All full???

[Gabe1]

I've had luck when I've tried through our local travel agents when no rooms are available. They check through big block travel groups like Apple, GoGoTravel even Walt Disney Travel Corp., who often have rooms blocked. I know My local agent was able one year to get into POR through WDTC when I couldn't through WDW Ressies. The bonus for having to sit in the office for an hour and a half always has been there has been a perk or two added to the packages, free mini golf, free round of golf, free bike rental, those types.

Also you might want to check the Hilton that is across from DTD, they don't have WDW buses however they do have EMH privileges.

 

[luv]

Try Expedia and those sites. One time, I couldn't get the Poly from Disney, but I got it on Expedia for the regular Disney prices.

I once tried to get a room for two night, very last-minute, in October. Disney said they were all full, but could get me a room at WL for over $800 a night. I went offsite, lol.

I don't know if they just shut down parts of the hotels or if they sometimes fill up in October or what the deal is.

 

[Vader2112]

I was point blank Told there were no AP discounts being offered this October as for it being out for months that is not true. The current AP promo ends 9/26. I have never had an issue booking a room at WDW in October right up until a week before we go. October crowds have pciked up in recent years but not at this level.

 

[EvilQueen-T]

I was point blank Told there were no AP discounts being offered this October as for it being out for months that is not true. The current AP promo ends 9/26. I have never had an issue booking a room at WDW in October right up until a week before we go. October crowds have pciked up in recent years but not at this level.

Me too (we live in north florida so we sometimes do last minute trips) so this was weird imo.

 

[bethymouse]

I am really beginning to hate the discounts! You have to be a planner and really know when you're going!
The BC/YC/BWI have all steered me in the direction of more expensive rooms. There are no standard ones left! The Contemporary basically had nothing! This is nuts! I have searched just about every available date into December! I can't afford a non-discounted room! I can do w/o free dining. What am I going to do in 2014?

 

[Disvillain63]

Hotels will close sections/floors for business reasons during certain seasons. If Disney wants ALL resorts at 60% occupancy, then they will close sections...hence resorts appear to have no availability when they have reached 60%. Once the other resorts have reached the 60%, then they will raise the mark to 70% and continue the process. They do this to save on labor costs, cleaning supplies, etc...

Even checking undiscounted room, it is showing no availability at this moment...in two weeks, it could show availability.

 

[EvilQueen-T]

Hotels will close sections/floors for business reasons during certain seasons. If Disney wants ALL resorts at 60% occupancy, then they will close sections...hence resorts appear to have no availability when they have reached 60%. Once the other resorts have reached the 60%, then they will raise the mark to 70% and continue the process. They do this to save on labor costs, cleaning supplies, etc...

Even checking undiscounted room, it is showing no availability at this moment...in two weeks, it could show availability.

understandable from a business perspective but frustrating from this end.

 

[Graham9]

We have just managed to squeeze a booking. It surprised us with almost everything booked solid.

 

[luv]

understandable from a business perspective but frustrating from this end.

It isn't understandable to me! I think that, from a business perspective, if you can make money, you should.

The idea that they save money by shutting down is silly. If that saved money, they could shut down all the rooms and save even more.

If they have rooms and people want to rent them, they should take the money. I understand closing off floors to keep people in one area! But turning customers away? IMO, that's bad business.

Furthermore, a LOT of people stay in Disney hotels because they hear horror stories about offsite traffic...or because they don't realize they can get bigger, nicer rooms in places that have much better service and pay a lot less for them.

Once Disney encourages people to offsite, they might not come back. They might find out that the Gaylord Palms adds about 90 seconds to the drive or that the Sheraton Vistana adds 5-10 minutes.

Or they might decide to go to Uni instead.

If it were me, I'd sell people a room if they wanted to buy one.

 

[IWantMyMagicBand]

Book through a travel agent. WDW will have a set allocation as will the travel agents, so WDW could be sold out but there still could be rooms at the travel agents, once it gets nearer the time, WDW will take back unsold rooms and release them on the website. It's the same with airline seats. I used to work in the hotel industry, mum is a travel agent. Sometimes I can't book a flight, but she can.
Or phone WDW, the agent should be able to see what is available.

