Is This Even Possible Anymore?....

[mickeys_princess_mom]

Was having a CalgonTakeMeAway moment while ago, and was just trying to picture myself in two weeks gone and soaking up some Magic. 'Back in the Day' when I was a tiny child , before online reservations and such , adventurous travelers just got in the car and went places, then found a hotel room somewhere when they go to their destination. Is it possible to get a room at any Disney resort if one just impulsively gets in the car and heads over? Does that ever work, or are the hotels always booked to capacity?....

[PAYROLL PRINCESS]

I think that would be hard to answer. It would depend on the time of year etc. However, with all the hotels in the area, I'm sure you could find something even if it's not on property. However, doing your homework, and planning ahead usually get you the best prices and the best location. It's kind of like trying to walk up and get ressies the same day for a restaurant in one of the parks.

So yes, you might be able to but maybe not where you want or for the price you want.

[mickeys_princess_mom]

So yes, you might be able to but maybe not where you want or for the price you want.

Oh, I think that would definitely be true. I just wondered if anyone's ever done that and successfully got a room onsite?...Nice to fantasize about--just take off and go.

[Strmchsr]

You can definitely do it, but as noted, the price would be high. Resorts are only at 100% capacity maybe one or two weeks per year. But just picking up and going to stay onsite you'd probably have to pay full rack rate.

[BrerGnat]

Well, no not really. You can't just show up and ask if there is a room available. You would still be directed to call the central reservations line and then THEY will tell you where you can go with an available room.

And then, you're paying rack rate.

It can be done, just not so "on a whim" as you describe. Although, if you are just talking about finding a hotel room in Orlando on any given day, that would not be hard at all.

[Ian]

Well, no not really. You can't just show up and ask if there is a room available. You would still be directed to call the central reservations line and then THEY will tell you where you can go with an available room.

Definitely not true. I walked up and got a room at All Stars once without calling. Just went to the front desk, told them I had arrived a day early unplanned, they took my credit card and driver's license, and gave me a room key.

FWIW I've never seen that sign as you exit Magic Kingdom when it didn't say "Resort Rooms Available."

Go for it!

[Scar]

You would still be directed to call the central reservations line ...

... and to add to Ian's post, even if there is no availability at that particular resort, the CM at check in will make the call for you.

[lawgirl]

I think the key to planning and booking ahead for us is saving hundreds of dollars. I can't imagine driving up to AKL and just asking for whatever room they have available! It would cost a fortune. Not to mention alot of people would miss out on the free dining promo.

It would be fun to jump in the car and just be spontaneous (my dad did that in the 70's and got the penthouse suite at the Contemporary for about $75 a night...that will never happen again), but in this day and age it pays big time to plan ahead! I guess if money is no object then go for it

[MissMaryPoppins]

My parents did something similar once back in the 80's. We were staying just outside of Disney World and my father was not happy with the hotel so while were visiting the Contemporary my father told my mother to call reservations and see if there was a room available anywhere. My mom went to the lobby and called and she was able to get us a garden wing room at the Contemporary for the rest of our trip. That was the first time we stayed at a Disney resort.

[diz_girl]

Like a pp mentioned, it depends on when you want to go.

I've mentioned this story before, but in Sep '05, DH and I were driving from NJ (actually, DH was riding his motorcycle and I followed behind in my beloved Jetta TDI that I just sold a week ago ). I actually had my own bike, but I was an inexperienced rider, so I thought that a 2500 mile trip was a bit too ambitious for me. Anyway, we knew where we wanted to stay, but we didn't want to lock ourselves into an arrival date, so we didn't book our room. I checked the WDW Websites up to the day we left and I knew that there were plenty of rooms available.

So when we were nearing FL, I called the WDW reservation number and booked room at WL for that night. Standard view, rack rate, but our room was #2125, which is one of the handicapped rooms off the lobby that overlook the courtyard. We loved the room and had a great time.

[Scrappy2]

I think it really depends on when you go. Our last trip we were going to drive part of the way and spend the night on the road and get up early and drive in. As we got closer to Orlando we stopped at several hotels at several exits and nothing. Gator Nationals in town (drag racing). We then figured we would just go on to Disney. I started calling to get reservations that night and Disney was booked. I even called the hotels in Lake Buena Vista and they were booked. Called several of the larger chain hotels in Orlando and they were booked. finally found a hotel at the turn pike. Not the best hotel but oh well. We had a place to stay. I will never try that again. It was very stressful!

[acetate]

Reading this thread made me think to ask is it possible to just drive over to Pop Century for instance when you have no prior reservation? I'm asking because when I drove there before I of course had already made reservations and when I got there a guy at the gate asked my name and gave me a parking pass to put in the window of my car. I was thinking if I just drove up with nothing he might tell me I can't go in there or something.

[brownie]

Reading this thread made me think to ask is it possible to just drive over to Pop Century for instance when you have no prior reservation? I'm asking because when I drove there before I of course had already made reservations and when I got there a guy at the gate asked my name and gave me a parking pass to put in the window of my car. I was thinking if I just drove up with nothing he might tell me I can't go in there or something.

Just tell him or her why you're there. You'll probably still have to show ID but they should let you in.

[Scar]

I was thinking if I just drove up with nothing he might tell me I can't go in there or something.

Just tell them you want to spend money at the resort... they'll let you in.

[minnie04]

Yes you can!! I just did it during Spring Break. I stayed at the Movies for 3 nights and decided to stay one more night. I called all the off property hotels I could think of that were in my price range and close to Disney property (I was traveling alone with my DS). And they were all booked to capacity. I said let me just try on property and the first place I called was Pop. They had plenty of rooms open. Mind you this was at 1:00AM (we hit the parks all day and figured how hard would it be to grab a room off property for one night) well Thank God Pop was available. I felt very safe all week staying alone with my DS on property and would do it all over again....

[Cinderelley]

I think this would be fun. If I didn't live so far away, I would try it. We are an adventurous type of family though. We wouldn't have a set resort in mind or any must do things. Although we do plan out our annual vacation, on small trips around here we will just up and go.

[mickeys_princess_mom]

Yes you can!! I just did it during Spring Break. I stayed at the Movies for 3 nights and decided to stay one more night. I called all the off property hotels I could think of that were in my price range and close to Disney property (I was traveling alone with my DS). And they were all booked to capacity. I said let me just try on property and the first place I called was Pop. They had plenty of rooms open. Mind you this was at 1:00AM (we hit the parks all day and figured how hard would it be to grab a room off property for one night) well Thank God Pop was available. I felt very safe all week staying alone with my DS on property and would do it all over again....

Now, this we actually have been able to do. DH got sick on our 30th anniversary trip. We'd gotten a great deal at GF--plus a fantastic upgrade to a lobby room, and we spent most of the time in the room. I was upset the last day, and the concierge, who had been wonderful to us, said that we could stay two more days, with the same great rate, in the same room if we wanted to! Unfortunately my DH just wanted to get home.