May 2018 - What's going on?

[CanadianAli]

Usually I do my planning for my May trip now (this year 14th-21st, always on Canadian Victoria Day weekend), and there is VERY limited availability that week for our group. Almost no 1BR Villas at any DVC resort and limited availability for most resorts.

Anyone know what's going on that week?

 

[Derek Demsher]

I just checked availability for that week and it looks like there are 1 bedroom villas available at every dvc property.
how many people are in your group?

 

[Cameron1515]

Usually I do my planning for my May trip now (this year 14th-21st, always on Canadian Victoria Day weekend), and there is VERY limited availability that week for our group. Almost no 1BR Villas at any DVC resort and limited availability for most resorts.

Anyone know what's going on that week?

May tends to see crowds increase due to hotter weather and lower refurb rates.
However May is also the opening of Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios, a long awaited addition to the park.
It is also typically the reopening of Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, which may also be a reason for increased crowd levels and thus lack of available rooms.
The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival is also on during May with its last day being later in the month.

Sorry to inundate you will different reasons behind the lack of availability. However this may also provide you with some different events and happenings to look forward to and plan around

 

[CanadianAli]

I just checked availability for that week and it looks like there are 1 bedroom villas available at every dvc property.
how many people are in your group?

Interesting...when I plug in 5 ppl (as I always do - 3 adults/2 kids), I am only showing 1BR availability at AKV, OKW, BLT. Not even one showing at SSR!
And my dates have been the same for the past 4 years, with the same group, so I am a bit stumped and know the crowd levels to expect. I knew Toy Story Land opening might affect things, but I was seeing a lot of room levels not available.

Thanks everyone for your feedback! I was more than anything wondering if I missed anything out of the norm.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It may be DVC is releasing fewer units to CRO, if you're looking to book on cash. They're expecting high demand for the opens next summer.

 

[Upatnoon]

Interesting...when I plug in 5 ppl (as I always do - 3 adults/2 kids), I am only showing 1BR availability at AKV, OKW, BLT. Not even one showing at SSR!
And my dates have been the same for the past 4 years, with the same group, so I am a bit stumped and know the crowd levels to expect. I knew Toy Story Land opening might affect things, but I was seeing a lot of room levels not available.

Thanks everyone for your feedback! I was more than anything wondering if I missed anything out of the norm.

At SSR, you have to bring an air mattress for the 5th person as a 1BR only has sleeping surfaces for 4, so that could be why it isn't showing up.

 

[Haley R]

I think it might either be the opening of Toy Story land or the simple fact that Disney has become more busy than normal. I've been reading lots of reviews lately about how busy the world has been compared to previous years.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Interesting...when I plug in 5 ppl (as I always do - 3 adults/2 kids), I am only showing 1BR availability at AKV, OKW, BLT. Not even one showing at SSR!
And my dates have been the same for the past 4 years, with the same group, so I am a bit stumped and know the crowd levels to expect. I knew Toy Story Land opening might affect things, but I was seeing a lot of room levels not available.

Thanks everyone for your feedback! I was more than anything wondering if I missed anything out of the norm.

Are you booking for cash through the Disney Reservation Center (DRC) site or are you booking through the DVC site for cash? If you book through DRC, the three resorts that returned for your search are the only one bedroom villas that have beds for five. The other ones only sleep four by DRC rules and you don't get to follow DVC rules about providing your own bedding/bed/towels for the fifth person.

 

[Deb & Bill]

At SSR, you have to bring an air mattress for the 5th person as a 1BR only has sleeping surfaces for 4, so that could be why it isn't showing up.

That's only for DVC booking, not DRC booking.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Basically, they don't want to get cash guests thinking they can always "work around" room capacity by bringing bedding. DVC members work on different rules.

 

[CanadianAli]

I was doing it on DRC. But even when I put 4 adults, same thing. Odd, just lots of room types out of inventory. Either way I am sure I will find something. I appreciate all the responses and thoughts!

 

[iteach7th]

I came to the DIS looking for the same answer. I am a part time WDW travel agent and was quoting a trip for a family the first of May. They wanted to go during low crowds and I was shocked to see such low availability!! I thought Toy Story Land would be opening "summer" --- meaning June. I have looked for an official opening date but can't find one. The only thing I can find is a cheer competition May 2-8 that is probably taking all of the value resorts and a few moderate. Even the deluxe resorts are low on inventory! I guess I will check end of April or mid May and see what I can find.

 

[vicb]

I wanted to book at S/D but D is sold out one night mid stay for us... May 8
I can't find any exact dates for opening of Toy Story Land either but a lot of folks seem to say "May".

 

[JMommyof3]

There is a cheer/dance competition May 4-6. Official resorts are All Stars, POP, and CSR. I think there is another May 11-13 but I don't know what those resorts are.

 

[Nancyg56]

I have a room at the BC booked in May and have been looking at crowd calendars. I am pretty worried because it was very difficult to get the days i wanted, and while crowds do not bother me, I would have my DDIL with me this trip. She has never been to WDW. I was hoping to have her experience her first visit differently.

 

[iteach7th]

For those of you that can't get the dates you want - -
Just an FYI, I was trying to book online - May 1 - 8 at AOA. I could get May 2 - 8 to go through but when I added May 1, it said no availability for the dates May 1 - 8. I went in and tried to book a room only for just the night of May 1 and it showed availability. I booked May 2 - 8 and then had to call guest services to get them to add May 1. The lady at guest services said that was the 2nd one she had to modify since she started her shift.
However, if you are trying to get any of the All Stars or Pop those first two weeks, you are probably out of luck because they are filled up with the cheer and dance competitions.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

Toy Story Opening, Cheer and Dance Competitions, delayed released of DVC units (members typically get first dibs), several 1 bedrooms have official occupancy of 4 +1 under 3 but will allow a fifth (over 3) on an air mattress, but not show.

We were there around that time last year and other than large crowds of cheer and dance it wasn't too bad.


I would look at family suites at AoA or ASMu or going through DVC rentals rather than Disney directly.