Last minute, how likely?

[CarlyMur09]

Hi, all.

I was just wondering if it would at all be possible to get a room for Dec 1-4 this year? There’s five of us, so we would need a room that fit all of us. I know it’s very last minute, but flights are cheap for that weekend. We are DVC, and we have a surplus of points anyways but nothings available as far as DVC, so we were thinking to book the Disney Collection through that.

 

[CrankyDad]

Umm just go to web site and search the dates. We won’t know. You gotta put in the legwork and look it up

 

[CarlyMur09]

Umm just go to web site and search the dates. We won’t know. You gotta put in the legwork and look it up

I did, and it was coming up with nothing, which is why I was asking as I knew there was an issue with some dates not coming up if you only searched for so few days. I even looked for longer dates that overlapped our weekend and came up with a few choices, so I’m assuming it’s the search. Also, I was wondering if there was a separate inventory if you were booking Disney collection through DVC member services.

 

[100acreHiker]

Late November and early December WDW Resort reservations have shown zero to almost no availability since spring. It’s going to be a very busy week or two. This question has been asked every week for the last couple of months— why if it’s a slow time is the website not showing any availability? Because it’s no longer a slow time. It’s not a website error, unfortunately. Sure something may pop up if you play with dates and we are coming up on thirty days when balances are due so I suspect more rooms will open up, so keep checking. But, in general, that week has shown at times literally no options since spring or summer. My guess is something will open up if you’re diligent and willing to pay rack rate.

 

[Lewisc]

I checked. Disney has a 2 bedroom unit at okw which will accommodate your party. A little pricey. Did you check the hotels by Disney Springs?
A room which sleeps 5 severely limits your options.

 

[CarlyMur09]

She

Late November and early December WDW Resort reservations have shown zero to almost no availability since spring. It’s going to be a very busy week or two. This question has been asked every week for the last couple of months— why if it’s a slow time is the website not showing any availability? Because it’s no longer a slow time. It’s not a website error, unfortunately. Sure something may pop up if you play with dates and we are coming up on thirty days when balances are due so I suspect more rooms will open up, so keep checking. But, in general, that week has shown at times literally no options since spring or summer. My guess is something will open up if you’re diligent and willing to pay rack rate.

I wasn’t expecting slow times at all. (I never do anymore anyways) And I do see availability at more resorts today than I saw last night, but we’re still looking.

I checked. Disney has a 2 bedroom unit at okw which will accommodate your party. A little pricey. Did you check the hotels by Disney Springs?
A room which sleeps 5 severely limits your options.

I figured it would, but we wanted to keep this a simple trip if we ended up going, so we want DME to/from from the hotel, so those hotels wouldn’t be included in that.

 

[Belle92]

Your best chance for a DVC room will probably be today or tomorrow as people cancel before the 31 day window when their DVC points would go into holding. I would keep checking the availability on the DVC website. You could also put in a waitlist for one of the bigger resorts (maybe AKV ) for a 1 bedroom or at one of the resorts where you can fit 5 in a studio.

 

[margot31]

I have been finding the website has been getting really funky lately. You sometimes have to click into the resort to honestly check, even if it says no availability. Just a few weeks ago I booked a trip for Dec 13-17 and was able to get something. I always keep checking for other resorts and deals.

 

[Lewisc]

She


I wasn’t expecting slow times at all. (I never do anymore anyways) And I do see availability at more resorts today than I saw last night, but we’re still looking.



I figured it would, but we wanted to keep this a simple trip if we ended up going, so we want DME to/from from the hotel, so those hotels wouldn’t be included in that.

Uber XL between airport and resort is pretty simple. You may have to bend on your criteria or not go

 

[Nancyg56]

I called when I was having difficulty finding the dates I wanted. Sometimes that really helps.

 

[Lewisc]

I called when I was having difficulty finding the dates I wanted. Sometimes that really helps.

I called when I couldn't find anything. I was told the inventory online is exactly the same as inventory availabile for phone reservations. Sometimes it's luck. You check online, or have a CM check in the phone just after a cancellation goes in the system.

5 in a room may be a deal breaker. Many (most?) of the DVC one bedrooms won't even sleep 5. OP wants to use DME, that means no fudging on room occupancy.

 

[CarlyMur09]

I called when I was having difficulty finding the dates I wanted. Sometimes that really helps.

Looks like that’s what We are doing.

 

[Nancyg56]

I called when I couldn't find anything. I was told the inventory online is exactly the same as inventory availabile for phone reservations. Sometimes it's luck. You check online, or have a CM check in the phone just after a cancellation goes in the system.

5 in a room may be a deal breaker. Many (most?) of the DVC one bedrooms won't even sleep 5. OP wants to use DME, that means no fudging on room occupancy.

The inventory is the same, however I have found that if the CM assists me I seem to have a better outcome. The website is glitchy at best, so a CM maneuvering days around has helped. I am not sure it the issue is me or the website, but I find that a call is less frustrating.

I agree the OP has a problem in regards to the number of folks in a room. I never suggest fudging the number of occupants becuase you never know how that may backfire.

 

[CarlyMur09]

The inventory is the same, however I have found that if the CM assists me I seem to have a better outcome. The website is glitchy at best, so a CM maneuvering days around has helped. I am not sure it the issue is me or the website, but I find that a call is less frustrating.

I agree the OP has a problem in regards to the number of folks in a room. I never suggest fudging the number of occupants becuase you never know how that may backfire.

We definitely will be putting down 5 people, regardless of availability or not. And we’re calling member services at DVC tomorrow, because I don’t see the option to book any of the Disney collection online through the DVC website, only a phone number to call MS.

If we don’t get it, no biggie. We have a trip planned for April/May anyways, but we wanted to see the Christmas decorations, mainly, and I have a friend in the CP I’ve been wanting to visit. (Again, she’ll be there through May.)

 

[vinotinto]

I remember fondly the days of booking 2 - 3 weeks in advance. Our first family trip in 2009 was booked short notice and I had our pick of resorts. Settled on Beach Club Gardenview (which sleeps 5). It was Columbus Day week and we had a choice of 30% of room or FD. Those were the days...

 

[Deb & Bill]

Don't forget about the Rule of Four with DVC points. You cannot book and stay with the Disney Collection during the last four months of your UY. Just check the RAT a couple of times a day and see if anything pops up. But with your requested time being part of the most popular week for DVC members, I'll guess you won't find anything with DVC. Plus members have been waitlisting that week for months.

 

[CarlyMur09]

Just to update everyone. We managed to piece together two reservations through DVC. Two nights in a 1 bedroom at Animal Kingdom Lodge: Jambo House, and one night at Boardwalk Villas in a Deluxe Studio. My sister was very diligent about refreshing the page as much as she could so at least 2 nights would come up. So we will be heading down Dec 1 through Dec 4! Bought our DVC annual passes too, so fastpasses were done today. I was surprised at how much was still available today aside from the expected (Flights of Passage namely).

Thanks everyone!

 

[mrsp1030]

We were in the same boat for a last minute stay Dec 7-10. I keep checking multiple times a day and finally got something. For now I have a studio at OKW but am still checking each day and several times for something else. We have a bigger trip planned for next year but the website is so tricky anymore you never know.