WHAT is up for rooms in SEPT 09?

[Sherry E]

Well...I kept checking today 9-13 thru 9-19..and VIOLA..it popped up AVAIL...so I booked it on the spot!!!!!

We went a few years ago during the same time period..and it was a ghost town...

I am one of 'those parents' who will pull kids from school for our once a year vacation. PLUS, traveling with a child on the autism spectrum lends us to want to go when it is less crowded..even with the GAP, crowds can be tricky.

I am glad you guys helped me out...and encouraged me to not give up hope yet....

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh yay! That's fantastic! I am so happy for you! That is exactly the time frame you wanted, right? I figured something would eventually open up for September - but I didn't realize it would be THIS soon! You had perfect timing, I guess - you checked at just the right time and there it was for the taking! That's so great!

 

[DianneMcLean]

...We were not sure we would be able to travel this Sept but my dh came home yesterday and said 'BOOK IT'.

.....It just feels like something else is going on...like rooms are available Sept 13-20 but after that ...NOTHING. until Oct 10th...

There are a number of conferences going on - which are affecting the shoulder dates for the homeschool conference which is Sept. 14-16th. The RM called me today, and they may actually have to borrow rooms from our block within the next couple of weeks because they are selling out. We still have rooms available, but they are for a minimum 4-night stay, and must stay over the 14th and 15th. You also have to have some sort of proof at this point that you are actually attending the homeschool conference - either by purchasing a conference pass or other event ticket from us. DLR may ask us randomly to prove it, and for those who grabbed our shoulder dates and are checking out before our conference even starts, I can't substantiate their attendance.

If you want to go in September, our rates are $195 plus tax and resort fee for GCH, but you must attend the conference (even for a few minutes) and buy at least one event ticket from us.
www.notbacktoschooldays.com

 

[Boo Bear]

I wouldn't give up hope for staying on property. Just keep calling and you might get through. When I booked my 4th of July weekend stay last week for DLH Concierge, they said at first that there were no Concierge rooms for the DLH using the 35% Disney Visa Card holder discount. I'm also a deluxe AP member and he said those were gone too... but then after having talked to him for awhile about my situation, he pulled some strings and I got 3 nights at DLH with premium concierge room for about $340 per night before room charges and taxes. To me, that seems like a sweet deal for the holiday weekend. Sometimes there are perks for booking at the last second! They just had released the entertainment rates for AP holders too. I really lucked out with the CM gentleman I spoke with. So just keep trying and don't lose your spirit!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

No...we live in North Cali.

It's ok...we'll come up with Plan B...I am just glad I have an idea of why Sept is nuts.

Like I said..I think...we have been in Sept 4 previous times and NEVER had any trouble getting a room when booking in June..so I was thrown by this...

My hubby thought I was crazy for booking our Sept. trip in early April. He's not laughing at me now. Onsite prices nearly doubled and now aren't even available, and off-site (where we are staying) prices went from $99/night to $135/night, to not available.

 

[disneynerd420]

I'm glad you got the room. I hope you have a good time.

 

[4evrdisney]

We are staying at DLH Sep 19-25. This is the same week we went last year and last year it was a ghost town. It was AWESOME! Perfect weather with NO lines to speak of (except Nemo and TSMM of course). So - we planned the same week this year thinking it would be a great time to go again.

This is making me nervous. Does anyone have any insight on what this all means for the parks? Are they going to be packed??

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We are staying at DLH Sep 19-25. This is the same week we went last year and last year it was a ghost town. It was AWESOME! Perfect weather with NO lines to speak of (except Nemo and TSMM of course). So - we planned the same week this year thinking it would be a great time to go again.

This is making me nervous. Does anyone have any insight on what this all means for the parks? Are they going to be packed??

I wouldn't worry too much about it. My DH was at a convention last September in Anaheim and with the convention schedule would have only been able to head to the park on a Saturday evening of a 4-5 day conference. If anything you might notice more people in the park at night.

 

[Hester]

There are a number of conferences going on - which are affecting the shoulder dates for the homeschool conference which is Sept. 14-16th. The RM called me today, and they may actually have to borrow rooms from our block within the next couple of weeks because they are selling out. We still have rooms available, but they are for a minimum 4-night stay, and must stay over the 14th and 15th. You also have to have some sort of proof at this point that you are actually attending the homeschool conference - either by purchasing a conference pass or other event ticket from us. DLR may ask us randomly to prove it, and for those who grabbed our shoulder dates and are checking out before our conference even starts, I can't substantiate their attendance.

If you want to go in September, our rates are $195 plus tax and resort fee for GCH, but you must attend the conference (even for a few minutes) and buy at least one event ticket from us.
www.notbacktoschooldays.com

Regarding some sort of proof of attending the conference upon check-in:

What about people who are planning to buy tickets at the door?

 

[Sherry E]

I don't know if some of our more recent posters noticed that the OP was able to get a room onsite after all - so problem solved!!

