Mid-October Availability

[kmg1107]

This is more of a musing, rather than a question, but I'd love others' thoughts.

We're booked in mid-October (16-22). When we made our initial reservations back in June, availability was SO limited. When POR opening was announced, availability shifted a little bit, but through August only 2-3 resorts showed availability. However, over the past two weeks, this has completely shifted. As I look today, nearly every resort has rooms available that week (or a portion of that week).

My suspicion is that it's a number of factors: lasting COVID impact on travel plans (domestic and international); initial frenzy around 50th that might be dying down; normal trends that occur when guests finalize travel plans within cancellation window, etc.

What do you think? Is this just an anomaly? Do you think mid-October crowds will truly dissipate from early October levels? Are there other factors that I'm not considering? Just curious...

 

[Marthasor]

We are going early October and I've noticed the same - very slim pickings when I first booked months ago to tons of availability, now, for the week we are going. I have no clue what caused the openings. It could be a number of factors, as you mention. I have a feeling lack of discounts may have played into it, too.

 

[NicoleLarson]

Wow, I just looked and you aren't kidding! Everything is available and all different room categories! It will be interesting to see if they start to drop some discounts.

 

[Kms943]

I’m having the opposite issue for the week of 10/25-10/29. I’ve been checking every day to see if I could switch from BWI over to YC/BC and there hasn’t been any availability there for awhile now. There is availability at BCV for 1 or 2 bedroom villas, but the added price for those rooms do’t make it worth the switch for us. There is almost no availability for EPCOT area resorts that week.

 

[NicoleLarson]

I’m having the opposite issue for the week of 10/25-10/29. I’ve been checking every day to see if I could switch from BWI over to YC/BC and there hasn’t been any availability there for awhile now. There is availability at BCV for 1 or 2 bedroom villas, but the added price for those rooms do’t make it worth the switch for us. There is almost no availability for EPCOT area resorts that week.

I would still keep looking, you are right at your 30 day mark. I think that's why mid-October rooms just opened...people tend to wait until the last minute

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I would still keep looking, you are right at your 30 day mark. I think that's why mid-October rooms just opened...people tend to wait until the last minute

Agreed that sometimes the rooms are opening at the 30-day mark. But I also think YC/BC during F&W can be a tough room to get most years. Then again, 2020 and 2021 haven't been "most years", have they?!