fall busy-ness at the parks, Disney marketing and deals

[bellelayne1]

It seems Disney has been able to spread people out over the months with their deals, special events and such. They really have some great people working in their marketing area. Anyway what are your thoughts on how this changes vacationing at WDW? I feel like many of the "off months" were times when people went yearly because they could afford it and the lower crowds made it worth it. OR is it better now because you don't have to work around specials and deals, now you can go whenever you want?

 

[gmboy95]

As a DVC member it has become increasingly clear over the years that there really isn't anything truly resembling an "off-season", which kind of stinks, as it used to be a real benefit to owning DVC. The other thing is, that alot of these free dining specials dont apply to us, in the sense that we can partake....however it does effect a DVC member that during these times it becomes more difficult to get ADR's....alot of the low season appeal has been taken away, to a point where we dont even worry about crowd levels like we did a decade ago

 

[DisBuckMan]

As a DVC member it has become increasingly clear over the years that there really isn't anything truly resembling an "off-season", which kind of stinks, as it used to be a real benefit to owning DVC. The other thing is, that alot of these free dining specials dont apply to us, in the sense that we can partake....however it does effect a DVC member that during these times it becomes more difficult to get ADR's....alot of the low season appeal has been taken away, to a point where we dont even worry about crowd levels like we did a decade ago

Agree completely. We don't even care to go in the fall anymore due to the increase in crowds overall, and the insanity of attempting to get ADR's during a FD period. Used to be a lot more laid back crowd, but not now. It was great as DVC owners before in the fall....not so much anymore.

 

[loves to dive]

We used to go every August because that was just before my son went back to school and the best time for us. As he grew older and then got out of high school, we were able to switch to September. Now I go twice a year and he joins me at least once every other year. I go the first week in April for my birthday and F&G and normally some time around the first week of F&W. This year we went in March during F&G because that was my son's spring break at college. Year before we went in May for F&G because my son and DIL were moving down here and that was his release date from Navy. I'll be there the week of 9/12 - 9/18 for F&W solo this year. That was determined by the fact they started it early this year and my AP expires 9/20 so I was able to get 3 trips off it. I have never paid any attention to crowd predictions or even any discounts or if it's off-season. We don't do the dining plan because it isn't the way we eat and I can always find some sort of discount on a room, if not through Disney then through someone like Orbitz. I don't make ADRs in advance, just day of and rarely even make FPs before the night before so none of it determines when I go. F&G and F&W pretty much determine my schedule but even that isn't set in stone, we will most likely be taking a quick trip around the 2nd week of December this year for my son's birthday.

 

[gmboy95]

Agree completely. We don't even care to go in the fall anymore due to the increase in crowds overall, and the insanity of attempting to get ADR's during a FD period. Used to be a lot more laid back crowd, but not now. It was great as DVC owners before in the fall....not so much anymore.

so true....we gave up getting the dining plan because it became so difficult to change your mind once you get into the trip....this has a silver lining in that we have begun to find places off property to enjoy a good meal.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think you have a good point. But I think if someone's schedule has flexibility, it's still worth it to try to figure out the lower-crowd weeks even if there are less of them. Weather is a big factor too.

 

[AngiTN]

I think you have a good point. But I think if someone's schedule has flexibility, it's still worth it to try to figure out the lower-crowd weeks even if there are less of them. Weather is a big factor too.

Good point. While there are not really any times where it's not busy there are times less busy than others. There are fewer of them but they are there.