July 4th week?

[hilaryjudsong]

This is encouraging. We are booked June 29-July 6, 2017 at Wilderness Lodge. I had heard from a friend last night that July 4th was crazy and that was a few years ago. She suggested moving to August, but my DD will be a freshman in college and not sure when she will start. I like the suggestion of staying at the resort the 3rd and 4th, except for fireworks of course; maybe even TL or BB. Crowds aren't my favorite but it is WDW. We went after Thanksgiving 5 years ago and it wasn't bad, except the weekend after Thanksgiving was crazy busy.
If they are offering free dining, then they expect low crowds. Think I'll stay with June 29-July 6.

 

[keishashadow]

Officially, switched (sorta). Cancelled June trip.

Now, in what seems like I'm going backwards, have only the 1st 3 nights secured that week as due to higher point requirements in another category, don't want to borrow for this trip. Waitlisted for cheaper studio, fingers crossed.

Hope @ 7 month window I'll be able to secure 5 or 6 nights at any DVC resort. Surprised checking availability it does seem more 'open' vs what I typically see for F&W right @ 11 month window, encouraging I might get more days when the dust settles

 

[bobbiwoz]

Officially, switched (sorta). Cancelled June trip.

Now, in what seems like I'm going backwards, have only the 1st 3 nights secured that week as due to higher point requirements in another category, don't want to borrow for this trip. Waitlisted for cheaper studio, fingers crossed.

Hope @ 7 month window I'll be able to secure 5 or 6 nights at any DVC resort. Surprised checking availability it does seem more 'open' vs what I typically see for F&W right @ 11 month window, encouraging I might get more days when the dust settles

 

[Anal Annie]

Officially, switched (sorta). Cancelled June trip.

Now, in what seems like I'm going backwards, have only the 1st 3 nights secured that week as due to higher point requirements in another category, don't want to borrow for this trip. Waitlisted for cheaper studio, fingers crossed.

Hope @ 7 month window I'll be able to secure 5 or 6 nights at any DVC resort. Surprised checking availability it does seem more 'open' vs what I typically see for F&W right @ 11 month window, encouraging I might get more days when the dust settles

I haven't done anything yet about booking anything for this week yet. Am I wrong to gamble on the 7 month window availability?? I haven't talked to DH yet about "the plan". His eyes get all glazed over when I start showing him point charts & different scenarios at different resorts & compare Plan A to Plan B. Same thing happens when I start planning ADRs and FP's. He's not interested in the planning - yet I hate to do it ALL without discussing it over with him a little bit.

 

[keishashadow]

I haven't done anything yet about booking anything for this week yet. Am I wrong to gamble on the 7 month window availability?? I haven't talked to DH yet about "the plan". His eyes get all glazed over when I start showing him point charts & different scenarios at different resorts & compare Plan A to Plan B. Same thing happens when I start planning ADRs and FP's. He's not interested in the planning - yet I hate to do it ALL without discussing it over with him a little bit.

Lol, same here with the hubby. A week or so beforehand he'll ask where we are staying. Despite nodding in agreement for last 11 months when we discussed the plans. If I happen to not book one of his fav ADRs, he looks shocked.

Normally, I'm a bit more flexible as to resortbooking (unless F&W). This trip since we'll likely be taking our 6 y.o. GD and since it's a holiday, want to make sure to have somewhere to lay our heads onsite.

I woke up this morning and booked 2 nights @ WL. As least now we have 5 nights, even if it is a split stay.

I'm the type to book something, then modify/cancel down the road as long as I don't have to borrow.

Very much JMHO, but for the studios/weeks we typically book, it's become more difficult to flip things around @ 7 months (my guess is due to the rise of the professional rental sites).

 

[Anal Annie]

Lol, same here with the hubby. A week or so beforehand he'll ask where we are staying. Despite nodding in agreement for last 11 months when we discussed the plans. If I happen to not book one of his fav ADRs, he looks shocked.

Normally, I'm a bit more flexible as to resortbooking (unless F&W). This trip since we'll likely be taking our 6 y.o. GD and since it's a holiday, want to make sure to have somewhere to lay our heads onsite.

I woke up this morning and booked 2 nights @ WL. As least now we have 5 nights, even if it is a split stay.

I'm the type to book something, then modify/cancel down the road as long as I don't have to borrow.

Very much JMHO, but for the studios/weeks we typically book, it's become more difficult to flip things around @ 7 months (my guess is due to the rise of the professional rental sites).

