Sold Out December?

[e_yerger]

We currently have a reservation booked December 12-15th with flights already purchased, so our dates are locked in.

We want to change to a lower cost hotel - currently at OKW - but there seems to be no availability online. Has anyone had any luck booking over the phone and getting different availability than what shows online? I'm trying to see if it's worth the time to wait on hold.

[Edit: we are 3 adults so we need at least 2 beds]

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

See if you can book the same nights at a resort on a night-by-night basis rather than all together. If so, the Disney phone rep can call Guest Services & have them override the booking algorithms that are keeping you from making your desired booking.

If you can't find one resort with all of your nights available, you might be able to do a split stay.

 

[apartment j]

We currently have a reservation booked December 12-15th with flights already purchased, so our dates are locked in.

We want to change to a lower cost hotel - currently at OKW - but there seems to be no availability online. Has anyone had any luck booking over the phone and getting different availability than what shows online? I'm trying to see if it's worth the time to wait on hold.

Most likely what you see online is the same as what the booking agent will see on their computer. Maybe they will have a creative solution for you, or an idea that you haven't considered yet, so maybe it's worth a call. I had to call the reservation line earlier and the wait time was only 3 minutes (once I answered all of the questions asked by the automated system). Good luck!

 

[e_yerger]

See if you can book the same nights at a resort on a night-by-night basis rather than all together. If so, the Disney phone rep can call Guest Services & have them override the booking algorithms that are keeping you from making your desired booking.

If you can't find one resort with all of your nights available, you might be able to do a split stay.

Thanks for the tip! I fiddled with the dates online and there doesn't seem to be consistent availability at any single resort the entire time - other than WL for $1k+ a night (nooo thank you lol)

 

[e_yerger]

Most likely what you see online is the same as what the booking agent will see on their computer. Maybe they will have a creative solution for you, or an idea that you haven't considered yet, so maybe it's worth a call. I had to call the reservation line earlier and the wait time was only 3 minutes (once I answered all of the questions asked by the automated system). Good luck!

Yeah i finally bit the bullet and called - only a 3 minute wait for me also. Her suggestion was to keep calling back and checking for availability.

Maybe at the 30 day window there may be some openings as that's the last day for full refund on packages? Time to put a reminder in my phone

 

[apartment j]

Yeah i finally bit the bullet and called - only a 3 minute wait for me also. Her suggestion was to keep calling back and checking for availability.

Maybe at the 30 day window there may be some openings as that's the last day for full refund on packages? Time to put a reminder in my phone

How helpful! Sorry. I was hoping you'd get a more constructive suggestion. I'm glad you didn't waste much time on the call.
Wishing you luck!

 

[cutigerlady]

I see Boardwalk for $492 per night if that helps you!

Also try looking at sites like Orbitz, Hotels.com, Priceline, Hotwire because they sometimes have reserved inventory that is different than Disney directly.

I’ve found looking after 10:00 pm EST sometimes yields rooms that were canceled and haven’t been picked up yet. Also look right after 7:00 am EST. I was able to eventually get the room I wanted last December with lots of stalking!

 

[hereforthechurros]

I see Boardwalk for $492 per night if that helps you!

Also try looking at sites like Orbitz, Hotels.com, Priceline, Hotwire because they sometimes have reserved inventory that is different than Disney directly.

I’ve found looking after 10:00 pm EST sometimes yields rooms that were canceled and haven’t been picked up yet. Also look right after 7:00 am EST. I was able to eventually get the room I wanted last December with lots of stalking!

For sure check Priceline. I was able to get a night at All Star Movies on 12/23 for $95 on Priceline. Then we decided to come in a day earlier and needed a night for 12/22. We got extremely lucky and landed 12/22 at the same resort for the same price. There are deals to be had. Good luck OP!

 

[cutigerlady]

I also see the Swan on Marriott’s website for $290.

 

[e_yerger]

I see Boardwalk for $492 per night if that helps you!

Also try looking at sites like Orbitz, Hotels.com, Priceline, Hotwire because they sometimes have reserved inventory that is different than Disney directly.

I’ve found looking after 10:00 pm EST sometimes yields rooms that were canceled and haven’t been picked up yet. Also look right after 7:00 am EST. I was able to eventually get the room I wanted last December with lots of stalking!

I wasn't able to replicate that Boardwalk number - but I think that's still higher than we are currently paying at OKW.

 

[e_yerger]

I also see the Swan on Marriott’s website for $290.

I just looked that up - thanks! Unfortunately after taxes & fees it comes out to only $20 less per person than we're paying at OKW.

 

[focusondisney]

The first 2 weeks of December have been really booked up for months. I booked a bounceback in early Feb & have been watching availability since. By late spring/ early summer there was mostly just a few deluxe resorts left. And the last few weeks, only the most expensive suites are showing. There have been several threads about it.

I even check Priceline regularly & no Disney resorts have shown up for months. I wouldn’t expect much to open up, but you might get lucky & catch a random cancellation.

 

[e_yerger]

Update: I just was able to change to the Swan for less than staying at OKW. It's only a little bit less than we were currently paying, but the ability to walk to two parks is definitely worth the change!

Got the deal by booking directly through Mariott's website - make sure it's the Mariott's website and not the Swan/Dolphin site. It came to $290/night before taxes & fees.