No availability?

[SweetSerenity]

I was looking at resorts for 11/01/18-11/10/18 and found that Wilderness Lodge had nothing available. I find it hard to believe that they are completely sold out so I was wondering if Disney holds rooms and then releases them later? Is it possible that they will become available closer to the dates and they're being held for promotional purposes? Has anyone seen this before with other resorts?

 

[tnolan]

In late Nov 2017, I was checking the Polynesian for a standard room for Nov 2018, and the standard and lagoon view were marked as unavailable, a full year in advance! We got one of the last 2 pool/marina rooms, just barely what we could afford. So yes, it does seem to be becoming the norm, unfortunately.

 

[dansdad]

I was looking at resorts for 11/01/18-11/10/18 and found that Wilderness Lodge had nothing available. I find it hard to believe that they are completely sold out

Wilderness cut their inventory in half with the DVC conversion. So it's not as crazy as you might think.

So I was wondering if Disney holds rooms and then releases them later?

No they do not.

Is it possible that they will become available closer to the dates

Yes. Balances for packages are due at 30 days out so rooms do become available around then.

And they're being held for promotional purposes?

Disney wants to sell as many rooms at full price as possible, so definitely no.

Has anyone seen this before with other resorts?

Yes, quite often. There is no slow time,any longer and resorts sell out earlier and earlier lately.

 

[HopperFan]

I was looking at resorts for 11/01/18-11/10/18 and found that Wilderness Lodge had nothing available. I find it hard to believe that they are completely sold out so I was wondering if Disney holds rooms and then releases them later? Is it possible that they will become available closer to the dates and they're being held for promotional purposes? Has anyone seen this before with other resorts?

You also have some very difficult dates ....

- Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend is 11/2-11/4

- Epcot Food & Wine Festival

- Jersey Week's Convention is 11/8 and 11/9. Making the week starting for WDW visitors the 3rd going through the 12th.

- Monday the 12th is Veterans Day and a long weekend for many school systems or just folks with a long weekend.

 

[Farro]

This makes me a bit nervous for booking in 2020 (yes, 2020 ).

We will be staying at Yacht Club in May of that year, but packages don't come out until about July of the previous year. I normally would think 11 months out would be enough time - but reading this seems like it's almost cutting it close! I'm nervous with Yacht Club's proximity to DHS and the new Star Wars Land that it will be a place everyone wants to stay.

Do people just book room only 499 days out? And then just change to package when those rates come out?

 

[Dashzap]

Do people just book room only 499 days out? And then just change to package when those rates come out?

If you are concerned that the room you want is limited availability, then yes, book a room only 499 days out.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

With fewer rooms on the resort side, I think finding 9 nights at WL almost any time of year is going to be difficult at this point. Have you considered checking for availability at CCV or BRV? We stayed at CCV in December and I looked for months for a room at WL (I was particularly looking for CL) and occasionally a standard room would pop up (I needed 7 nights), but it was very rare and what I wanted never materialized. The best you can do is to keep checking.

 

[megs1313]

the problem is probably that it can't get you a room for all of your nights. if you split it up, i'll bet you can get it, but that's a risk for sure.

I tried it a few ways and I literally could NOT get the night of the 2nd in any configuration. I *can* get 1-2 in a courtyard view and the 3-10 in the courtyard view...so literally just that one night is the issue. And my money is on the marathon being a big part of that issue. Keep trying!

 

[WaterLinds]

How do you book a year + ahead? Is it by phone only? I was looking at the website recently to start planning for next March and it wouldn't let me take the calendar beyond December 2018, so I assumed you couldn't book that far ahead!

 

[dansdad]

How do you book a year + ahead? Is it by phone only? I was looking at the website recently to start planning for next March and it wouldn't let me take the calendar beyond December 2018, so I assumed you couldn't book that far ahead!

Yes, you'll have to call. You can book a room only via phone 499 days out.

 

[WaterLinds]

Yes, you'll have to call. You can book a room only via phone 499 days out.

Thanks!

We haven't figured out where we want to be yet, so I'll have to get on that. Also considering doing a DVC points rental, so I was aiming for 11 months ahead to sort out the where portion of our trip based on that, but good to know booking directly earlier could happen depending where we want to be.

Any idea when online booking opens for 2019? I was thinking it might also be an 11 month schedule and Kanuary would be up now that it's February, but it doesn't look like that's the case.

We've never planned more than 2-3 months ahead before, this is all new!

