Trouble booking AKL/Poly Nov 28-Dec2

[luvyawdw]

Hello everyone
We are visiting WDW Nov 28- Dec 2 but we are not having any luck with our reservations. Our daughter has her heart set on the AKL villas or standard room her second choice is the Poly. But both have nothing available I have been searching and searching but no luck Does anyone have any advice for me I went ahead and booked the SSR studio for 202 a night because I did not want to get stuck with nothing. Can I keep calling and checking or will they see I have a ressie and not give me a chance to change it?
Does anyone think something will open up? Why is it so busy? A dismember mentioned to me it may be the taping of the christmas parade? How do I find out
I really wanted to get the room our daughter had wanted, she just had spinal fusion in June and this trip is for her.

 

[wendypooh]

Yes, You can keep calling to see if something opens up. If it does, book it and cancel the one you have now. Typically around Thanksgiving it is very crowded - so things being booked already doesn't surprise me. A lot of people start booking for Holidays at six months out. Also there are discount codes avail. for that timeframe, which would also explain low availability. Go to Mousesavers.com - on the front page to the bottom you'll see two links to discounts for check-ins from 10/21 to 12/23. Depending on what you have booked or would like to book, maybe one of these will apply to you, IF so, get the code and call back and have it applied to your existing reservation. However, BEFORE you do that, ask if there is any avail. at AKL for your dates, AND if there is any avail. with the code. If NOT, then go ahead and have it applied to the reservation you already have. IMPORTANT *** DO NOT let them cancel what you already have booked while they are checking for AKL!!!! You may NOT get that reservation back!!!! Just call and ask, tell them NOT to touch your existing reservation, to leave it as is!!!! ( I did this once and they cancelled my existing reservation which DID have a discount code applied to it. The other thing I was having them check was not avail. and I had lost what I had booked, it took them 30 min. to get me a room, and NO I did NOT get my discount back, as they claimed there were NO more rooms avail with the discount!!!!! YES, I was LIVID!!! I just don't want that to happen to anyone else!)

Also, You could try other avenues besides WDW reservations. Have you checked AAA or maybe some other online travel sites? On Mousesavers.com Mary list some reputible sites to deal with. ** NOTE, with these other places you will probably NOT be able to apply the code! Good Luck!!

If you need further help let me know and I'll try to help you out!!!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

They can't just apply a code to a reservation you already have. If they have that type room available, they can switch it. This works like a clearance sale, they apply the codes to a limited number of rooms they haven't filled yet. The only way they will give you a code on an existing reservation is if they have that some room available. I have a better rate using AAA discount for this time of year, then the existing code.

When you call in DO NOT put in your reservation number, select the option to book a new reservation and they won't automatically pull up your existing reservation. Most CM's will look for a different room before asking for your existing reservation, so they won't cancel the one you have. I call multiple times and look for rooms, before my existing reservation is ever cancelled.

The Thanksgiving crowd will be long gone, but the Christmas parade is being taped Nov 30- Dec 2 this year, and MVMCP will be in full swing.

Most of us Disers have our rooms booked more than a year in advance and those that don't book that far in advance have booked with the new codes, so there won't be much avail. This was the case when I took my DH in August, but I was suprised that there weren't more people at the parks, since it was supposedly booked up. Go Figure

Suzanne

 

[wendypooh]

Thanks for clearing all that up!!!!! I think I pretty much said all that ~ in a round about way!!!!

 

[luvyawdw]

"The Thanksgiving crowd will be long gone, but the Christmas parade is being taped Nov 30- Dec 2 this year, and MVMCP will be in full swing"
Would it be best if I could change my date to Nov 27- Dec 1? or maybe the 26 through the 30? Im just worried about the crowd for this taping! What would you suggest?
Thank you for the info on the rooms too! That is a great help. Im going to give it a try!
Please post back.


