I know the 1st week of Dec. is busy with Pop Warner and DVC-ers using their points, but I am getting concerned that the website is showing only Fort Wilderness and SSR having availability.

Is the internet bookings just not showing all that is available, or is the 1st week of Dec. truly booked solid?

I definitely think it's worth calling and talking to someone in person. Also, sometimes rooms are still available through groups like AAA that have blocks of rooms held for them.

I definitely think it's worth calling and talking to someone in person. Also, sometimes rooms are still available through groups like AAA that have blocks of rooms held for them.
What she said.
It could very well be that availability is limited but its worth talking to a live person to make sure that is the case.

What were your first resort choices?

I agree, calling may help, also, make sure you call early in the morning(like 7am WDW time). Not sure if that still works, but the unpaid or un deposited reservations used to cancel out at midnight, opening up rooms early AM. The best advise........keep calling..........they always have cancellations somewhere. Also, the closer you get to your dates, rooms may open up, if the tour operators that have blocked rooms dont sell, and they give the rooms back to central res. Hope it works for you!:geek:

I had this problem the other day on the WDW website. When I went to book just a room the dates I put in were unavailable, but when I "entered" the reservation page another way and clicked package deals vs. resort only I was able to get the dates. I don't know why it happened, maybe just a computer glitch. But, yeah, I would third the thought on calling an actual person.

I find the disney website to be totally useless. You have to call to get any reliable information. I've been shut out online only to call and find out there are rooms/rates available.

Thanks, I will try and call when (and if) the kiddos take a nap this afternoon. I babysit my nephews, and the trip is a surprise for them, so I don't want them overhearing anything.

My preferred resorts are Wilderness Lodge (Ideally the villas, but I am not holding out hope for that, lol) or the Polynesian. I think we will end up taking my nephews to MK a lot so something close to get them back for breaks (and naps ... well naps in theory, lol) would be ideal.

Ds and the nephews would probably like the cabins, but they seem a bit remote for me -- when dh, ds and I went to Fort Wilderness to eat and look around, and I saw the folks with golf carts, it clued me in that the place has to be spread out -- dh, ds, and I would be fine, but the nephews have itty bitty legs so walking that much to get to eat and the boat would be an issue.

Is Disney really going to be *that* busy? Please tell me the slow season isn't a thing of the past -- this is going to be the first trip to WDW for my nephews, and my parents are meeting us there half way through the trip as well. I was thinking I chose a good time to go for an uncrowded experience (other than Pop Warner and DVC-ers) ... until I had the online booking issue, now I am paranoid. DH said that if it is going to be swamped, we should probably just change the dates -- that seems a bit drastic to me though.

Ah, well, there I go rambling, lol. Time to try and convince the fellas a nap is a good thing, so I can call and see what is available :)

thanks again :)

Mike and Mark did an interesting podcast recently about the loss of spontaneity, and it touched on the fact that Disney is doing a LOT to try to bump up the occupancy rates in the hotel. (And keep you on-site, and make you plan all your meals, and maybe your attraction order, etc)

Let us know if you have any luck!