Help! Any availability in October...?

[benjyt]

Help! Our family is planning a WDW trip from October 3-10 (our kids Fall Break). We usually try to rent DVC points for VWL, but waited too late to confirm our trip. We have reservations at WBC - a nice place, lots of room, convenient to everything - but it's not WDW. The more I get ready for the trip, the more I wonder if we could make a change to stay on-site! A couple of years ago, we rented a RV and stayed at FW. My DS and I had a great time - my DW and DD, not so much, although the biggest issue seemed to be the size of the RV. I'm trying to find out if a FW stay is an option, perhaps renting a larger RV, but it appears that FW is booked for our dates! Is this typical for this time of year? Is it too late to hope for availability, a cancellation, etc? Thanks for any help - I really enjoy this Forum!

 

[bama_ed]

Help! Our family is planning a WDW trip from October 3-10 (our kids Fall Break).

I'm trying to find out if a FW stay is an option, perhaps renting a larger RV, but it appears that FW is booked for our dates!

Is this typical for this time of year?

Is it too late to hope for availability, a cancellation, etc? Thanks for any help - I really enjoy this Forum!

benjyt,

Um, yes it is typical.

Fall weekends (and spring ones too for that matter) tend to fill up early while mid-week dates remain available longer. My unscientific theory is that Floridians within a few hour's drive of the Fort book these well in advance and then decide closer in to keep the dates or cancel/push them out. A quick camping weekend at the Fort is fun and relaxing - I wouldn't need park days (but if they're locals they have AP's?). Your dates are in and out on a Saturday which cuts into two weekends.

Sites at all four levels show as available now for check-in Sunday 10/4 and check-out Thursday 10/8. But any Friday and Saturday nights of your planned arrival or departure weekends are already taken.

Your options are to take what you can get and then try to pick up days missing as cancellations or changes by others roll through the system. It does happen and you have to be diligent. We recently saw some threads where people picked up days around the Halloween weekend. I know this method coupled with a trailer rental is a logistical wrasslin' match but take it as-is or try to add on as I said.

People can cancel up till 5 days before arrival for room-only ressies/not packages but most make changes sooner based on known plans.

If a vacation includes the nice weather times on weekends in the shoulder seasons (spring or fall), you need to book well in advance. I always book a reservation well in advance knowing I can make changes. I book long knowing it's easier to drop days than it is to add them. In fairness, let go of unneeded days to make them available to others like yourself looking for days rather than hold onto them until the last minute.

That's my two cents. I hope you get the dates you are looking for.

Bama Ed

 

[tiggerdad]

October is very busy. We booked 8 months out and still took another 2 months to move up from a full hookup to a premium.

Best thing is keep trying. At 45 days out there may be some cancellations.

 

[bama_ed]

October is very busy. We booked 8 months out and still took another 2 months to move up from a full hookup to a premium.

Best thing is keep trying. At 45 days out there may be some cancellations.

tiggerdad, sorry for stepping on your reply.

benjyt, the 45 day mark before arrival is when PACKAGES have to pay in full or pay penalties if cancelled closer in. The 5 day mark I noted is for ROOMONLY reservations where there is a penalty if cancelled or changed closer in than that.

Sorry t-dad. You guys are rockin' that October meet.

Bama Ed

 

[tiggerdad]

Now I know how ants feel

Just kidding!

 

[benjyt]

Thanks to both of you - always helpful here. We'll be diligent in our efforts...

 

[benjyt]

Good news! We were able to book the full week this afternoon (October 3-10)! I'm so glad to be staying on-site. Now, on to finding the right RV for rental, especially compared to the 21 footer we rented in 2013. My DW and I took a look at a 40 footer online last night and she seemed happy about it...

 

[bama_ed]

Good news! We were able to book the full week this afternoon (October 3-10)! I'm so glad to be staying on-site. Now, on to finding the right RV for rental, especially compared to the 21 footer we rented in 2013. My DW and I took a look at a 40 footer online last night and she seemed happy about it...

Good for you!

Yeah, as you see, things open up and flex so you just have to keep checking. Persistence pays off!

So DW thinks she would be happy with a vacation "house" nearly twice as big as what she had before? I'm .... surprised.

Hope you find something to rent that makes you folks happy.

Bama Ed

PS - I mean, if you don't have to tow it, back it in, and set it up, as long as it fits into the budget, well ...

 

[tiggerdad]

Good deal. We'll be coming in near the end of your stay. Maybe we'll get to meet.

 

[Sur]

Now I know how ants feel

Just kidding!

I know that feeling daily- I'd be the ant that sacrifices self, in the water, so that others can use my dead, lifeless body to walk on!
lol

 

[benjyt]

Good for you!

Yeah, as you see, things open up and flex so you just have to keep checking. Persistence pays off!

So DW thinks she would be happy with a vacation "house" nearly twice as big as what she had before? I'm .... surprised.

Hope you find something to rent that makes you folks happy.

Bama Ed

PS - I mean, if you don't have to tow it, back it in, and set it up, as long as it fits into the budget, well ...

Gotta do what it takes. Momma wants more space. Baby girl is happy that there's no elevator in the rig. I'm thinking it will be about 10 years before I can actually "camp" at FW.

 

[jokisunshine]

We are there the same week. Glad you were able to work it out

 

[knitngurl]

We're there the same week too - staying in the cabins though. Really looking forward to it since it's my first time at the Fort.