Suzanne[/QUOTE]

 

[ScottNBecky]

Another thing you can check is to look and see about adding a day or two on before your "real travel dates" or at the end. Sometimes availability wont show up for the dates you need, but if you make a longer reservation they have the room type available you need.

Then if you ge that ressie, call back later and cancel the dates that you dont need. I guess it's a way to work around the system, but it may help you out.

 

[luvyawdw]

Thank you all for the advice , I am going to work on this today. Ill let you know how I do

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

"The Thanksgiving crowd will be long gone, but the Christmas parade is being taped Nov 30- Dec 2 this year, and MVMCP will be in full swing"
Would it be best if I could change my date to Nov 27- Dec 1? or maybe the 26 through the 30? Im just worried about the crowd for this taping! What would you suggest?
Thank you for the info on the rooms too! That is a great help. Im going to give it a try!
Please post back.



Suzanne

[/QUOTE]


I can't say how crowded the parks were, because we didn't go to one that day. I have heard that the MK is only really bad during the actual day of taping, mostly Friday mid day and Saturday afternoon. If chnging your dates is doable,then I think I would. I think I remember someone saying that you can't just walk up and down Main Street while taping is going on, so I would go to another park on those days. The Thanksgiving crowd will surely be gone, because most children have to go back to school on Monday, Nov 26, then the crowds will be pretty low to managable until around Dec 22.

Suzanne

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Another thing you can check is to look and see about adding a day or two on before your "real travel dates" or at the end. Sometimes availability wont show up for the dates you need, but if you make a longer reservation they have the room type available you need.

Then if you ge that ressie, call back later and cancel the dates that you dont need. I guess it's a way to work around the system, but it may help you out.

I noticed that, and I don't understand why they do it. I tried to put in dates to add a day to my ressie and it said nothing was avail, but if I put it in to add 2 days, the room I wanted came up. I just called and they added what I wanted. I don't think they have a great IT Dept at WDW. I have seen more than one person complain about the computer system.

Suzanne

 

[cjsmom5]

We have always avoided MK on taping days. We found it to be very crowded with tons of people trying to "position" themselves in different spots. Plus, the celebs are around and stuff is 'roped off' in places where it usually isn't. We have gone during taping for a number of years. When it first started you just walked up and stood along main street. Now you have to sign up and then they position you at the parades and shows throughout the park. Since it has grown in popularity we find it a zoo. So, if it were me, I would change dates, if possible....especially if you are trying to avoid crowds.

Also, keep in mind that Disney is "converting" AKL to be a primarily DVC location. We went to the presentation and they told us that in the near future only about 20% of the resort would be available for Disney to put in their inventory - the rest was going to be DVC. This might already be affecting the availability. I know it will in the future.

 

[luvyawdw]

Thanks everyone for your help . Here is what I have so far. I called back the reservations office and they DID have Nov28-Dec2 available at the AKL. Two days ago there was nothing. Also I was able to use the CCE code for all four nights . One problem is we have to change rooms twice. The last night we were able to get the one bedroom villa for 279.00 using the code. the other 3 nights were between 202 and 253 for a standard view. Do you all think this is a pretty good deal? I did not have to change our dates to get the akl after all but I am still concerned about the Christmas Taping in the MK and how that will affect the crowd . I need to find out what time the taping will be and when to avoid the MK. I still have mixed feeling about changing our date a little bit by a day or two to avoid some of this crowd. I am still open to advice: Please share your thoughts.
Thank you all again.

 

[cjsmom5]

Our experience is that if they are taping at MK - at all - on a particular day - the crowds are high. I would avoid MK all together on those days which is usually Friday and Saturday. People will come for the taping and then stay at the park. They sign up to be there in periods of three hours so once the first group is done, our experience has been that they stay. Then you add the second group and they stay, also. It can get very busy on those days. When you add in all the camera equipment, technical people, and the roped off areas it makes it seem even more crowded. There are some people that just love the buzz and excitement it generates, though, and wouldn't miss it. For us, it just isn't much fun. If you don't mind avoiding MK on those two days then you probably wouldn't have to change your dates. If possible, though, I would probably change them.

