Thanksgiving at the Fort...no room at the inn!

[RNmomnFL]

Went last year and had a great time. Don't recall making my reservation until fall last year so imagine my surprise that I can't find any availability for 2009 even going out three weeks on the booking search at WDW. AAA can't help either. But, I'm not going to panic there's a lot of time for cancellations or something. Maybe this board will do a group reservation too (hint, hint).

 

[stacktester]

Went last year and had a great time. Don't recall making my reservation until fall last year so imagine my surprise that I can't find any availability for 2009 even going out three weeks on the booking search at WDW. AAA can't help either. But, I'm not going to panic there's a lot of time for cancellations or something. Maybe this board will do a group reservation too (hint, hint).

We go then too and I always book a year or more in advance. Keep trying you'll get it I'm sure.

 

[bama_ed]

RNmomnFL,

You must have gotten lucky last year. I got a ressie for this year's T-giving also but made it on 12/21 (nearly a year in advance as Stacktester recommends). At that time all that came up on the on-line ressie machine at the WDW website was a partial (loop 1500 or 2000) which fortunately was all I needed since I have a pop-up. In planning in the month between last year's T-giving and when I made the ressie, the on-line ressie machine had been showing all types of sites then fewer and fewer types until just the partial showed up.

Central Res may be releasing capacity in blocks or it may really be full but keep trying to get in. Cancellations will happen and you may only be able to get a day here, a day there, but if you are diligent you may be able to piece your trip together.

Keep trying - others have been able to do it so it does happen.

Bama ED

 

[RNmomnFL]

We go then too and I always book a year or more in advance. Keep trying you'll get it I'm sure.

Thanks. Obviously an error in judgement on my part, in thinking that the tanking economy would help me in my quest for staying at Fort Wilderness at will. Case in point, I recently booked my birthday weekend in June and the CM said we got the last premium site.

 

[stacktester]

I agree with Ed, sometimes you can get a day here and there so go for that as well. It's funny how it's so hard to get Thanksgiving but 4th of July is usually available up until May or so and longer if you play the calendar game.

 

[RNmomnFL]

RNmomnFL,

You must have gotten lucky last year. I got a ressie for this year's T-giving also but made it on 12/21 (nearly a year in advance as Stacktester recommends). At that time all that came up on the on-line ressie machine at the WDW website was a partial (loop 1500 or 2000) which fortunately was all I needed since I have a pop-up. In planning in the month between last year's T-giving and when I made the ressie, the on-line ressie machine had been showing all types of sites then fewer and fewer types until just the partial showed up.

Central Res may be releasing capacity in blocks or it may really be full but keep trying to get in. Cancellations will happen and you may only be able to get a day here, a day there, but if you are diligent you may be able to piece your trip together.

Keep trying - others have been able to do it so it does happen.

Bama ED

I wonder too if it's really full and am hoping it's the alternative-CRO is just releasing some. I will keep trying but I got to take a little break (spending way too much time on the WDW website). Thanks.

 

[Mmketeer]

Don't worry, I lucked out and got a cancellation 45 days out last year for Thanksgiving. But, I hate the stress that comes along with doing that, so I always try to book anything I think I may want to do a year in advance.

Who knows maybe I'll be canceling my Thanksgiving Premiuim site that I already have booked for this year and if I do I'll post it here first that I am cancelling it.

 

[RNmomnFL]

Don't worry, I lucked out and got a cancellation 45 days out last year for Thanksgiving. But, I hate the stress that comes along with doing that, so I always try to book anything I think I may want to do a year in advance.

Who knows maybe I'll be canceling my Thanksgiving Premiuim site that I already have booked for this year and if I do I'll post it here first that I am cancelling it.

Hope you don't have to cancel but that's a nice thing to do (post it here first) if you're forced to.

 

[mikmouse]

Hope you don't have to cancel but that's a nice thing to do (post it here first) if you're forced to.

I recommend you contact Dreams Unlimited on these boards. Rhonda is excellent and if anyone can find you a site she can rhonda@dreamsunlimitedtravel.com

 

[BradyBz12]

We found out the hard way how tough a Thanksgiving ressie is at the Fort last year. Tried to book it in January - no luck. Tried for about 3 more months and eventually gave up and moved the trip a week.

I booked it this year as soon as the 499 window opened. There's actually a chance we may move things earlier into Nov. (depends on DH's work), and if we do, I'll be sure to post here before we drop that week.

Good luck with your quest - hopefully you'll get lucky as others have and piece together all the days you need.

 

[des1954]

This sounds like a job for....

 

[Tri-circle-D]

One more bit of advice. . . Just last week, I was able to book the entire week of Thanksgiving. And, I had my choice of loop designations. To get the week, I had to book a three week stay-with Thanksgiving week in the middle. No problem for me. The deposit for a three night stay is the same as for a one night stay. I will call later and drop the unwanted 14 nights. No penalty for that, as long as it is done before 5 days of arrival.

The on-line reservation system is screwy. Obviously, some suit has directed the programmers to not allow shorter reservations during holiday periods. Perhaps they think that they can force folks into longer stays, or they just want to keep the prime dates open so they can sandwich them in between less desirable dates, and try to make the income off of people who will stay longer. I have given up on trying to figure out the rhyme or reason why WDW management does what it does.

I just checked on this. I could not get a three week block now, but I was offered a site for the Saturday to Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and then the Saturday and Sunday after. I could not get Thanksgiving night or the Friday after it. But, I can't imagine people would arrive on Thanksgiving and leave on Saturday. The suits are just intentionally blocking Thanksgiving night, so they can offer it to folks willing to stay for extra nights. I'll bet if I checked later, I could get the whole week again.

So, my advice- keep playing with different date configurations on line. Try to enter longer blocks of time, with Thanksgiving in the middle. I'll bet something will come up. If it does, make your reservation, and then call back and cancel what you don't need.

TCD

 

[RNmomnFL]

Keeping the faith here & continuing to look for my dates over Thanksgiving (although no luck yet even going out 3 weeks on the calendar search). I may have to ask for Rhonda's help if this keeps up into the summer. Thanks so much guys for the advice.

 

[jhenson67]

We were lucky enough to book last December for this Thanksgiving. We stayed in loop 100 back at christmas week. All the decorations were great. Disney during Christmas is wonderful. But we missed the christmas parade.

This Thanksgiving week with the mouse should top our last trip. I hope we can get as close to the settlement.

 

[RNmomnFL]

We have been to the Fort just before Christmas in '05 but it was a difficult trip as our youngest was two months old then & it was cold that year. I do remember how beautiful the decorations were around the Fort & the lights at MGM (we refuse to call it the studios) during that early holiday trip. Still, Thanksgiving last year was so much fun (loop 800) with the outdoor watching of the football games, the smells from people cooking in their campers, perfect weather, early Christmas decorations up, etc., that if we can go back this year, we're going to.