Any secrets to booking Yosemite Valley Lodge? -- GOT IT!!!

[JimMIA]

I know the booking opens at 7 AM California time, but I called right at 7 AM yesterday and got shut out (on hold 20 minutes).

Anybody got any tips on how to get lucky?

Is online better than phone? I've been having nothing but trouble with their online system being incredibly slow and not working most of the time..

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I don't mean to sound negative honestly we have stayed in some basic hotels and loved them. I can honestly say this was one of the most poorest places I have ever stayed. Like you I jumped through hoops to book it. Never again.. I would rather stay in a Holiday Inn outside the park..

I have spoken to people since said the same thing.

 

[JimMIA]

We've stayed there before. Rustic, but you can't beat the convenience.

 

[bcla]

Don't book for the peak periods. While it still sells out, it typically takes longer to do so for late fall to early spring.

 

[JimMIA]

We have to go in the early summer due to school and skating competition schedules.

You're supposed to be able to book a year and a day out, but the agent this morning told me they are booked through the end of June 2017 -- not sure how that's possible if you can only book 7 nights, but that's what she said.

The online system doesn't work no matter which browser I use. She said "some" people were able to use it successfully, but many are not. They apparently have no clue why. My guess is some other commercial renter is using a bot to grab everything.

 

[StageTek]

When you are limited to peak season and specific days I don't know of any tips on how to get lucky.
You either just get lucky or are left out. That place is crazy popular and way too small to handle
everyone who wants to stay there. I got lucky once with the online system but never again. And I
didn't use any trick or tip - just got lucky.

Need any suggestions outside of the park?

 

[bcla]

I haven't tried using Aramark's new Yosemite website. It could simply not have enough capacity.

As for being booked, understand that the one year window is for the start of a stay. Bookings done earlier may impact future availability. While unlikely, it's theoretically possible for a whole week to be unavailable as all bookings are for the same time window.

 

[JimMIA]

And the secret is...the online system DOES sometimes work.

Online is apparently available from sometime after midnight. Today was the first time I've seen it working, but at 6:30 this morning Miami time I got what we wanted!

 

[bcla]

And the secret is...the online system DOES sometimes work.

Online is apparently available from sometime after midnight. Today was the first time I've seen it working, but at 6:30 this morning Miami time I got what we wanted!

I can't find anything saying when the next "day" begins. Nothing on Aramark's website says it. Heck, I can't even find anything there indicating the availability 366 days in advance. Only the NPS website mentions this.

 

[JimMIA]

Yeah, I had the same problem...among other problems. It's a glitchy website, but all's well that ends well. We're staying there 4 nights.

I have to wait a couple of months to do our Wyndham reservations in SFO, and then my flights, but at least the key reservation is in place.

The timeline is 366 days (although I didn't see it on Aramark either), but I got it online 3 1/2 hours before they opened at 7 AM California time, so obviously the availability shows up online well before the phone lines open. One of their agents told me midnight, but that's 3AM here so I won't be checking.

And how weird is it that NPS actually has some correct info??? We'd never let that happen at EVER! I think we probably still mention Flamingo Lodge which blew away in Hurricane Wilma in 2005!

 

[bcla]

Yeah, I had the same problem...among other problems. It's a glitchy website, but all's well that ends well. We're staying there 4 nights.

I have to wait a couple of months to do our Wyndham reservations in SFO, and then my flights, but at least the key reservation is in place.

The timeline is 366 days (although I didn't see it on Aramark either), but I got it online 3 1/2 hours before they opened at 7 AM California time, so obviously the availability shows up online well before the phone lines open. One of their agents told me midnight, but that's 3AM here so I won't be checking.

And how weird is it that NPS actually has some correct info??? We'd never let that happen at EVER! I think we probably still mention Flamingo Lodge which blew away in Hurricane Wilma in 2005!

I thought that Katrina took it out and Wilma finished it for good. I was there around 2006 during the wet season. I didn't camp, but apparently camping was free. I suppose the drawback was the possibility of a storm.

Didn't see a crocodile though. I was told there was one that liked to hang around the marina.

 

[JimMIA]

I thought that Katrina took it out and Wilma finished it for good. I was there around 2006 during the wet season. I didn't camp, but apparently camping was free. I suppose the drawback was the possibility of a storm.

Didn't see a crocodile though. I was told there was one that liked to hang around the marina.

No, Katrina was horrible for New Orleans, but a non-event, bare-Cat 1 for us. Wilma was huge and bad across much of Florida because of the expanse of the storm. It pretty much totaled Flamingo and the park admin offices were closed for 3 MONTHS. (I know, I know...sigh)

There is no one American Crocodile at Flamingo. There are dozens; you just have to know where to look. We often see them swimming right alongside alligators. Complicated explanation. And there are hundreds in the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant cooling canals.

