Vacation Process

As a DVC member I simply book our room at SSR right at the 11 month window. Then I am assured of a "room". Then at the seven month window IF I want to change resorts I do that. In "exactly" 2 weeks I will try for a trade from SSR to AKL either concierge or Savana view. (PS I have never failed to get my requested change) AFTER that comes ADRs, flights, ME booking, renewing my APs, tables in Wonderland cards if needed etc. etc.

My most unique room reservation process took place one year when we were planning on going at Christmas. I figured it would be really difficult to get my reservations, so I plotted 11 months to the day that I would be arriving at OKW.

I remember calling on that first day from the airport in Las Vegas to make my first day reservation.

Called back every day for three more days until I had the four nights I wanted.

Not much effort and worth every ounce of it!

MT: At the risk of sounding stupid could you tell me why you had to call back every day to get the time slot (4 days) you wanted. I just call on the first day of the eleven month window and book all 14 or 15 days that I wantat that time, and I have never failed to get the reservation. Have I just been very lucky or what?

Very good question, and I wondered the same thing myself. When I called the first day, they would not book the entire time. I assumed it was because the computer would only lock in 11 months to the day.

I thought it was pretty dumb myself, and I hope what I had to do wasn't the norm.

But I do remember asking them specifically if they could book my entire trip, and I was told I would have to call back each day for the subsequent reservations.

I bet that's a process they've subsequently changed. I could see that making a lot of people irate.

That's what they used to do for the ADR's, though now if you're staying at a Disney resort, you can book up to 10 days as long as your check-in date is no more than 90 days ahead.

Also, we book the hotel first and FLIGHTS LAST! Those are the worst. You have to 1. get the cheapest price and 2. lock in the vacation after that--cancellation fees are horrible!

Yeah, that's no longer the policy. Now if you are booking a stay with DVC, or like Bali said, booking ADRs, it goes by the first day of your whole stay, and not to the exact day anymore.

I guess technically, the old way does make sense, mathematically anyway, but the new way is much more guest friendly.

Plus if you do it the other way, you have weirdos like us calling every day to extend our stay which isn't good value for your call center's time.

Although a pain to book that trip, it was also kind of fun. We left Las Vegas and went to Key West for a few days, so every day I called I was ALREADY on a fun trip, and working on another!

There are worse things to be doing in life than sitting in Key West at an outdoor cafe having breakfast and talking to Walt Disney World about a trip at Christmas!!

Ha ha! I can remember calling from London once to get my reservations/dining! Disney doesn't know what they put us through!

Brad: I am one of the apparent minority that books their flight as early as possible. My next trip is scheduled for 16 Jan 10 to 31 Jan 10 and I am impatiently waiting for Jet Blue to start booking flights during that period. Currently they are booking through I believe 10 Jan. They probably won't book the rest of Jan. for a few months and its driving me nuts. The earlier I can get everything done, the better I like it. Hours after booking my flight I will be booking my Magical Express portion of the trip.

Does anyone besides me check ADRs before they decide on their dates? It usually bodes well for a set of dates if I can get Le Cellier ADRs.