January/February 2018 discounts, who else is in?

[thejaxx]

I was on the Disney site late last night (1:00 am) and availability at POR disappeared before my eyes in a matter of minutes leaving only King rooms available for February so yeah, something is about to drop. I'm a Disney Visa member so hopefully that will give me a little leeway.

When we booked a few weeks ago, the standard was available for ALL days we booked (Feb 1-9) except Saturday night (Feb 10). When I called to just add that day of a different room, it was gonna push our package price up $800!!

As some others said, I think it’s a lot of reschedules from the hurricane cancellations on top of normal traffic.

 

[hllb]

Can someone tell me exactly how to use a Disney Visa exclusive deal? I've asked a couple of times but not gotten a clear answer. If they release for Visa holders tomorrow, will it be on the website and just need to use your Visa card for the reservation? Or will you have to call at 7 am? Or some other method?

 

[Motsy]

I have several people say that a lot of people affected by the hurricane rescheduled their trip for the first part of the year. We always got in late January/early February because the crowd level is great. According to Touring Plans and other crowd calendars, the crowd level should still be low. Does anyone disagree and think the crowds be much higher than normal for that time of year?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Can someone tell me exactly how to use a Disney Visa exclusive deal? I've asked a couple of times but not gotten a clear answer. If they release for Visa holders tomorrow, will it be on the website and just need to use your Visa card for the reservation? Or will you have to call at 7 am? Or some other method?

Maybe (probably) online; Definitely on the phone (but easier if it is online); Travel Agent is the only other method but is not advise that this late in the game if it is released tomorrow.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I have several people say that a lot of people affected by the hurricane rescheduled their trip for the first part of the year. We always got in late January/early February because the crowd level is great. According to Touring Plans and other crowd calendars, the crowd level should still be low. Does anyone disagree and think the crowds be much higher than normal for that time of year?

Let's say Disney attendance is flat year round for a moment...so the 2 weeks worth of trips around the hurricane (the week before and week after) represent roughly 4% of all visitors annually (2/52). And let's assume that 25% of those people cancelled their trips (which is probably high)...so 1% of the annual visitors...and then they rescheduled their trips over 6 weeks from Jan 1 they feb 14...assuming all of that, there would be a roughly 10% increase in attendance each week in jan/early feb. (Keep in mind a lot of these assumptions are probably too aggressive intentionally).

In short...whether January/February is busier or not I personally don't believe the hurricane will have any appreciable affect on the attendance. It may be busier...but I'd hesitate to call it hurricane related.

 

[hllb]

I have several people say that a lot of people affected by the hurricane rescheduled their trip for the first part of the year. We always got in late January/early February because the crowd level is great. According to Touring Plans and other crowd calendars, the crowd level should still be low. Does anyone disagree and think the crowds be much higher than normal for that time of year?

I certainly hope not...I'll be there 1/27 to 2/3. I hate crowds

 

[Chrystal Bisonet]

Maybe (probably) online; Definitely on the phone (but easier if it is online); Travel Agent is the only other method but is not advise that this late in the game if it is released tomorrow.

Thanks for the info! I was wondering too. (This is my first time booking a Disney vacation with a Disney visa.)
When you say online, do we use Disney's website? Sorry for all the questions. Just don't know how it works!

 

[Lisa Warner]

Thanks for the info! I was wondering too. (This is my first time booking a Disney vacation with a Disney visa.)
When you say online, do we use Disney's website? Sorry for all the questions. Just don't know how it works!

Feeling the same way!

 

[Masiri]

I'm guessing it could be like the free dining was this year, where the moderate resorts had quick service dining associated.

I wouldn't be surprised, especially with the "alcoholic beverage included" in the regular dining plan...

 

[thejaxx]

Wife is getting antsy over the possibility of it being crowded based on the rooms selling out for certain times in early Feb now.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Wife is getting antsy over the possibility of it being crowded based on the rooms selling out for certain times in early Feb now.

Disney always fills its resorts. Rooms were selling out last year around this time and people were freaking out then too. Crowd level fluctuations are based primarily on offsite bookings. Unless you're going for Presidents Day you've selected one of the least busiest times of the year. The last week of January and First week of February are a great time to visit.

 

[hllb]

Disney always fills its resorts. Rooms were selling out last year around this time and people were freaking out then too. Crowd level fluctuations are based primarily on offsite bookings. Unless you're going for Presidents Day you've selected one of the least busiest times of the year. The last week of January and First week of February are a great time to visit.

That makes me feel better. We always pick low crowd level times to go. Hopefully this will follow suit. We've gone first week of May and last week of September/first week of October before. All nice crowd levels although weather was insanely hot both times and fall was rainy. Hopefully this time will still feel like low crowds.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

That makes me feel better. We always pick low crowd level times to go. Hopefully this will follow suit. We've gone first week of May and last week of September/first week of October before. All nice crowd levels although weather was insanely hot both times and fall was rainy. Hopefully this time will still feel like low crowds.

We are there the fact same dates as you (and the same dates we were there last year). The two Saturdays will be busy (especially at MK and Epcot) but I fully expect the other 6 days to be fantastic!

EDIT: Now that I look we've gone the week leading up to the SuperBowl or directly after the past 6 years in a row. I'd say we are pretty well versed in the Jan 27 thru Feb 12 travel time frame haha!

 

[hllb]

We are there the fact same dates as you (and the same dates we were there last year). The two Saturdays will be busy (especially at MK and Epcot) but I fully expect the other 6 days to be fantastic!

EDIT: Now that I look we've gone the week leading up to the SuperBowl or directly after the past 6 years in a row. I'd say we are pretty well versed in the Jan 27 thru Feb 12 travel time frame haha!

Nice! We aren't going to parks on either Saturdays so that'll work for us! Disney Springs the first Saturday and an early flight out the second

 

[Violet Parr]

I am bracing for larger-than-expected crowds for the first two weeks of the year. The Goofy Challenge is usually not a sell-out, and it sold out this year. This means the entire marathon weekend events schedule has a high likelihood of selling out. Add to that reschedules from the hurricane and consider that many will try to do it before school starts up, and I'd say there is a good chance for an uptick in crowds.

VP

 

[hllb]

I am bracing for larger-than-expected crowds for the first two weeks of the year. The Goofy Challenge is usually not a sell-out, and it sold out this year. This means the entire marathon weekend events schedule has a high likelihood of selling out. Add to that reschedules from the hurricane and consider that many will try to do it before school starts up, and I'd say there is a good chance for an uptick in crowds.

VP

Aren't the first 2 weeks always super heavy? Especially that first week of January? And race weekends are always pretty busy, though I'll admit when we were there for the princess half the park didn't seem too crowded.

 

[Pdollar88]

Is there much point in checking for discounts tonight at midnight? My bf is already grumbling at me waking up early tomorrow to look for discounts.

 

[Ejw5]

Are we expecting visa discounts to drop tomorrow or general public?

 

[mn51]

Is there much point in checking for discounts tonight at midnight? My bf is already grumbling at me waking up early tomorrow to look for discounts.

Who knows! My cat usually wakes me up during the night so I will check. If there is nothing at 5:30 when I get up, I'll keep checking and then call at 7 am. I hope it is tomorrow and Tuesday at the latest. This is torture!

 

[mn51]

Are we expecting visa discounts to drop tomorrow or general public?

It's difficult to say Disney will offer to Disney Visa card holders first. They typically do but every so often they do not. I just hope it is soon.