We even had a croc at Shark Valley last dry season. Shouldn't be there, but neither should Great White Herons. Critters just refuse to read the books!

Wet season is wet. I don't think there is ever a fee for hikeable backcountry primitive campsites. There is a fee for Wilderness Waterway campsites, and with the new fee explosion I'm not sure what those are.

Thanks for the help on the YOSE reservation. I posted in the hope that you'd have some insight because it's obvious you know the area very well.

 

[bcla]

No, Katrina was horrible for New Orleans, but a non-event, bare-Cat 1 for us. Wilma was huge and bad across much of Florida because of the expanse of the storm. It pretty much totaled Flamingo and the park admin offices were closed for 3 MONTHS. (I know, I know...sigh)

There is no one American Crocodile at Flamingo. There are dozens; you just have to know where to look. We often see them swimming right alongside alligators. Complicated explanation. And there are hundreds in the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant cooling canals.

We even had a croc at Shark Valley last dry season. Shouldn't be there, but neither should Great White Herons. Critters just refuse to read the books!

Wet season is wet. I don't think there is ever a fee for hikeable backcountry primitive campsites. There is a fee for Wilderness Waterway campsites, and with the new fee explosion I'm not sure what those are.

Thanks for the help on the YOSE reservation. I posted in the hope that you'd have some insight because it's obvious you know the area very well.

Well - I was reading that Katrina caused extensive damage to Flamingo Lodge. I thought I saw some interpretive sign at the remains of the lodge explaining it's demise. Both Katrina and Wilma are mentioned in this article.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article26515405.html

I think they were saying that there was one croc that really liked hanging out in a particular area. Also - I heard the alligators really avoid them.

I've been to Shark Valley. Took the tram tour although it was the last one of the day with only the driver providing narration and not a park ranger.

As for the free camping, it was at the Flamingo campground. Even when it was free I only saw maybe two sites being used. A storm had also gone through less than a week earlier, although it was a relative dud.

 

[JimMIA]

Well - I was reading that Katrina caused extensive damage to Flamingo Lodge. I thought I saw some interpretive sign at the remains of the lodge explaining it's demise. Both Katrina and Wilma are mentioned in this article.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article26515405.html

Yeah...you gotta love "...eco-chic!" Ten YEARS later, they have a prototype of something that will never be built. LMAO!

*****
BTW, remember the little canal on the entrance road at Shark Valley, between the highway and the entrance station? When you were there, the water was high and the canal was empty. But in the winter months, there are alligators and countless species of birds every 3 feet. Visitors actually walk from the visitor center back out there to see all the wildlife!

NPS is going to fill that canal in because they have unwanted fill from some project they are doing. They are going to eliminate one of the best wildlife viewing points in the park...but they don't know why.

They might build a road. For what? Don't know exactly, because it would be a road to nowhere since it only leads to a full parking lot (see the 200-300 cars parked outside alongside the highway in busy season -- even on weekdays).

Maybe for handicapped vehicles. Really...and where will they park? They'd get in quicker waiting in line with everyone else and parking in a regular space. If handicapped parking is available, of course they'd get it, but this limits them to 6 parking places rather than 120.

Maybe for buses. We'll contract with the Indians and they will run buses from their huge empty parking lot a half-mile away. Really? And the entry fees? Do the Indians collect those too? Have you seen the IRS investigations, lawsuits, etc? Do you think they'd be reliable, trustworthy partners? Do you think it's realistic that they would want to run a bus service for the National Park Service...who they loathe?

See yurts above.

Don't get me started.

 

[bcla]

I dunno. It was certainly interesting there in the wet season. Rained like crazy - about as hard as I've experienced in Thailand or Hawaii.

I did end up having dinner at the Miccosukee Casino. Pretty cheap right after Shark Valley. It was also depressing in the casino itself. I couldn't find a machine for a long time, and when I turned $2 into $4 I called it a night. I understand that Florida doesn't even allow real slots but rather some sort of linked Bingo.

Not quite sure if NPS could work with the tribes around Yosemite. The park is mostly surrounded by national forest. One of the nearby tribes has a casino, and it's been a mess ever since. They definitely marketed it towards Yosemite visitors. However, it was closed for a while after a tribal faction went in armed to try and take it over. The state ordered it closed until everything could be sorted. That tribe had also been active disenrolling members for supposedly not having enough tribal ancestry, including one of the last speakers of their language. Many were gone based on not responding in time and with no recourse.

 

[JimMIA]

I dunno. It was certainly interesting there in the wet season.

Come back in December-January. And let me know when you're coming.

Rained like crazy - about as hard as I've experienced in Thailand or Hawaii.

