Heads up - Halloween overbooked, Disney called me

[bama_ed]

Thanks @bama_ed for the info. I'm sure we will be going over to the Fort for the festivities like the golf cart parade. I plan to print out my original reservation to show I was one of the displaced campers. I'm not sure what we will do for Halloween night, as we won't have a spot to actually hand out candy from and we weren't doing the ToT'ing ourselves. I suppose just walk around?

I would walk around for sure on the 31st in the evening. IIRC folks started coming around at about 6pm when it was getting dusky (younger kids) and I was out of candy by 8pm. But the site decorations, even some people handing out candy are in costume. It's still a sight to see. I didn't get around to all the far flung loops but the hub of 100 (where I was), 200, 300, 400, 500, 700 was CROWDED/BUSY for hours.

We'll be back in late Jan 2022 at the Fort for 9 nights. I think we might get the extra evening hours at MK one of our nights for being in a Deluxe resort too.

We'll be there in Jan 2022 also. In on the 17th and out on the 21st.

I wonder if they would frown upon us setting up a Blackstone outside at the Treehouse. I'm afraid to ask in case the answer is no.

I don't recall if they had a charcoal grill outside the Treehouse (actually I would expect to have one there). But I might feel uncomfortable using the Blackstone UNDER the Treehouse but if I moved out from under it in any direction to the side, I would think that's fine.

Good luck.

Ed

 

[Sjm9911]

Definitely walk around, if you want to give something out, get some glow bracelets. I gave put like 40 of them in the golf cart to the kids as my daughter was TOT. It was a life saver, as some of the kids were not visable. This made them so, and they had fun also. I got thanked a ton by the parents also. Make sure you have the kids ware them also. Lol. I was not planning on giving them out, and they were kind of accumulating in the camper. This option helped everyone out.

 

[FtW Mike]

I seem to remember that the Treehouse's had charcoal grills back when they opened. I looked at my 2015 copy of Passporter and did a check on ALLEARS as well no listing of the grill in either location. I believe that Treehouses have a parking space. I would consider using our Blackstone there

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

It does look like there are still charcoal grills. Just less mess with the Blackstone. And it makes great french toast

 

[Sjm9911]

Put the blackstone over the charcoal grill, no one will ever know. Done!

 

[FtW Mike]

WDW dine Junkie Know what you mean about Blackstone We love ours for Eggs, Bacon, Ham steaks, Sausage, Burgers, Dogs Stir fried veggies, And Ed's favorite Scrapple.

 

[SL6827]

Has Disney overbooked like this during the holidays in the past?

 

[bama_ed]

Has Disney overbooked like this during the holidays in the past?

Not that I'm aware of. There's a process for this and somebody dropped the ball and put us in this situation.

As was mentioned in post #16, it's possible (likely) that advanced group reservations were not accounted for before the booking window opened for the general public (and I agree that's probably what happened).

Groups can sign a contract with Disney for a certain number of certain types of FW campsites (even cabins). The main benefit (besides if you can get a good discount for a slow period) is that the group can camp close together. I did this when I planned our "Rendezvous at the Fort" DISMeet for October 2020. We had a dozen campsites used (we had nearly 30 reserved before the pandemic hit) and I assigned the campsite numbers to folks once Disney told me we were going to be in 1100 loop closer to arrival.

When a group has a contract, normally that number of campsites is held out of inventory when the booking window opens for individuals/general public at the 500 day window. For example (to keep it simple), there are nearly 850 campsites at the Fort. If groups (collectively) contract out a max of 200 campsites around Halloween time, that leaves only 650 campsites available when the booking window opens. However, that apparently didn't happen this time. Disney contracted 200 campsites to groups (in this example) AND then still opened ALL 850 sites as available to book to the general public and that's how this happened. The groups say "we have a contract". You and me say, "we have a confirmed reservation". That's the bind Disney is in.

Anyway, that's a long story to explain how we got where we are this holiday season. Somebody on Disney's side in the contract process dropped the ball and the contracted inventory didn't get held out when the booking window opened. Trying to work out of this bind is going to cost Disney a lot of money this year.

Bama Ed

PS - as I mentioned in post #4, during peak periods like Halloween, does Disney really want/need groups to book up sites that would be booked up anyway by the general public? IMO contracts should be a tool to book/fill campsites during non-peak times (hot summer months or September for example).

 

[shawthorne44]

Couldn't you bring some camping chairs and setup somewhere along the path?
Maybe even find some friendly looking people to sit with?
I assume you are still driving.

