Suggestions for booking Fort Wilderness Oct 15 - 29

[josetann]

For some reason I thought booking a campsite 4.5 months out for non-peak season (no school or regular holiday) wouldn't be an issue. Whoops!

We arrive in Orlando October 15. Going to leave sometime between the 27th and 29th. Tried to book a tent site at Fort Wilderness. All days are available except:

October 16-17, Friday and Saturday
October 24, Saturday

I'm thinking that quite a few of those sites are booked with no intention of actually staying there (book Ft. Wilderness for Saturday, get free parking and extra magic hours for two days, plus get to book fastpasses 60 days out). What are my chances of those days opening up?

If my odds are slim to none, I really don't want to unpack/pack, unpack/pack, unpack/pack. I could stay somewhere cheap off-site until the 18th, saving one unpack/pack.

If my odds are pretty good, how should I go about booking for now? Three separate reservations for the dates available? Just the middle week and try to extend before/after if that becomes available?

 

[tiggerdad]

We are there 9-18th. Initially I had trouble getting premium site but after about a month it lined up. I had no trouble getting a full hookup.
if there are cancellations it will most likely be at the 45 day mark.
I would personally book what's available and then keep checking constantly on MDE to see if your needed dates open up. This is what I did.

October is getting more popular, especially closer to Halloween. You have the Halloween parties and Food and Wine going on around this time.

Keep trying

 

[lbmiller77]

We are going October 18th through November 1st. I was in the same boat as you four months ago but have been able to piece together a tent/pop-up reservation for everything except October 31st. I check MDE at least three to four times a day. I had a lot of luck picking up sites at the 180 day mark, so I am hoping the 60 day mark will open up a few more nights. There are a number of people on the throwaway room thread that are booked for our time frame that are saying that they intend to cancel their reservations at the fort after they book their FP's so let's hope

Lately, all I have seen available are premium and preferred sites (probably because there are more premium and preferred sites than tent sites and they are more expensive). In fact, my reservation on the 30th is for a full-hookup but I am hoping to sweet talk the cm's to let me stay in a tent site so we don't have to move for one night. Since many people book the fort as room only reservations, allowing people to cancel up to 5 days before their arrival, I'm sure there is a possibility to pick a night up even closer to our departure.

Best of luck getting the reservations you want!

 

[Flametamr]

Halloween week was booked full right after last Halloween. I was lucky I called early enough to book our next trip. From what has been said the Fort is very popular with locals booking only weekends through the summer and fall. Disney has recently started new policies limiting short weekend stays and eliminating how people used book extra days and then drop days they didn't need. Hopefully they will find a way to close the loophole with people booking throwaway sites too. Personally I don't see why the Fort won't expand some. If it makes money why not make even more. The infrastructure is already there.

 

[tiggerdad]

Ed, roll out those plans you were talking about...

 

[amcc]

Keep trying. I was able to book a Christmas / New Year's tent site recently after having the entire campground show as booked for weeks.

Halloween week was booked full right after last Halloween. I was lucky I called early enough to book our next trip. From what has been said the Fort is very popular with locals booking only weekends through the summer and fall. Disney has recently started new policies limiting short weekend stays and eliminating how people used book extra days and then drop days they didn't need. Hopefully they will find a way to close the loophole with people booking throwaway sites too. Personally I don't see why the Fort won't expand some. If it makes money why not make even more. The infrastructure is already there.

What new Disney policies are in place to limit short stays? The Fort doesn't really participate in room discount or package promotions that are the ones that usually require a minimum purchase. I understand dynamic hotel reservation issues but punishing everyone from coming for the weekend doesn't seem fair at all. Many people who book only a night or two actually camp and not use it only for the perks (maybe two nights ).

 

[Mary2e]

For some people, paying for a tent site is part of the price they pay for staying in a rental home offsite, or perhaps even the Four Seasons or one of the other luxury properties off site.

Tent sites used to be available all the time, and since the magic bands and FP+ started, I've haven't seen the campsites look like they're very full, yet there are no reservations to be had.

I don't think it has to do with limiting shorter stays. Those tent sites are the cheapest way to get on-property benefits without actually staying on property.

 

[Flametamr]

I don't know if the policy on minimum stays has been put in place yet or just talked about. But I did hear they have stopped people from dropping days from a reservation. You now have to cancel and re-book if there are any open days available. I don't know if a lot of people actually book sites they don't use. I'm sure it happens some. I personally think it's selfish to deny a family the chance for a Disney vacation just so you can get a few hours of EMH or fast passes. Unfortunately that is how our world is evolving. Too many selfish people.

