Everything is booked.. crazy!

[jake20]

We used to go to the cabins every November.. and usually either on a pin code or FL resident offer.
Over the last 5-7 years its been getting harder and harder though due to the following..

1. No more pin codes
2. Big Rate increases even with FL resident offer
3. No more availability

I just looked and there is 0 availability for even a rack rate room for the rest of the year.. Nov-Dec
Has it really gotten to be so crowded now that you can't even get a room in Nov-Dec anymore unless booking a year in advance?
its insane!

$1530 a night in Nov for Animal Kingdom Lodge FL resident discount.. REALLY???
I can't be the only one who thinks this is crazy now.. I have no idea how the average income family affords to stay at any moderate anymore..

 

[Anne Ritchey]

This is frustrating; however, something MAY open up. I ran into this same problem last year (availability for early Dec) so I booked Dec 2018, on Christmas day last year. I booked at rack of $107 --it's increased, but did get a Magical Time of the Year drop to $99. At this point, I'm not sure I'll even keep the reservation as the costs are much higher than mid-Feb Visa deal I booked last week--even with parking added. I'm fairly local (have a place a few miles from MCO/528 exit) so can pick and choose. I only stay at WDW a few times a year to experience the night activities since I'm not comfortable driving at night. BTW, I choose Value resorts which seem to be booked up even more than the moderates--especially in the fall/winter.
Keep trying and good luck.

 

[soccermom54]

Check the Swan and Dolphin. We are staying at the Dolphin for our December trip. A great rate popped up one day and I grabbed it.

 

[SL6827]

I can't be the only one who thinks this is crazy now.. I have no idea how the average income family affords to stay at any moderate anymore..

Spend the next year on these boards. There is a lot to learn. Lots of ways. If you put in the time to be on these boards, you will learn. I started in 2004. But ya, has gotten a lot higher.

 

[xlsm]

$1530 a night in Nov for Animal Kingdom Lodge FL resident discount.. REALLY???

Just curious...what week are you seeing those prices? With the holiday discount there's savanna view bunk bed rooms available for $537 a night the week of Thanksgiving, room only. There are still rooms left for the week of Christmas similarly priced. What kind of room are you seeing for $1500 a night at AKL?

 

[sjs314]

One thing I have noticed in the last few years is the limited availability with the promotions offered by Disney. You need to be ready and book as soon as the offers drop and you should get the resort and room you want if not keep checking and most times you will be successful

 

[focusondisney]

Disney resorts have been pretty full lately. The fall has become a really popular time & with Disney’s adr & fastpass systems, many people book before the 180 day mark. I’m not surprised things are pretty well booked 1 month out. Disney is also using a new booking algorithm. You can’t always get the number of nights you are looking for. The specific length of stay has to available in their system. For example, if you want 5 nights but the system only has 6nights available, it will show as unavailable for the 5 night request. Sometimes guest services will over ride that, but it is getting more difficult to get the length of stay you want.

Several resorts are under construction which has temporarily taken rooms out of inventory. Disney is also allowing booking through online websites such as Orbitz, so some inventory show up on those sites that don’t show on Disney’s. Certain travel agencies are booking large blocks of rooms & offering the rooms exclusively thru them. Disney had never allowed those things years ago. All inventory was only available directly thru Disney. So Disney might show no availability, but you can book the dates you want thru the travel agency. This started maybe 5 - 6 years ago & seems to be increasing.

 

[jake20]

Spend the next year on these boards. There is a lot to learn. Lots of ways. If you put in the time to be on these boards, you will learn. I started in 2004. But ya, has gotten a lot higher.

Thanks.. but i have been registered on this board longer than you.. lol.. Almost 10 years, so I am not new to this.
There used to be "lots" of ways, but there just isn't anymore, and there is also no more off peak times really compared to 10 years ago which makes getting any kind of deal very difficult now.
I am no longer an AP holder, so no discounts there, even though they are not great anymore anyway compared to FL resident discount. same with Bounceback offers.. And PIN codes if your lucky enough to get one are nothing like they were 10 years ago when they used to send out 40% off pin codes.

We used to go every November and it used to be DEAD at the parks.. Now i can't even get a room at rack rate. Times have certainly changed!

 

[SL6827]

Thanks.. but i have been registered on this board longer than you.. lol.. Almost 10 years, so I am not new to this.

