New Years Wait-List chances

[apulk]

Folks, I need some help getting my hopes up or managing expectations. We just decided we would like to try a Jan 1st thru Jan 5th, 2014 trip and called to start the wait list process this weekend. 2 bedroom at Saratoga is available the last two nights so they are booked. We are wait listed for the first two nights. But our preferred is Jambo AKL villas 2 bedroom. We are wait listed the entire 4 nights there.

I don't want to wait too long to book air for 7 of us but I also don't want to put out the money if the wait list doesn't stand a chance.

Wait does everyone think about wait lists at this time.

And are we crazy for even thinking of going then?

Thanks
Andy

 

[lucyem]

I wait listed Dec 31 2012 - Jan 4, 2013 in early November last year. I had two nights within a day and the other two nights within a week. BUT I was wait listing a 1 bedroom at SSR. I did not bother with any other resorts because I figured more people were higher up on the list and more likely to want out of SSR. 2 bedrooms are a whole other story but I would think you would have the best chances at SSR if anywhere.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Many, many people leave January 1st. Can you give your wait list 1 month before bailing? I think that's what I would do, if staying somewhere, not for points, was definitely not an option. Personally, I would book something for the 2 nights, to be sure I was going!

 

[cvjw]

I don't know about your waitlist chances, but wanted to share our experiences from our trip last year at the same time - Jan 1st - 8th.

It was insanely busy - like the MK closing to capacity while we were there. The parks were packed until much later in our trip. We were staying at Kidani Village, so we ended up spending alot of time in our villa and at the resort. We still had a nice time because the weather was warmer - we even spent time at the pool. We did not spend much time at the parks due to the size of the crowds. Just FYI!

 

[apulk]

I am thinking of booking a hotel for the first two nights but that does sort of mess up the budget. If I do go ahead and book the airfare I will definitely book 2 rooms somewhere just to make sure we have a place to stay.

Crowds are the other concern -- we went Jan 1 - Jan 8, 2011 -- which was a Saturday to Saturday. Our kids had a longer break from high-school due to construction so they didn't miss any classes. Jan 1st was pretty crowded, Sunday the 2nd actually a little worse, then the rest of the week just got better and better -- because 99% of the schools were back in session.

Our problem is we are trying to work around high school break, 2 college students and a law school student. The high school kiddos have the same breaks but the college/law school students don't match up at all. Can't do a spring break at the same time so the next would be late June -- and then we'll be balancing the college student's summer work schedule. June may be a little less crowded but then we also have to wait for June. Just trying to keep the family tradition going but it's getting tougher each year as they get older.

 

[apulk]

I wait listed Dec 31 2012 - Jan 4, 2013 in early November last year. I had two nights within a day and the other two nights within a week. BUT I was wait listing a 1 bedroom at SSR. I did not bother with any other resorts because I figured more people were higher up on the list and more likely to want out of SSR. 2 bedrooms are a whole other story but I would think you would have the best chances at SSR if anywhere.

This is VERY encouraging!!! We LOVE Animal Kingdom but have also really enjoyed our Saratoga stays too -- so it would not be the worst thing to happen. Just don't want to lay out any $$$ for a room if we can -- since airfare will be higher at this time.

 

[apulk]

Many, many people leave January 1st. Can you give your wait list 1 month before bailing? I think that's what I would do, if staying somewhere, not for points, was definitely not an option. Personally, I would book something for the 2 nights, to be sure I was going!

My concern this year is that with New Year's Day being a Wednesday -- maybe most people won't clear out right away and then the 2nd - 5th will remain insanely crowded.

What do you think the day of the week will do to the crowd patterns??

 

[rlovew]

My concern this year is that with New Year's Day being a Wednesday -- maybe most people won't clear out right away and then the 2nd - 5th will remain insanely crowded.

What do you think the day of the week will do to the crowd patterns??

With New Year's Day being a Wednesday schools will not return until Jan 6th so crowds will not clear out until the day or so before that. Therefore the time you are looking at will be high crowd time just like any other time over Christmas break.

 

[LIMOGE7]

New York schools go back on the 2nd....( at least ours does, so less crowds)
I would keep the wait list but also book a room elsewhere that you can cancel night before. Good luck, just saw blt 1 bedroom new years eve standard view pop up yesterday so you never know!!!!

 

[lucyem]

With New Year's Day being a Wednesday schools will not return until Jan 6th so crowds will not clear out until the day or so before that. Therefore the time you are looking at will be high crowd time just like any other time over Christmas break.

I know we have the full week of New Years off in NH just like last year. Honestly I thought New Years week last year was not as bad as I had expected. We went in expecting bad crowds and left thinking gee that was totally doable with rope drops and a plan.

 

[apulk]

I have to stop reading the New Year's Eve crowd posts -- it's getting me nervous. All about managing expectations I guess. My family has been to WDW many times so spending a day at a park and not getting many rides isn't a big deal....but we have a guest coming with us who hasn't been there in years and only twice in his 18 years.