 

[shawthorne44]

Anyway, that's a long story to explain how we got where we are this holiday season. Somebody on Disney's side in the contract process dropped the ball and the contracted inventory didn't get held out when the booking window opened. Trying to work out of this bind is going to cost Disney a lot of money this year.

Reservations have been weird since the lockdown, with them pulling all openings and then bringing them back in spurts by location and date. So, I am guessing this was a one-time thing, I'll shelve my idea of reserving for the next Halloween.

 

[bama_ed]

Couldn't you bring some camping chairs and setup somewhere along the path?
Maybe even find some friendly looking people to sit with?
I assume you are still driving.

People bring folding chairs (or sit on the ground) on both sides of FW Trail for just about the full length (but mostly around the trading post area). If @wdw_dine_junkie can get into the fort, yes they can enjoy the parade. Here is a link to a DIS Camping thread I made that has the 2019 Halloween Golf Cart Parade video.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/f...lf-cart-parade-video-and-pumpkin-pix.3777119/

Reservations have been weird since the lockdown, with them pulling all openings and then bringing them back in spurts by location and date. So, I am guessing this was a one-time thing, I'll shelve my idea of reserving for the next Halloween.

The thing is, @shawthorne44, I bet Halloween for 2022 is already booked up (haven't checked though). That's why, for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas/NY times, you almost have to book your reservation THE morning when your 500 day booking window opens. And even then it's not a sure thing. People think, "I'll arrive on 10/29". But others think, "I'll arrive on 10/28" and the 10/28 folks get a full day's head start to get a reservation that includes 10/30 and 10/31 before the 10/29 folks do (hope that's not confusing). Will there be anything left when the 10/29 folks try to book? Especially if groups take up 20-25% of the campsites before you and me even get a shot at it?

I think it's one of those real Disney/Fort treasures and I felt like I won the lottery when I got up the morning at day 500 in 2016 and successfully made a reservation for H2017. I have to say that the site decorations, golf cart parade, ToT, and other events are something to see/experience. And I'm not the type that normally "gushes" about anything.

Ed

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

Couldn't you bring some camping chairs and setup somewhere along the path?
Maybe even find some friendly looking people to sit with?
I assume you are still driving.

Yes, we are definitely considering that. And when we go over on the 30th for the golf cart parade I will double and triple check we won't have issues getting into the gate on the 31st. I am considering making a Trails End reservation for breakfast as well on the 31st, driving to the lot, then heading to MK by boat for a few hours during the day and then back for ToT (assuming no issues getting back via boat). We could keep the chairs in the car and maybe the candy in a cooler.

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

Don't make me regret that lottery feeling @bama_ed ! I had it too. But tbh, I was starting to get a little stressed about the whole overbooking situation though.

Also, since they haven't opened 2023 yet, there's hope for another surprise booking window.

 

[bama_ed]

I am considering making a Trails End reservation for breakfast as well on the 31st, driving to the lot, then heading to MK by boat for a few hours during the day and then back for ToT (assuming no issues getting back via boat). We could keep the chairs in the car and maybe the candy in a cooler.

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

Too much? You are probably right. We do have MK park reservations for 10/31 though. LOL

ETA: Unrelated to MK, but it does not appear they have resumed running of the boats from the Treehouses to Disney Springs. Too bad

 

[bama_ed]

Too much? You are probably right. We do have MK park reservations for 10/31 though. LOL

ETA: Unrelated to MK, but it does not appear they have resumed running of the boats from the Treehouses to Disney Springs. Too bad

No. What a great idea to book breakfast to pre-position the car and "guarantee" (as much as one can) access. It 'blew my mind' (which was the gif I used).

Too bad on the boats.

Ed

 

[bama_ed]

ETA: Unrelated to MK, but it does not appear they have resumed running of the boats from the Treehouses to Disney Springs. Too bad

I don't know whether it's better to be lucky or good but looks like they are going to start running the boats from OKW 10/1. See the link in the attached thread:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/rolling-on-the-river-sassagoula-river-cruise-returns.3854346/

When PO goes operational later in October, they'll come right past the Treehouses.

Bama Ed

 

[shawthorne44]

I won't get my heart set on the treehouse based on what the CM said.

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

I don't know whether it's better to be lucky or good but looks like they are going to start running the boats from OKW 10/1. See the link in the attached thread:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/rolling-on-the-river-sassagoula-river-cruise-returns.3854346/

When PO goes operational later in October, they'll come right past the Treehouses.

Bama Ed

Fantastic, thank you!

Truth be told I was feeling a little remorse removing some stuff I had already packed up in the travel trailer, but this is nice news.

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

I won't get my heart set on the treehouse based on what the CM said.

I don't understand what you trying to say here