Thanksgiving 06 - availability?

[mmmcq]

We are trying to plan out our 2007 vacations this week, but it's tough because we have a high schooler graduating.

Anyway, because of a long trip to Hawaii (house swap) last summer and a college hunting trip to CA this past April......we've not been to WDW in two+ years and I'm having WDW itches regularly now.

I posed the idea of doing a short trip over Thanksgiving to my husband last night as a diversion and he agreed it might be fun. We've never gone to WDW that time of year.

Anybody have any idea about availability (2 1BR's or 1-2BR) ? I can't wait till 9am tomorrow to find out. I'm dying to know. How crowded is it? What's the weather like?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts you have.

 

[AlaskaMOM]

Did you want Thanksgiving '07 or '06?
Thanksgiving '07 can't be booked until Dec '06.

As for the weather in Nov/Dec it's Great! much cooler than summer, (heck Spring and Fall too)but some from warmer climates need to bring coats, or light jackets. What I like best about that time of year is that Disney puts out a great display of Holiday decorations. (all over the whole world- resorts, parks, DTD)
Have fun planning all your vacations for the year!

 

[mmmcq]

Silly me. I was so caught up in our June 2007 plans that I goofed.

I have a feeling there isn't going to be much availability .....but I think we'll be flexible and stay just about anywhere. I've seen some requests on the rent/trade board for the same time period go completely unanswered.

Oh well, I'll call first thing tomorrow.

 

[dis-happy]

Totally off topic, but where is your dd going to college next year? Are visits to Disneyland in your future?

(also just wondering because my dd is graduating next year and we are immersed in college visits, lol!)


Good luck and pixie dust with Thanksgiving!

 

[disneydenisel]

We went for the first time at Thanksgiving in 2005. It was great ! The weather was not hot or humid, it rained some, but we could wear shorts. We went the Saturday before Thanksgiving...it wasn't crowded until Wednesday, and we left on Friday.

We had so much fun, we're doing it all over again this year ! We're waitlisting one night at BCV in a 2-bedroom for 11/23 (or VWL or BWV), but SSR had availability, so we are there for one night. I'm hoping our waitlist clears so that we don't have to move for one night.

The decorations are great! You'll love it!

 

[mmmcq]

I didn't realize that the lights for xmas were up that early. Now I'm excited about the possibility. I'll take SSR at this point and waitlist for elsewhere.

Dis-happy - we are applying this year as well to colleges. My in-laws just moved to Palo Alto and my brother and sister-in-laws already live in SF - so we looked at a number of schools in that general area. She loved St. Mary's - but not so much Santa Clara (which of course was my favorite). We've travelled to PA and DC schools and will now spend the rest of the summer looking at New England colleges closer to home. It feels like we're looking at too many - but every single one of my friends who had kids in the middle range of student grades and SAT scores told me horror stories this spring about college acceptances. It was an "odd" year and kids who applied to 10 schools got into 2. So we've loaded the "safety" school category and everything else is a "reach". I have a spread sheet that I set up that might be helpful. Send me a pm with your email address and I'll email it to you.

We had planned a Disneyland side trip this past April on our CA swing, but had to scrap it because we went to Tuscon,AZ for the last 5 days of vacation instead. My husband had a conference there...... And that was after I had cancelled Disney Cruise reservations to go to CA in the first place!

So I really, really need my Disney fix. Wish me luck tomorrow.

 

[pbharris4]

When I called about XMas I also asked about Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving they had nothing (studio or 1 Bdrm) anywhere. At Xmas I was able to get a studio at SSR for 3 day and am waitlisted for the rest of the days.

 

[unixadm]

We are booked for Thanksgiving....Nov 22-26th in a 1BR. Two other families are going with us....one of them got the 1BR for the same dates, the other got a Studio for the 22nd and 23rd and a 1BR for the 25th and 26th. They are waitlisted for a 1BR for the first two nights.

I called the other day about switching to a 2BR and there was availablity via cash but NOT at the discounted rate. I don't know if there are any available via points. I think they have different room pools for cash and points.

We were were intested in a Grand Villa (which would eliminate the need for the 3 1BR's) but there is no availablity...and no way to waitlist on cash.

If you are using points, you can waitlist for whatever you want and it may come available....but if you are planning on cash, it is only for what is available. Good luck.

Just for your information...if you are paying cash, the member discount rate for a 1BR is $116/night. The cost for the 2BR (without discount) is $180/night

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Just for your information...if you are paying cash, the member discount rate for a 1BR is $116/night. The cost for the 2BR (without discount) is $180/night

Are those rates right? We have a PV studio at the BWV booked on cash for 2 nights in Oct for $259/night and that is with the member discount. That works out to a rack rate of $345 during the regular season less a 25% discount.

-- SuzanneSLO

 

[Deb & Bill]

I second that. Those prices seem very low.

 

[disneydenisel]

I'll have to call MS tomorrow and see what the rates are!

 

[unixadm]

I have my confirmation for Nov 22nd-26th at $116/night for a 1BR.

My guess is that they drop the prices after October because the weather starts getting cooler and it is their off season.

 

[castleri]

I have my confirmation for Nov 22nd-26th at $116/night for a 1BR.

My guess is that they drop the prices after October because the weather starts getting cooler and it is their off season.

I think you got really really lucky or someone made a huge error as the price on the WDW website for your time frame is $333 a night for a studio at OKW.
I would rent my points and book rooms for cash if I could get those prices. My 2BR for 10 days in Sept.(value season all over WDW) is 284 points - at $10 a point I would be able to rent the 2BR and pay for our dining plan as well.

 

[disneydenisel]

Great rate! Which resort are you booked in a 1 bedroom? Last year, for similar dates, the rack rate for a 2 bedroom was $750/night!

 

[wdwfan1]

A PV studio at BWV is $229 plus tax per night in October with the members discount. At least that is what I was quoted several times

 

[Deb & Bill]

We paid about $215 per night at SSR in a studio in Oct 04 with the AP rate which was a little bit less than the member discount.

 

[mmmcq]

Special rates are pretty much gone, although I was able to use AAA at a couple of resorts.

I ended up taking a cash room at All Star Music - because they have new suites which just opened up in June - 1BR with pullout and 2 chairs which turn into twins, refridge, microwave and counter. Not the same as DVC, but cheap for 5 people at $209 before discount. Contemporary was $545/night (would LOVE to stay there), $369 Polynesian, $310 Carribbean Beach (2 rms), $345 Yacht Club and so on. Lots of options. I just don't want to spend a fortune right before xmas.

I'm hoping some of the waitlisted nights come thru at OKW, BCV, VWL or Boardwalk....but I'm not counting on it.

I'm still not convinced that the way they set up my waitlist is ideal and I'm going to have to call again on Monday, but at least I have a minimal plan.

Air fare is also tough to get now times/fares....so we may do something we've never done which is to drive. Used to do it all the time when we were little. I've never done it with my kids. They'll freak. I think it might be good for us since my oldest goes off to college next August.

We'll see. Thanks for all the ideas. Happy rest of the summer.

 

[MissD]

I have my confirmation for Nov 22nd-26th at $116/night for a 1BR.

My guess is that they drop the prices after October because the weather starts getting cooler and it is their off season.

May I ask where you're staying? Those are some awesome rates. We live in FL and have never seen cash rates like that for DVC units--what a deal!