Mamma_Eagle 1 Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 So disappointed today when trying to book our upcoming January/ February family vacation at Fort Wilderness. NOTHING was available. We wanted two weeks. Our dates were flexible all over those 2 months. Nothing. We were flexible as to whether we had preferred, premium, full-hook up or even the pet loop was optional since we won't have our dog with us this year but love the fur babies. Nothing. So, after some digging around, I found out that tons of people are booking 1 "throw-away" night at the campsites during Jan. and Feb. so they can qualify for something - not sure what it is - suspect it might be so they can get FP+ onsite status but totally not sure. The extremely frustrating thing about it is that they are not even staying that one night. The loops will be empty and my family won't get to camp as we'd planned. What do you all know abou it ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Roller ... aka Ed 351 Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 Jason is traveling home right now, but I would let him try to find you something. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mamma_Eagle 1 Posted November 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 I feel a bit stupid but who is Jason ? I'm suspecting he's a TA ? Thanks :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Momof6....aka Marty 769 Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 Here is the link to our site sponsors: http://www.fortfiends.net/_/misc/support-our-site-sponsors-r259 Jason's contact info is on there. :waycool: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mamma_Eagle 1 Posted November 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 Thank you, Marty! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
h2odivers...Ray 952 Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Try booking 30 days at a time. Then if your able to get the reservation go back and cancel the days you don't want. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
h2odivers...Ray 952 Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 And you can also try contacting Jason. But you've already received that advise. Lol. He's helped us out in the past and I'm sure he can help you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy and Grandma 739 Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 So, after some digging around, I found out that tons of people are booking 1 "throw-away" night at the campsites during Jan. and Feb. so they can qualify for something - not sure what it is - suspect it might be so they can get FP+ onsite status but totally not sure. That rumor has been floating for several years on another site and it has never been substantiated. Weekends seem to fill up with locals, at least it has the last several years along with the "Snowbirds" that move in, us included. So that is probably more the cause of your problem as well as Disney's antiquated system than so called "throw-aways". Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mamma_Eagle 1 Posted November 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Some may find this throw away only a rumor but I can't help but compare this ridiculous situation to the previous years we've had the campgrounds practically all to ourselves in January and February without a lick of trouble getting the reservations.I was given a link to this article. I think it appropriate for this situation: http://www.wdwinfo.com/the-great-throwaway-room-debate.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 I just looked for most of January, and most of February, if you book seperate reservations - Sun - Fri morning, you can get pretty much any level of campsite, then keep trying to fill the middle weekend as time gets closer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mamma_Eagle 1 Posted November 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Thank you, Carol! My TA of many years retired recently and the new one (bless her heart for trying!) probably isn't very familiar with Fort Wilderness.if we book seperate ressies do we have to switch campsites ? I know that sounds silly but I'd hate to have to do that. I may need to contact Jason when he returns. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 If you book the same level, and "link" the reservations, there shouldn't be a problem and you should be able to keep the same site Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Jason should be home any time now. Send him a private message or email. He may be able to look for you tonite Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HappyRedhead......Betsy 16 Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 I just looked for most of January, and most of February, if you book seperate reservations - Sun - Fri morning, you can get pretty much any level of campsite, then keep trying to fill the middle weekend as time gets closer.I just had to do this myself. I booked Jan 19 - 24, with the hope of adding Jan 17 and 18. After daily checks for 2 weeks I finally got the 17th then a week after that I was able to grab the 18th. Fortunately I was able to get the same level site for all days. Don't give up... hopefully since the 45 day mark for cancellations is coming up, people who snagged a site "just in case" will be canceling. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jrr800 0 Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 my TA is Nancy Spann and she does wonders. Her specialty is Disney and the Fort. . I have used her for years. admin note: we do not put phone numbers on our site unless they are sponsors here. This protects the people you mentioned on the site so that they are not called by random people and by spammers who may patrol our site. Your understanding is appreciated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mamma_Eagle 1 Posted November 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 Jason did it! He got our family the vacation we wanted at Fort Wilderness in January! Yippee!! :yourock: AC in A2......Aaron 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AC in A2......Aaron 693 Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 Jason did it! He got our family the vacation we wanted at Fort Wilderness in January! Yippee!! :yourock:Jason is the man. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Starbuc71 162 Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Pretty sad these days you can't plan a last minute weekend trip let alone a 2 month in advance weekend trip by going online and booking it. We have had to stoop to bucking the system and booking 28 days then having to cancel. Blasphemy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twiceblessed....nacole 433 Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Jason is the man. ^this^ :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Katman1356...Jason 1,140 Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Jason did it! He got our family the vacation we wanted at Fort Wilderness in January! Yippee!! :yourock:Glad I could help your family out. :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Duane 151 Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Who was that masked man?! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BigTom 76 Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 The only way to have available sites at any time is to increase the price until most cannot afford to pay that much and non of us want to pay more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy and Grandma 739 Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Jason did it! He got our family the vacation we wanted at Fort Wilderness in January! Yippee!! :yourock: Jason is the man.You know if you keep that up he will be impossible to deal with. :rofl2: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Starbuc71 162 Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 The fort needs to become TA reservation only the way things are going. I remember people thought years ago with the addition of the premium sites that Disney finally did it and priced a campsite out of people's reach at over $100 a night. Some even boycotted the fort for over a year, but eventually people learned to pay the high price, the economy got better, people realized that $130 for a concrete pad with all the Disney resort amenities was a bargin and RV sales started to improve. The fort is now a cash cow with little upkeep compared to a huge resort. Does Disney care that you can't book a weekend trip online, he'll no. They know the TA will do it for them. It's really getting out of control Quote Link to post Share on other sites
michelb 3 Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 The only way to have available sites at any time is to increase the price until most cannot afford to pay that much and non of us want to pay more. Disney could easily expand FW and add a loop or two (or five). It's not as if it's only at XMas or around Spring Break or summer that sites are hard to get; it's year round. I really have no idea how much it would cost them to add another loop but I'm sure they have the space and even if this new loop is only at 50% capacity for the year, I'm sure they would pay for it very quickly (50% capacity of an avg $90 / night is still $16k / year, spread that over 5-10 years and it's not hard for it to be profitable). They could even easily add a new "Extra Large site loop (maybe with pull-throughs)" at $150 / night avg and I bet you that would be 85% booked for the year (85% capacity of an avg $150 / night would be $46k / year). (Just so it's clear, that amount would be per site - if they add 30 sites, they'd make that times 30. I'm not in contruction but I just don't see adding loop for costing over $500k-$1 million. At that price, they would recoup the investment of my modest 50% occupancy loop in 1 or 2 years) IMHO, I think Disney doesn't really care about FW. The profit margin on it is good enough that it's not worth tearing down to build another premium resort but I wouldn't be surprised if that's the long, long term plan (leave FW as is without putting much into it until we really need the land and then we'll tear it down). As it stands, I don't think they mind that it's often hard to make reservations as it makes people commit to making reservations far ahead of time. Their cancellation policy is great (because the know it's likely going to be booked up again as fast as it's cancelled) but with sites being difficult to get, people will reserve for XMas one year out and once the reservation is done, it's less likely they'd cancel it than if they hadn't made the reservation to begin with. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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