How early does the average person book their hotel?

[dreambound]

Not DISers, as I know a lot of us book a year out. Just the average person who decides they are going to WDW. I was just browsing the WDW ressie site online and found that the time frame of our trip in December has availability in every single resort. Either we are going to have a nice, empty world to play in, or a lot of people will book last minute. I remember this point in our ressies last trip a lot of resorts were fully booked.

Anyone know?

 

[Cool-Beans]

I consider myself both a DISer and a regular person...if that is possible.

I don't book a year out. Sometimes I'll book a month or two out, sometimes closer. I have even called from on the car on my ride in from the airport.

I just don't know what I'll be doing a year from today, you know?

 

[KorieDWnut]

Not DISers, as I know a lot of us book a year out. Just the average person who decides they are going to WDW. I was just browsing the WDW ressie site online and found that the time frame of our trip in December has availability in every single resort. Either we are going to have a nice, empty world to play in, or a lot of people will book last minute. I remember this point in our ressies last trip a lot of resorts were fully booked.

Anyone know?

I am a last minute booker. I just came home from a 5 day stay at POP and I booked about 3 weeks before hand. We are now planning to go again this October but probably won't go ahead and book it until next week or so.

 

[texasteacher35]

Well, I am a NEW DISer...so I do not think that I count, yet! I have usually booked my trips about 6 months-8 months in advance...I have been know to go on a whim...in the past and book something 2 months out...BUT...now with all the need for ADRs...I have to try to plan ahead tomaximize our trip plans!!!

 

[rodkenrich]

.

 

[amw]

I was speaking to Disney Management in the travel section (long story). She asked when I was booking for and when I answered April, she said I was being quite the eager one. I told her that this was actually quite spontaneous for me

I think most people in the know will now book six months out so they can get their ADRs - at least room-only. I think actual "packages" tend to be sold when the discounts are released.

 

[G8r4evr]

We only live about 90 minutes away, so we usually book on a whim...typically on a Tues or Weds and then drive down on Friday =)

 

[Mickiethepooh]

I can remember that for at least the last ten years general advice has been to book Disney at least 6 mo in advance. and that is good advice on the average, of course sometimes I see a special or something comes up and I make something closer, I made reservations for this November a couple weeks ago when I saw a Air fare special. since then I have saved more money on the Disney Res by adding the public code. so all is good.

 

[KorieDWnut]

I can remember that for at least the last ten years general advice has been to book Disney at least 6 mo in advance. and that is good advice on the average, of course sometimes I see a special or something comes up and I make something closer, I made reservations for this November a couple weeks ago when I saw a Air fare special. since then I have saved more money on the Disney Res by adding the public code. so all is good.

You can apply a code after the fact? Like, after you already booked? Well that is wonderful to know

 

[dburg30]

I book early. Once I know I'm going somewhere. This time starting 'only' 6.5 months out seemed strange to me. I'm usually one of those year in advance folks.
(Has nothing to do with here, as this is my first WDW trip)

 

[yngsj]

I don't book until I have air booked, since I fly SW it's usually 3 or 4 months.

 

[fla4fun]

You can apply a code after the fact? Like, after you already booked? Well that is wonderful to know

You can only do this if they have discounted availability that matches your original reservation. Some people are lucky enough that this is the case. Some people are willing to juggle their dates or change their resort choice in order to save money with the new code. Some people don't have any luck at all and just keep the reservation they had.

 

[girli565]

Since I live so close, a 3 hour car ride away I usually book maybe a month or two in advance unless it's like my April 2007 trip the week before Easter and I booked that 4 months in advance. I went in June this year and booked it in May so a month in advance.

But I did do something different for the next family trip. I booked now for December 2008!! I wanted a ASMu Family Suite and I wanted to be able to pay for the trip throughout the next 489 days since it is a biggie for my family and is costing close to $5000 (crossing fingers for a discount, even though it's rare for the family suites).

 

[patsal]

For me it depends-I can book last minute if I get a great DIng fare and have the urge and an AP, I can book six months out if I want to do planning, or if I already have a plan and want to insure it-like a milestone Birthday or Aniversary and I only have one thing in mind like a CL at a deluxe that often sells out I may book a year in advance.

 

[mikesmom]

But don't believe what you see online. There are other threads reporting that the website showed availability in December and CRO said they were sold out for the week in question.

 

[bytheblood]

1 year in advance.

Even before I found the Dis, I still booked 1 year out.
Actually, Disney is almost fully booked for December already. There are some resorts and dates that are blocked and in use for places like Expedia, etc and then some of them are code-specific while others are on a two-week reservation hold, but the vast majority of the rooms are booked.

To the OP, your dates are the same as mine. Most resorts are booked, CRO has confirmed this as well. Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club, Grand Floridian, etc have no rooms left and only suites or villas. The amount of standard, courtyard and woodsview rooms are limited to non-existent.


Just a thought - asking for people other than Dissers to respond on the Disboard is kind of an oxymoron.

 

[bytheblood]

But don't believe what you see online. There are other threads reporting that the website showed availability in December and CRO said they were sold out for the week in question.

Did you know that CRO/WDTC books using the same online tool you and I do and whatever availability you and I see, they see and vise-versa?

 

[jphilhower]

We book early. I booked my room at SOG for May 2008 in the last week of May this year.

 

[bytheblood]

You can apply a code after the fact? Like, after you already booked? Well that is wonderful to know

Yes you can. You can also change your plans based on a code.
I have done this several times. Switched resorts based on a code released or an email code I received.

I was booked for WL Dec 7th - 14th and switched to BC because of the code.

 

[MomofCKJ]

I book as soon as I can, when packages are released. For my March trip I just booked at the beginning of August but I got my plane tickets in April. I find that many of my non Dis friends book under 6 months, more like 4.

Allyson