Welcome to South Florida. We used to have an old weatherman who called those "Palmetto Pounders." Best description I've ever heard.

Want real drama? Be 20 miles in the backcountry on a STEEL airboat and get surrounded by those thunderstorm cells! Everything else is 3 feet tall except your STEEL airboat...and you are sitting on TOP of it!

Not quite sure if NPS could work with the tribes around Yosemite. The park is mostly surrounded by national forest. One of the nearby tribes has a casino, and it's been a mess ever since. They definitely marketed it towards Yosemite visitors. However, it was closed for a while after a tribal faction went in armed to try and take it over. The state ordered it closed until everything could be sorted. That tribe had also been active disenrolling members for supposedly not having enough tribal ancestry, including one of the last speakers of their language. Many were gone based on not responding in time and with no recourse.

Here we have Miccosukees, some Seminoles, and some who are not members of any tribe. The individual people are very nice, although there are some serious social/medical issues in the population. A LOT of issues. But very nice, warm people on a personal basis.

The tribe, OTOH, is "different."

And they don't like the NPS...not without reason. After all, NPS stole their land and has never really done a very good job of working with the tribe. If that's possible, because the interests of the tribe and NPS are so diametrically opposed.

 

[bcla]

Here we have Miccosukees, some Seminoles, and some who are not members of any tribe. The individual people are very nice, although there are some serious social/medical issues in the population. A LOT of issues. But very nice, warm people on a personal basis.

The tribe, OTOH, is "different."

And they don't like the NPS...not without reason. After all, NPS stole their land and has never really done a very good job of working with the tribe. If that's possible, because the interests of the tribe and NPS are so diametrically opposed.

The tribe I was referring to is the Chukchansi. It's been a real drama.

However, it gets interesting with the two tribes that claim to have been occupants of Yosemite Valley. The official NPS history is that they were Sierra Miwok. There used to be an "Indian village" near the visitor center operated in cooperation with that tribe. However, the Mono Lake Pauite claim that their ancestors were the occupants of Yosemite Valley. I don't think either tribe has anything of value to gain, but there's pride involved.

 

[JimMIA]

The official NPS history...

Now THERE is a truly scary phrase!

"NPS history" is nothing more than "Ranger lore" -- what one ranger told another farther back than anyone can remember...and therefore is true! Unfortunately, listening to ranger lore is much easier than doing actual research to get the real picture.

The truth is, no white people have a clue about real Indian history -- among other reasons, because Indians don't either! Indian tradition is almost exclusively passed from mouth to mouth over many generations. When it then gets "translated" into English by someone with a point of view, it gets misunderstood, misinterpreted, or twisted to fit some non-Indian's worldview.

The truth is most Indians didn't know what tribes were until the white man arrived. Most of their tribal names in their own languages mean simply "the people" or "our people."

If you ask other tribes what a tribal name gets, you'll often get hilarious answers. Seminoles will tell you that "Miccosukee" translates to "pig people" because Miccosukees domesticated wild pigs. Miccosukees will tell you "Seminole" means "those who ran away," because most Seminoles abandoned Florida (contrary to popular myth) in the Second Seminole War and went to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears. Creeks will tell you "Cherokee" means "those who speak a different language," Shawnee will tell you it means "cave people." Both are probably wrong -- "okee" for example, means water in the Muskogee language of the Creeks.

The truth is "Miccosukee" is actually derived from the language they speak -- Mikasuki or Mikasuky, or a dozen other white spellings -- which is from Hitchiti, which is an extinct dialect of the ancient Muskogee spoken by Seminoles...which in turn is derived not from Southeastern US Indian languages but from Plains Indian languages. Go figure.

"Seminole" actually is a corruption of the Spanish word cimarron, meaning "wild" or "uncivilized" in the sense of non-Catholic, non-European. English speakers couldn't pronounce the Castilian "theem-er-dr-on" so they just said "Semi-nol-ees." You have to be Redneck speaking Castilian Spanish to say it right.

 

[loveswdw]

I guess it just depends on the time you plan to go. We are heading over in late October. I booked in March right after Aramark took over and had no problem booking at all. In fact, when looking online, it took quite a while for October to book up. There's still availability right now.

 

[bcla]

I guess it just depends on the time you plan to go. We are heading over in late October. I booked in March right after Aramark took over and had no problem booking at all. In fact, when looking online, it took quite a while for October to book up. There's still availability right now.

Yosemite Lodge sells out (or nearly does so) for nearly the entire year. However, only the peak season (May through September) are likely to have issues with selling out on the first day of availability.

Also - lodging reservations are nowhere near as crazy as campground reservations in Yosemite Valley for the peak season. Those are typically gone within minutes, and I'd estimate about 95% of it is gone within seconds of dates becoming available.