Discounts for October 2015 trip?

[blythegal]

I have never really used a forum before so I'm having a hard time finding the information I am looking for here. If I have messed up or found the wrong forum please let me know.

7 of us (4 adults, 11 year old girl, 9 year old girl, 3 year old boy) are going to Walt Disney World from October 6th-13th (approximately). I would imagine they will run some kind of specials at that point because it is a quieter time of year -- how can I best take advantage of those? Do I book my flights now (because they are cheap) and wait to book the resort and park tickets? Or book it all now and keep my eyes open for discounts and get the price reduced later?

We need to do this as inexpensively as possible, so I was planning on Pop Century or another value resort. I have been a couple of times but we've always booked last minute to take advantage of the specials. This is my first time planning so far ahead!

Thanks :-D

 

[LovesBelle]

You might want to wait till the end of April to book. Disney sometimes offers free dining in Oct, and rumor has it that Disney Visa Card and debit card holders will be able to book that at the end of this month. The offer is then usually opened to the public a few weeks after that. Free dining can save you a lot of money, but there are usually date and resort restrictions. We are planning to visit at the end of Oct, but I am waiting for free dining or at least a room discount before locking in the dates.

 

[scard192]

I have never really used a forum before so I'm having a hard time finding the information I am looking for here. If I have messed up or found the wrong forum please let me know.

7 of us (4 adults, 11 year old girl, 9 year old girl, 3 year old boy) are going to Walt Disney World from October 6th-13th (approximately). I would imagine they will run some kind of specials at that point because it is a quieter time of year -- how can I best take advantage of those? Do I book my flights now (because they are cheap) and wait to book the resort and park tickets? Or book it all now and keep my eyes open for discounts and get the price reduced later?

We need to do this as inexpensively as possible, so I was planning on Pop Century or another value resort. I have been a couple of times but we've always booked last minute to take advantage of the specials. This is my first time planning so far ahead!

Thanks :-D

that week is always blacked out for the FD offers as its Columbus Day weekend and a lot of schools have their Fall breaks. There could be a RO discount but at a Value resort the % does not add up to very much/per night. There is a thread on the Restaurant Board you should follow, if FD is coming there will be a lot of buzz over there. It is here:

http://www.disboards.com/threads/fr...-whole-lot-more.3364561/page-72#post-53444092

 

[janjandis]

Could you possibly move your trip up a couple weeks? I have free dining booked already from a bounce back offer last year. Free dining was offered last week of August to Oct 1. These will most likely be the 2015 dates if free dining is offered. As long as you check in on Oct 1st you would have free dining for the length of your stay. Free dining is worth about 56.00 per day per adult and is a great savings!

 

[5kidsmommy]

Remember too if you do get free dining and are staying at a value resort it will be for the quick service plan. If you want the plan that allows you to do table service (and character meals) you will need to pay for an upgrade.

 

[janjandis]

If you can't change your dates, the cheapest way to do it is to book your own flights and then book a room and ticket package with Disney. If this is a holiday weekend, there may not be any specials offered and you may even have trouble finding availability at the resort you want if you wait. Personally, I would book exactly the resort that you want and if a special comes out, call Disney and they will cancel and rebook you at the discount. Disney will never contact you if there's a lower price but by using a travel agent (Dreams Unlimited is a Disney specialist, the sponsor of Disboards, and doesn't cost extra) they will keep checking for discounts for you.

 

[janjandis]

If you can't change your dates, the cheapest way to do it is to book your own flights and then book a room and ticket package with Disney. If this is a holiday weekend, there may not be any specials offered and you may even have trouble finding availability at the resort you want if you wait. Personally, I would book exactly the resort that you want and if a special comes out, call Disney and they will cancel and rebook you at the discount. Disney will never contact you if there's a lower price but by using a travel agent (Dreams Unlimited is a Disney specialist, the sponsor of Disboards, and doesn't cost extra) they will keep checking for discounts for you.

Last year, Pop Century was not included in the free dining offer unless it was booked a year in advance with the Bounceback offer.

 

[scard192]

Last year, Pop Century was not included in the free dining offer unless it was booked a year in advance with the Bounceback offer.

POP was included in the FD offer last year and every year going back as far as I can remember. The Values that were excluded last year were the LM rooms at AoA and All Star Movies.

 

[janjandis]

POP was included in the FD offer last year and every year going back as far as I can remember. The Values that were excluded last year were the LM rooms at AoA and All Star Movies.

Last year I could not book Pop Century for my parents, believe me I kept trying and it was the first time it was not included in the free dining. I was able to get it for myself because I booked a year ahead on a bounce back deal. Mom had to stay at All Stars after I called many times to try and get Pop.

 

[lilclerk]

Last year I could not book Pop Century for my parents, believe me I kept trying and it was the first time it was not included in the free dining. I was able to get it for myself because I booked a year ahead on a bounce back deal. Mom had to stay at All Stars after I called many times to try and get Pop.

It was definitely included. I had free dining at Pop last September, booked on the Disney Visa release date =) Maybe it just wasn't available for their dates.

 

[janjandis]

It was definitely included. I had free dining at Pop last September, booked on the Disney Visa release date =) Maybe it just wasn't available for their dates.

Oh okay, maybe it was only available for Disney Visa holders or booked up. Cast members said it wasn't on Free Dining, but we all know how that goes!

 

[scard192]

Oh okay, maybe it was only available for Disney Visa holders or booked up. Cast members said it wasn't on Free Dining, but we all know how that goes!

this is from the DIS Board FD thread last May with all details:

Free Dining for 2014 is a go.

The promo will be released to the public on Wednesday, May 7. Disney Visa holders may get an early shot May 2nd.

The dates included are:
August 31 - October 3
October 26 - November 1
November 9 - November 20
December 12 - December 23

Disney Value Resorts ~ Quick Service Dining Plan Included

This can be upgraded to regular plan for $18.65 per person per day ($3.20 for children).

All-Star Music Resort
All-Star Sports Resort
Art of Animation (Family Suites)
Pop Century Resort

Moderate Resorts ~ Regular Dining Plan Included

Carribean Beach Resort
Coronado Springs Resort

Deluxe Resorts ~ Regular Dining Plan Included

Animal Kingdom Lodge
Yacht & Beach Club Resorts
BoardWalk Inn
Contemporary Resort
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Polynesian Resort
Wilderness Lodge

Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts ~ Regular Dining Plan Included

Bay Lake Tower
Animal Kingdom Villas
Beach Club Villas
BoardWalk Villas
Old Key West Resort
Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
The Villas at Disneys Wilderness Lodge
Fort Wilderness Cabins

Some resorts are excluded, such as All Star Movies, Mermaid Rooms at Art of Animation, Port Orleans French Quarter, Port Orleans Riverside, Campsites at Ft. Wilderness, and 3-bedroom villas, and Villas at The Grand Floridian. A 3 night minimum stay (14 night maximum) and two day minimum park ticket is required for each person in the party.

As I've said time and time again, if you want Free Dining, DO NOT book your room before the day it's released. Disney gives Free Dining to fill rooms and if rooms are booked, then it's less likely it will be offered. Booking up resorts is also a good way for that particular resort to be excluded, as we saw in last Fall's Free Dining when an unprecedented number of resorts were not included on the promo. Additionally, the website often opens before the phone lines on release day. The only way to modify an existing reservation is by phone, which means online (new) bookings are getting a head start on rooms you may want.

 

[lock3130]

I'm really hoping those dates stay the same because we would be included!