Yeah, we're already in borrowing mode & what we have left that's available to borrow we get on Dec. 1st since we're a Dec. UY. We have exactly enough points coming then to do a std. studio at SSR again for 8 nights without borrowing. I was thinking of doing AKV instead tho 'cuz we're doing SSR in January but then we'd have to borrow 10 points. Looking ahead then beyond that if we do 5 nights at F&W in late Sept or early Oct we'd be borrowing into 2017 & then if we do January 2018 again for 6 nights we'd be further into the hole and left with even fewer points for the rest of 2018. Such a vicious cycle once you start borrowing...

 

[ktate82]

Yeah, we're already in borrowing mode & what we have left that's available to borrow we get on Dec. 1st since we're a Dec. UY. We have exactly enough points coming then to do a std. studio at SSR again for 8 nights without borrowing. I was thinking of doing AKV instead tho 'cuz we're doing SSR in January but then we'd have to borrow 10 points. Looking ahead then beyond that if we do 5 nights at F&W in late Sept or early Oct we'd be borrowing into 2017 & then if we do January 2018 again for 6 nights we'd be further into the hole and left with even fewer points for the rest of 2018. Such a vicious cycle once you start borrowing...

Oh I know! We seem to borrow every year. In 2018, we aren't going to WDW, so hoping the cycle will be broken.....

 

[keishashadow]

every time I find myself short on points (which seems to happen often with an AP in my hot little hand) I start dreaming about adding on

Then I wake up lol

OT but I booked our F&W trip today for stand studio at BWV coming in on 9/30. I was told waitlist only available, 3rd year in a row that happened.

I asked the CM to drop the last day and it popped up! Woohoo but it's hard to believe how quick F&W books. Surprised it's not the same with the 4th

 

[Anal Annie]

every time I find myself short on points (which seems to happen often with an AP in my hot little hand) I start dreaming about adding on

Then I wake up lol

OT but I booked our F&W trip today for stand studio at BWV coming in on 9/30. I was told waitlist only available, 3rd year in a row that happened.

I asked the CM to drop the last day and it popped up! Woohoo but it's hard to believe how quick F&W books. Surprised it's not the same with the 4th

I have gone thru different phases of wanting to add-on but so far have talked myself down off the ledge. We've actually done just fine with what we have (250 pts) and now with DS in college there will be nothing extragvant ever. We got into our borrowing hole 2 or 3 years ago after that unfortunate Aulani trip we had to cancel at the last minute then we re-planned it the following year. That messed us up 'cuz in order to re-plan it we had to borrow. But it was either that or waste like $3K in airfare credits that would have expired.

I will probably wait until the official F&W dates are released before I book anything for that I think. Hopefully they'll announce by at least 7 months out, right? I would love to be able to snag a std. BWV studio but I know THAT will never happen. I was thinking about going that same 9/30 weekend too tho. Some of the resorts the points go up slightly in Oct. & some stay the same or change very little. I guess first things first we'll have to figure out if we'll go for the 4th or sometime else... Mental Note: TALK TO DH ABOUT THE 4th!!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

every time I find myself short on points (which seems to happen often with an AP in my hot little hand) I start dreaming about adding on

Then I wake up lol

OT but I booked our F&W trip today for stand studio at BWV coming in on 9/30. I was told waitlist only available, 3rd year in a row that happened.

I asked the CM to drop the last day and it popped up! Woohoo but it's hard to believe how quick F&W books. Surprised it's not the same with the 4th

With online booking you're placing yourself behind a lot of other owners by waiting to call. You also can look at the availability online to see what days might be booked already but people walking reservations also do block things a bit at that time of the year. If you want that last day I think you might be surprised if you call back to add it.

 

[Anal Annie]

OK. Finally talked about this plan today with DH. I presented my very old school unsophisticated notepad full of various scenarios. If we book this then it would be this many points and then if we book F&W here or there and how many points that would be etc. I pointed out our little borrowing hole & he wants us to try to work our way out of that a little bit so no splurging on any cool other resorts any time soon (ie we'll only be staying at SSR std., AKV std. or OKW for the foreseeable future). In order to get all the way out of the hole tho we're going to have to eventually stop going 3x a year and back it off to 2 trips sometime (or 1 longer trip). We'll work on that for 2018.

ANYWAY, went ahead & booked 8 nights at SSR for June 30th - July 8th. That res took the exact number of points that we have (had) coming to us on Dec. 1st. According to this new RAT (if I was using it right) it looked like we could have had several other resort choices still open (of course we'd still have to wait until Nov. 30th to book elsewhere tho). Figured this way tho we're not gambling on losing the SSR Std. view between now & then (which I have a hunch will book first over the new preferred view as it did for Marathon week). It will be weird to stay at the same resort 2 trips in a row but I'll get over it.

