Resort availability for my dates - more resorts available for longer vs. shorter stay

[Avery&Todd]

Good morning! We're going to WDW Nov. 10-14 - that's right - smack dab over the holiday weekend!

We're booked in a 1 br @ BRV (cash not DVC points) and we're super stoked but I do still keep looking for a 1br at either BLT or CCV - I know my chances are slim to none but I keep checking!

Anyway, I noticed that when I search for just my dates, Nov 10-14, (2 adults, no kids) I only get these resorts are available, along with a $1,169 room at BWI:


BUT, if I change my dates to LONGER dates that still cover my travel dates (11/9-15), I get the same resorts as above PLUS these choices - you'll also notice my room choice at BWI is a lower cost one along with Yacht Club:




Does Disney have a minimum # of nights required for booking some resorts or a preferred check in/out date? I just can't understand why I would get more choices for a longer stay?

AND do you think that if I called Disney and asked for one of the resorts that showed up for the longer dates that they could change it? When I try to change it I do NOT see those other resorts..

Thanks!

 

[Best Aunt]

That's been reported on here for awhile - if you put in a small number of nights, you might find nothing but if you switch to a longer number of nights, there is availability. I don't know that there is a specific number which is the tipping point. I have never heard that there are preferred check in dates.

The other thing to be careful of is the special offer tabs. When you search, make sure it isn't defaulting to a discounted rate for a special offer - they might be sold out of rooms at the discounted rate but still have rooms at the regular rate. For example, they might be running a promotion called "Sun and Fun" (which I am making up) and there are no rooms left if you have that tab clicked.

 

[maltdizzy]

Disney’s booking software runs on an algorithm to maximize revenue per room, it blocks out certain combinations of rooms and dates that often leave the room vacant more frequently. But none us know really know how it works or how it makes its decisions.

It could be that those rooms at those resorts come available Sunday/Monday and the software has determined it wouldn’t be likely to rent just the first part of the week with such high occupancy rate (but that’s just a guess).

AFAIK, calling in person doesn’t do much help because they see what you see.

 

[Avery&Todd]

That's been reported on here for awhile - if you put in a small number of nights, you might find nothing but if you switch to a longer number of nights, there is availability. I don't know that there is a specific number which is the tipping point. I have never heard that there are preferred check in dates.

The other thing to be careful of is the special offer tabs. When you search, make sure it isn't defaulting to a discounted rate for a special offer - they might be sold out of rooms at the discounted rate but still have rooms at the regular rate. For example, they might be running a promotion called "Sun and Fun" (which I am making up) and there are no rooms left if you have that tab clicked.

I did make sure to check for special offers - and there aren't any listed for my dates (yet) but thanks for the tip!

 

[Avery&Todd]

Disney’s booking software runs on an algorithm to maximize revenue per room, it blocks out certain combinations of rooms and dates that often leave the room vacant more frequently. But none us know really know how it works or how it makes its decisions.

It could be that those rooms at those resorts come available Sunday/Monday and the software has determined it wouldn’t be likely to rent just the first part of the week with such high occupancy rate (but that’s just a guess).

AFAIK, calling in person doesn’t do much help because they see what you see.

You know, that's exactly what my DH said but I couldn't just believe him straight out of the gate - I HAD to come and check with the DIS since you guys know it all!

and I did chat with a person the other day and she told me when she was going to check for me that she literally just pulls up the same Disney website and checks for availability the same way I do - but she's got to have some different software than I do as when I've chatted with them before about resorts/rooms they've said to call bc sometimes they can "see" stuff we cant.

 

[Erica Ladd]

Is it possible to book a longer stay and then go in and modify to shorten it at a later date?

 

[mom2rtk]

Is it possible to book a longer stay and then go in and modify to shorten it at a later date?

Typically not easy.

 

[Avery&Todd]

Is it possible to book a longer stay and then go in and modify to shorten it at a later date?

That's a thought.....but I'd hate to chance it and lose what I have already.

I should be happy with what I have, but I just have "Disney change-itis" _ mean, this IS the 4th hotel I've booked for this stay!

and its too early for me to be making changes with my dining ADRs since I have 89 days until I can book that - but who's counting!

 

[Erica Ladd]

If the $200 temporary deposit isn’t gonna break the bank there’s always the plan to make 2 separate reservations and test it out!!

 

[Avery&Todd]

If the $200 temporary deposit isn’t gonna break the bank there’s always the plan to make 2 separate reservations and test it out!!

