not too far off, should I book a 2nd res for AKL and cancel before 5 days out if I can get into WL?
Any other tips or ideas?

Thanks so much- The DIS Boards have been a wealth of info for me, even though I grew up in Central Fl and worked at WDW in college

 

[Colinsmom]

CRO has different availability, at least for discount codes. Just the other night, I could only get a std AKL room for two nights for my ILs at rack rate, but when I called, I got a discount using CCE (which is a little different than the code online right now). We didn't even try the FL resident codes, though my ILs could have used those too.

If you double-book (have overlapping ressies at different resorts) you risk them cancelling one or both, so I'd pick either AKL for the two nights or WL for the one night and keep on trying for WL for both nights.

 

[tiggersmyguy]

For our trip this past June, I had booked BC when AP rates came out 3 weeks before our trip. I had really wanted YC (which is what I had originally booked with a AAA rate but not available for AP rate.) I checked with CRO 2 times later, no YC. Checked the AP site every day, then 6 days before our trip AP site said YC available so I called CRO and was able to change to YC. Moral of the story, keep checking .

 

[MeyersDVM]

Interesting...
I checked the FL Res website this AM and nothing available at WL for 12/9. The regular website showed std view room and courtyard with BB. I called CRO and she couldn't pull up the std view room.... so I booked it online without any problem.
Now the dilemma is do I stay at WL and hope we don't have to move rooms (first night is a standard view, second is a courtyard view) OR switch to AKL which has FL Res availability in a standard view room for both nights for about $65 less/night and gives me a $75 dining card?

We haven't stayed at either resort before and will be spending most of the time at MK. I will be 7 months pregnant and we will have our 18 month old with us, too. We can drive, so we don't have to take the bus, BUT I liked the idea of the boat to and from MK. I can't decide!

 

[fla4fun]

We haven't stayed at either resort before and will be spending most of the time at MK. I will be 7 months pregnant and we will have our 18 month old with us, too. We can drive, so we don't have to take the bus, BUT I liked the idea of the boat to and from MK. I can't decide!

Under these conditions, I don't think I'd want to be changing resorts. I would keep checking availability to see if a courtyard comes available. AKL is a nice resort, but it is the farthest resort from MK, where you will be spending most of your time. Plus, it's MUCH easier to get strollers on and off the boat than having to fold them up for the bus. Although you mention having a car, MK is the only park that I don't recommend driving to, because of having to park at TTC and still take Disney transport to the park. From WL, it is easy to drive to the other three parks if you want to and you have the convenient MK transport.