 

[dansdad]

Any idea when online booking opens for 2019?

Sometime between June and August 2018.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

As others have mentioned, it's not all that odd. I do see that Copper Creek has studio and 1 bedroom availability for a cash stay during your dates. Copper Creek is still in the main building, the rooms are just of a different layout.

 

[KrazeeK120]

In late Nov 2017, I was checking the Polynesian for a standard room for Nov 2018, and the standard and lagoon view were marked as unavailable, a full year in advance! We got one of the last 2 pool/marina rooms, just barely what we could afford. So yes, it does seem to be becoming the norm, unfortunately.

You could have (and likely still can) book a Poly standard room. There’s a travel agency which offers discounts on the Poly for many dates out of the year. We booked a late October 2018 trip in mid-December for a Poly standard room.

 

[heather913]

You could have (and likely still can) book a Poly standard room. There’s a travel agency which offers discounts on the Poly for many dates out of the year. We booked a late October 2018 trip in mid-December for a Poly standard room.

Which agency? Poly is my dream vaca!

 

[tnolan]

I actually spoke to a Disney CM about the rooms, but I'm sure if there is an agency which can get people standard rooms even after Disney says there are none, people would be interested in hearing about it!

 

[KrazeeK120]

I actually spoke to a Disney CM about the rooms, but I'm sure if there is an agency which can get people standard rooms even after Disney says there are none, people would be interested in hearing about it!

The travel agency has an agreement with the Disney Groups & Conventions department, which is how they’re able to offer the agency exclusive rates. From what I understand, they’re “on the hook” for those rooms, but they must sell enough of them that they’re able to turn a profit. The rooms aren’t available for anyone else to book, I don’t think. There’s more info out on the internet about how they do their bookings.

I think there are a fair number of people around here who already use this agency.

 

[SweetSerenity]

Wilderness cut their inventory in half with the DVC conversion. So it's not as crazy as you might think.




No they do not.



Yes. Balances for packages are due at 30 days out so rooms do become available around then.




Disney wants to sell as many rooms at full price as possible, so definitely no.




Yes, quite often. There is no slow time,any longer and resorts sell out earlier and earlier lately.

Thank you.

You also have some very difficult dates ....

- Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend is 11/2-11/4

- Epcot Food & Wine Festival

- Jersey Week's Convention is 11/8 and 11/9. Making the week starting for WDW visitors the 3rd going through the 12th.

- Monday the 12th is Veterans Day and a long weekend for many school systems or just folks with a long weekend.

I didn't realize that the marathon was that weekend. I have to compete with 8 other people at my job to get vacation time so this was literally the only time I could squeeze in. Thank you for the information.

With fewer rooms on the resort side, I think finding 9 nights at WL almost any time of year is going to be difficult at this point. Have you considered checking for availability at CCV or BRV? We stayed at CCV in December and I looked for months for a room at WL (I was particularly looking for CL) and occasionally a standard room would pop up (I needed 7 nights), but it was very rare and what I wanted never materialized. The best you can do is to keep checking.

I had 9 nights in September 2017 at Wilderness Lodge, but we had to cancel due to the hurricane. I think that's why I'm so disappointed I couldn't find it for these dates.

the problem is probably that it can't get you a room for all of your nights. if you split it up, i'll bet you can get it, but that's a risk for sure.

I tried it a few ways and I literally could NOT get the night of the 2nd in any configuration. I *can* get 1-2 in a courtyard view and the 3-10 in the courtyard view...so literally just that one night is the issue. And my money is on the marathon being a big part of that issue. Keep trying!

Thank you so much for looking! You're right, I was able to find something this morning if I didn't include the 2nd. I don't mind splitting it up, but we had a disastrous split stay for our honeymoon, and my husband refuses to do one again. Again, I didn't realize it was the weekend of the marathon. I've never stayed at Wilderness Lodge and have always wanted to, but if we have to go with a different resort it's fine. AKL is wonderful! Thank you so much for looking into it!

 

[Crazyhorse]

Yes, you'll have to call. You can book a room only via phone 499 days out.

Does this "verbal" booking eventually make it's way into My Disney Experience? Kinda hard to manage a verbal booking, whereas the stuff on MDE is easy for keeping an eye out for discounts.

 

[dansdad]

Does this "verbal" booking eventually make it's way into My Disney Experience? Kinda hard to manage a verbal booking, whereas the stuff on MDE is easy for keeping an eye out for discounts.

Once you have a confirmation number you can link the reservation to your MDE account.