No rooms at Wilderness Lodge Nov/Dec 2020?

[TropicalDIS]

Just playing around with the Disney World site looking at all kinds of random dates for November/December 2020. I have not found one available night at Wilderness Lodge for those 2 months. I can't fathom they are that booked, so just a system issue? Would somebody else mind checking? Thanks!

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Just playing around with the Disney World site looking at all kinds of random dates for November/December 2020. I have not found one available night at Wilderness Lodge for those 2 months. I can't fathom they are that booked, so just a system issue? Would somebody else mind checking? Thanks!

I'd be happy to check if you gave specific dates & how many nights you want. Different times of those months have different levels of availability.

I booked two nights for Wilderness Lodge last week for the week before Christmas.

 

[TropicalDIS]

I'd be happy to check if you gave specific dates & how many nights you want. Different times of those months have different levels of availability.

I booked two nights for Wilderness Lodge last week for the week before Christmas.

Thank you!!

Looking for to arrive somewhere between Dec 2nd-6th for 9 nights. Appreciate your help!

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

I checked 9 nights for all of your desired arrival dates & there is currently no availability for that. I tried a few one-nights within your range and also found none. It's not a glitch, though, as I found availability later in the month. Here are the 9-night availabilities I found at Wilderness Lodge in December:

12/15 - 12/24 nature fireworks view (sleeps 4) and nature fireworks view king bed (sleeps 2)
12/22 - 12/31 nature fireworks view (sleeps 4) and stanard view king bed (sleeps 2)
12/26 - 1/4 nature fireworks view (sleeps 4)

Early December has become an extremely popular time to visit Disney World (the decorations are up, and people think it will be less busy than Christmas week), and WL is one of the most popular resorts around Christmas because its style is naturally suited to the holiday. In addition, a lot of WL rooms were converted into DVC Copper Creek studios a few years back, so there are less WL rooms than there are rooms at most resorts. And DVC owners love to book in the fall, so you're unlikely to find availability there, either.

 

[TropicalDIS]

I checked 9 nights for all of your desired arrival dates & there is currently no availability for that. I tried a few one-nights within your range and also found one. It's not a glitch, though, as I found availability later in the month. Here are the 9-night availabilities I found at Wilderness Lodge in December:

12/15 - 12/24 nature fireworks view (sleeps 4) and nature fireworks view king bed (sleeps 2)
12/22 - 12/31 nature fireworks view (sleeps 4) and stanard view king bed (sleeps 2)
12/26 - 1/4 nature fireworks view (sleeps 4)


Early December has become an extremely popular time to visit Disney World (the decorations are up, and people think it will be less busy than Christmas week), and WL is one of the most popular resorts around Christmas because it's style is naturally suited to the holiday. In addition, a lot of WL rooms were converted into DVC Copper Creek studios a fews years back, so there are less WL rooms than there are rooms at most resorts. And DVC owners love to book in the fall, so you're unlikely to find availability there, either.

Hey thanks very much! Yeah I just couldn't believe there wasn't even any single nights available in early December. Couldn't find anything in November either.

Will check out the 15th to 24th, and keep an eye on things. Thanks again, I really appreciate your help!

 

[DebbieB]

Half of the WL rooms went DVC.

 

[BAIC03]

There’s another theory here. I just went through DU and found entire swaths and categories of rooms unavailable. Two thoughts- 1. All the people are rebooking who lost their vacations or 2. Disney has blocked rooms in preparation to lower the number of people allowed in a hotel or in the parks after COVID. It goes against all good business sense, but if it means they get to open in phases versus not open at all, controlling guest count into the resorts is one way to do it.

 

[TropicalDIS]

Half of the WL rooms went DVC.

Oh reallly? I didn't know that. Is that a permanent thing?

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

There’s another theory here. I just went through DU and found entire swaths and categories of rooms unavailable. Two thoughts- 1. All the people are rebooking who lost their vacations or 2. Disney has blocked rooms in preparation to lower the number of people allowed in a hotel or in the parks after COVID. It goes against all good business sense, but if it means they get to open in phases versus not open at all, controlling guest count into the resorts is one way to do it.

No to #2. Wilderness Lodge has had limited availability for December since February. Also, other resorts have availability in early December. As pointed out, WL is hugely popular at Christmas due to its decor, relative low cost & proximity to MK, and it had half of its inventory switched to DVC a few years ago. That combination is all it takes to make rooms hard to get.

Plus, there is massive availability everywhere is late July, which if #2 were true, would be a time period you'd think they'd really want to limit guests even more.