As far as AKL price -- the $279 price isn't bad for the type of room - from what I have seen ... and the other price would depend on the view -- as AKL has standard, pool, and savannah. We haven't been for a couple years so our prices our probably outdated.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Hvae not checked your dates, but this Southwest info was posted on another thread...hopt is helps!

Originally Posted by 5DisneyNuts
Hi everyone! I started a new thread, but thought I would post here as well.

I received an email from Southwest. They are offering special vacation packages to WDW 35% off room, and $100 off if you stay 3 nights or more for travel 10/21/07 to 12/23/07 (limited availability). I priced out my vacation and the rate is almost as good as my 40% off email code because my airfare is high. If you have a good deal on air, you are probably better off booking with the ZUF public code.

Hope this can help someone:

http://www.southwestvacations.com/specials/detail.asp?xmlfile=FS0214
Note: If you don't go directly to the WDW offer, click on DEALS and you will see WDW pkg details.

We got the best deal through Southwest Vacations. Also the promotion code REVISIT2 saved us another 10% off the rom/air portion. Only problem is it is not ticketless.

 

[fiffy]

Also, keep in mind that Disney is "converting" AKL to be a primarily DVC location. We went to the presentation and they told us that in the near future only about 20% of the resort would be available for Disney to put in their inventory - the rest was going to be DVC. This might already be affecting the availability. I know it will in the future.

Whoever told you that is not very well informed.Yes the 5th and 6th floors are being converted, but the rest of the DVC rooms are being built in a seperate building.The 6th floor never did have many rooms on it it so the actual room loss is about 1.5 floors, which still leaves 3 floors of rooms for regular guests.That is way more than 20%. I understand that this is what they told you, but i think that a number of factors are at work here. First, that the more exclusive they make the resort sound, the more you want to buy in, which means commission for them.And second WDW employees are known for misinformation and rumor spreading.

 

[cjsmom5]

Fiffy ---
Could be ... but the new DVC promotional book that they gave to us shows that the entire lodge, as it sits now, is being converted to "studios" and so forth. Each section of the lodge has construction lines around it with different construction completion dates. All I can go by is what the DVC manager told us and what the book shows ... but they could very well be wrong. They just told us this last Tuesday. And, they said, eventually, when all the construction is done that most of AKL would be a DVC property ... similar to Saratoga Springs and Old Key West. But, like I said, they could be wrong. Just passing on info we were given.

 

[lunabkat]

Also remember, you get magic hours for the EVENING when you stay on site as well, ONLY for resort members, maybe this will help with the crowd and the parade as they will probably shoot more in the day than at night, best of luck.
LL

 

[MomWDW]

I don't know if I can post this, but my TA has availability (I think) at the Poly and Animal Kingdom Lodge. Try Magical Memories, they have a special- we'll be there that time too

 

[luvyawdw]

I don't know if I can post this, but my TA has availability (I think) at the Poly and Animal Kingdom Lodge. Try Magical Memories, they have a special- we'll be there that time too

Thank you so much! I will give them a call.

 

[luvyawdw]

I don't know if I can post this, but my TA has availability (I think) at the Poly and Animal Kingdom Lodge. Try Magical Memories, they have a special- we'll be there that time too

Please can you pm me or post the number for this TA. I tried to google it but there are many under that name.

 

[wvgoofyfan]

My dates are also Nov 28th to Dec 5th and this is how we are planning to avoid the Christmas taping at MK and still see MK, the Christmas parade and Christmas shows.

We are doing MVMCP on the night of Nov 29th and Dec 4th. We will still see all the holiday stuff and be at MK until midnight

On Friday Nov 30th, we are doing MGM and on Sat Dec 1st we will be at Epcot. We plan on catching Wishes and Spectromagic on Monday 12-3.

All in all, we hope to get the best of the Christmas at MK and avoid the crowds.

Hope this helps.