 

[IWantMyMagicBand]

Or, my dad has a 3 bedroom at Bahama Bay, Davenport. I can see if it's available?

 

[tare]

Go with a moderate then.

 

[EvilQueen-T]

Book through a travel agent. WDW will have a set allocation as will the travel agents, so WDW could be sold out but there still could be rooms at the travel agents, once it gets nearer the time, WDW will take back unsold rooms and release them on the website. It's the same with airline seats. I used to work in the hotel industry, mum is a travel agent. Sometimes I can't book a flight, but she can.
Or phone WDW, the agent should be able to see what is available.

That's what we ended up doing. We booked at AKL. I love the resort but had hoped to be either on the monorail loop or epcot resort area where we could walk in the event we both wish to drink but staying at AKL is certainly no hardship lol.

 

[pixargal]

That's what we ended up doing. We booked at AKL. I love the resort but had hoped to be either on the monorail loop or epcot resort area where we could walk in the event we both wish to drink but staying at AKL is certainly no hardship lol.

Did you look into availability at the Swan or Dolphin? Not Disney, but within walking distance to Epcot.

 

[sgtmgd]

Me too (we live in north florida so we sometimes do last minute trips) so this was weird imo.

Try calling the timeshare store and see if points are available to rent..so far our experience with them have been quite spot on http://www.dvc-resales.com/

 

[Polydweller]

It isn't understandable to me! I think that, from a business perspective, if you can make money, you should.

The idea that they save money by shutting down is silly. If that saved money, they could shut down all the rooms and save even more.

As a hotelier, I can closing blocks of rooms in some seasons does make money in the sense of not spending unrecoverable funds. The equation includes more than the money you make on the room. There is also the cost of operating the room that has to be calculated. There are circumstances when the amount of revenue you would receive is outweighed by the costs of housekeeping and other staff, supplies for the room, electrical charges for an occupied room and other factors. The actual factors can be different from hotel to hotel. And yes, part of the calculation includes looking at potential lost business. But there are definitely times when the cost of operating is not worth the potential revenue.

Now I don't know the factors that Disney uses. But they definitely do and I can see the telltale signs at the Poly during low seasons. An easy one for all to sed is a floor that has the exact same balcony and curtain set ups in mid afternoon. They're all in default setup at a time when that would be very unlikely. See that a couple of days in a row and you have a strong hint.

 

[luv]

As a hotelier, I can closing blocks of rooms in some seasons does make money in the sense of not spending unrecoverable funds. The equation includes more than the money you make on the room. There is also the cost of operating the room that has to be calculated. There are circumstances when the amount of revenue you would receive is outweighed by the costs of housekeeping and other staff, supplies for the room, electrical charges for an occupied room and other factors. The actual factors can be different from hotel to hotel. And yes, part of the calculation includes looking at potential lost business. But there are definitely times when the cost of operating is not worth the potential revenue.

Now I don't know the factors that Disney uses. But they definitely do and I can see the telltale signs at the Poly during low seasons. An easy one for all to sed is a floor that has the exact same balcony and curtain set ups in mid afternoon. They're all in default setup at a time when that would be very unlikely. See that a couple of days in a row and you have a strong hint.

Disney must agree that sending people off their property is smarter than renting them rooms. Again, not how I'd do it, but they do seem to agree that it's the smart business move.

 

[EvilQueen-T]

yes swan and dolphin i checked and i checked a bunch of rooms in the moderate category (my favorites are por and pofq) but my husband doesn't get to go anywhere that isn't work related very often and said he'd like to stay deluxe so i was looking there first plus was trying first to be able to monorail or walk to/from epcot just in case. i ended up calling and getting a room at akl which i like and he's never stayed at. i don't risk dui's so we'll just drive or taxi as needed since i get car sick on the bus lol. thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[jkl2000]

WL seems to be showing some openings for your dates now - not sure if you knew that already or are interested at this point...

 

[EvilQueen-T]

WL seems to be showing some openings for your dates now - not sure if you knew that already or are interested at this point...

thanks. i did notice it but decided on akl for two reasons...just a little closer to epcot and my husband has stayed at wl but never at akl so something new is always fun. very much appreciate your and help and everyone's input tho.