Thanksgiving reservations

[colleen costello]

Looking ahead to Thanksgiving 2004. Can the veterans here tell me how hard it is to get reservations for the week before, and including, Thanksgiving? I would book at 11 months at Beach Club Villas, but as this is an extra trip I would like to save points and move over to OKW at 7 months. I would need 2 studios, or perhaps one studio at each resort.

I know it will be crowded but we don't do the parks every day anyway. Is the weather usually nice? A hurricane would kinda stink...

Thanks!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Too late for the 11 month window at BCV, but still all right for the 7 month window at OKW. Studios do seem to fill up before 2 bedrooms units though.

 

[DISNEY QUEEN CPA]

November 2003 will be our 3rd Thanksgiving vacation at BWV. We unfortuately were not able to go November 2002. We (myself, DH & DS(6yo) decided to start a "family tradition" by spending Thanksgiving at WDW. I think it is a great time to go.

I always call to book by reservation day by day at 11 months. We like to stay in a 1 bedroom Standard view. The standard view seem to book up pretty quickly... less points.

The parks were not crowded the first part of the week. MK was crowded on Thanksgiving day, so we left and went to MGM which was not as crowded. The Parks were crowded the Friday after Thanksgiving. It seemed like they were more crowed on friday than on Thanksiving. Even if the parks are crowded there are plenty of other things to do. We played minature golf and went over to the Market Place and shopped.

The weather is usually nice. I know that in November 2001 we were wearing shorts. I don't think it rained at all that week.

The most fasinating thing about that time of year is that you go to bed Thanksgiving evening and wake on Friday and the Hotel, Parks, etc are all decorated for Christmas!!! Some of the special Holiday shows (ie. Osbourne lights at MGM) begin on Friday.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by colleen costello
Looking ahead to Thanksgiving 2004. Can the veterans here tell me how hard it is to get reservations for the week before, and including, Thanksgiving? I would book at 11 months at Beach Club Villas, but as this is an extra trip I would like to save points and move over to OKW at 7 months. I would need 2 studios, or perhaps one studio at each resort.

I know it will be crowded but we don't do the parks every day anyway. Is the weather usually nice? A hurricane would kinda stink...

Thanks!

From what I recall, Thanksgiving is out of the generally accepted hurricane season. We've visited the week after Thanksgiving for the past few years and the weather is variable - sometimes it's nice and warm - even hot, and sometimes it's downright cold! Sometimes both those conditions exist in the same week! But we've never encountered any hurricane weather. Actually, other than the airplane ride in or out, I never give hurricanes much of a thought no matter when we travel. Orlando is so far in land that usually you just get some extra rain. IIRC, there has really only been one hurricane in recent years that caused WDW a problem. It wasn't in November, either.

If you call for BCV ressies at the 11 month window, you will not have a problem getting what you want. Can't give you any advice for OKW at the 7 month window as I've never tried. My guess is that you will get it, but you might have to use the waitlist.

The only problem you might have is if you have to borrow to book at BCV or if you will miss any critical banking windows (becasue the OKW ressies will use less points than the BCV ressies). If you borrow, those points can't be returned to their original use year, so remember to have MS use up the borrowed points first on the OKW ressies. Hopefully, you will be able to bank the "extra" current year points.

Best wishes
Carol

 

[colleen costello]

Thanks, everyone. All this info helps. I have lots of time to plot because Thanksgiving 2004 is a long way off... I will have to watch the banking/borrowing and make sure I know the rules right before I book, because I WOULD get points back if we switched to OKW. I have a March use year so I think we'd be OK. I will read the book and post any confusion here. You guys know everything!

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Just dont try to find a place the Wed before Thanksgiving for the Fri after Thanksgiving and the following week. At a 22hr notice we needed 8 consecutive nights and the only place available was PO/FQ.

 

[spiceycat]

at 7 month this year (since you don't need it until next) call MS and ask how many 2-bedroom villas are available for Thanksgiving at OKW- this number will change but it should be pretty close - if they say none (which I kind of doubt) - I would plan on staying at the BCV.

You can call MS often - there is no extra charge and change your reservation often too - okay I have a problem sometimes making up my mind!

 

[colleen costello]

SpiceyCat, that's a great idea. I can "guesstimate" what will be available next year based on this year's availability. I never would have thought of that! I am trying to pin my family down to a "Yes we will go" and if I know this far ahead I can save points accordingly.

Thanks everyone!

 

[tripletvan]

We are sitting here with reservations for everyday the week of Thanksgiving except for the 26th which is the day before Thanksgiving. We will be having thirteen of us and this will be a first for us also. I am worried about it but just keep making plans like what to do for the holiday dinner.

 

[colleen costello]

Tripletvan, when did you make reservations and where are you staying? How did you get all but the one day? Are you on a waitlist? If we go we would only have enough points for 2 studios, not a 2-bedroom.

 

[tripletvan]

Colleen, I made my reservations at 11 months out @ BW. I was looking for two , two bedroom units. I have reservations for two two bedroom units for every night but that Wed. and am missing two studios for then which means I have two one bedrooms for Wed. night. I am also waitlisted for that Wed. over at SOG as a backup as they are also sold out.

 

[CarolMN]

Colleen - IIRC from other her posts, tripletvan reserved standard view rooms at BWV and those are much, much harder to get than the preferred view or any of the rooms at VWL, OKW and BCV. I really do not think you will have a problem getting BCV if you call at the 11 month window. I think spiceycat had a good idea, also. If OKW has studios for Thanksgiving available at 7 months this year, it will probably help you to minimize the worrying. I know you won't stop thinking about it until you finally have everything reserved though, right??

Best wishes,
Carol

 

[colleen costello]

Right! I am a worrier by nature. It would help my mental health SO much if we could see our points, reservations, and requests online. I do realize, though, that fretting over DVC is a good thing -- not worrying about sick kids or a cheating hubby or any REAL problem, LOL! Plotting my vacation(s) has kept me busy all winter! I keep telling my husband, "It's cheaper than therapy!"

My Dad is reluctant to commit to a Turkey-Day visit. One Mickey a year is more than enough for him, although I will never understand this. I may just book ONE room, and if we are "in the mood" I will go with dh and the kiddies. Thank goodness THEY are always up for WDW! Only booking one room will save a lot of the bank/borrow nonsense from happening.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Don't know if this info will help you, I hope so. In July, 2002 (4 months out) I decided I wanted to stay at BCV Thanksgiving week and the weekend before in a studio. Only 1 night was available, took BWV preferred view for the other nites and waitlisted to move over for all the nites. Within a month, all the nites came through, and I happily got BCV studio for all nites.

 

[tripletvan]

Just got off the phone with MS and was told that a two bdrm preferred view just became available for the date I was missing so I took that and am waitlisted for the standard view. We may have to switch rooms if the waitlist doesn't come through.I am just happy I can say we have rooms for every night of our stay. I am a worrier until I have all the pieces together.

 

[colleen costello]

Tripletvan, so happy your waitlist came through. I hope the standard view becomes available too!