Anyone know how WDW picks the seasons for resorts?

[lissiesmum]

I was just looking at the rate seasons for the resorts and I was curious why they offer free dining in the Fall months when that is not considered value time. I would think they would offer free dining when their season is slowest, and they would call that season the value season??? I am trying to plan our trip around a quiet time of year but am a little confused (as usual )

 

[bytheblood]

Value = Slowest times for Disney
Peak = Spring Break
Summer = Summer
Holiday = Christmas Holiday Weeks (school is out)
Regular = Schools are sporatically out for a fall break as well as graduation ceremonies

Basically, Disney prices their seasons based upon their volume of business.

A slow time to visit is late April - early May, the first two weeks of the year after 1/1 and the week after Thanksgiving through the middle of December.
Fall is no longer a slower period like it once was. I think slower periods have almost gone by the wayside.

 

[safetymom]

Free dining was offered after the hurricanes hit FL several years ago. They are trying to entice you to come during an uncertain weather period.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I was just looking at the rate seasons for the resorts and I was curious why they offer free dining in the Fall months when that is not considered value time. I would think they would offer free dining when their season is slowest, and they would call that season the value season??? I am trying to plan our trip around a quiet time of year but am a little confused (as usual )

Value season typically includes almost all of August and all of September. Free dining is offered for parts of August and usually all (or almost all) check-in dates in September. I'm not sure where you saw that Free Dining was not in Value Season.

Season changes typically occur around major holidays, as well as general in-school/ out-of-school times. Peak season includes spring break and Easter, and it usually changes back to regular season the Sunday after Easter. Summer is considered summer season for Values and Moderates, but it is regular season for Deluxes (until sometime after July 4th), then it becomes Value season. Holiday season is the last two weeks of the year (approximately).

Mousesavers has the list of 2008 seasons here:

http://www.mousesavers.com/roomrates2008.html

The Disney website also lists its Wonderful Weeks, which Disney expects to be times of lower attendance.

 

[lissiesmum]

Safetymom, that makes so much sense about the hurricanes! I figured the Fall months would be a nice time of year to go, but I completely forgot about hurricane season