No more slow season at Disney?!?

[saratogagirls]

I agree with castleri and would book where I could get days together and then waitlist the others. Our waitlists have always come through for us....especially at SSR because of its vast amount of rooms.

We've also noticed that our typical "quiet" season stays have gotten increasingly busy. I suspect its due to free dining. September was definitely slower than any other stay that we've experienced.

Good luck!

 

[DebbieB]

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?

I would not use points for POFQ. Not only do you have to use the points, there's a $95 reservation fee.

I would check with CRO. They have free dining, gift card deals or room discounts available for many dates. It would also be easier if you have to cancel because of a family emergency.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/

Scroll down about 3/4 of the page for special offers.

 

[Anal Annie]

Did you ask if there was anything open for the DVC cash discount? Sometimes you might find DVC resort with availability that way. Then you could stay on a waitlist for something if you just plan to use cash for now.

 

[Annette_C]

I would not use points for POFQ. Not only do you have to use the points, there's a $95 reservation fee.

I would check with CRO. They have free dining, gift card deals or room discounts available for many dates. It would also be easier if you have to cancel because of a family emergency.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/

Scroll down about 3/4 of the page for special offers.

Yes, You are absolutely right: it's not worth using points (and fee) to go outside DVC!
I've been doing the math and I could get water view room, PH tickets and free dining for less than $2,500 for a week at either PO Riverside or Caribbean Beach!
If I use the points, it takes 169 plus $95. Then, we'd need tix because our AP expired and buying our own food.
If I rent out my points (all 283 of them), it would pay for this vacay....

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Florida as a whole is less seasonal now, years ago everyone went away/home in May and didn't return till late October. Disney's done a wonderful job of filling it's down time by offering Free Dining and great room discounts to help fill those voids.

Week before Thanksgiving is less crowded, we're going then. Booked a 2br at 11 months at OKW and had to add a studio at the 4 1/2 month mark and ended up in SSR, because OKW had no studios available. Didn't want to be split up, so SSR here we come, just means I have to wait till June to see the OKW reno. in person!

 

[Annette_C]

Did you ask if there was anything open for the DVC cash discount? Sometimes you might find DVC resort with availability that way. Then you could stay on a waitlist for something if you just plan to use cash for now.

I apologize for my ignorance but what is DVC cash discount and how does it work?

 

[NewmanFamily6]

Personally I would have paid the $95 and stayed right at POR. I know it may not be the most prudent way to use points but the waitlist isn't realistic at this point. Anyway for my family it is more important to have our trip than where we stay

 

[DebbieB]

I apologize for my ignorance but what is DVC cash discount and how does it work?

Member Services sometimes has cash rooms at DVC resorts available for a 25% discount. In general, you can get a better discount through CRO.

 

[Sammie]

I apologize for my ignorance but what is DVC cash discount and how does it work?

Call member services and ask for availability. If they had it you get 25% off rack rate.

if you have an annual pass, that is usually a much better discount.

 

[Annette_C]

I was ready to book the week in the all-inclusive package from Disney directly when I decided to call MS one last time.
Well, wouldn't you know that a 1 br at OKW had become available for the last week of October, as we wanted? I could not believe it!!!! MS had 6 nights but we're on a wait list for a 7th and that's fine with us!
We have never been to OKW before (we are SSR owners but stay mostly at the Epcot resorts) and, having heard wonderful things about it, we can't wait to stay there!!

 

[Sammie]

I was ready to book the week in the all-inclusive package from Disney directly when I decided to call MS one last time.
Well, wouldn't you know that a 1 br at OKW had become available for the last week of October, as we wanted? I could not believe it!!!! MS had 6 nights but we're on a wait list for a 7th and that's fine with us!
We have never been to OKW before (we are SSR owners but stay mostly at the Epcot resorts) and, having heard wonderful things about it, we can't wait to stay there!!

That is great news. If you want the 7th and can't get it on the wait list you could pay cash for the one night.

 

[Annette_C]

That is great news. If you want the 7th and can't get it on the wait list you could pay cash for the one night.

Yep! That's exactly what I did! Thanks for all your great suggestions!

 

[Dreamin Disney]

I find that the best times to go are either in September or January. October is always wild because of the Food & Wine Festival.

 

[gracelrm]

I think early to mid October has become more crowded due to many southern schools starting a Fall Break. For about 10 years or so, Fall Breaks have become more common and I know in my area, at least, loads of families are headed to Disney during this time.

 

[bpmorley]

We also tried to book and extra night, Dec 3, not one studio or 1bdr available anywhere.

We were finally able to get a couple reservations. It just took some letter writing and couple calls.

 

[DisneyPups]

I tried to secure a room last night (any room, I was flexible) for a last minute decision to run the marathon in January with no luck. Not a thing. Nada. In any size. Last minute decisions just don't work for DVC if there is ANYthing going on that might draw people. Oh well. We're flexible. On to the next vacation opportunity.

 

[jamn]

I remember that years ago it used to be so easy to get a reservation for October and November - my mother and father used to go down every year and not even both with reservations they just picked a disney hotel and called a day or two in advance and went. Its crazy that it is so busy - especially given the economy.

 

[bpmorley]

What's causing the reservation problems? is it the free dining? that we as DVC members cannot get

 

[Deb & Bill]

What's causing the reservation problems? is it the free dining? that we as DVC members cannot get

Hardly. That's not DVC inventory.

More members, more members wanting to go for the holidays, more members finding out they have the money to go, more members wanting to go for F&W festival, more members running or walking the marathon, etc.

Some newer members were given good deals to buy GCV with no intention of going there. Some members buy in at HHI or VB with no intention of staying there. That makes it tougher to get WDW lodging.

 

[bpmorley]

I meant we were also having problems getting into a restaurant.