Whats going on Early December?

[puzzles]

We have chosen early December for our trip. I have a discount code that I got in email. The dates in Dec that the pin code covers is Dec 7-14. So we decided to go those days. BUT none of the resorts seem to have any rooms available. What is going on that week that would make it so hard to find a room? There are 5 of us so we need to go with one of the deluxe hotels.

I asked for Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Yacht Club and Beach Club. The only rooms available were like concierge and VIP suites. We cant afford that!

I may have to rethink the whole thing now. Do you think its worth it for me to just keep calling and hoping people cancel?

 

[anne930]

Pop Warner happens the 2nd week of December - I think they usually stay in the value resorts, though. I would keep trying. We usually go for a long weekend around the same time & we've never had a problem getting a room. It's pretty early. There are probably big blocks of rooms being held for some reason - I'm sure they'll open up long before your trip.

 

[tearieam]

I'm there the same date at ASMo. We got the flyer early Feb and booking needed to be done by March 31. Sounds like they are going to be busy that week.

 

[Alaska Catdog]

We'll be at the yacht club the first part of December. We booked a AAA rate room and saved a bunch o' cash off rack. This is our first time with a AAA discount and we were pleasantly surprised. We usually get an AP rate but we won't have a valid one then and we aren't sure we want to re-up our APs. Good luck, keep trying. We booked the room rack at first then applied the AAA rate to it once we decided to get a AAA membership. We've always been successful applying discounts to rooms booked at rack rate. I don't think that would work for a package, we just book room only. Keep calling, rooms will open up. Another option, since you have such a large family is to check availability of a villa. Disney will rent out their empty DVC rooms to non-DVC folk, you get more room and it's been comparable to a Deluxe room when we've done it in the past. We've stayed at the Boardwalk Villas and the Saratoga Springs Resort this way. It might be a good option for a larger family and there may be better availability. Good luck.

 

[letthewookiewin]

Like the OP said, Pop Warner is there. Their dates are December 7-14th. Then December 11-15 Mousefest is at WDW (from Dec. 7-11t they are on the Disney Wonder). On another thread someone said that they are going to MVMCP on the 11th.

I booked our trip in January (no code) for the Poly and was suprised that I was able to get a MK view.

If it were me, I would keep trying. I hope you are able to get one.

 

[bamor]

I received a PIN code as well for 40% off but it had to be booked by 3/31.
We were able to get BWI, standard view room for 12/7 to 12/14.
They also offered me CSR for $89.00.......at that price you might want to look at two rooms. The POP Warner kids will be at the values mostly.
I've also read on touring plans, most days are 4 and 5 on the crowd calender.
Good Luck.

 

[lorasmom]

A lot of people go for Pop Warner and for the Christmas events. I know I tried to book early last year, but couldn't get the room I wanted, and had to check back later - eventually, I got exactly what we needed! GL!

 

[luvdisney24]

We have chosen early December for our trip. I have a discount code that I got in email. The dates in Dec that the pin code covers is Dec 7-14. So we decided to go those days. BUT none of the resorts seem to have any rooms available. What is going on that week that would make it so hard to find a room? There are 5 of us so we need to go with one of the deluxe hotels.

I asked for Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Yacht Club and Beach Club. The only rooms available were like concierge and VIP suites. We cant afford that!

I may have to rethink the whole thing now. Do you think its worth it for me to just keep calling and hoping people cancel?

Just a guess here but it could be that there are rooms available for those dates but not with the discount code. There may only be a certain amount of rooms allocated to that code and once those are sold out, then they're gone.

 

[BKMETV]

Just a guess here but it could be that there are rooms available for those dates but not with the discount code. There may only be a certain amount of rooms allocated to that code and once those are sold out, then they're gone.

I'm pretty sure that's what happened...in Poly anyways. I got a 20% off code and when I called to book we had to play around with my dates...there weren't that many choices left. There were no AAA rate rooms available either. (This was back in Feb so I wouldn't be surprised if all the discounted rooms are gone!!)

 

[properlywarnedyebe]

Dh & I were wondering the same thing. We booked AKL (savannah) Dec 7-13 WITHOUT a pin code/ paying full price, we tried this week to switch over to the Monorail resorts to be closer for MVMCP- Cont.-Completely booked, Poly-only Lagoon Concierge, and GF-only Garden View. We wanted Poly Garden view No dice!!! We checked the web & CRO- same on both. I don't think POP Warner is staying at those Resorts at all. Maybe Mousefest is partly to blame. But the Pin Codes have nothing to do with the sell outs. It seems that a lot of people are going that week and wanted to stay as close to the MK as possible for the MVMCPs. I guess we will see how crowded it is. We know when we have gone in July & April the Poly had plenty of rooms available.
We can also blame this:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/tickets/wonderful/index?id=ValueWeeksLandingPage
It's the only week highlighted in December, Disney knows how to Market!!!
Good Luck everyone- try to enjoy your trips and have a Magical time!

 

[Wildflowerz]

That's exactly when we're going. And we just booked last week and no problem finding a room. We're doing a family suite at ASMusic. If you're just using the website to find a room, that might be the problem. I've had nothing but problems with that silly thing!

 

[puzzles]

I was on the phone this morning for almost an hour with a very patient kind CM who found us a room using the pin code at the Beach Club. Its a std view room which is just fine. I am so excited. I am going to keep calling and try to get either the Polynesian or Wilderness Lodge, though, because those are the two resorts I really wanted to try.

SO thank you very much for all the info & insight. How much of a discount do you get with AAA? I wonder if that would be cheaper for us. Im a newly-single mom of 4 and I need to save money wherever possible. This trip is huge for us, and since there are 5 of us, we kind of have to stay deluxe. People have suggested two rooms, but I dont feel comfortable letting the older ones have their own room (13 year old twin boys). I need a room large enough to fit us all.

If you can think of any other ideas, please share them with me. Thank you.

 

[Luv4Disney]

We're going the 6-14 and staying at SS through DVC. We're going to try and switch to AKL or BC next week.

 

[drcandon]

Hey All..

You have got to remember that Disney does the room block suffle and surprise..They send out codes and have a block of rooms for that, then they send out special strange offers with no codes but through the mail PIN numbers and they have a block of rooms for that.

Also during that time of year they hold back block of rooms for people willing to pay the full price.

Also they only release a selection of rooms on certain days - to balance out the load and get the higher price resorts filled - if not everyone would book in to the value and moderates - Disney has got to keep the deluxes running.

Don't forget the taping of the Disney parade is the first weekend in December that traditionally fills rooms for two days before and after the event - then they free up... Also going from Sat to Sat is a common thing for overseas and Canadian Disney folks ( like me) and usually that kills a set of rooms for those dates so Disney hold blocks of rooms open for Sat to Sat and Sun to Sun.

Also that week is the start of the POP warner madness - but that only messes up the value resorts - a block of rooms in those ones - so they are held until at least August until POP gets their act together and figures out that mess..

And finally the MOuse fest is on for that week - but they only arrive at Disney from the 11th or 12 th onward for 3 days and is only about 2000 folks - but Disney holds a block of rooms at each resort open for them as well..

Also AAA/CAA has deals with Disney for room blocks and who knows what that deal is.

So if you add all that uncertainty up and all that messing around you can see how any week can be a mess, but the first of December especially so...

IF you want ot verify the facts on this - just read as many postings on various Disney sites and add up the facts...

So it all amounts to a polite version of the old bait and switch routine.