New Years

[Ooba]

This year our kids get out of school rather late for Christmas break, and don't go back until January 8th. So..... I was wondering what the crowds are like after New Years? I assume NYE is a zoo, but we would likely arrive on 12/30 or so, and stay through 1/6. Plus, the points go down considerably starting Jan 1.
Do alot of schools have these extra days off after New Years? Will it be terribly crowded?
Also - since I have not made any ressies at this point, is there any hope? We would love to stay at BCV or BWV, but we probably would be lucky to get anything. Is there any chance of a 1 bd somewhere for 6 or 7 nights aroung this time??

 

[Caskbill]

If you're thinking of booking something for NYE (Dec 31st), you're probably already too late. That night is THE most popular night to book in all of DVC.

Yes, NYE is a zoo. People everywhere. If you ever do go, don't even think about doing any of the attractions as the lines are terrible. I remember seeing Test Track showing a 3 hour wait. If you can get fast passes for anything, that's good, but they can all be gone before noon.

A lot of special things occur on NYE so go for those, not the regular resort attractions that you can see any other day.

We've done seven NYE's so far, all at Epcot. It's great....

 

[Snookies]

...We've done seven NYE's so far, all at Epcot. It's great....

Caskbill, In 20 years of traveling to WDW, We've only done one Christmas trip (stayed through Christmas but not NYE). We had no problem booking our home resort for that trip at about 9 months out. Given your experience at this time of year, do you 1) book all at once or 2) book day by day, particularly for NYE?

 

[LIFERBABE]

Your best bet now is to get on the waitlist. NYE is completely sold out at all WDW DVC's in all unit sizes. At least it was when I checked 2 weeks ago. I booked one of the last SSR 1 bedrooms for 12/30-1/5.

TenThousandVolts started a waitlist thread a few weeks ago on the Dis Miscellaneous board. If I find it, I will post a link.

If you decide to go, I hope you are successful

 

[TenThousandVolts]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1466855

here is the thread

 

[castleri]

Definitely get on the waitlist for your time frame for any of the resorts. I got NYE at 4 months out last year so there is hope. We have done NYE 3 times at the MK and with FPs did all the rides we really wanted to do. It is definitely not the time for first timers to try to "do everything" . We got to the park shortly after opening and left after the midnight fireworks so it was a rather long day. The crowds were still in evidence on the 1-4 but not as bad as between Chrirstmas and NYE. Each day was a little less. It may have had something to do with the marathon the following weekend which can also affect room availability I think. Good luck and have a wonderful trip.

 

[Caskbill]

Caskbill, In 20 years of traveling to WDW, We've only done one Christmas trip (stayed through Christmas but not NYE). We had no problem booking our home resort for that trip at about 9 months out. Given your experience at this time of year, do you 1) book all at once or 2) book day by day, particularly for NYE?

We've always booked day by day. Mostly because not only it's NYE but we get a Studio to save points, and like to stay at BWV or BCV because we can walk to Epcot. Thus not only are we looking at the most popular night, but some of the most popular rooms.

For example, all the Standard View Studios at BWV usually book within minutes of MS opening, right at the 11-month window. Well, maybe not minutes, but definitely within an hour or so.....

Other resorts will take longer. OKW and SSR especially since they're so much larger. Studios usually go first since 12/31 is in premier season. They're even more popular if the 31st falls on a Friday or Saturday, when points are even higher. I suspect that AKV will also be popular.

I don't have any statistics but I'd estimate all the Studios book completely within a few months. The larger villas may last a little longer. But as verified by this year's reservations, by the time you get down to about 6-months away, absolutely everything is generally booked.

Waitlists are possible because there will be cancellations for various reasons.

 

[cinderella97]

I called yesterday to try and book for that same week - There were no 1BR or studios any where for 12/30, 12/31 and 1/1, there was availability of 1BR and OKW ans SSR for 1/2, 1/3, 1/4. So it looks like we will be staying offsite with our other timeshare week. We have already booked BCV for Easter 2008

 

[dianeschlicht]

Sorry you are coming to this decision so late, but I must agree with Bill about NYE at Epcot!!! WE LOVE IT! We've only done it 3 times though, but I know we will be doing it again in the future. When our elderly parents are no longer around, we plan to spend the entire holidays at WDW/DVC. We really do love NYE there, and after NYday, the crowds drop down quite a bit. If you go beyond the Marathon weekend, they drop down even further. Hope your waitlist comes through!

 

[robinb]

We've always booked day by day. Mostly because not only it's NYE but we get a Studio to save points, and like to stay at BWV or BCV because we can walk to Epcot. Thus not only are we looking at the most popular night, but some of the most popular rooms.

For example, all the Standard View Studios at BWV usually book within minutes of MS opening, right at the 11-month window. Well, maybe not minutes, but definitely within an hour or so.....

I do the same thing. My friends were *shocked* when they called one day too late for the night of 12/31 and couldn't get a Standard View 2BR or a Boardwalk View 2BR!

 

[lovinthemouse]

We are going 12/30-1/6 too at SSR. I got all my nights except 12/31 which we booked on cash. Good luck. Here's some pixie dust

 

[robinb]

We are going 12/30-1/6 too at SSR. I got all my nights except 12/31 which we booked on cash. Good luck. Here's some pixie dust

Good luck! The cash thing works too. We had a 1-BR for 12/29/99 and then again on 1/1/00-1/3/00. We paid cash ($450 per night ) for 12/30/99 and 12/31/99 and considered ourselves lucky.