Have you made reservations when in Ocala?

[wannabee princess]

I'm wondering if anyone has waited until they reached Ocala, FL to make reservations for a Disney resort stay? Do you think this would be a bad plan? I've heard you can get up to 40% discount.

 

[Robert P]

Stopped in Ocala 3 weeks ago, and asked that very question.
(We had done this back 4-5 years ago, and got a great rate for a few nights at the Contemporary).
The nice CM there said that they took away the discounted room access from them last year, and had not given it back. She said she wishes they would, b/c people still stop there to try to book a deeply discounted room.
They do have access to the same information CRO has, and they would be happy to book a room for us, but it would be at no better rate than what was available in the CRO system.

Still, a nice place to stop and get a Disney fix on the way down.

Hope that helps.

 

[sanddune]

We stop Feb 1,2003. We got AKL for 109 a night.

 

[wannabee princess]

Oooohhhh, now I am confused ;-) Anyone else with an experience at Ocala?

Sanddune, was this rate (109) for one night or more than one night? I would be doing a happy dance if we got a luxury resort for that rate!

What should I do everyone? Try it or not chance it?
Thanks!

 

[Robert P]

Yeah, those 2 different responses could be confusing.
Ocala 'used to' be the dumping ground for unsold rooms at WDW. You had to stop in (couldn't book over the phone) and take a chance that they would a) have any rooms at all available, b) they would be at a deep discount (better than what CRO was offering at the time), and c) that the availability would be at a resort you would want to stay at. It was a risky venture, if you did not have a back-up plan for your trip.
The deepest discounts tended to be at the high end resorts, and sometimes were as much as 40% off or more. There were no guarantees of any kind, you just had to stop by and see what was released to them in the system.
They can still book a room for you there now, but only accessing the same system/rates that are available to CRO. So, unless you happen to be going by and decide to stop, there is now no benefit to waiting to book a room in Ocala.
With WDW's aggressive discounts lately, the AKL price is not unbelievable, but it would be through the same CRO reservation system that you would get if you booked over the phone.
Per the CM working there, who was quite friendly I might add, the deep discount room 'program' they used to have was taken away last year (I don't know exactly when, she said last year), and Ocala had not been given back access at this time. Nobody knows why.

 

[sanddune]

We made ressies for five nights with that rate! Sorry so late in answering I've been out of town.