First time booking - best way to see/find availability?

[chekhovgirl]

Hi all! We're thinking about journeying down in an RV and have never stayed at FW before. What is the best way to find availability for RV sites outside of calling, or is this impossible without putting dates in?

Are there any times off the top of your head that you know are hard to get or know are easy to get?

Thank you!

 

[Teamubr]

Welcome chekhovgirl,

You will have to put in dates to see availability. The Disney reservation system has some oddities though. Sometimes putting in your full stay doesn't show availability, but putting in single days or smaller groups of days will show something for the full stay. Others have found requesting a 1 or 2 night stay shows nothing, but a 5 day covering the same span does. The sad/frustrating/funny? recommendation is to try several different approaches.

There are typically some times of the year that are VERY difficult to get a reservation, even a year in advance. In most years (this year is an outlier with Covid) you can book up to 499 days in advance. You generally have to call to make the reservation if the web site doesn't show rates or availability that far out. The web site won't update until the next year's rates are published, but you can still get the reservation by calling. Right now, you can't book next Fall (or out to 499) due to Covid impacts and things being restricted.

October and weeks around Christmas and Easter book very far in advance. In early Spring and Fall, the weekends will book up fast with people living within a short drive come out.

In general, weekdays are easier to get. Late August and September after school goes back and it is still too hot for the locals are pretty good. Winter months (January after RunDisney events-March before Spring Breaks) are a good time to get.

j

 

[chekhovgirl]

Welcome chekhovgirl,

You will have to put in dates to see availability. The Disney reservation system has some oddities though. Sometimes putting in your full stay doesn't show availability, but putting in single days or smaller groups of days will show something for the full stay. Others have found requesting a 1 or 2 night stay shows nothing, but a 5 day covering the same span does. The sad/frustrating/funny? recommendation is to try several different approaches.

There are typically some times of the year that are VERY difficult to get a reservation, even a year in advance. In most years (this year is an outlier with Covid) you can book up to 499 days in advance. You generally have to call to make the reservation if the web site doesn't show rates or availability that far out. The web site won't update until the next year's rates are published, but you can still get the reservation by calling. Right now, you can't book next Fall (or out to 499) due to Covid impacts and things being restricted.

October and weeks around Christmas and Easter book very far in advance. In early Spring and Fall, the weekends will book up fast with people living within a short drive come out.

In general, weekdays are easier to get. Late August and September after school goes back and it is still too hot for the locals are pretty good. Winter months (January after RunDisney events-March before Spring Breaks) are a good time to get.

j

Thank you, that's very helpful! It's been a while since I booked Disney in general, as we've gotten into a pattern of staying at Bonnet Creek...

 

[nickcapp]

If you can only find single night availability for several consecutive nights, will they force you to pack up and move to new campsite daily? Anyone have any luck with staying at the same campsite over the multiple reservations?

 

[bama_ed]

If you can only find single night availability for several consecutive nights, will they force you to pack up and move to new campsite daily? Anyone have any luck with staying at the same campsite over the multiple reservations?

If they are the same level of campsite, nickcapp, like every one of them is a Full, you won't have to move. But do make them aware of the multiples when you check in and they can "bunch" them together and you won't have to move. Better yet, before you arrive, if they are all the same level, consecutive dates, then you can call the Disney reservation line and ask the CM to transfer you to "Guest Services" combine them into one single, unified reservation. The regular reservation CM can't do that, "Guest Services" can. And any deposits paid for multiple reservations can be combined too.

If they are NOT the same level, Full some nights, Preferred other nights, etc. then yes you may have to move. I would keep trying even when you arrive and check-in, explain to the CM your situation. They often have last-minutes changes (guests left early, etc.) and can work you out. But in the end you might still have to move.

Bama Ed