Resort discount availability question

[Canuckster]

I understand that resorts offer only a certain number of rooms for a general public discount or free dining promotion.

Does anyone have any idea how long the discount is usually available before it sells out? Are some resorts ever sold out within hours of being officially offered? Days? Weeks?

Also, does anyone have any inkling of which resorts tend to sell out of discounted/FD rooms before others? I am asking about deluxes in particular…

[Keri]

Yes, it is possible for resorts to sell out within hours. I remember being on hold to modify a reservation at CBR once when a promotion came out. I saw it online with the promotion and dialed the phone shortly before 7am EST. Over two hours later, I was still on hold, but it was no longer showing availability online. When I finally got through, the castmember confirmed it was not available. I explained that I did the right thing by calling to modify - that I could have booked a new reservation as a courtesy hold online and then cancelled the original, but that is the way Disney wants it done. After discussing a few more details, she was able to get guest services to override it and we were able to secure the offer on the existing reservation, but that sort of override is not the norm. I just always remember that particular booking and watching it disappear.

Availability can depend in part on time of year. Wilderness Lodge is tougher to get with the promotions in December since the resort is so popular during the holidays. Contemporary Garden Wing is tough, too, as one of the least expensive deluxe options.

[vicki_c]

I have heard that POFQ sells out of discounts faster than the other mods. Other than that, I don't have any great insight but it makes sense that WL and AKL may sell out quicker than the other deluxes, since they are less expensive to start with.

[bnoble]

It is possible to sell out quickly. It is also possible that some resorts may not have any room inventory at all for particular dates under any particular promotion. If Disney has (or thinks they will) come close to selling a resort out on a particular night they won't discount anything at all.

Promotions are one of those "take what you can get" things. If you have your heart set on a particular resort/view, it would be wise to book it. There is almost always the AAA discount. It is modest, but better than nothing.

[Canuckster]

Thanks for the info. We have the Beach Club booked now for our early Nov trip, but if this rumored FD promotion comes true, we may try to switch to the Polynesian garden view. Otherwise I will try to get the FD for BC, YC, or BW.