When does Christmas booking start? (2008)

KristinU

DIS Veteran
Joined
Mar 25, 2000
Messages
4,079
I think we've decided to spend Christmas 2008 tenting at the Fort! I don't think booking is available that far out yet - when doe sit open up? We are DVC members and would like to book using our points, which I understand is allowed at 11 months out...but I'm thinking that it might be booked up by the time the 11 m onth window rolls around. Any advice, suggestions, etc?

Oh, and is Christmas week nuts? Would we be better off going down the week before? DH typically gets the week between Christmas and New Years off, so it would be nice to use that time.

TIA!
 
I believe 499 is the magic number for booking room reservations. For Christmas 2008 that's around the 2nd week of August. I will be booking a site then for the week before Christmas. :banana:

In Dec 2003 we were there from 12/19 to 12/27. The first few days weren't bad at all. The closer it gets to Christmas the more crowded it gets. We absolutely loved spending Christmas with Mickey and look forward to doing it again. Only drawback during that time of the year can be the cool weather. It can get downright cold sometimes, which it did that year. My DW was thoroughly convinced that it wasn't ever as warm there as everyone said. Our first 2 trips in Mar 1998 and Dec 2003 were unseasonably cool. I managed to prove to her otherwise with our trip just this June.
 
I think kc5grw is right. Basically you can reserve out 500 days in advance (whatever the calendar works out to be for Christmas 2008) for a regular ressie. If you have an 11-month window, you might make a regular ressie and then later see if they will switch it to the DVC points <not very good advice I will admit....:rolleyes1 >

With regards to crowds at that time I looked the Unofficial Guide to WDW crowd blog/estimator before it went behind password protection. Basically it confirms what you might already suspect. People come en masse on the weekend before Christmas Day and place is jammed (10 out of 10 rating until New Years).

We have a ressie for this year to come in the week before Christmas (Tuesday) and get out on Sunday 12/23 as the hordes arrive. Christmas is beautiful at WDW but I hate crowds and want to avoid them as much as possible but I also have to work with the elementary, middle, and high school calendars where my kids are. :confused3. The days before Christmas week should great crowd-wise. Now I have to navigate around MVMCP though.

Good luck!

Bama ED :dance3:

PS- only 60 days till college football kicks off.......Roll Tide Roll
 
Thanks guys, I appreciate the info! I think we may look at the week before then leave on the 26th or so...seems like it might be a good solution (plus it would be less DVC points!) :thumbsup2

Kc5grw, we've been in January a couple of times and you're right - it can be chilly...(or it can be really nice, you never know), but we're kind of coming to the conclusion that we'd rather have to wear sweatshirts during the day than melt and feel sluggish. We're usually early fall folks, but it can be pretty warm!

Bama_ed, I think I may book with CRO then try to swicth at my 11 month window. It might involve just a new reservation through DVC if it is available, then cancelling through CRO.

Thanks again!
 

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info! I think we may look at the week before then leave on the 26th or so...seems like it might be a good solution (plus it would be less DVC points!) :thumbsup2

Kc5grw, we've been in January a couple of times and you're right - it can be chilly...(or it can be really nice, you never know), but we're kind of coming to the conclusion that we'd rather have to wear sweatshirts during the day than melt and feel sluggish. We're usually early fall folks, but it can be pretty warm!
I agree with you completely! We'd much rather have to bundle up a little than sweat our brains out. We always go in early December and love the weather then. We took an extra trip this year in early May and swear we will never go when it is hot again. It wasn't worth it. They had an unusual heat wave the whole time we were there and we were miserable. Never again! Give me December any time!

Bama_ed, I think I may book with CRO then try to swicth at my 11 month window. It might involve just a new reservation through DVC if it is available, then cancelling through CRO.

Thanks again!

This sounds like a great plan. It's definitely what I would do. You're covered either way.
 

PixFuture Display Ad Tag




New Posts









Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE














DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter

Back
Top