Brace yourselves October people, it's going to be crowded...

[amg35]

So, reading now that the big rumor is no free dining for pretty much all of October (except first 3 days and then the 26th and after) - one would assume that bookings are pretty high.

Oh well, plan baby plan!! And if it's really crowded, I'm even more thankful for Food and Wine!

And maybe now that there's no free dining, everyone will cancel!

 

[BJSforVols]

We typically go the week of Columbus day. Historically, there is never free dining that week; but the crowds are still typically low. I don't think you can conclude that a lack of free dining offers translates to high crowds.

 

[MC0810]

I'm confused, what would no free dining mean larger crowds?

 

[jimandami]

So, reading now that the big rumor is no free dining for pretty much all of October (except first 3 days and then the 26th and after) - one would assume that bookings are pretty high. Oh well, plan baby plan!! And if it's really crowded, I'm even more thankful for Food and Wine! And maybe now that there's no free dining, everyone will cancel!

Oh good...we are arriving the 25th...fewer crowds! Unless all the FD wannabe folks change their dates....oh well, I'm going and I'm going to have a fabulous time!

 

[AngiTN]

I'm confused, what would no free dining mean larger crowds?

Because the general rule of thumb is Disney offers promos to fill rooms that are not filling without a promo. If there is no promo it should indicate the rooms are filling just fine.

And if you go to look on the site right now to book for the first 2 weeks in Oct you'll see that many of the room categories are booked. Especially at the Deluxe resort levels.

A large number of schools in the South, (and it's expanding) are now offering a week long fall break. Ours runs 10/6 thru 10. I had originally planned for that to be our next trip but after finding most all Deluxe rooms booked 2 months ago and learning that more than likely there would be no promo for that time I opted to go before school starts instead.

I do think Oct is going to be more crowded than in the past, and continue to get that way as more schools add in fall break. I don't see it reaching Spring break levels but it's going to be surprisingly high

 

[amg35]

I'm confused, what would no free dining mean larger crowds?

Reading the theories on this and other boards, historically free dining was offered for a bigger chunk of time. Now that it's not , people are speculating that bookings are up and an enticing discount isn't needed.

I'm sure it will be fine.

 

[dlove28]

I'm confused, what would no free dining mean larger crowds?

They are theorizing that there must already be a high number of reservations and therefore Disney decided it did not need to offer an additional incentive.

 

[agavegirl1]

If this is the case, it is possible that ADRs for hard to get restaurants may "suddenly" become available closer to October stays.

 

[AngiTN]

If this is the case, it is possible that ADRs for hard to get restaurants may "suddenly" become available closer to October stays.

I believe this is going to happen.

I also think some rooms will open up too. Way too many were booked, at full rack rate. I have to think that many of those are folks hoping to add a promo later. When no promo comes they may start to drop them left and right. Of course, then Disney may say "hey, these rooms are not selling, we need a promo" so who knows what will happen.

But it's hard for me to believe that Standard rooms at the Deluxe level hotels are all going to be occupied at rack rate. Those are high rates!

 

[Brocktoon]

Not surprising at all. We've been going to WDW during Oct for the last 8 or 9 years. Especially during the past few years, there has been a very large jump in crowds during mid Oct year over year ... most likely due to the increase in fall breaks for school. We've found that lat Sept/early Oct or the end of Oct is probably the best time go. If the free dining rumors are correct, it would jive with my crowd observations over the years.

We already booked this year over the last week of Oct anticipating that crowds may be big again this year. Oct hasn't been a slow month for a while now, but we love F&W

 

[MC0810]

Thanks everyone, that makes total sense.

 

[Deputyjc]

I'm a Disney TA and historically Disney does offer FD during "slow" times of the year to entice more visitors, but as many of you know there is not really a "slow" time at Disney anymore. IMO over the past few years people have caught on to the slow times of the year and more people are enticed to travel because of that. Just because there isn't a FD offer doesn't mean there aren't RO offers. I book many Disney vacations and very few of those pay rack rate. FD offers have been less and less over the years and that will probably continue. The economy is also starting to turn and people who haven't traveled in a few years are starting to do so.

 

[lugnut33]

Now if they would just get rid of the Disney Dining Plan.


Haha, I know, it'll never happen.

 

[robndani]

This will be the second year we are going end Sept-early Oct. For us, it's more about the weather, the F & W Festival, and the fact that our little ones can still miss Pre-K that we choose this time of year!

I wouldn't worry too much!

 

[LilyWDW]

I actually personally know a decent number of people who are "holding" rooms in case free dining comes out.

We have a facebook group if those traveling in October 2014 want to join. See the link in my signature.

 

[winthropf]

The Gartner Symposium is being held at the Epcot resorts October 5-9. This ties up a large number of those rooms but has little impact on the parks.

 

[hedberg1661]

I'm a Disney TA and historically Disney does offer FD during "slow" times of the year to entice more visitors, but as many of you know there is not really a "slow" time at Disney anymore. IMO over the past few years people have caught on to the slow times of the year and more people are enticed to travel because of that. Just because there isn't a FD offer doesn't mean there aren't RO offers. I book many Disney vacations and very few of those pay rack rate. FD offers have been less and less over the years and that will probably continue. The economy is also starting to turn and people who haven't traveled in a few years are starting to do so.

I am hoping for a RO offer for 10/4-11. I hear their is a conference at BC where I am currently booked at the rack rate so I wonder if they will offer the RO discount given this.

 

[ArwenMarie]

So what are the free dining dates...just September?

 

[ArwenMarie]

So, reading now that the big rumor is no free dining for pretty much all of October (except first 3 days and then the 26th and after) - one would assume that bookings are pretty high.

Oh well, plan baby plan!! And if it's really crowded, I'm even more thankful for Food and Wine!

And maybe now that there's no free dining, everyone will cancel!

I remember a lot of threads last October saying that it was pretty crowded relative to previous Octobers, so I'm sure this year will be too!

 

[amg35]

I remember a lot of threads last October saying that it was pretty crowded relative to previous Octobers, so I'm sure this year will be too!

It's okay. We will be there 9 nights, so we should have more than enough time to do everything. and have plenty of cocktails!