Beginning to plan a trip for possible Oct: is it too late?

[laurainsem]

So I am just beginning to plan a trip for October 2nd for my friends and I to visit the parks. I've always planned way ahead in the past and seeing some hotels booked for the full month is making me nervous. Should I push the trip further out? It would hurt my heart to wait till like January but I also don't want to have to compromise on a bunch of stuff because dining is full, hotels are full, and therefore the parks are full. Is October that crazy? I don't remember it being in the past...

 

[DisneyMom111]

I think October is a great time to go. You are late on making ARD's but that doesn't mean you still can't get them. Just keep checking. People cancel all the time. I wouldn't want to push it back either if I were you, I say go for it!

 

[AshleeH]

October is busy. It is the new summer - people will tell you it's a great time to go! Great weather! Low crowds! Great themes!

Lies.

There are great themes with F&W and the Halloween decor, but it is just short of packed. And it is hot - high 90s has been the norm for all of our October trips. Occasionally drops down to the high 80s, but that's not the norm. And that week in particular is when we will be traveling and we have been told by many CMs that it is going to be a very crowded week. We're locked in because of our Fall Break with school, but if given the option, I would've picked a week in late September or the third week of October to get distance from some of the worst effects of Fall Break.

 

[Dashzap]

Food and Wine is on during October, so get park hoppers and do all your dining at food & wine booths. There, dining solved.

Too soon for Fastpass+ plus choice.

I think you are a go!

 

[Kono]

We are going the last week in October and have gone in the fall in the past. Go for it. Any time at Disney has potential to be busy but the weather should be good. There are also more places to eat opening all the time. You'll find a place to go to dine if you're not too picky.

 

[laurainsem]

Thank you everyone. I'm sad to hear it is predicted to be "packed" that week. I went the third week of October in 2010 and found it to be busier than January but not bad. I was sure the first week of October would be good as Free Dining is over and done with, as well as the September race. I've put a hold on those dates and my friends husband is already asking for that week off so I think we are locked. I've never gone when its busy before so this will be an experience! Hopefully we will get some decent food reservations. We are on the dining plan so have to find something, lol!

 

[kcp1377]

We went in Feb last year during a busy week (it wasn't supposed to be busy, but the parks were packed from a cheerleading convention). While we didn't get quite as many rides in as we did the previous years we had a blast and loved it anyway. You'll have a great time I'm sure!

 

[tami82]

If you are worried about dining reservations as long as you constantly check throughout the day and closer to the trip things open up all the time, you just have to put the work in for it.

 

[AshleeH]

Thank you everyone. I'm sad to hear it is predicted to be "packed" that week. I went the third week of October in 2010 and found it to be busier than January but not bad. I was sure the first week of October would be good as Free Dining is over and done with, as well as the September race. I've put a hold on those dates and my friends husband is already asking for that week off so I think we are locked. I've never gone when its busy before so this will be an experience! Hopefully we will get some decent food reservations. We are on the dining plan so have to find something, lol!

Well, to be fair, any time you go is probably busier than January . Free Dining actually ends October 1, so anyone arriving that day can have FD for the entire week as long as they check in on that day. This was so disappointing to me - we aren't doing FD and were hoping to avoid one of those weeks. Probably won't be as busy as some of the other weeks where it applies, but I'm sure it will add to the crowds, sadly. You'll still be in Disney - that's never a bad thing!

 

[laurainsem]

Oh man, is that why its so busy? That stinks even more as we are arriving October 2nd!!! I don't know how I missed that. It will be okay though, my friends husband will have a bday during our trip so that adds to why we want to go this week. I really thought FD would be over.

The good news is we got the resort spot we wanted (AoA Lion King suite) as well as every dining reservation minus one (Ohana). I consider that a pretty big win. We will deal with the crowds and still have an incredible time. There isn't much that can ruin Disney for me.

 

[jtdl]

I just booked a spontaneous trip a couple of weeks ago for first week of September. Like you, I usually plan vacations a year or more in advance! I have had no problem getting ADRs for the restaurants we want and have even seen CRT breakfast come up several times when I have done a search to see all restaurants that are available on a given day. I checked daily until I got restaurants and times that I wanted. They may not have been available the first search but eventually now I have all the ones that we want except am still trying to get a before park opening time at Crystal Palace.

