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

[practicallyperfect77]

I don't know about early December, I think that's usually a slower time?

I just know that people were talking that October was really crowded last year, and even then were speculating there would be no need for free dining this year, and it seems to be coming (partially) true....

I remember following the wait times on MDE last year in Oct. It was much busier than my previous Oct trip but that was back in 2008. I do remember the last week of Oct had shorter waits than the middle two weeks especially.

 

[daisyx3]

My trip is October-25-28, but more to see my daughter in the CP than anything else. I don't really plan on any major meals but planning MNSSHP for the 26th and my first look at food and wine Monday the 27th; hopefully the free diners don't make that more crazy than it would already be!
Daisyx3

 

[scard192]

we went last year Oct 19-26th. the 19th was the day after (and 1st Saturday) after the FD blackout dates and waited an hour just to board the DME bus.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

we went last year Oct 19-26th. the 19th was the day after (and 1st Saturday) after the FD blackout dates and waited an hour just to board the DME bus.

We were there on the same dates, and we also waited over an hour for the bus! It was ridiuclous, and we were so hot and tired, just standing there sweating. Ugh. We didn't go to the parks on that Saturday, and crowds seemed a bit heavy on the 20th, but after that I thought the crowds were great. We had a particularly good day at Epcot and crowds there seemed much smaller than the year before.

 

[scard192]

We were there on the same dates, and we also waited over an hour for the bus! It was ridiuclous, and we were so hot and tired, just standing there sweating. Ugh. We didn't go to the parks on that Saturday, and crowds seemed a bit heavy on the 20th, but after that I thought the crowds were great. We had a particularly good day at Epcot and crowds there seemed much smaller than the year before.

we did not go to the parks on our arrival day, just settled in and enjoyed the resort (POFQ). The biggest crowd issue we encountered was the fact of the 6 days we were at the parks MNSSHP was held on 4 so if you wanted to see Wishes you needed to go on one of the "Not recommended" days; MK was awful! We are rope drop people and used Easy WDW for touring and it was manageble but busier than we expected; prior trip was mid September.

Next trip will be November so we can see the Christmas decorations. Have been a few times in May but a tough time to take the kids out of school.

 

[Ravenne]

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.

I was just wondering if that is skewing things for Disney. If that's the case, the early birds holding rooms may be doing a disservice to themselves because then Disney thinks bookings are just fine and there's no need to release promos to fill rooms.

 

[aaarcher86]

I was just wondering if that is skewing things for Disney. If that's the case, the early birds holding rooms may be doing a disservice to themselves because then Disney thinks bookings are just fine and there's no need to release promos to fill rooms.

I'm sure they take that into account. This ain't their first rodeo

 

[AliceandAriel]

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!

If this is true, and since it is a rumor only I won't put much into it until it is confirmed, then I was right all along in saying that they would pull FD off the table this year and instead continue to push the 'free Memory Maker' offer this year to see how that goes.

In a way, I kind of want there to be no free dining in October. People who have already booked will cancel, which means it won't be as crowded as it could be in the parks, which in turn means less crowding to deal with. But on the other hand, I feel like a rotten jerk for even saying that, because somewhere out there, a family won't go to Disney without the FD offer that would help them immensely, and that makes me sad.

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

No free dining in October????? I don't believe it.....that's impossible.

 

[smitch425]

No free dining in October????? I don't believe it.....that's impossible.

There is FD for Oct. 1-3 and 26-31. They have simply added a week to the blackout period.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

There will be promos. they just may not be free dining.

It was said a couple of years ago (wasn't it by no less than Bob Iger?) that guests would be facing different and fewer discounts.

 

[amg35]

So from reading all the reports of how crowded it is now in October, combined with my imagination that knows no bounds, I'm envisioning endless waits for everything and teeming masses of people!

I'm hoping it will be more along the lines of the second week of June? That's when I went in 2011 and it was pretty good - at least I thought. Going 10/21-10/30...

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

There is FD for Oct. 1-3 and 26-31. They have simply added a week to the blackout period.

Okay thanks!!! It does seem like Disney is trying to wean people off of free dining----it could also be that the Halloween parties are becoming more and more popular.

 

[smitch425]

So from reading all the reports of how crowded it is now in October, combined with my imagination that knows no bounds, I'm envisioning endless waits for everything and teeming masses of people!

I'm hoping it will be more along the lines of the second week of June? That's when I went in 2011 and it was pretty good - at least I thought. Going 10/21-10/30...

It will not be as crowded as summer. It just isn't what it used to be. You'll be fine.

 

[amg35]

Okay thanks!!! It does seem like Disney is trying to wean people off of free dining----it could also be that the Halloween parties are becoming more and more popular.

Sorry if my initial post was misleading - I have the dates in there but in a not-straightforward way.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

If this is true, and since it is a rumor only I won't put much into it until it is confirmed, then I was right all along in saying that they would pull FD off the table this year and instead continue to push the 'free Memory Maker' offer this year to see how that goes.

In a way, I kind of want there to be no free dining in October. People who have already booked will cancel, which means it won't be as crowded as it could be in the parks, which in turn means less crowding to deal with. But on the other hand, I feel like a rotten jerk for even saying that, because somewhere out there, a family won't go to Disney without the FD offer that would help them immensely, and that makes me sad.

If the rumor isn't right, I'll cancel my onsite rooms and stay off. Right now it's only $350 more to stay on, but it's ~$800 or so if no FD. Also means we'll do only 2 character meals instead of 5. This is of course if my math is right. Is it Thur yet? Supposedly that's when it'll be announced.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Supposedly it will be announced for September, possibly the last few days of August, on Thursday. Not for October or beyond. Unless they do it differently this year.

 

[smitch425]

Supposedly it will be announced for September, possibly the last few days of August, on Thursday. Not for October or beyond. Unless they do it differently this year.

It is supposed to be released for the remainder of the year.

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

Sorry if my initial post was misleading - I have the dates in there but in a not-straightforward way.

Ha!!! It took me a minute.....but I figured the dates extend from September and also into November----you're right that most of October is blacked out.