Anyway, in my opinion, I suspect that we can't base this year's crowds in September on what last year's crowds were. There are too many variables. Last year, as I recall, they were not doing the 'get 5 nights for the price of 3' deal as they are this year. That is a great offer and I think that is having a lot to do with crowds and hotel bookings, and travel has to commence by September 26. There already are some great AP rates for parts of September at the hotels ($129 per night at PPH, for example), and those are booking up rapidly. There are at least 2 different PIN and/or SoCal exclusive hotel discounts floating around. More people have APs now that ever before (according to one of Al Lutz's columns), the economy is still horrible and people are trying to go to DLR during the cheaper time of year. Just as with last year, people were surprised by October crowds because they were unlike previous October crowds (and that was verified by Cast Members), I think that this year, September may catch some folks by surprise. Now September will probably still be less crowded than October, but I suspect it may be busier than expected in 2009.

 

[godalejunior]

There are a number of conferences going on - which are affecting the shoulder dates for the homeschool conference which is Sept. 14-16th. The RM called me today, and they may actually have to borrow rooms from our block within the next couple of weeks because they are selling out. We still have rooms available, but they are for a minimum 4-night stay, and must stay over the 14th and 15th. You also have to have some sort of proof at this point that you are actually attending the homeschool conference - either by purchasing a conference pass or other event ticket from us. DLR may ask us randomly to prove it, and for those who grabbed our shoulder dates and are checking out before our conference even starts, I can't substantiate their attendance.

If you want to go in September, our rates are $195 plus tax and resort fee for GCH, but you must attend the conference (even for a few minutes) and buy at least one event ticket from us.
www.notbacktoschooldays.com

So do we need to show proof of attendance or not? I am so confused. I booked the 15th to the 20th before the deadline as it was marketed that we did not have to attend the conference. Do we need to attend now?

 

[CoMickey]

So do we need to show proof of attendance or not? I am so confused. I booked the 15th to the 20th before the deadline as it was marketed that we did not have to attend the conference. Do we need to attend now?

I would like to know this as well. I booked the 11th and 12th of Sept. before the deadline of June 1. Do we have to buy an event ticket now to show proof?

 

[godalejunior]

I would like to know this as well. I booked the 11th and 12th of Sept. before the deadline of June 1. Do we have to buy an event ticket now to show proof?

I got onto their website and it is $20 for a ticket. I went ahead and bought one just in case I get asked at check in. I should be okay since the convention is going on while I am there...

 

[godalejunior]

On another board a member indicated she was called by DLR today and questioned if she was attending the convention......

 

[bronko78]

Wow! What did she tell them?

 

[godalejunior]

Sounds like she told them she was coming back to attend but the night she was booked for was not over the actual convention...

 

[joeysmommy]

I know!
I ran into the same problem when trying to book a room at Hojo's Sept 19-23. They told me there is a convention that week. I know that the HM doesn't usually open til around the 25th of Sept so I knew it had to be a convention.
I ended up having to book a pirate family suite at Hojo's- will be a nice surprise for my pirate loving sons, but more than I wanted to spend.

I can't afford the GCH this year and I find that DLH and PPH are just as far of a walk thru DTD as Hojo's when the monorail is over crowded.

 

[Sherry E]

Okay, I guess I had better jump in here and put on the friendly moderator hat. Just so you all know, we had to lock a thread the other day (and delete some posts) that was focusing on getting convention tickets or discounted convention hotel rooms for people who are not convention attendees. One of our DIS-ers who is also a Cast Member posted and alerted everyone that DLR does not condone that sort of thing - essentially 'bypassing the system' - to get cheaper tickets. Clearly, it is one thing entirely if people are legitimately attending the conferences/conventions, and that is fine, but be careful with this discussion because I have a hunch many people who are not planning on attending conventions and conferences are trying to get these discounted hotel rooms, tickets, etc., too, and that is basically a no-no on the boards here and as far as DLR is concerned.

So just wanted to put that out there so you all know.

 

[godalejunior]

That is why I registered so there are no issues all the way around. DH said he wouldn't mind stopping by the booths also so I guess we are attending now!!!

I think the confusion comes when you are told you do not have to attend the conference (initially) and the organization needs to fill the rooms they purchased....and they offer the rate to you.

 

[Sparkleshine]

I am just glad that I booked at the very begining of May since our hotel has now gone up $437 for the 5 nights we are going.

 

[Burnt Toast]

I wont' droan on and on...but we are planning to go in Sept for 5 nights (9-20-26)...and there are NO ROOMS available at all at the Pier and the DLH..which is really ODD because I could book a suite in August...

Is there SOMETHING going on at those two hotels that lasts from Sept 20th into the second week in October...or are the really BOTH sold out?

Thanks!

August is not the same as September. Different months, different crowd levels, different occupancy levels, different conventions or events that might be in house or at the Anaheim Convention Center.