How far out do you book your rooms?

[mla973]

Just wondering how far in advance people typically make their reservations. I'm not that familiar with using the different discount codes, but I tend to make my reservatiosn about nine months out from the travel date.

Just trying to get a consensus here. Feel free to explain anything.

Thanks for taking the poll!

 

[SeaSpray]

I didn't click on any of the choices because it always varies for us. The right answer for me would be "As soon as I know our travel dates". Usually it's been about 6 months in advance, but if I knew we were going next year, I'd book the room I wanted now, or as soon as available to book

 

[JeffnFl]

The sooner the better. You can always change later and you can cancel without penality up to, what, five days prior to arrival? My guess is that the sooner you make a reservation, even if you make changes, the better chance you will have of getting any specific requests granted. I mean, if you ask for a particular room or view or whatever, when it comes time to grant your request, I would guess that those who reserved the earliest would take priority.

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

We tend to be very spontaneous about things and just picked our honeymoon location about a month ago. So we picked our location about 3 months out and booked it 2 months out. On other vacations though we booked it within a month of leaving so this is actually a lot of planning for us.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

We usually book our trip around a year before, maybe a little less.

 

[sherry8253]

I picked more than 31 but less than 90 because that is usually about how far in advance AP codes are announced. I never book until codes are announced and then we chose from one of the resorts where we can get a discounted rates.

 

[MissionMouse]

"Just wondering how far in advance people typically make their reservations."

All the above. We have made reservations in each time window you mentioned. Of course the most relaxing option is making them well in advance.

Overall, we found ourselves making reservation depending upon:
- what month of the year you are planning to visit
- lead time to knowing when you are able or going to visit
- resort or room expectations or plans (higher demand or must have, the earlier we make our reservations)

If it is a very busy time of the year or special event and you want a specific resort room type with limited availablity with high demand...the earlier the better. Examples: CR-Tower, Poly-Lagoon View, Poly-Conceige Lagoon, etc.

Individuals focused on securing a specific room type, commonly associated with a location or view in the resort will typically focus on the discount codes later, if and when they become available. You are typically happy because you got what you wanted (resort, room, location) and a discount is a bonus. You need to accept the fact that you may not get a discount at a later date...it is not a guarantee.

Individuals just wanting the lowest price and willing to take anything that is available can wait to almost departure if they are 'OK' with the level of uncertainity and maybe some stress too. This is a high risk option during the peak seasons. Best to secure accomodations right after the discount codes are released.

 

[MariettaC]

We usually book right after a trip to WDW or on the Magic.

 

[Leota]

All the above. We have made reservations in each time window you mentioned. Of course the most relaxing option is making them well in advance.

Overall, we found ourselves making reservation depending upon:
- what month of the year you are planning to visit
- lead time to knowing when you are able or going to visit
- resort or room expectations or plans (higher demand or must have, the earlier we make our reservations)

If it is a very busy time of the year or special event and you want a specific resort room type with limited availablity with high demand...the earlier the better. Examples: CR-Tower, Poly-Lagoon View, Poly-Conceige Lagoon, etc.

Individuals focused on securing a specific room type, commonly associated with a location or view in the resort will typically focus on the discount codes later, if and when they become available. You are typically happy because you got what you wanted (resort, room, location) and a discount is a bonus. You need to accept the fact that you may not get a discount at a later date...it is not a guarantee.

Individuals just wanting the lowest price and willing to take anything that is available can wait to almost departure if they are 'OK' with the level of uncertainity and maybe some stress too. This is a high risk option during the peak seasons. Best to secure accomodations right after the discount codes are released.

That summed us up perfectly. Although we have made ressies in all of the time frames, we usually tend to run about 9 monthes in advance for most family trips. We pick where we want to stay & what room catagory. Any discounts that come along later are gravy. For spurr of the moment trips, we take whatever AP rates are out....

 

[lap3]

Since we're going during Spring Break, this is considered "Peak Season". So, it was advised that once I knew the dates we were going, to book them early. I did it about 6 months ago.

 

[akghutton]

Being DVC members, we always book our rooms at the 11 month window, so we can get our beloved Boardwalk view

 

[robinb]

I book some of my DVC rooms at the 11 month mark, to the day. It's the only way to get a Grand Villa . I have booked as short as check-in day (and still got the AP rate ). Last August we flew into MCO a day early because I knew Hurricane Charley would delay us a day or two. Yes, we flew towards the hurricane while everyone was flying away . We made the decision to fly early in the morning and we were on our flight that afternoon. I made the reservations from the airport!

 

[Sunkissed]

Does anyone know if there is a hard restriction on reservation? I made the reservation for our Dec '04 trip in Jan '04. Just wondering if the reservations open up exactly 365 days before arrival date, departure date, or other.

 

[kandeebunny]

We generally wait until last minute, mostly because I tend to have health issues and if we book it too far out something always seems to go wrong!

This one we booked 45 days in advance, we were lucky SoG had rooms open!

 

[drp4video]

Usually about 2 months before we go, altho I am going APril 13 and I still haven't booked anything yet.

 

[GrumpyC.Hook]

I usually book as soon as i get bitten by the I wanna go back bug based on what pass I want to buy. If i have a current AP I will do it by the end of that time frame before it expires. If I am going to us MYW tickets then its when I can afford to go.

I went in May of '04 bought AP's thought I would go back in October of '04 ended up in Vegas and Arizona wasn't ready for WDW yet. I got bitten by the WDW bug on December 28th and booked on December 29th. SO about 5 months ahead of time. Which is most common for me..

Sorry long winded here
Amy

 

[mjmcca]

I have gotten very bad. I leave home with no room ressies.

 

[robinb]

I have gotten very bad. I leave home with no room ressies.

Really? What do you do when you get there?

 

[cobbler]

Me as soon as I get back from the current trip I am on, I book the next one. As soon as I get back from this trip in December within a week or 2 I will book next years trip.