Minimum stay required?

[AVmatt]

In trying to secure a room for the weekend of the 50th anniversary, I'm finding certain resorts don't show up as available for 9/30/21 to 10/02/21, but they do show up if I add additional days prior to those dates.

Example:
Search for 9/30/21 to 10/02/21: Poly Villas are available, but not the regular hotel rooms; Pop Century is not available.
Search for 9/25/21 to 10/02/21: Both Poly Villas and Poly Hotel Rooms are available; Pop Century IS available.

Now I can see why they would want to hold certain resorts for longer stays to make sure they are fully booked, but... Can anyone confirm if Disney has changed their policy about shortening reservations after you book them to get the room you want and circumvent this issue? In other words, if I book the whole week (9/25/21 to 10/02/21) to get the room I want and then call Disney Travel to change the dates to just 9/30/21 to 10/02/21, will that void my entire reservation?

Also of note, there is a lot more availability showing up for both scenarios now than there was a week ago. Several DVC resorts are now showing up for cash reservations, where as a week ago, I wasn't seeing any DVC resort options available for cash reservations.

 

[lanejudy]

Wow this is a really old thread and earlier posts may not be entirely accurate anymore.

In response to @AVmatt -

WDW changed their booking algorithm a few years ago, which does make it hard to find availability unless you are flexible on dates. It is supposedly to prevent "orphan" rooms - a hotel room that goes unbooked for a single night. In other words, using the example above, WDW's computer thinks it will be easier to sell one longer reservation (9/25 - 10/2) than 2 short ones (9/25-9/29 and 9/30-10/2). You may or may not be successful in getting Guest Services to make an adjustment to shorten a longer reservation, but regular reservations CMs cannot do it unless the dates are available to book as a new reservation. Plus I think many people are continuously changing travel plans which impacts availability at any given time.

 

[AVmatt]

Yeah, it's an old thread, but the most relevant one I could find. I didn't realize it was so complicated for them to modify your dates. Thanks.

 

[Mazz519]

Book it then adjust it to 1 night

 

[GADisneyDad14]

@AVmatt - FYI, I moved your post into a new thread vs the 2007-era thread you posted in. Around the DIS, it is often better to start new threads on topics/questions than post in old ones as information can be stale, people don't realize it's an old thread and start responding to decades old posts, etc. You'll typically get the best info/most exposure to your question in a new/fresh thread. Thanks!

 

[CarolynFH]

Several DVC resorts are now showing up for cash reservations, where as a week ago, I wasn't seeing any DVC resort options available for cash reservations.

As a DVC owner, Disney is allowed to reserve rooms beginning 11 months prior to checkin date. The dates you’re looking at just hit the 11-month window - so I’m glad to see that Disney is adhering to the rules!

 

[maryj11]

I had the same problem. I called and got 3 nights that was only showing if I added a 4th night. I also was able to get the special that had 4 nights with ticket deal. I got it for 3 nights and added only 2 day park tickets which was about 50.00 per person for 2 park days.