Heads up - Halloween overbooked, Disney called me

[shawthorne44]

I did joke they may have to offer up a deluxe to get takers, but she said not all hotels have room to move the campers to.. I do wonder what will happen if they don't get enough volunteers! We complicate things by having one tent camper in our party along with our camper, so we didn't want to share one hotel room.

Seems like TWO comped rooms would be required. After all, the campsites are for up to 10 people.

I originally started to look into campsites when we were going with another family and they have an RV. We were going to tent camp on their site. So, 7 people and two families.

Fortunately, we won't be there for a holiday.

Seems like there have to be SOME people that booked a campsite for the cheapest way to be onsite.

Also, it seems that any promises could be made by email. That way you could print it out and have proof.

 

[team bradfield]

we arrive November 2nd, hopefully this is only a Halloween problem, we have a meadow premium booked, DS2 & DS3 have premiums. we have not had any phone calls (so far).

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

You should be ok, she made it sound like the inventory problem is only the 29th, 30th and 31st.

 

[Sjm9911]

we arrive November 2nd, hopefully this is only a Halloween problem, we have a meadow premium booked, DS2 & DS3 have premiums. we have not had any phone calls (so far).

Lol, we will race, i will be in on the 2nd also. Your staying longer though if you stop in for a drink let me know, ill pick up a extra 25 or so for your group!

Even if it extended to us I think they will only target the smaller group campers. That way its only 1 room to free up a campsite. You are good. I may not be so lucky. But i will be there early. Only a few hours from st marrys koa.

 

[bama_ed]

we arrive November 2nd, hopefully this is only a Halloween problem, we have a meadow premium booked, DS2 & DS3 have premiums. we have not had any phone calls (so far).

The one time I went to Halloween at the Fort, @team bradfield, Halloween was on a Wednesday and the place was packed. Over HALF the campsites checked out the next day (Nov 1).

This year Halloween is on a Sunday so I bet TONS of folks will be driving out on Monday morning. So when you arrive on the 2nd (Tuesday), you'll have your pick of spots.

IMHO.

Bama Ed

 

[FWRR3]

And this Halloween (and maybe Christmas) didn't even open at 500 days. I booked the morning they opened up, on 10/15/2020. Sheer luck.

I wonder how many people book nights for Halloween with no intention of actually occupying the site, for access to ToT.

I hope it's not true but in another thread here someone posted that in the new site decorating rules it states:

• Giveaways of any kind (e.g., food, candy, toys) are prohibited.

Does anyone know if ToT is really done?

 

[Sjm9911]

I dont think they could stop it if they wanted to.

 

[bama_ed]

I dont think they could stop it if they wanted to.

Right. ToT is BY the campers FOR the campers. It is NOT a Cast Member driven activity.

Now there are times candy and other giveaways are not smart. Some folks throw candy from the golf carts during the Halloween Parade (typically done on the day before Halloween). Of course some candy falls in the road and kids run out to get it while these heavy vehicles are rolling slowly by and could hit them. So not a smart thing to do.

Other campers decorate their sites for people to come by and look at/admire in the nights leading up to Halloween and might leave something out for guests. Maybe that's what Disney is aiming at.

Like so many of Disney's Fort rules, enforcement is rare if it exists at all. It's mainly there as a legal CYA for them were something to happen.

Bama Ed

 

[FWRR3]

Yeah, I'd like to come back one more time!

 

[Sjm9911]

Yeah, I'd like to come back one more time!

Nice , g scale is right up eds alley. Was it a modular build? And you just used it at the fort? Tbh, i was thinking of bringing down some 0 scale stuff and setting it up. I may have an old micky train lying around. Lol.

 

[team bradfield]

The one time I went to Halloween at the Fort, @team bradfield, Halloween was on a Wednesday and the place was packed. Over HALF the campsites checked out the next day (Nov 1).

This year Halloween is on a Sunday so I bet TONS of folks will be driving out on Monday morning. So when you arrive on the 2nd (Tuesday), you'll have your pick of spots.

IMHO.

Bama Ed

You are probably correct @Bama-ed, hopefully the first couple weeks of our stay is quiet, I'm sure as we get closer to thanksgiving it will start filling back up

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

UPDATE - They just called back and offered 5 nights free at the Poly or Grand Floridian, if we leave the camper at home (no parking). I asked for a treehouse given our tent campers situation (5 total guests) and he said sure, if one is available. Basically anything I wanted. So 5 nights at a Treehouse at Saratoga Springs would have been a whopping $6960 rack rate. How could I turn that down?

He did say they they make sure we have access to the Fort on Halloween. Fingers crossed!

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

Also, did confirm 200 overbookings they were trying to move..

 

[Sjm9911]

Good deal and good luck. I knew i should have booked that tent site. But i was too slow on the draw.

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

Thanks! We'll just try for Halloween another year. A little sad but also excited, I'll decorate the deck. I wonder if there will be any festivities there. At least hopping over for Gideons cookies will be more convenient.

 

[Sjm9911]

If it makes you feel better , because i couldn't get haloween this year, thats our starting travel day. Gave my daughter a choice, she chose disney. So, scarry movie and popcorn in the camper. As long as you have fun, who cares. Besides, i would never have gotten to stay a room lile that. Enjoy it.

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

Totally right, I could never book that villa for the rates are asking now. We stayed at the Treehouse probably 25 years ago, before they sat vacant and unused for a long time. 'Disney Institute' rings a bell? Safe travels on Halloween!

 

[bama_ed]

UPDATE - They just called back and offered 5 nights free at the Poly or Grand Floridian, if we leave the camper at home (no parking). I asked for a treehouse given our tent campers situation (5 total guests) and he said sure, if one is available. Basically anything I wanted. So 5 nights at a Treehouse at Saratoga Springs would have been a whopping $6960 rack rate. How could I turn that down?

He did say they they make sure we have access to the Fort on Halloween. Fingers crossed!

Not a bad deal if the Treehouse was something you wanted, @wdw_dine_junkie. And if you actually DO get into the Fort - the golf cart parade is usually mid/late afternoon of October 30 and ToT starts in the evening on the 31st - it was about 6pm the year we were there in loop 100 - then you might get most of the best of both worlds. I assume the Treehouses still have a kitchen so you still won't have to pay to eat out all meals.

One time when I had time on my hands during a band trip, I walked from Disney Springs down past Saratoga and along the golf course and walked down among the Treehouses. It's quite a hike. There is a boat stop there too for the boat that runs from DS to Port Orleans (both). They are more spread out than the FW cabins so they may not have festivities of their own but you would have access to Saratoga I would think.

Okay. That means they only have 199 more campers to move! Let the negotiations and bidding continue.

Bama Ed

PS - I don't think they would be restricting access to the Fort on the 30th like they do on the 31st so you could probably boat in and watch the golf cart parade if you wanted to. The year I was there it started at 4pm at the Hitch/Unhitch area and went straight down FW Trail. The judges were in front of the Meadow Trading Post. It ends at the intersection near the entrance to 100/400. So if you're inclined to see it, that's the basics but keep an eye on this board for details of events later next month.

 

[shawthorne44]

Makes me want to book the next Halloween that I can get and see if I get a major upgrade. If not, then cancel the whole thing.

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

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? Yes, I will miss the camper and all the stuff that comes in it. But yay for a full kitchen. We were in the position to be flexible being somewhat local, hopefully this will also help someone else as well. 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. On the 29th we have the Food and Wine event at Swan and Dolphin booked.

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.

And yes, we will have to pay parking fee, I asked.