How far out do people generally book campsites?

[TmlndSpdwy03]

I live locally so I have never actually tried to book a 'vacation' to Disney. My child has been asking to go camping so I decided to try to book a site at Disney. The campsites are totally booked through at least December on the weekends. I ended up booking for a weekend in February just to have something reserved.

How far out do people normally book. If i think I might want to go again in March (before spring break crowd and the heat) or in October of next year, do I need to just book now so I have something??

On another note, I couldnt not get the online system to work to find campsites. I was doing room only booking (we have APs), no special discounts selected, and no matter what date I chose (even the date I had booked on phone), I was being told there was no availability and it was defaulting to the cabins. Anyone have this problem?

 

[BradyBz12]

December has become an extremely busy time at the Fort - in fact it's the only resort that has "pre-holiday" rates. Many people book those weeks a year in advance (sometimes more!) If you're talking Christmas-New Year's week, then I'd be willing to bet those sites were booked close to the 499 day mark (when reservations open up).

Same is true around Thanksgiving, Halloween, Spring break/Easter.

We go during slower times, but we still book at least a year out - pretty much as soon as we have an idea of when we'll be able to go. If it's going to be around a holiday, I call at the 499 day mark

We book room only, so it only costs us a deposit of one night. For us it's worth it to book as far out as we can to make sure we get the dates we want.

 

[freshlybarked]

I have booked as far as a year out. That is how I got Thanksgiving resies this year. I look a year ahead and plan when we want to go to maximize vacation time and book. I think the shortest was 6 months.

 

[TmlndSpdwy03]

Thanks - I guess I will go ahead a book a weekend in October and Nov of next year (I will not camp in the heat, lol) so that I have them if I want them. If I don't use them, I will just think of them as an interest free bank account since I can get my deposit back, lol.

 

[clkelley]

It is not as bad as you think. The website is a little goofy as far as the campsites go and the weekends.

Try booking a stay from Wed - Wed on just about any week except Thanksgiving, Halloween, or Christmas and I bet you find availability.

For some reason once the weekends get to a certain level of being booked, they won't show availability for weekend only stays. But if you look for longer than the weekend, sometimes as long as two weeks, then availability shows up. Then you have to call back and cancel the days you don't need.

Also you have to specify the "campsites"

For example I just looked under the "special offers" which have discounts and checked on the campsites for September 15 - 21 and found availability for all four levels of campsites at the Summer rate.

So, if you want to go before October 2nd, you can probably find a campsite at a discount. If you want to go after October 2nd, you can get a campsite at full rate as long as it is not a holiday weekend.

Here is what I do:

Go to the following link:

http://bookwdw.reservations.disney....true&gatewayID=landing&&productSelection=ROOM

Then click on book room only:

Then pick your dates. As I said you need to start your reservation on a Wednesday and book through the following Wednesday.

List the number of adults and children.

Then click on "Advanced Search"

A list will come down, pick "I know the resort I want"

Then a dropdown list will come up,

Pick "The campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort"

(Do NOT pick cabins or the campground in general, it will default to the cabins).

Then click continue.

Availability should show up.

 

[rapriebe]

I was surprised when you said that you could not get any reservations this fall. I checked last week and there was alot open. I just went into the on-line reservation system and put in November 2 - 22, 2010 and there was availablility for the entire 3 weeks at every level of campsite. Try again putting in your reservation for a longer period of time, say a week and I believe you will be able to get a reservation. Then you just need to call reservations and shorten up the timeframe. There definitely is lots of space available.

ETA: Sorry Carol, guess I was typing while you were posting.

 

[TmlndSpdwy03]

Thanks to both of you, I will try that with booking for a longer stay then shortening it after the fact. I also tried calling the reservation number directly and they couldnt pull up any reservations for Fri-Sun for Oct/Nov either - I want to wait till October hoping it has cooled down some here.

That is really kinda screwy but when I put WEd - Wed sure enough, they have availability. So if I just book it now, pay the deposit, I just hten call the reservation hotline and tell them I want to only stay Fri and Saturday night then they can change it for me??

 

[BradyBz12]

So if I just book it now, pay the deposit, I just hten call the reservation hotline and tell them I want to only stay Fri and Saturday night then they can change it for me??

Yep! Welcome to the wonderful world of WDW's wacky online ressie system!

I just had to do something similar to snag one Saturday to add to our existing reservation mid-November.