Going in April and Frustrated! -- Can anyone explain?

[wildflower]

We planned our vacation for the second half of April for a few reasons, one of which was that it is past the spring break rush. We assummed that Disney would be more likely to discount during times when they were having a harder time filling rooms. Doesn't that make sense?

So, we booked our disney resort (for one week) and our disney cruise (3-night) and waited for a discount. In the past few weeks two discounts have been announced that have cut off right before our planned vacation. Kids sail free ends Apr. 15 and 7 nights for the price of 4 ends March 27. I don't get it. Why are the discounts being offered during the heaviest travel periods and cutting off just when things normally start to slow down?

I already booked our air (with frequent flyer miles), so changing our dates would involve fees that make the discounts less appealing. I guess all I can do is hope for extensions on the discounts. What are the odds I would have to pay rack rates to stick with my dates in April?

 

[Disney Fool]

Because the last two weeks of April are spring vacations for the entire Northeast. April 19th is a Monday holiday for Massachusetts (long weekend for parents) and the following days are the week of from school for the kids. Several other states have this week of also in N.E. The following week, NH and some other states have it off.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

April is a busy time in the parks. I haven't looked, but is Easter not in April this year? Many spring breaks, therefore travel, happen the week before and after Easter. Believe me- I was there the week prior to Easter this year. It was miserable! We will never go in April again. March is also busy, as I believe a good bit of northerners tend to fly south for some much needed sunshine and warmth in March.

 

[RMulieri]

Because as others have said Disney never has trouble filling rooms in April. April is busy.April is spring break times and then Easter and more Spring break

 

[Amy&Dan]

Actually, Easter is April 4th in 2010. Late April is typically not that busy, we used to go that time frame each year. It was seldom very crowded.

But with Easter being the 4th, that whole next week and the week after (so I am talking the weeks of the 12th and 19th) will still have some spring breakers. Starting the week of the 26th, that will be when things really start to quiet down right up until Memorial Weekend. We used to always go around the 25th into May and it was great. One year we went the week before (around the 18th as I recall) and it was much busier, especially since Easter was a bit later that year.

If you want dead time in April, you do have to go the last week (and even then its not dead but rather very manageable. By early May, its always been dead by our standards).

I am hoping that they extend the 4/3 and other deals past the dates they have now for my own sake and everyone else's that is travelling after March 27th!

 

[lugnut33]

They can't offer the discounts that far out. They want to wait and see if the economy and travel rebounds so they don't have to offer such big discounts. I believe the possible discounts for later in 2010 will come out in December or January?

 

[Palendat]

I'm pretty sure you won't have to pay rack rate for WDW. The discounts will come. I have no idea about the cruise.

 

[bitohoney]

I booked to counting the 4/3 deal. AND I too have airline tickets. Silly me. But I'm still hoping and waiting and begging!!

 

[momtwoboys]

We are waiting here patiently for the 4/3 to be extended too!!!! We are going April 16-23, or 24th. If the deal gets extended like last year then we'll be at AKL if NOT, then its ASMU for us, which is better than not going at all, right??? Come on Disney........

 

[DisneyWisher]

There should be some kind of discount will it be the 4/3 offer, no clue if they will extend it, if memory serves correctly they didn't extend it until Feb. Has anyone noticed that now Disney is charging more for the Dining plan during "peak" times, Mid Feb to Mid April, Mid June to Mid August, and week before and after Xmas. Since the upcharge ends April 11th I think its safe to think that disney will expect it to be slower too. One downside is that Grad nights were happening during April this past year. Means MK will close earlier on the weekend nights.

 

[pluto2010]

Several people have posted that last year the offer was extended out to June...the extension was announced the fisrt week or so of November.

 

[weswife]

We want an April deal too!!!! We did book for Mar. because its a great deal! We wanted to stay at the Beach Club,,,,the deal is the only way that will happen for us!!!

Still hoping!!

 

[JCornell]

Easter week isn't the week of everyone's break. Ours is the week of 4/18 for instance.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Several people have posted that last year the offer was extended out to June...the extension was announced the fisrt week or so of November.

Actually the 4/3 deal was first announced in early November last year and was from Jan to June. Later it was extended til early August.

I think it is way too early to worry about no discounts for April just yet.