Early October stay - construction & studios

[WDW_Diane]

We are coming to Walt Disney World October 3 for five nights. I'm trying to settle on a great place to stay on a teacher budget that isn't under construction. I wanted to rent DVC points for a deluxe studio but none are available. I know the food and wine festival will be going on. Other resorts I've considered seem to be under construction. Am I missing an obvious solution? I'm really surprised at the lack of availability of studios and how high the prices are already. I've been to Walt Disney World many times. I'm hoping for a fall sale to be announced pretty soon.

 

[dansdad]

We are coming to Walt Disney World October 3 for five nights. I'm trying to settle on a great place to stay on a teacher budget that isn't under construction. I wanted to rent DVC points for a deluxe studio but none are available. I know the food and wine festival will be going on. Other resorts I've considered seem to be under construction. Am I missing an obvious solution? I'm really surprised at the lack of availability of studios and how high the prices are already. I've been to Walt Disney World many times. I'm hoping for a fall sale to be announced pretty soon.

Other than Holidays, October is the next most popular time to go. In order to rent points, you're about a month late. The studios go extremely fast so you've got to have something setup right at the 11 month mark. Pop Century should be done with it's room refurb by then. All Star Movies and possibly All Star Sports will be done with their room refurb by then. What resorts are you looking at?

 

[WDW_Diane]

Other than Holidays, October is the next most popular time to go. In order to rent points, you're about a month late. The studios go extremely fast so you've got to have something setup right at the 11 month mark. Pop Century should be done with it's room refurb by then. All Star Movies and possibly All Star Sports will be done with their room refurb by then. What resorts are you looking at?

It's been years since I've been in October, you're sure right!
I've been renting DVC points for deluxe resorts for our trips the past five years or so, but we haven't been in the Fall. We've stayed the Port Orleans resorts since they first opened, especially at French Quarter. We haven't stayed at Riverside since it was called Dixie Landings, so we just may go that route.
If I make a room only reservation now and they do a sale, can I rebook? I used to be able to do that, but things are always changing.
Another option I have is to stay at the Swan or Dolphin on Starwood points but we will sure miss having the Magical Express and that awesome baggage service.
Thanks for your input!

 

[dansdad]

If I make a room only reservation now and they do a sale, can I rebook?

If the room type and dates are available under the promotion, then you will be able to apply the discount. But you may have to switch room type, resort or dates slightly. They release discounts to fill rooms, so the more rooms are booked at rack rate the less that are included in any promotion. There have been less and less rooms available under discounts the last couple of years because so many book at rack rate. So if you will only go if there's a discount, I would hold off on booking until they release one for your dates. If you're going to go no matter what, I'd book now to get exactly what you want.

Another option I have is to stay at the Swan or Dolphin on Starwood points but we will sure miss having the Magical Express and that awesome baggage service.
Thanks for your input!

Those 2 things and the the fact that for our dates I can never find a room at either for less than CBR have been keeping us from trying them.

 

[Hopefully]

It's been years since I've been in October, you're sure right!
I've been renting DVC points for deluxe resorts for our trips the past five years or so, but we haven't been in the Fall. We've stayed the Port Orleans resorts since they first opened, especially at French Quarter. We haven't stayed at Riverside since it was called Dixie Landings, so we just may go that route.
If I make a room only reservation now and they do a sale, can I rebook? I used to be able to do that, but things are always changing.
Another option I have is to stay at the Swan or Dolphin on Starwood points but we will sure miss having the Magical Express and that awesome baggage service.
Thanks for your input!

I agree with @dansdad October is crazy busy. Also, in general, DVC Rental demand far exceeds supply.
If you have a room only reservation and a discount is released you would have to book a new room if available at your resort for your dates.

 

[spiceycat]

hopping that Oct will be less busy - especially since the discounts of MNSSHP are now in Sept.

 

[WDW_Diane]

If the room type and dates are available under the promotion, then you will be able to apply the discount. But you may have to switch room type, resort or dates slightly. They release discounts to fill rooms, so the more rooms are booked at rack rate the less that are included in any promotion. There have been less and less rooms available under discounts the last couple of years because so many book at rack rate. So if you will only go if there's a discount, I would hold off on booking until they release one for your dates. If you're going to go no matter what, I'd book now to get exactly what you want.




Those 2 things and the the fact that for our dates I can never find a room at either for less than CBR have been keeping us from trying them.

I agree! I will say though, the Heavenly beds at the Swan are soooo awesome at the end of a park day. I also forgot to mention that they charge a daily resort fee of about $31 including tax.

Are you a CBR fan? I've never stayed there, but wondering if the construction will actually bother us since we will be gone all day. I watched the construction video posted by Tim and the resort looks really ugly right now. I wonder if it will look much better by October.

 

[WDW_Diane]

I agree with @dansdad October is crazy busy. Also, in general, DVC Rental demand far exceeds supply.
If you have a room only reservation and a discount is released you would have to book a new room if available at your resort for your dates.

Thank you! I just might do that. Hopefully I can avoid cancellation fees in any case by canceling early enough.