No more slow season at Disney?!?

[Annette_C]

We've been DVC members for 5 yrs now and, before that, we still visited WDW regularly.
We like to go during the "slow" season ( May and/or Sept-Oct). We have never had a problem booking a week during those times but, this year, I cannot get a reservation even going into November!!
I know I should have booked sooner but we have had a lot of illnesses in our family (elderly parents) and didn't know if we could squeeze a Fall trip to the World....
What happened to the slow times?!?

 

[Deb & Bill]

We've been DVC members for 5 yrs now and, before that, we still visited WDW regularly.
We like to go during the "slow" season ( May and/or Sept-Oct). We have never had a problem booking a week during those times but, this year, I cannot get a reservation even going into November!!
I know I should have booked sooner but we have had a lot of illnesses in our family (elderly parents) and didn't know if we could squeeze a Fall trip to the World....
What happened to the slow times?!?

You are way late to try to book November. October hasn't been slow since about 1999. We went for the first time in Oct/Nov 1997 and it has slowly gotten busier since that time. Especially since they added all the extra halloween parties at the MK and the evening half marathons. Plus Food & Wine has gotten very popular.

 

[TiaMaria]

What happened to the slow times?!?

I suspect that hideous entity known as "Free Dining" may have something to do with it. Not for DVC members, but for all of Disney in general.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I suspect that hideous entity known as "Free Dining" may have something to do with it.

Only in the last few years. Before that it was already getting busy except for late August and September. We've seen October get way busy in the past ten years or so.

 

[Desnik]

Personally I think the only slow times at WDW are the end of Jan and the month of Sept. I agree with the PP who said Oct hasn't been a slow month since 1999. Nov has gotten busier and busier every year.

 

[Sammie]

Even September has gotten busier now that the Halloween party begins in Sept.

Disney figured out if they offered special events, such at the Halloween party, Food and Wine, Christmas party, and Flower Show, people would come.

Free dining should have no impact on DVC booking.

 

[tjkraz]

Could be fallout from the poor 2009 economy. With DVC members eligible to bank points one year into the future, a disproportionate number may have banked points from '09 into '10. With employment a bit more secure and those points facing expiration, demand for fall 2010 reservations may have risen sharply in comparison to other years.

 

[DebbieB]

Free dining might have the opposite effect on DVC. Members who want to take advantage will book a cash room instead of a points room. I think it's more the Food & Wine Festival, Halloween & Christmas parties, Christmas decorations & shows. Disney knows how to market the slower times.

The only time I was ever shutout of a DVC room was when I called for a Sunday night in October about 3 weeks before, that was in 2007. No DVC room anywhere, any size.

 

[eporter66]

We have been going in the fall since the late 90's (Oct specifically), and really noticed the change during our 2008 trip. Maybe I am not as observent as the others

Avoiding the school breaks is still a must, and for us, going to Florida in the summer defeats the purpose. Living in NY - we get a nice reprieve, even going in October gives us another touch of summer and swimming to enjoy.

 

[bpmorley]

Even early December is getting busier. We have our room, but cannot get one reservation. Unless you consider Breakfast @ 11am or Dinner @ 10pm

 

[TisBit]

Now, I agree this is a very last minute vacation, but I do have to ask the question, you couldn't get a room anywhere? Or is it just not at the resorts you want?

 

[Princess Jasmine]

I just called today to add one night in November (the 5th) and there was not a single studio room available on property.

 

[Annette_C]

Now, I agree this is a very last minute vacation, but I do have to ask the question, you couldn't get a room anywhere? Or is it just not at the resorts you want?

We are very flexible so it didn't matter to us where we stayed, as long as we could get a week.
Unfortunately, nothing anywhere (1 BR), for 6 nights in a row! We're not the resort-hopping types (3 nights here, two there, etc) since I only want to unpack and repack once during my vacation!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Did you only check on a 1 bedroom? Try expanding your search to any room type.

 

[Annette_C]

Did you only check on a 1 bedroom? Try expanding your search to any room type.

I did but nothing is available: no studios, no 1 br and no 2 br either!
They suggested I stay outside of the DVC and into a regular Disney hotel but, even checking into that, the pickings were slim....In fact, I could stay at the Polynesian for 300+ pts; a cabin at FW for 297 pts or Port Orleans for 169.
I'm not going to use 300 pts on this vacation! I mean, one of the reasons we like late spring and fall is that we can use less points (with lower crowds and milder weather to boot).
Port Orleans is more doable but, of course, we'd be in a moderate resort room, 3 of us in two double beds and no amenities....
Should I wait and see if something at DVC becomes available or do you think I should take the Port Orleans deal?

 

[Deb & Bill]

I did but nothing is available: no studios, no 1 br and no 2 br either!
They suggested I stay outside of the DVC and into a regular Disney hotel but, even checking into that, the pickings were slim....In fact, I could stay at the Polynesian for 300+ pts; a cabin at FW for 297 pts or Port Orleans for 169.
I'm not going to use 300 pts on this vacation! I mean, one of the reasons we like late spring and fall is that we can use less points (with lower crowds and milder weather to boot).
Port Orleans is more doable but, of course, we'd be in a moderate resort room, 3 of us in two double beds and no amenities....
Should I wait and see if something at DVC becomes available or do you think I should take the Port Orleans deal?

If you use your DVC points to book POR/POFQ, you won't be able to use those points to book a DVC if it should become available.

Go on the waitlist for OKW and SSR either in a studio or one bedroom, whichever you prefer. But it should be more likely for the one bedroom to become available since a studio used fewer points.

Or book something for Spring and forget about the fall.

 

[Annette_C]

I understand but how likely is it for a 1 br to become available on such short notice?
Anyone have an experience with that?
And I wish we could start planning for spring but, around here, it's best not to plan ahead.....
As I mentioned in my original post, my parents are both ill (mom had a stroke and is now paralyzed plus has Alzheimer's; dad got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer).
I take care of them and it has been a very tough road! Finally, things are stable enough that we thought we could squeeze in a week at WDW....

 

[Sammie]

I mean, one of the reasons we like late spring and fall is that we can use less points (with lower crowds and milder weather to boot).

Which is why they are booked, everyone loves that time for the same reasons.

how likely is it for a 1 br to become available on such short notice?

for October, very slim. September a better chance, May, is popular too due to the Flower and Garden Show at Epcot.

Hopefully something will open up, try the wait list and call often, good luck.

As long as you are not using borrowed points, you can always cancel 31 days out if you decide to plan for next Spring.

 

[StitchBuddy]

We stayed at Port Orleans French Quater and loved it!! I think it is the best moderate on Disney property. If you need a break go for it! It's better than a studio, you get mousekeeping everyday! I totally understand needing the break, we were in your shoes a couple of years ago. I hope you get some peace, relaxation, and laughter. Enjoy your trip!!

 

[castleri]

I would book somewhere i could get 2 or 3 days together and waitlist for the others. i would also book the others at another resort ( I know you don't want to pack and repack but if it is only once it might not be too bad. Waitlisting for one or two days at a time may get better results than trying to WL for the whole time. I was sole caretaker for my Mom this past year and the rest of the family was able to take the Christmas trip but I didn't go until May after she passed away. Being able to get away is really important - I did not realize how much until after everything settled down. I hope you will be able to work something out and have a good trip.