What is Disney Doing Right Now?

[Rockythunder]

Ok, sorry going to go on a little rant here. Disney is having issues right now with quite a few things, but my major issue is "Why haven't they posted any rooms or rates outside of 2016 yet". I think I can answer the question myself, but I want to get people's thoughts and opinions. I can't book a vacation or even check for prices since their website won't allow me to look outside of December 2016. Considering I am one of those people who needs to plan vacations almost a year in advance because of work, I'm seriously considering going elsewhere with my entertainment dollars. Last year I could check for rates almost 10 months out. Now I'm seeing a little over six months. I understand that Disney is having issues right now, and IMO they are waiting to see where attendance is before releasing rates. In the past they were always good about changing up rates to increase attendance, but this recent change has me ready to go elsewhere. I'm sure some people are thinking "Good Riddance, less crowds for us, but I know I'm not the only one who feels this way". Sorry for the rant, but Disney needs to start considering their clientele before making changes. Rant over.

 

[cheryllarsen]

You almost have to plan Disney vacations far in advance as the rooms get booked up.

 

[Rockythunder]

That's my issue. You can't plan out anything past 6 months now on their website. The latest date you can put in is December 31, 2016. I can't check anything for spring break or even next summer to get an idea about prices or availability. It looks like they might have capped it right now around 190 days or so, give or take a few.

 

[Shellyb84]

You can call and book it. Prices of course are subject to change once rates come out, but that way you would at least have your reservation held.

 

[Rockythunder]

Shelly, thanks for the info. But I would like to price shop my vacation and not just pay top rate. I'm just confused on why Disney wouldn't already open up their rates and hotels for next year yet? This seems to be a new change this year, as I've never noticed a six month period only open for booking. Plus we are considering a split stay so I want to make sure everything fits, including price.

 

[Shellyb84]

Shelly, thanks for the info. But I would like to price shop my vacation and not just pay top rate. I'm just confused on why Disney wouldn't already open up their rates and hotels for next year yet? This seems to be a new change this year, as I've never noticed a six month period only open for booking. Plus we are considering a split stay so I want to make sure everything fits, including price.

I would look at historical rack rates and discounts (on mousesavers website I think?), that should give you a pretty good idea of what you can expect to pay. The discounts don't come out a year in advance, anyway, so you never really know what you'll get til around 5-6 months out it seems.

 

[dansdad]

Disney has historically released the next year's rates in the June -July timeframe. This is nothing new.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Last year, they announced 2016 rates and opened the website June 22.
In 2015, they announced rates and opened the website July 30.

So based on the prior two years alone, they are not behind their usual schedule. The earliest they've released them in years was in 2011, when they released June 11. There is a list of release dates here: http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/

This isn't new. 2017 bookings cannot be made online until 2017 rates are announced.

You can call and book a room, but no, you can't "shop a deal." To get a discount, discounts are only announced 2-5 months out most of the time, and require flexibility. If you have to plan a year in advance, you are unlikely to get that flexibility. If your dates are inflexible, consider renting DVC, since you get a guaranteed rate on that rental, but no further discount eligibility.

 

[AngiTN]

Disney has historically released the next year's rates in the June -July timeframe. This is nothing new.

Right. I don't get the rant. Rates for next year aren't late. Sorry it makes it hard on you OP but if you know you plan to go, just plan to go. Nothing is different this year than in the past so it's not like you were able to get rates this early in the past

 

[AngiTN]

Shelly, thanks for the info. But I would like to price shop my vacation and not just pay top rate. I'm just confused on why Disney wouldn't already open up their rates and hotels for next year yet? This seems to be a new change this year, as I've never noticed a six month period only open for booking. Plus we are considering a split stay so I want to make sure everything fits, including price.

Another area where you are under an incorrect impression is they won't open up only a 6 month window.
When they do publish the 2017 rates it will be for all of 2017 (rack rate of course, promos don't come out this early)
So it will be 18 months.
And had you looked last month it would have been 7 months of rates out.
It's only 6 months now because it's June. Rates go through December. December is 6 months away.