 

[MeganMango]

I highly doubt it would be too late to plan! My last trip (see signature) was in March. I planned that trip just 3 weeks before. And my next upcoming trip (see signature), I also planned it 3 weeks before. i guess it depends what you want to do. I'm a solo traveler, so I think that helps.

 

[hjeick]

It's not too late! We went in October last year as a large group and started planning in August. October was busy but we really enjoyed the Food and Wine Festival as well as Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween Party. It was also cooler in the mornings and evenings. We are going again this Ocotober.

 

[KristiKat]

October is busy. It is the new summer - people will tell you it's a great time to go! Great weather! Low crowds! Great themes!

Lies.

There are great themes with F&W and the Halloween decor, but it is just short of packed. And it is hot - high 90s has been the norm for all of our October trips. Occasionally drops down to the high 80s, but that's not the norm. And that week in particular is when we will be traveling and we have been told by many CMs that it is going to be a very crowded week. We're locked in because of our Fall Break with school, but if given the option, I would've picked a week in late September or the third week of October to get distance from some of the worst effects of Fall Break.

Well, now you've got me worried. We are arriving the 1st. Never been in October but know people who have been the 1st week multiple times and they said it was a great time to go. I also checked the crowd calendars and it didn't look too bad to me. Of course we usually go President's Day week and it's very crowded at that time. The October crowds looked good compared to that. Either way I'm excited. We are doing the MNSSHP for the 1st time and I can't wait.

 

[AshleeH]

Well, now you've got me worried. We are arriving the 1st. Never been in October but know people who have been the 1st week multiple times and they said it was a great time to go. I also checked the crowd calendars and it didn't look too bad to me. Of course we usually go President's Day week and it's very crowded at that time. The October crowds looked good compared to that. Either way I'm excited. We are doing the MNSSHP for the 1st time and I can't wait.

I would think it's somewhat comparable to President's Day week. Columbus Day week is typically when our school has it's Fall Break, but it's the first week this year instead of the second. I was excited thinking that crowds would be better (2010 crowds - or lack thereof - were amazing! From then on, it gets busier and busier every single year) but after speaking to a few CMs, we discovered it's supposed to be a busy week. It's still a great time to go - the parties, the decorations, etc. It's hard to find a non-crowded time at Disney now, since social media has spilled each and every secret to the masses. So just go and expect crowds and you might be pleasantly surprised if it's a lighter week than planned. I'm holding out a tiny bit of hope that there's a lot of conventions booked (which would make it look busy from the CMs POV, but would actually mean lighter crowds in the parks). Fingers crossed .

 

[awalker1015]

I thought Columbus Day was he second week of October? 10/10?

I wouldn't stress it too much. With thoughtful planning it will be fine regardless of crowds. We were there last week of March 2015 with crowd levels of 8-10 each day and using RD we were fine. We even got last minute ADRs while in the parks.

 

[awalker1015]

I will say I didn't realize free dining ended 10/1. Our trip is 10/1-10/8 and that explains why ADRs are tougher. It's also likely because we are traveling with a large group of 8.

 

[Shanti]

So I am just beginning to plan a trip for October 2nd for my friends and I to visit the parks. I've always planned way ahead in the past and seeing some hotels booked for the full month is making me nervous. Should I push the trip further out? It would hurt my heart to wait till like January but I also don't want to have to compromise on a bunch of stuff because dining is full, hotels are full, and therefore the parks are full. Is October that crazy? I don't remember it being in the past...

I just booked a trip for 3 weeks from now. Just do it.

Hint: If you have a hard time finding a resort/room you want for your whole stay, do a split stay. You'll typically find more availability for shorter periods.

 

[a742246]

I just booked a trip for 3 weeks from now. Just do it.

Hint: If you have a hard time finding a resort/room you want for your whole stay, do a split stay. You'll typically find more availability for shorter periods.

Last minute trips are the best!

 

[dreiwhit]

My wife and I (well, mostly my wife), planned out a trip on 4 weeks. And, we weren't able to reserve FPs until the night before we went to Epcot.

It can be done.