 

[staceyrhood]

October is busier and busier every year with fall breaks for schools and mix that with with food and wine ... October is one of the busiest times at Disney anymore. Our local fall break here by Disney is October 22-26 so that might be the reason for that weekend being so full. Keep trying people cancel all the time. Have a great trip!

 

[josetann]

Thanks for the responses. Would have replied earlier, but I didn't get email notifications...thought nobody cared

Which would be better, book for 18-23 October, then try extending that reservation (for the days before and after)? Should I instead book 2-3 reservations, keep trying to add the missing days, and somehow link them altogether?

Edit: How easy is it to get multiple reservations merged? An example, the site currently will not let me book from 15-22 October, but it WILL let me book 15-16 October and 16-22 October (and I made sure both were "Tent or Pop-Up Campsite"). It's not letting me book the 23rd, but I could book from the 24th on and either book the 23rd separately or extend one of the ressies.

Wish I could legitimately use a Ft. Wilderness reservation to book early fastpasses. Alas, we're planning on buying annual passes once we get there.

 

[amcc]

Thanks for the responses. Would have replied earlier, but I didn't get email notifications...thought nobody cared

Which would be better, book for 18-23 October, then try extending that reservation (for the days before and after)? Should I instead book 2-3 reservations, keep trying to add the missing days, and somehow link them altogether?

Edit: How easy is it to get multiple reservations merged? An example, the site currently will not let me book from 15-22 October, but it WILL let me book 15-16 October and 16-22 October (and I made sure both were "Tent or Pop-Up Campsite"). It's not letting me book the 23rd, but I could book from the 24th on and either book the 23rd separately or extend one of the ressies.

Wish I could legitimately use a Ft. Wilderness reservation to book early fastpasses. Alas, we're planning on buying annual passes once we get there.

Can you buy your annual passes online and link them to your account? They won't be activated till you use them but will allow you the 60 days for FP.

 

[lbmiller77]

Thanks for the responses. Would have replied earlier, but I didn't get email notifications...thought nobody cared

Which would be better, book for 18-23 October, then try extending that reservation (for the days before and after)? Should I instead book 2-3 reservations, keep trying to add the missing days, and somehow link them altogether?

Edit: How easy is it to get multiple reservations merged? An example, the site currently will not let me book from 15-22 October, but it WILL let me book 15-16 October and 16-22 October (and I made sure both were "Tent or Pop-Up Campsite"). It's not letting me book the 23rd, but I could book from the 24th on and either book the 23rd separately or extend one of the ressies.

Wish I could legitimately use a Ft. Wilderness reservation to book early fastpasses. Alas, we're planning on buying annual passes once we get there.

Merging multiple reservations is fairly easy. Just call the reservation line and ask them to merge the reservations. Most CM's know how to do this, but if you get someone who doesn't just hang up and call back or ask to speak to a manager.

 

[Napria]

I'm in the same boat, except I'm trying to add Wednesday through Saturday to my Thanksgiving ressies. I've already got the Saturday through Tuesday booked.

What are my chances of picking up the rest of the week? I'm booked in -- and looking for -- premium campsite.

 

[lbmiller77]

I'm in the same boat, except I'm trying to add Wednesday through Saturday to my Thanksgiving ressies. I've already got the Saturday through Tuesday booked.

What are my chances of picking up the rest of the week? I'm booked in -- and looking for -- premium campsite.

I think your chances depend on how flexible you are with the type of site reservation and how often you check. I am constantly amazed at how quickly a site category shows as available on MDE and the next moment it disappears. Since Thanksgiving is busier than Halloween, I'm sure you have a lot of competition. I would check MDE by the days you need by individual days and by a combination of the days you need. I would also layout a back-up plan in case you can't get your dates. Good luck!

 

[tmoo]

I'm in the same boat, except I'm trying to add Wednesday through Saturday to my Thanksgiving ressies. I've already got the Saturday through Tuesday booked.

What are my chances of picking up the rest of the week? I'm booked in -- and looking for -- premium campsite.

Pretty good chances for a Premium campsite if you are diligent. You need to check multiple times a day. It isn't hard since the Disney site tends to retain your last search and you just have to hit the button a few times a day. Just start checking for Friday night and once you find that available work your way backwards one day at a time. Make the reservation the second you see the day pop up and worry about linking them later. They will really start to open up about 45 days out and a week out, but start checking now. Two years ago I had Tuesday through Saturday after Thanksgiving booked and managed to back all the way to Thanksgiving day by catching them 1 day at a time. I didn't get the last one until about a week before I left. I think I added on to that reservation 4 times with Disney, but it worked out. I had a reservation at a nearby campground for the first part of my trip in case I couldn't get onsite. I'm checking in on that same Wednesday this year, but sure hope you don't get my reservation!