The best laid (last minute) plans......

[MinnesotaMouse]

Well, it started out as a great Disney cruise deal....PLUS we had no other vacation planned for this winter (at some point, a person must leave MN in the winter). And who can pass up these verandah-guaranteed rooms at those prices? Turns out, we could not. So I booked for 1-8-11 sailing--four nights on the Dream! This will be our sixth cruise and second on the Dream.

We are DVC owners, and figured we could stay on property for 2-3 nights before the cruise, with points. We really didn't care where. At this late stage of the game, I assumed it would be SSR or OKW.

The plot thickens....we invited our DVC owning neighbors to go along, because the more the merrier! And then I found out they had points to use or lose before February....and wanted to use them up on this trip--perfect! Another couple was added to our group, so now we are a very happy group of 6 who have all traveled together before and live within a couple miles of each other.

So, we get our DCL reservations nailed down, and the good friend & DVC owning neighbor calls MS to see where we can stay the three nights before our cruise.....January 5, 6, & 7, 2012. We realize we cannot be picky as far as which DVC property would be availble, so we have an open mind in that regard.

Well guess what? There's some big event going on at WDW that weekend and she can't get a room or rooms (on points) anywhere for those three nights. She got a two bedroom at SSR for the 5th, but nothing at all available for the next two nights (unless she wants to pay cash--which she doesnt--they need to use these points!) She's waitlisted for a 2BR at SSR and at OKW. So what are the chances that this will come through at this very late date?

I've since found out it's the big Disney Marathon weekend. The one park I wanted to visit this trip was Epcot, and Friday is the family marathon day there. Ugh. Now we're not sure what to do. I know this is a long story, but we've never been waitlisted before, especially at this late date, and I'm wondering what the chances are of getting two more nights at SSR in a 2-BR. I know it's anybody's guess, but I'm just trying to make my friend (and myself) feel better by getting some feedback.....or else I will start to panic. We don't want to stay off property because we don't rent a car--we rely on Disney transportation, and DDP too for meals.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I'm going to be a bit of a bearer of bad news, but will say don't give up hope either. Last year I tried a last minute trip over that same period. Had no idea the marathon caused such a fill up of the rooms! And I never did get a room for the Friday night of the marathon. So far it's the only time I couldn't get a room someplace. I went to Vero instead and had a great time. Is that an option you'd consider?

However, I was able to fill in 2 other nights at WDW but it required calling frequently. You just never know what might open up and the 30 day mark is coming up and will probably give you the best chance to get your nights on points somewhere.

Good Luck!

 

[DonnaL]

Have you tried for anything other than a 2 bdrm? We've found in the past that sometimes 1 bdrms are easier to get......don't know if that would work for you.

 

[MinnesotaMouse]

I'm going to be a bit of a bearer of bad news, but will say don't give up hope either. Last year I tried a last minute trip over that same period. Had no idea the marathon caused such a fill up of the rooms! And I never did get a room for the Friday night of the marathon. So far it's the only time I couldn't get a room someplace. I went to Vero instead and had a great time. Is that an option you'd consider?

However, I was able to fill in 2 other nights at WDW but it required calling frequently. You just never know what might open up and the 30 day mark is coming up and will probably give you the best chance to get your nights on points somewhere.

Good Luck!

Thanks for the good luck wishes! I don't know if my friend checked availability at Vero Beach, or not. We have never been there....I had to look up google maps to see how far it was from Orlando. So I will call my friend tomorrow and see if MS checked on that resort for her. We would have to rent a car, but that's not the end of the world at all. Also, I do know that she is going to call MS daily to check on our waitlist and availability.

 

[MinnesotaMouse]

Have you tried for anything other than a 2 bdrm? We've found in the past that sometimes 1 bdrms are easier to get......don't know if that would work for you.

She did try for 1-bedrooms, studios, and combinations thereof....anything that would work for 6 of us to stay at the same resort all three of those nights. But when she could only waitlist 2, she chose the 2-bedroom for simplicity. But when calls daily, she will check on availability of other options. Thanks!

 

[lovin'fl]

You could try for 3 days at the end of your cruise instead of beginning.

 

[mcorbo]

As a last resort, why not exchange points for 2 rooms at a regular disney resort?

 

[MinnesotaMouse]

As a last resort, why not exchange points for 2 rooms at a regular disney resort?

We would gladly have done that, as we don't care so much about the kitchen facilities on this trip. However, there was no availability at the regular Disney resorts for point stay--only cash.

 

[MinnesotaMouse]

You could try for 3 days at the end of your cruise instead of beginning.

Unfortunately we're not that flexible. We get off the Dream on Thursday morning, and we have to be back home in MN for our son's varsity basketball game the same night. He is a senior in high school.

We are crossing out fingers that the waitlist comes through, with "Plan B" being to stay off property.....

 

[Deb & Bill]

As a last resort, why not exchange points for 2 rooms at a regular disney resort?

Can't do that. Sounds like the points that expire at the end of February are March UY and they are in the last four months of the UY. The reservation would have had to been made in October at the latest.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Wow, I hope the waitlist for the 2 bedroom at SSR or OKW comes through for you!

 

[queendarvet]

DH and I have been to Vero many times over that weekend (specifically to miss the Marathon crowds). It has always been very quiet, which we love. It wouldn't surprise me if rooms are available. We love going to the Green Cabin for a few drinks and sitting by the fireplace. Also long walks on the beach are great that time of year. Hopefully it won't be too cold for you. One year it was only in the upper 30s. The cms kept apologizing for the cold weather!

 

[lisa3635]

Last year we did a "last minute trip" booked late November for the first week of January (1-7) and had to waitlist for the last 2 nights in a studio at SSR and it came through about 30 days out so you might get lucky and have the waitlist come though.

 

[MinnesotaMouse]

Well, our dilemma is solved and we now have DVC accommodations for January 5-8 (Marathon weekend--we had no idea!).

We will keep the first night, Thursday, at SSR. Turns out that when checking availablility for that weekend, MS did not check Vero Beach. So when my friend called back and specifically asked about Vero, there was a 2BR available (I think it is a 1BR & Studio lock-off?) for January 6th and 7th. Yea!!!

So now we just need to figure out how to get a rental car from SSR so we can drive to Vero and then back to the Port to catch our Dream cruise on the 8th! (and leave the car at the port) Any suggestions on rental car companies? Turns out it will just be the four of us on this trip.

Now I need to research Vero Beach and the area, since we have never been there. We are so excited to check it out! Thanks for all your suggestions!

 

[com_op_2000]

Congrats!
Check out the Budget board, you can usually find discount codes for car rental agencies. Avis, Hertz, and others will do one way rentals from the Orlando area and drop off at the port.