 

[TropicalDIS]

There’s another theory here. I just went through DU and found entire swaths and categories of rooms unavailable. Two thoughts- 1. All the people are rebooking who lost their vacations or 2. Disney has blocked rooms in preparation to lower the number of people allowed in a hotel or in the parks after COVID. It goes against all good business sense, but if it means they get to open in phases versus not open at all, controlling guest count into the resorts is one way to do it.

Both good points!

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Oh reallly? I didn't know that. Is that a permanent thing?

Yes. Those rooms are Copper Creek studios now.

 

[Capitalangel]

They are also starting renovations on the rooms at WL so that might also be taking some rooms out of inventory

 

[DebbieB]

Yes. Those rooms are Copper Creek studios now.

More than studios - 1,2,3 bedrooms. Plus cabins on the lake.

 

[Best Aunt]

Just playing around with the Disney World site looking at all kinds of random dates for November/December 2020. I have not found one available night at Wilderness Lodge for those 2 months. I can't fathom they are that booked, so just a system issue? Would somebody else mind checking? Thanks!

Surprised that nobody gave you the typical advice: Delete your cookies. Try a different web browser. Look at the tabs and make sure you aren't searching for a special discount (which can be sold out even if other discounts or regular price are not sold out).

 

[bookwormde]

The whole east wing is DVC With the exception of grande villas and cabins it is 100% booked for the first half of December.

As others have said Christmas is the most popular time for WL

 

[mamaofsix]

You should also know that guests can book room only reservations 499 days (about 16 months) in advance at Disney. So, while you might think you're "early" by booking 8 months in advance, you're actually pretty late to the game. While DVC is limited to booking 11 months out, there are many, MANY guests who book over a year in advance for room only. I am one of them. There are certain high-demand categories and resorts that are definitely booked up by 8 months out for certain times of year - it's not a glitch in the system...

Good luck, though, and I hope you score a room!

 

[bookbabe626]

My money is on the theory that they’ve pulled rooms from inventory, either for the renovations or for capacity controls.

We booked a Dec 11-15 WL stay on April 10th when we cancelled our May trip. We booked a rack rate Nature View King room, and at that time ALL room categories (except the top suites) were available. About a week or so ago, we decided we wanted to upgrade to Club Level, so I went in to modify the reservation. Not a single room in any category at WL was available. I can get almost every room category at every other resort in every level from Value to Deluxe, including DVC resorts. Only WL is “unavailable for your dates“ and I checked a bit before and after to see if moving the trip a bit would help. Nothing.

I know that’s not a quiet time of year anymore (we visit on that weekend every year) but it’s weird that only WL is unavailable.

 

[DisneyJColeMom]

I clicked on this thread bc I was having the same issue. I thought at first it was glitch but came to the conclusion that it wasnt when I saw a Nature fireworks view room available closer to Christmas. Its not just November & December. I havnt really looked at October but its September too. I have a trip already booked for September this year. Was supposed to be our first big Disney trip. Before corona got bad, I was looking to try to change our room type & there was nothing available. Now that corona IS bad, almost every search Ive tried has showed no rooms available. Im not interested in going for Christmas. Im sad, I really thought at the beginning of all the virus changes, that September would be in the clear. Now May is practically here and September seems too close for things to be normal I simply cant visit Disney wearing a face mask. I hate walking around in a face mask right now, and its cool weather. Plus another unexpected twist to my trip, I picked September thinking it was at least a slightly “slower” month. Now my hotel is fully booked, and people seem to be rescheduling their cancelled trips to take advantage of the free dining promo, that ends September 30th! Really!? Just soooo frustrating.

 

[Dave006]

Plus another unexpected twist to my trip, I picked September thinking it was at least a slightly “slower” month. Now my hotel is fully booked, and people seem to be rescheduling their cancelled trips to take advantage of the free dining promo, that ends September 30th! Really!? Just soooo frustrating.

The WL only has about 340 hotel rooms after the conversion of about half of the lodge rooms into the CCV DVC rooms. With so few regular rooms the WL is often sold out many times during the year. Even with every hotel room filled and DVC sold out the WL is still a small resort with a great location near the MK.

Dave

 

[DisneyJColeMom]

The WL only has about 340 hotel rooms after the conversion of about half of the lodge rooms into the CCV DVC rooms. With so few regular rooms the WL is often sold out many times during the year. Even with every hotel room filled and DVC sold out the WL is still a small resort with a great location near the MK.

Dave

Thanks for this info!! Made me feel better! Im so hoping that Im wrong and that we wont need to reschedule September. It took me a while to settle on Wilderness Lodge, but once I chose it I was so excited & feel like i HAVE to stay there for our first trip lol! I do know that I also dont want our first Disney trip to be a watered-down version. I want fireworks & character dining & full ride experiences.