It Looks Like The 30-Day+ Back-to-Back Reservation Policy Changed

[Narcoossee11]

I think how they will caught gst staying more than 30 nights , once you ask / tell FD you want to stay in the same site- THEY GOT YOU.
at first FD may let you stay but you will HAVE to move to another site or you will have to leave.

 

[Stork]

.....Just like Team Bradfield says, it's a big country with lots to see.

And generally it won't cost you $200/night (or more) to see any of it! (If you can live without seeing the Ears).

 

[bama_ed]

So many great stops on that route.

You talked me into a food stop in El Paso, PTP, back in Marceline. I already have that set.

And I'll take the southern route along I-10 (dodging potholes) either going and/or coming to stop early and eat lunch AND dinner in Lafayette, LA. (AND works well in that case).

But that still leaves lots of opportunities to be filled - I will take suggestions when the time comes. DW is not as adventurous as I am when it comes to dining but as long as I bring a long a bottle RANCH DRESSING and maybe get a grilled chicken breast with rice cakes on the side for her, we good.

It's probably a 4 day drive between AL and AZ each way which leave many possibilities open.

But I don't want to knock my own thread off-topic.

30 days max at the Fort is all I could probably manage too like @team bradfield. Never stayed longer than a long week. Thanksgiving 2022 of two weeks will be a test. I might schedule a month some day with DW and if the two week stay was enough, I could always cancel.

Bama Ed

PS - DW is a sweet home southern girl. I maintain that red pepper sauce (particularly Tabasco) makes everything taste better. She feels the same about ranch dressing. So I get that part about her.

 

[bama_ed]

I think how they will caught gst staying more than 30 nights , once you ask / tell FD you want to stay in the same site- THEY GOT YOU.
at first FD may let you stay but you will HAVE to move to another site or you will have to leave.

If it came down to that, I would move if I wanted to stay past 30. If they let me. Would they, though - that's the question.

Ed

 

[PaHunter]

All Disney needs to do to eliminate people trying to work around the system, is require your License Plate Number on your reservation. It is the one thing you can not get away changing. Computer scans that column and spits out multiple reservations, easy peasy.

 

[4077]

All Disney needs to do to eliminate people trying to work around the system, is require your License Plate Number on your reservation. It is the one thing you can not get away changing. Computer scans that column and spits out multiple reservations, easy peasy.

Finally a worthy reason to buy those second and third RVs/Tow vehicles…

Switch out and come back the next day (as your son or brother or in-laws or something)..lol

 

[4077]

If and when I ever do this, I’ve got a plan to check in for my second 30 days as Mr. Nick Pappagiorgio…

 

[Syndrome]

Well , I called and dropped us down to a 2-week stay .this morning. We likely wont even be going to the parks much at all and at almost $200. a night in the "spring" season (didnt know "spring was in January now ???? ) , its a pretty pricey piece of real estate to be just sitting around in a lawn chair ! Think we will just change the scenery a bit ........ A month stay in a preferred site at FW was a little over 5k anyway !

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

We stayed 5 weeks in early 2016 when we were homeless. Even if money werent an object I probably wouldnt do it again unless the kids could drop in for a while. Its one of those bucket lists things

Back then we couldnt have fathomed not going every year, but here we are in 2021 and we havent been to the Fort since early 2019. If (and thats a big if) we keep our Jan 2022 ressies it will have been 3 yrs since we were there, something that hasnt happened since before 1993.

 

[mickeyfan0805]

This honestly doesn't surprise me at all. I sense that snowbirds are the last people WDW wants at the Fort. Disney wants fresh faces and bank accounts every 7-10 days, with people buying new tickets, meals, souvenirs, etc. The month(s)-long visitors are much more likely to be AP holders who periodically go in for rides (which makes WDW no additional money), eat a much greater portion of their meals in the camper or offsite, and buy a limited number of trinkets.

I would surmise that the benefit to Disney of a single 4 week stay is a pittance when compared to 4 families coming in for a week at a time during that same period. If snowbirds were filling up spots that would otherwise sit vacant, it would be one thing. In the case where the campground is full and people are clamoring for a spot, however, long-term stays represent a huge opportunity cost that Disney does not want to absorb.

 

[bama_ed]

I would surmise that the benefit to Disney of a single 4 week stay is a pittance when compared to 4 families coming in for a week at a time during that same period. If snowbirds were filling up spots that would otherwise sit vacant, it would be one thing. In the case where the campground is full and people are clamoring for a spot, however, long-term stays represent a huge opportunity cost that Disney does not want to absorb.

Well put, @mickeyfan0805.

Back when I was staying in the cabins, I also go a campsite for me, my boys, and some of my and nephews to camp at. I talked to a lady in the site next to us (it was in 1100 or 1200) that was getting ready to spend the winter there (her husband had passed away but she was keeping up their shared tradition) and she said she (and others) used a long term discount called the Settler's Discount. That was back maybe 2002.

