Room block vent

[Lisacope]

If you have already had your wedding or VR, when did people start to book rooms? I checked on my room block today because a Diser asked if they could book rooms through my room block. My event is 4&1/2 months away and only a handful of people have booked rooms! There are some guests that I have booked ADR's for and they don't have rooms booked yet! Any time I am planning a vacation or trip for our family (even if not at WDW!) I usually book hotel and plane tix about 9-10 months in advance. What is up with that?

 

[DisneyFairy19]

I am having the same problem with room block, not about them booking, because it hasnt gone to that point yet, but afraid DIsney will charge me...so I am interested to see what past Brides have to say

 

[surface77]

I totally feel your pain! I'm concerned that my family/friends won't book their rooms far enough out either. I am also worried that they will say they are coming and then don't. I did hear from others on here that you can ask disney to reduce your number of rooms if you are afraid you will not make your minimum. Maybe your guests are staying off grounds thinking it is less expensive??

But, I will say that I understand...maybe you should send out a letter/email, heck even phone them and say, "WHAT's UP?!? Are you coming or what?" LOL

 

[Thumper's Tara]

I so understand what you are going through. We were married on January 19th and I have to say that the room block can be the biggest stress factor!

Now, between my wedding party and all of my DVC reservations, we were in good shape before others even started booking...but this drove me nuts.
I told my guest in June to book their rooms, that if they had problems to call, etc. 5 weeks before the wedding, several people who swore they were coming still hadn't booked. I had to call/email everyone to let them know that the block would be going away 30 days before the wedding. It was not fun. that being said, most people booked after I reminded them that the room block ended in a week. HOWEVER, two of my cousins did not book and they ended up getting SCREWED! My one cousin ended up off site at a super-sleazy hotel and the other ended up paying BIG bucks to stay in the only place that had any rooms available!

So my advice...I would send out an email newsletter, a paper newsletter, or just call. Maybe phrase it that you are worried that there will be enough rooms and to book early to make sure they get the category (value, moderate, deluxe) that they were hoping for.

Also, if you get close, I have seen brides post that they have rooms available in their block and a lot of DISers have jumped at the opportunity to get the discounted price. Just an idea though...

To answer your question though, most people booked about 2-3 months prior to the wedding...

Good luck!

 

[PrincessBride07]

Well, my experience is that almost EVERYONE will wait until the last minute. I ran into the situation where I didn't have enough rooms blocked for my guests (you know how hard it is to guess how many rooms you will need), and almost all the resorts were completely booked. Fortunately only 1 couple had to go off site for their room. DFTW told me that this sort of thing is common. I know the Lurkyloo had a similar situation.

 

[caryndisneydiva]

i would send out emails/newsletters/note in the invitations to get people to book. in my experience, wedding guests are dumb and will wait until the last minute to do everything.

 

[Lisacope]

i would send out emails/newsletters/note in the invitations to get people to book. in my experience, wedding guests are dumb and will wait until the last minute to do everything.

I was debating on whether or not to do another newsletter - this has pushed me over the edge to yes - I think I will do this and urge people to book their rooms.

 

[caryndisneydiva]

I was debating on whether or not to do another newsletter - this has pushed me over the edge to yes - I think I will do this and urge people to book their rooms.

i got aggravated at the very end and sent emails out to everyone attending the wedding for about a month. this actually helped. i would do a newsletter...

 

[Lisacope]

I so understand what you are going through. We were married on January 19th and I have to say that the room block can be the biggest stress factor!

Now, between my wedding party and all of my DVC reservations, we were in good shape before others even started booking...but this drove me nuts.
I told my guest in June to book their rooms, that if they had problems to call, etc. 5 weeks before the wedding, several people who swore they were coming still hadn't booked. I had to call/email everyone to let them know that the block would be going away 30 days before the wedding. It was not fun. that being said, most people booked after I reminded them that the room block ended in a week. HOWEVER, two of my cousins did not book and they ended up getting SCREWED! My one cousin ended up off site at a super-sleazy hotel and the other ended up paying BIG bucks to stay in the only place that had any rooms available!

So my advice...I would send out an email newsletter, a paper newsletter, or just call. Maybe phrase it that you are worried that there will be enough rooms and to book early to make sure they get the category (value, moderate, deluxe) that they were hoping for.

Also, if you get close, I have seen brides post that they have rooms available in their block and a lot of DISers have jumped at the opportunity to get the discounted price. Just an idea though...

To answer your question though, most people booked about 2-3 months prior to the wedding...

Good luck!

I think I am pretty close to meeting my minimum and I am not too worried about it - but I am frustrated by the people who are talking about coming but haven't booked rooms. I had talked about the CRT breakfast in my last newsletter and only one family emailed me by the timeframe of making the ADR. I actually contacted all of the people who I thought would want to participate and they all wanted to - so it is good that I got ahold of them!

 

[lov2b@disney]

Definately feeling this pain!! I too have made ADR's for people with no reservations yet! I have already done a newsletter-email reminders And in their world the debate goes on- when is so and so going- OMG I want to pull my hair out JUST BOOK A ROOM! Our wedding is June-reservations, ADR's go fast! A good friend of mine called to get a room at the Contemporary(not in my block, she has a newborn and though it would be convient) NO ROOMS LEFT!

Sorry- the door was open to venting!

to the rest of you with guest drama!

 

[shaylih]

I put a little insert in my invitations, like a second reception folder card, reminding people to book their rooms and put the phone number. It seemed to get the ball rolling because our guests were slacking too. In the end, our deluxe hotel sold out, but they were able to get us a couple rooms at yacht club.

 

[lpizzuro123]

We are just starting the process but the room block is our biggest concern also. I am pretty sure we will be able to reach our minimum but I want to make sure that we have enough rooms booked so everyone gets the discount. Although, if they know about it far enough in advance and you remind them and they still do not book a room and get shut out of the discount - oh well - sorry for them but they should have booked when they first heard about it.

Our concern is as our ceremony is in Epcot - we need to charter a bus so if people are not staying in our room block they will need to get to one of those hotels EARLY in the monring to catch the bus.

Linda

 

[Lisacope]

I put a little insert in my invitations, like a second reception folder card, reminding people to book their rooms and put the phone number. It seemed to get the ball rolling because our guests were slacking too. In the end, our deluxe hotel sold out, but they were able to get us a couple rooms at yacht club.

I just had my invitations printed and I wasn't going to do an "accomadations" card - maybe I should talk to the gal that did my invitations

 

[shaylih]

I just had my invitations printed and I wasn't going to do an "accomadations" card - maybe I should talk to the gal that did my invitations

Yeah, it worked out really well. We did it with our invites so it was more cost effective. Here is what the invites looked like.

 

[Lisacope]

Your invites are really pretty Shaylih! I am going to the invitations lady after I pick the kids up from school and I am going to get her to do an accomodations card.