Ok, I am confused, 10 years? I just lost my original user name and password. That is why I stated I have been here since 2004.

 

[jake20]

Ok, I am confused, 10 years? I just lost my original user name and password. That is why I stated I have been here since 2004.

no problem.. just saying that Ive been here a long time also.. and know most of the so called tricks, its just that even the old tricks are not as good as they used to be.
Disney moderate Resorts (specifically the Cabins) are just getting too crowded and too expensive for me sadly. Was just wondering how many others felt this way as well.

thanks

 

[SL6827]

no problem.. just saying that Ive been here a long time also.. and know most of the so called tricks, its just that even the old tricks are not as good as they used to be.
Disney moderate Resorts (specifically the Cabins) are just getting too crowded and too expensive for me sadly. Was just wondering how many others felt this way as well.

thanks

I know it is crazy. I bought an extremely small DVC contract and I can use it for a few nights here and there so that has helped us some stay in some Deluxe resorts, because there was no way we could pay the Deluxe pricing at the point it has gotten now.

 

[The mikamouse]

We used to go to the cabins every November.. and usually either on a pin code or FL resident offer.
Over the last 5-7 years its been getting harder and harder though due to the following..

1. No more pin codes
2. Big Rate increases even with FL resident offer
3. No more availability

I just looked and there is 0 availability for even a rack rate room for the rest of the year.. Nov-Dec
Has it really gotten to be so crowded now that you can't even get a room in Nov-Dec anymore unless booking a year in advance?
its insane!

$1530 a night in Nov for Animal Kingdom Lodge FL resident discount.. REALLY???
I can't be the only one who thinks this is crazy now.. I have no idea how the average income family affords to stay at any moderate anymore..

I am right there with you! We used to go maybe 4-6 times a year..now lucky if we get there once! Also, being I used to work IN Disney in concierge, and used to get deep discounts and free passes...I do not want to pay the prices! when did Value resorts become discounted deluxe? Wow. I managed to get there 7 weeks ago booking the day before because I fly non rev, the crowds were manageable so I wonder if they are outsourcing their rooms moreso for third parties such as travel companies. Just a though!

 

[focusondisney]

I am right there with you! We used to go maybe 4-6 times a year..now lucky if we get there once! Also, being I used to work IN Disney in concierge, and used to get deep discounts and free passes...I do not want to pay the prices! when did Value resorts become discounted deluxe? Wow. I managed to get there 7 weeks ago booking the day before because I fly non rev, the crowds were manageable so I wonder if they are outsourcing their rooms moreso for third parties such as travel companies. Just a though!

Disney is also allowing booking through online websites such as Orbitz, so some inventory show up on those sites that don’t show on Disney’s. Certain travel agencies are booking large blocks of rooms & offering the rooms exclusively thru them. Disney had never allowed those things years ago. All inventory was only available directly thru Disney. So Disney might show no availability, but you can book the dates you want thru the travel agency. This started maybe 5 - 6 years ago & seems to be increasing.

Yes, they are as I said above. Many people are finding availability on travel sites & thru agencies that is not available directly thru Disney.

 

[purplebelle]

I booked our November 2018 trip last month (about 70 days in advance) but all that was available was Coronado Springs, water view room. Lucky for us, we always go moderate so CS is good news. I had to be flexible with my dates as other weeks in November only had crazy room rates (ex: $1000/night for CS suite). Holy moly! I think different seasons have different amounts of rooms available (ex: value season has fewer rooms allotted/prob fewer staff). I’d suggest staying offsite if you can’t find on site for reasonable pricing.

 

[QueenElinor]

We haven't been to WDW in 6 years and used to go all the time. In the interim, we've been to Europe a couple of times, and Hawaii, skiing a bunch- and even I'm shocked by the costs at Disney- and it is all booked up! I couldn't find what I wanted for MAY at the YC and ended up at the BWI instead.

I guess it's the booming economy. But I also feel Disney is doing what the airlines have done for a long time- to get a better experience, we are simply going to have to pay more.

If my budget did not allow for upgrades to CL and other perks, I would have canceled the trip, and I almost did after reading about the increase in crowds and the changes in FP since we were last here. Instead, we are spending more to improve the experience. It's kind of a nostalgia trip for my children, who are actually all young adults, they really wanted one more dance with the mouse.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Friendly, unhelpful advice is...book a year ahead. It's the only way we travel Disney and be sure.