Now we have to hope for bearable crowds. If it's too overwhelming we'll know not to do it again!! See ya'll there!!

 

[Disney mac]

We were there last year the 2 weeks right after the 4th. It was WAY down in crowds. We were told it was because July is the South American month and with the Brazilian economy down last year, it meant less tour groups of 15 year olds.

Now the only downside we experienced was it is HOT!!! Just be prepared and have a plan for staying cool and hydrated.

 

[Anal Annie]

We were there last year the 2 weeks right after the 4th. It was WAY down in crowds. We were told it was because July is the South American month and with the Brazilian economy down last year, it meant less tour groups of 15 year olds.

Now the only downside we experienced was it is HOT!!! Just be prepared and have a plan for staying cool and hydrated.

Historically most of our previous summer trips have been in August or late July so we know what to expect with the weather. Our travel times are just in flux now with DS being in college and not knowing if he'll be able to join us or not. We'll just cross our fingers & hope maybe he can join us for the weekend or something.

 

[kittylady1972]

We went in July 2015 and were lucky enough to snag a Poly Standard Studio at the time for the 5 of us...so that saved us some points. We actually had a view of MK from our corner room...it was amazing. We had to move to BLT Std View 1BR for a few nights after Poly, which was hard!

Having just been the previous Sept and Nov, and since we had annual passes that included waterparks access, we went into this trip without the main focus being the parks. That was good...because it was HOT!! We spent a lot of time at the Polynesian Pool and we did at least two waterparks while there. We would do parks in the morning, then rest time, and then more park time in the evening.

Crowds...we managed okay with them. We went to MK on July 3td for the fireworks there and yes it was crowded...and then it rained...so the fireworks were delayed several times. When the rain finally cleared and they did have the fireworks, I think most people had given up but they were WORTH the wait! We did plenty of rides but really didn't spend a ton of time at the parks...we really focused on pool time as much as we could. The one day we went Blizzard Beach it rained...and we just hung out there because we were already getting wet. Another time we hit the park towards the end of the day, last hour or two when it was closing, and it was still pretty crowded.

Would we do it again? Yep. However we go often at Thanksgiving time which also gets crowded...and isn't usually as hot.

 

[edk35]

There is free dining during 4th of July???? That concerns me. That might mean a very very crowded time.

 

[Anal Annie]

There is free dining during 4th of July???? That concerns me. That might mean a very very crowded time.

I read that was one of those Bounceback offers - so I think it's only going to be those who booked that last summer when when they were there. I don't think it's a current "Free Dining" offer to the general public as of right now. We have been in mid-August when they have started the Free Dining in August - I find that it mainly affects trying to book ADR's & if you want anything specific or hard-to-get book it early.

ETA: I DO expect it will be crowded. I'm just hoping it's not close the park to more guests crowded!!

 

[ldo]

I was @ DVC this Aug. and booked FD for July 4th week--too good to pass up! But, I expect they will have only offered it to that summer bounceback group to fill in what I read was a softer July 4, 2016 and will not offer it to Disney Visa or general public later this spring. As many persons tend to travel the same time period, I don't know how many Aug. travelers would want end June/early July. Also, lots of Brits in Aug. and they are not in school holidays yet at end of June.

 

[edk35]

Do you know if it is better (crowd wise) to start your trip before 4th of July like arrive to where you depart Disney on say the 5th or 6th or arrive July 2nd and start trip then for 7 or 8 nights.

 

[edk35]

I do not remember either the crowds being heavy or light this year, but I know it was so hot that I passed on my Frozen Ever FP because it was just too hot for us to leave BLT and get to Epcot!

I once again have reservations for next year's 4th of July because I like the fireworks!! I stay at BLT for the firework viewing and then BCV for SAB!

Do you do a split stay for the week of 4th of July????

 

[bobbiwoz]

Do you do a split stay for the week of 4th of July????

Yes, I love fireworks, and I love BCV. So, we book a night or two at BLT so we can see the MK fireworks from the Top of the World on the 3 rd. Then we move to BCV ( we own at each) because we both like to swim, and BLTs pool is not deep or large enough for us to enjoy. The fireworks at Epcot are really amazing.

My DSis is joining us this year. We have a 1 bedroom at BLT and at BCV we have 2 studios so she can invite a friend.