 

[bumbershoot]

Shelly, thanks for the info. But I would like to price shop my vacation and not just pay top rate. I'm just confused on why Disney wouldn't already open up their rates and hotels for next year yet? This seems to be a new change this year, as I've never noticed a six month period only open for booking. Plus we are considering a split stay so I want to make sure everything fits, including price.

As others have said, this isn't new. This is normal for this time of year when booking for the following year.

Once it opens you can shop prices, even if you have a reservation.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Yes, everyone is correct here.

 

[sharadoc]

Once 2017 rates open up, the Villas will not be available through end of 2017. Those are subject to the DVC month restrictions, so if you want a DVC villa, you still won't be able to do it all.

 

[AngiTN]

Once 2017 rates open up, the Villas will not be available through end of 2017. Those are subject to the DVC month restrictions, so if you want a DVC villa, you still won't be able to do it all.

Even for a cash rental through Disney?

 

[Sparkly]

Ok, sorry going to go on a little rant here. Disney is having issues right now with quite a few things, but my major issue is "Why haven't they posted any rooms or rates outside of 2016 yet". I think I can answer the question myself, but I want to get people's thoughts and opinions. I can't book a vacation or even check for prices since their website won't allow me to look outside of December 2016. Considering I am one of those people who needs to plan vacations almost a year in advance because of work, I'm seriously considering going elsewhere with my entertainment dollars. Last year I could check for rates almost 10 months out. Now I'm seeing a little over six months. I understand that Disney is having issues right now, and IMO they are waiting to see where attendance is before releasing rates. In the past they were always good about changing up rates to increase attendance, but this recent change has me ready to go elsewhere. I'm sure some people are thinking "Good Riddance, less crowds for us, but I know I'm not the only one who feels this way". Sorry for the rant, but Disney needs to start considering their clientele before making changes. Rant over.

Good luck finding a hotel that's any different surely, pretty sure very few will allow you to book up to 2017 yet!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Even for a cash rental through Disney?

Potentially.

DVC owns roughly 2% of the "sold out" resorts, and 30% of Poly. Additional inventory can be released from DVC based on a number of factors on the back-end, including points banking, point trade-outs for cruises/RCI/Disney Collection, etc. Additional inventory can come out around 60 days before check-in; this is referred to as breakage inventory.

So what DVC inventory would be available for 2017 booking online is going to be variable and hard to predict what will be available for what dates.

 

[AngiTN]

Potentially.

DVC owns roughly 2% of the "sold out" resorts, and 30% of Poly. Additional inventory can be released from DVC based on a number of factors on the back-end, including points banking, point trade-outs for cruises/RCI/Disney Collection, etc. Additional inventory can come out around 60 days before check-in; this is referred to as breakage inventory.

So what DVC inventory would be available for 2017 booking online is going to be variable and hard to predict what will be available for what dates.

Thanks. I knew Disney maintained control on some of them but wasn't sure how many. Having little to no interest in a Villa I've never kept up with what is available when.

I didn't realize OP was looking for a Villa. I had assumed regular resort room

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Thanks. I knew Disney maintained control on some of them but wasn't sure how many. Having little to no interest in a Villa I've never kept up with what is available when.

I didn't realize OP was looking for a Villa. I had assumed regular resort room

I don't think OP is looking for a villa either. I mentioned DVC rental if 11-month booking is a goal.

 

[busymommy2pink]

I don't understand the rant? They normally don't release the next year until June or July. When we have gone in August/Sept/Nov this didn't matter since it's well over a year before, but going in May and waiting to book for May 2017, we knew that was going to be a couple of months shy. They've always done it this way. My guess is you went at a different time of year that allowed the 12-18 month window. If you want to take your dollars else where, that's your call. But it's on your own issues, not Disney's.

 

[Hopefully]

OP Ithink many here have stated the facts. I find it interesting that with, at this point with only 28 posts, you come here to rant about incorrect facts.
Good Luck