Really hoping that someone else get's their dream wait-list come through and they get to move out of Saratoga Springs where we have 2 of the 5 requested nights. Already stressing that we're going to have to do a split stay -- value resort with $$ for a few nights then switch. Done that before but not our favorite thing to do.

 

[crisi]

New York schools go back on the 2nd....( at least ours does, so less crowds)
I would keep the wait list but also book a room elsewhere that you can cancel night before. Good luck, just saw blt 1 bedroom new years eve standard view pop up yesterday so you never know!!!!

Ours go back on the 2nd as well, but a lot of people will pull their kids for the 2-3 to get a few more days of vacation. Anytime you have a short week like that - particularly one where you only have TWO school days, you can expect a lot of people will pull their kids. And even the high schoolers won't have much happening those two days.

I'd expect Christmas level crowds through the fifth.

 

[apulk]

Ours go back on the 2nd as well, but a lot of people will pull their kids for the 2-3 to get a few more days of vacation. Anytime you have a short week like that - particularly one where you only have TWO school days, you can expect a lot of people will pull their kids. And even the high schoolers won't have much happening those two days.

I'd expect Christmas level crowds through the fifth.

I have the thought of those crowd levels but we're running out of opportunities when our family can travel together It was so much easier when they were younger and the only debate was pull them out of school for the a week in October or the first week of December (yes, we did do that a few times). Now we have kids in college and graduates with jobs and a life of their own -- just trying to keep the family WDW trip tradition alive and this is the only week we can do it until summer maybe.

Just wishing now for some magic and my wait list all of a sudden in the next few days comes through and then we'll be set in one resort at least.

 

[apulk]

Well -- with a little bit of change on our part we are set now from 12/31 thru 1/5 -- all in the same resort and all on points.

Just happened to check online around 3pm yesterday and suddenly 2 bedrooms were showing up for New Year's eve no less and 2 of the other days - but at Kidani Villas. I called and by they time I spoke to a cast member (about 15 mins) they were gone but 2 savannah view studios were available for the entire stay -- so I grabbed them. No need to change resorts, no POR on cash for a few nights and our 2nd choice in resorts (Jambo house is our first choice).

Will still wait list for Jambo house but now just need to decide if we want to try to get a 2 bedroom for the entire time or maybe just stay with the 2 studios and save the points. Or do nothing.

At least we're covered on points in the same resort for the entire length of stay which is great.

Thanks

 

[bobbiwoz]

Well -- with a little bit of change on our part we are set now from 12/31 thru 1/5 -- all in the same resort and all on points.

Just happened to check online around 3pm yesterday and suddenly 2 bedrooms were showing up for New Year's eve no less and 2 of the other days - but at Kidani Villas. I called and by they time I spoke to a cast member (about 15 mins) they were gone but 2 savannah view studios were available for the entire stay -- so I grabbed them. No need to change resorts, no POR on cash for a few nights and our 2nd choice in resorts (Jambo house is our first choice).

Will still wait list for Jambo house but now just need to decide if we want to try to get a 2 bedroom for the entire time or maybe just stay with the 2 studios and save the points. Or do nothing.

At least we're covered on points in the same resort for the entire length of stay which is great.

Thanks

Great!

 

[jekjones1558]

OP, sounds like you will have a really Happy New Year! Congrats!

 

[apulk]

Thanks -- super excited!!! Our kiddos are all getting much older and we feel so blessed that we can still have a family vacation -- not sure how many more. Oldest will be 24, next will be 22 (both in January) then our "babies" are 16 and 15. Harder to find a time that works for everyone but at least everyone still wants to be together

 

[Judique]

Thanks -- super excited!!! Our kiddos are all getting much older and we feel so blessed that we can still have a family vacation -- not sure how many more. Oldest will be 24, next will be 22 (both in January) then our "babies" are 16 and 15. Harder to find a time that works for everyone but at least everyone still wants to be together

I have the elusive New Year's reservation and a family that wanted to go last year when I booked it. But now, I am thinking of cancelling.

1st thing to interfere was the school schedule came out - three of my family members work in the education field and back to school or work is January 2nd. Some could take time off but not all.

Then, I believe the parks will be packed through Sunday as someone else mentioned.

So, I am very conflicted about this reservation. Someone who wants New Years may get very lucky!

 

[apulk]

that's a tough decision -- I am not very excited about the crowds. We've been there the first week before but when New Year's day fell on a Saturday. By Sunday things were starting to slow down and by Tuesday we were walking right onto everything. I'm thinking the only "slow" day we are likely to have is our last day/travel day back home -- Sunday Jan 5th. But -- it will be warmer than Pittsburgh (hopefully), we'll all be together and it's still Disney. If we could wait one more week I would prefer it but.....

Good luck with your decision.

 

[linco711]

We've been once over New Years and never again! The crowds were unbelievable making it no fun. They closed all the parks early in the day due to overcrowding. We were in Epcot and it was wall to wall people....