We started the cabins back then after the slump in tourism after 9/11 in 2001 and maybe that discount was a temporary one but she said she and hubs had used it in past years.

But you're right. With demand the way it is now, long extended stays aren't as profitable. As I said, with a 10-day ticket to be used within 14 days, they could still trim that 30 days back. But if they did that for the Fort, they would be doing it for the other resorts (to keep one overall policy) which I doubt would impact anybody staying 30 nights in a single resort hotel continuously so we might get to keep it.

Ed

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Theres also the issue of the change in the culture of the Fort guests. With the Fort full of short stay people and weekend warriors it will surely change. We have had long enough stays in the past to witness the changes when the Fort fills up with weekenders. It wasnt always positive.

All the more reason to build the new area across the street. They could put all the long stay folks in that area.

There is actually some competition arriving for Disney. I found a place not far away that has significantly nicer sites, amenities that the Fort doesnt have and oh BTW its half the price. It kinda looks like the mouse might be leaning out over his ski's a little too far.

Some competition would be good for all of us.

 

[Stratman50th]

There is actually some competition arriving for Disney. I found a place not far away that has significantly nicer sites, amenities that the Fort doesnt have and oh BTW its half the price. It kinda looks like the mouse might be leaning out over his ski's a little too far.

Some competition would be good for all of us.

Where is it located, Name?

 

[bama_ed]

Theres also the issue of the change in the culture of the Fort guests. With the Fort full of short stay people and weekend warriors it will surely change.

That's a good point, @bigdisneydaddy. This thread is focused on the 30+ stays but the weekend folks change the dynamic while they are there. I've wondered if a 3-night minimum when a Friday or Saturday night is included would change that dynamic? Or maybe allow 1-2 night stays with a Friday or Saturday night only to be reserved within 60 days of arrival. Short stays mid-week not as much a problem so no restriction.

I think that's a topic for a different thread but I could see Disney making changes on the short stay side and not just the long stay side to derive the same benefits as they see them.

Bama Ed

 

[KalamityJane]

Theres also the issue of the change in the culture of the Fort guests. With the Fort full of short stay people and weekend warriors it will surely change. We have had long enough stays in the past to witness the changes when the Fort fills up with weekenders. It wasnt always positive.

All the more reason to build the new area across the street. They could put all the long stay folks in that area.

There is actually some competition arriving for Disney. I found a place not far away that has significantly nicer sites, amenities that the Fort doesnt have and oh BTW its half the price. It kinda looks like the mouse might be leaning out over his ski's a little too far.

Some competition would be good for all of us.

I’m also interested in this place! I grew up in Orlando and we camped a lot, but moved away in my 20s so I haven’t kept up on what’s newer out there.

 

[WeLovePluto]

That's a good point, @bigdisneydaddy. This thread is focused on the 30+ stays but the weekend folks change the dynamic while they are there. I've wondered if a 3-night minimum when a Friday or Saturday night is included would change that dynamic? Or maybe allow 1-2 night stays with a Friday or Saturday night only to be reserved within 60 days of arrival. Short stays mid-week not as much a problem so no restriction.

I think that's a topic for a different thread but I could see Disney making changes on the short stay side and not just the long stay side to derive the same benefits as they see them.

Bama Ed

I wonder if that doesn’t hurt disney more. Because unless you know to book a trip a year and a half out, you will struggle to get a weekend at busy times. How many people stay offsite because of it or change plans altogether that would otherwise book a longer stay and park tickets?

 

[morrik5]

Perhaps this new policy will make it easier for people who do not go frequently to get a reservation at a Disney resort, Fort Wilderness specifically. To have to book 499 days out to ensure you get a site seemed out of this world the first time I read it here years ago on Disboards. I visit from Canada approximately every 3-4 years.

 

[mickeyfan0805]

Perhaps this new policy will make it easier for people who do not go frequently to get a reservation at a Disney resort, Fort Wilderness specifically. To have to book 499 days out to ensure you get a site seemed out of this world the first time I read it here years ago on Disboards. I visit from Canada approximately every 3-4 years.

I think it's feasible that it could help some of those who have trouble getting into the Fort during the winter months, but I'm not sure the 30+ groups is large enough that it would make that much of a difference. It might make a small difference at Christmas. Other times that are problematic that have to be reserved so far out (Halloween, for example) likely won't be impacted by this much at all, as those dates are generally outside of the prime 'snowbird' window.

I really don't see this having appreciable impact on the rest of the WDW resorts.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

The Fort is certainly not the only place that requires long term planning. There are many places where reservations must be made the day that their booking window opens or you wont find any availability. There are tons of RV's coming out of Northern Indiana and all those people are going to want a site. Competition will only get fiercer.

 

[team bradfield]

The Fort is certainly not the only place that requires long term planning. There are many places where reservations must be made the day that their booking window opens or you wont find any availability. There are tons of RV's coming out of Northern Indiana and all those people are going to want a site. Competition will only get fiercer.

You are correct, try booking Zion, Arches, Teton or Yellowstone campgrounds, almost impossible right now.