Is October a busy month?

[sshatney]

Hi, I am trying to plan an impulsive, quick trip in October. I didn't think that this was a busy time at WDW, but I have found a few hotels that are saying no availability. I am a nurse and was hoping to get a discount at the Dolphin/Swan. Any comments would be great. Thanks.

 

[Disney Dee]

Oct is a great time to go. And the swan/dolphin is a my fav resort, I don't think crowds are bad at all, not sure why there is no availablity then, have a great time!

 

[safetymom]

October will be pretty busy because of the Food and Wine Festival. It is a great time to go though with the weather.

 

[webray]

October is a very busy month at WDW. Food and wine festival runs the whole month, there is a golf classic, plus whatever sporting events are at the complex. Some weeks you can find summer like crowds.

doesn't stop us from going though..lol.

 

[mjh8955]

We have been the very end of May, July, the beginning of August, the end of August and in October (during the food and wine festival). The crowds and heat were more manageable in October. I thought it was far more pleasant then. This year we are going the first week in November and hope to experience even less crowds and not such intense heat. Our favorite hotel was the Beach Club, because of the easy access to Epcot, our favorite park. We liked the Poly and we have tried only one moderate, Port Orleans French Quarter. A little smaller but when we were there last October it was quiet and not crowded at all. Have fun!

 

[It's A Happy Day]

October is a great month but due to the free dining disney ran the onsite hotels are booked more than normal and esp. the values and moderates as it was a better deal for people to stay here and get free dining vs. a different discount such as AAA with no free dining....more availability after the 13th which would be the last date covered under the free dining. Last time we went in October we walked on all rides except 3 and those were only a 20 minute wait!!! Go for it, you'll have a blast!!!

 

[Lives4Disney]

We have had terrible luck going in October. My kids have a 5 day weekend before Columbus day, so we have gone around that time of the month for several years. Yuck. I have been there when it was 94 degress. Have been stuck in crowds so thick I couldn't move with my stroller in World showcase. Been told I couldn't monorail to my resort due to the crowds leaving the MK at closing ( and I was 7 1/2 months pregnant and NOT happy), stuck inside the castle trying to leave the MK - it was a gridlock.

I also think crowds have increased a lot over the years due to the F&W fest, Mickey's Halloween party, the GARTNER Symposium (BIGGGG CROWDS at S/D), Golf events, etc. Gartner Symposium brings about 40,000 people to S/D Yc/Bc etc.

I am feeling like being spontaneous & hopeful too,(crazy) and looked yesterday morn at what deluxes I could get into - NONE online available for that Oct 5th week, except villas. No thanks - I would rather go during spring break!! (Which I am!)

Good luck & happy planning!! Hope it works out and you have a great time. I would much rather go during Jan/Feb, middle of December or Nov. I have a son in high school and it is cramping my spontaneous style!!

Lives4Disney

 

[Colinsmom]

The Swan and Dolphin are also convention hotels, and may be running tight on space for that reason. Though they usually release rooms that are held for the convention about a month in advance, so even though they have no rooms now, they may in a couple of weeks.

 

[k5thbeatle]

Other than Columbus Day the crowds are really relatively small. I even thought on Halloween that it was very manageable. 90% of our trips have been in Sept./Oct or Oct./Nov. and while the F&W fest does bring in more people we have always managed to do everything we have wanted. Even on Columbus day we planned for the crowds and had our reservations in order and did other things (We golfed and did the spa thing). Sure it's not quite like when we've gone in Sept (REALLY DEAD) or Jan. but to us the crowds were very manageable.

Hey in fact...

 

[Dodie]

October used to be far less busy than it is now. I'm not surprised at the sold out resorts, when you factor in the Food and Wine Festival, MNSSHP, and the free dining deal that was offered.

We went in October a couple of years ago. The weather was great. However, it was near Halloween itself - so all of that was in full swing and it was pretty busy.

 

[madge]

Hi, I am trying to plan an impulsive, quick trip in October. I didn't think that this was a busy time at WDW, but I have found a few hotels that are saying no availability. I am a nurse and was hoping to get a discount at the Dolphin/Swan. Any comments would be great. Thanks.

Swan/Dolphin is very busy in October--many large conventions.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

Plus I heard that Disney opened some hotels for hurricane victims.

 

[BurkeTribe]

Unfortunately it is looking like October may be very crowded this year. For our dates (Oct 13-20), availability at all MK resorts is down to almost nothing left during any of our dates, even when willing to move around and do 3-day stays here/there. No standard rooms at Contemporary, Poly, or WL, with GF even showing no rooms at all (except maybe suites), and several other resorts' standard rooms seem to be going fast. I don't know why the onsites are this full, but it seems abnormally so... maybe it's the diningdeal, F&W, and MNSSHP, but sheesh did the dining really increase reservations that much?

Luckily through perserverance we got an OKW studio at a decent $96/night for part of our stay, now we just have to fill in 3 more days

 

[CharityLynn]

I have heard the Epcot resorts are full because of conventions like several others stated

 

[bballdiva]

What about the end of oct? Me and bf are goin oct 24-31. Not attending mnsshp so we dont have to worry bout those crowds, and the free dining will be over. So what do you all think...very busy or very tolerable?

 

[GPALANGE]

I thought free dinning was only thru the 1st week of October??? Let me know if I'm wrong, my family is going the 9th-15th and we paid for the dinning. I too hope it's not too crowded or hot. This is our families first trip and we're hoping it's perfect

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

October is a HUGE convention month. All convention resorts, as well as surrounding resorts will be full of conventioneers. Plus, you have the golf event (I cant remember which one it is), plus MNSSHP, free dining... it all adds up to the Orlando area itself being super busy. Which is a very good thing for us.

 

[Ms. Belle]

I called the Swan/Dolphin for reservations 2 months ago and they told me that they never offer discounts during October because it is their busiest convention month. I tried to get the Allears discount code and wasn't able to. Plus, like everyone else said, MNSSHP and F&W and golf .... I'm hoping it won't be as bad as christmas time!

 

[imatoad]

Do most kids just have Columbus Day off, or a bunch of days after that? I just realized we'll be there then. I remember as a kid just having off that Monday.

 

[Bee]

We will be at ASMo 10-22 to 10-27... Hoping not that crowded. I was advised this is not a busy time to go... Also, dont let the crowds at MNSSHP stop you... from what I have read.. most/ if not all rides are walk-ons. We are doing the party on 10-23.

Bee