Yeah, this is supposed to be the "quick and cheap" trip, but so far I have us in a 1br villa which we KNOW is not cheap!

This would not be a package deal since we're AP holders, so the $200 deposit doesn't apply since it's a cash/room only reservation which is equal to 1 night deposit - in this case it's~ $800.....BUT if I can find a 1 br at CCV or BLT I might just do it knowing that I would get back that deposit if I wasn't allowed to modify/decrease the # nights!

 

[KValo]

Is it possible to book a longer stay and then go in and modify to shorten it at a later date?

I did this once, and had to call to get it shortened. It took some pleading and they finally caved. They pulled the “I see what you see” card, but eventually relented when I told them I might just have to cancel the entire reservation. The CM then told me that they made a note on the reservation that it had been modified, so I imagine Disney keeps track of repeat offenders.

 

[Nabas]

Please keep in mind that Friday and Saturday nights are the most popular days of the week.

You sometimes can find a (for example) Monday night to Thursday night stay at a lower rate but if you add in a Friday night, you might be forced to change the trip to 7 nights before anything shows up.

 

[Avery&Todd]

I did this once, and had to call to get it shortened. It took some pleading and they finally caved. They pulled the “I see what you see” card, but eventually relented when I told them I might just have to cancel the entire reservation. The CM then told me that they made a note on the reservation that it had been modified, so I imagine Disney keeps track of repeat offenders.

I guess I just don't understand what would be "wrong and offensive" for shortening my trip length?? Why would I get on the naughty list for this?

 

[Avery&Todd]

Please keep in mind that Friday and Saturday nights are the most popular days of the week.

You sometimes can find a (for example) Monday night to Thursday night stay at a lower rate but if you add in a Friday night, you might be forced to change the trip to 7 nights before anything shows up.

My stay does include a Friday/Saturday - it's a check in Wednesday and check out on Sunday so it would include an entire weekend....

 

[jemtx]

Is it possible to book a longer stay and then go in and modify to shorten it at a later date?

I had something similar happen and a CM was able to lob off a couple of nights at the end of my stay, however, he did have to call Guest Services and get help/approval from them to do it.

 

[sponica]

My stay does include a Friday/Saturday - it's a check in Wednesday and check out on Sunday so it would include an entire weekend....

They're trying to avoid orphaned rooms. While people literally check in and out every day of the week, some are more heavily utilized than others. I imagine more people do a Tuesday to Monday trip than Wednesday to Sunday.

 

[Eastern]

I tried looking on Orbitz for GF and I put in 3 nights. A prompt came up saying, "This property requires you to stay at least 10 nights. Try adding more nights."

 

[Avery&Todd]

They're trying to avoid orphaned rooms. While people literally check in and out every day of the week, some are more heavily utilized than others. I imagine more people do a Tuesday to Monday trip than Wednesday to Sunday.

ok - I guess that makes sense! I wish there was a way to look at the room availability for regular cash rooms like we can for DVC rooms - that would be awesome!

 

[Avery&Todd]

I tried looking on Orbitz for GF and I put in 3 nights. A prompt came up saying, "This property requires you to stay at least 10 nights. Try adding more nights."

YIKES! I wonder if that is an Orbitz requirement/restriction? We've stayed in a cash room at GF before for only 7 nights!

 

[hockeydad21]

Revisiting this topic as I had to search online to confirm the stupidity of the Disney reservation system.

Background: I'm a DVC member, and I booked a studio for 6 nights at the Poly at the 11 month mark. My in-laws didn't originally want to go, but had a change of heart 2 months out from our vacation. Unfortunately, Poly's DVC rooms (on points) are 100% booked for the time we are there. No big deal because I'm willing to book them a cash room, which has availability.

Problem: The in-laws specifically want to stay 4 nights, Monday (check in) - Friday (check out); however, I can't book a cash room for just the 4 nights my in-laws want to stay. I can book them Monday (check in) - Thursday (check out) and I can book them Wednesday (check in) - Saturday (check out). Yet somehow the reservation system won't allow me to book their desired 4 nights despite the Poly clearly having availability with overlapping nights. This is absolutely infuriating. I'm trying to give Disney money for a 4 night stay at a $600+ a night hotel, and yet Disney is essentially telling me my money is no good and I either have to do a 3 night stay or a 5+ night stay, because Disney stands to make more money by withholding that last night for another family who is more likely to stay a few extra nights. So annoying. And yet they wonder why people have soured on Disney in the past 5-10 years!

That concludes my Ted Talk.