Was just able to book the week of Thanskgiving yesterday, after trying for 5 months. Looks like some sites have opened up for the weekend before and the week of, first time I've seen it in a long time.
Already have next year booked but was super excited to be able to get this year as well (we have a new fifth wheel we got back in March and already have been to the Fort 4 times and have 5 trips planned for next year but Thanksgiving was the biggie we were trying to get).
I commented in another thread about how groups sign contracts to block out many sites (besides onesy-twosy cancellations that show up as available). I had experience with our group DISMeet which was still held although the pandemic really limited the number of people who could come.
That's relevant here because standard language in group contracts blocks out inventory BEFORE the public can start booking. (Groups like to come during Halloween/Tgiving/Christmas). But in the standard contract language there is a clause that allows for the release of unbooked sites by a group:
- before the 500 day window starts for a contract, sign contract to commit to a number of sites. Those sites are taken out of inventory before the public can book sites online/phone.
- inside 500 days until 60-90 days, group members book up their sites up to the limit on the contract and general public books whatever else is left to book.
- at a point 60-90 days before arrival/start of contract dates, unbooked group sites need to either be RELEASED INTO GENERAL INVENTORY or pay financial penalties (if they never get booked/filled and sit empty).
- If it's only a few group sites left, the group could hold onto them and they probably get filled through a variety of means
- but if some sites are given back to General Inventory, you (as a member of the general public) see them as "all of a sudden" available and grab them
- like you did
But it doesn't really matter how the site became available. All that does matter is that it did, you were looking for it, and booked it. That's why we keep encouraging people to keep checking even when there is no availability currently.
You're proof that persistence pays off.
Bama Ed
PS - nice to have you posting on the DIS Camping Board again, Chris.