October 15 - 19 sold out

[Sherry E]

I really appreate all the input I feel like I have alot of pressure to make this a perfect birthday. We've gone in October many times because its slow the last was 4 years ago and we were there on Halloween and they had nothing special now it seem with all they do October is not the best time to go. I went last march and had no lines it was great!!

Crazy Duck is right. There were special PIN# discount offers for the three hotels this year, and there are certain rooms 'set aside' for those deals. Those rooms include weekends and they booked up early on (I got one of them). Those offers were specifically sent out to lure people who otherwise would not be going during the 'off-peak season.' Then, there are certain rooms set aside for the Annual Passholders (the AP7 rates), and those rooms booked up early on. Also, on the Disneyland website e-mail I received a few weeks ago, there was a link to a section with special Fall Rates for the hotels, so there are probably more rooms blocked for those. There are yet again separate rooms set aside for the Walt Disney Travel Company packages (including tickets and other 'perks'). Maybe those are booked? As others have suggested, if you call the room-only reservations number (otherwise known as Central Reservations), many times they will have availability, and if they don't, you can keep trying back until someone cancels. They tell you in Central Reservations that people are ALWAYS cancelling or changing their dates, so you just have to call at the right time on the right day. Sometimes people will cancel right around a week to 5 days before their arrival date because that is how they get a full refund. If they cancel inside of 5 days with Central, they do not get their money back. With the Travel Company, cancellations are less frequent because you don't get all of your money back under any circumstances. They always keep something. So, if you wanted to arrive on October 9, for example, start hounding Central right around October 2 - 4 for an opening based on a cancellation.

So I would suggest that if you have not tried Central, try them. Keep calling until there is a cancellation. If you have tried Central but have not tried the Travel Company, then call the Travel Company. If you have not checked out the Fall Rates promo on the Disneyland website, try that. There are several different options and you may find an available room if you try all of them. Don't give up if it is important to you!

 

[disney-inspired]

That is called UEA: Utah escapes to Anaheim. That is when the teachers in Utah go to a convention so school is out. Tons of people come to Disneyland because it's a 4-day weekend for them.

I heard it's crazy

 

[CrazyDuck]

Also I just noticed that October 16th Disneyland is open until 11:00pm all the other Thursdays they close at 8:00pm.

Because there is a MTOT party in DCA that night!

 

[Mililani Mouser]

I would avoid the week of UT and AZ breaks at all costs. We did that mistake last year. The week before and week after was not busy. Lines were horrendous (MM lines were to the California sign in the esplanade).

 

[olivejuice]

So what are the dates of the Utah breaks? Will they still be going on 24-26th?

 

[disneyfanzz]

Utah gets out of school early on Wednesday October 15th and is out through Monday the 20th. Disneyland is what A LOT of families do over this holiday and most of them will either miss a few days of school before the break or after. We are going in September to avoid this.

 

[avalon451]

I was just checking the greater Phoenix area schools calendar... looks like they're split about half between Oct. 6-10 for fall break, and Oct 13-17.

And, yeah... Utah Education Association is a big one, 16th-19th

However... given lower crowd levels this summer due to gas prices and the economy, here's hoping that more people do a "staycation" at home, for the sake of those of us who have already booked our dream DL trips!

 

[ladykatherine]

I just checked into changing our reservation to the following weekend but, would be costly. UEA looks like it is the 16th-20th. I would think locals and AP holders would avoid that weekend as well I'm assuming that there leaving the park open until 11:00pm on the 16 because of expected crowds. Do fast passes work when its that busy? I guess we could pray for a dream pass!

 

[Sherry E]

I just checked into changing our reservation to the following weekend but, would be costly. UEA looks like it is the 16th-20th. I would think locals and AP holders would avoid that weekend as well I'm assuming that there leaving the park open until 11:00pm on the 16 because of expected crowds. Do fast passes work when its that busy? I guess we could pray for a dream pass!

Did you end up making a reservation at one of the three hotels? Did you find an opening somewhere?

 

[avalon451]

I just checked into changing our reservation to the following weekend but, would be costly. UEA looks like it is the 16th-20th. I would think locals and AP holders would avoid that weekend as well I'm assuming that there leaving the park open until 11:00pm on the 16 because of expected crowds. Do fast passes work when its that busy? I guess we could pray for a dream pass!

The parks are probably open till 11, because Mickey Trick or Treat parties are on Thurs-Sats in October in DCA. So DL stays open later on those Thursdays.

Of course FPs work then! Be sure and follow Hydroguy's tips for getting the most out of FP during high season-- you'll be fine! http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

 

[ladykatherine]

I see that your going to be there around the same time (Avalon451) were coming from Portland Oregon and Olympia Washington. I've done some research and there still seems to be a lot of cheap airfare still available from Salt Lake city to Orange county I would think that's a good sign that maybe there will be more stay-cations. There are other Thursday's for MTOT and DL doesn't stay open till 11:00pm

 

[ladykatherine]

My husband and I along with two other couples have reservations at GCH but, now there are a couple ofother people that wanted to go with us and they said everything is booked that weekend.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

I was just checking the greater Phoenix area schools calendar... looks like they're split about half between Oct. 6-10 for fall break, and Oct 13-17.

And, yeah... Utah Education Association is a big one, 16th-19th

However... given lower crowd levels this summer due to gas prices and the economy, here's hoping that more people do a "staycation" at home, for the sake of those of us who have already booked our dream DL trips!

wishful thinking avalon

 

[DisneyMomma81]

We'll be enjoying our UEA break in Seattle. I don't think I'll ever visit DLR during UEA.

Have fun!

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

So Im going low crowd time oct 12-17 right

 

[Sherry E]

My husband and I along with two other couples have reservations at GCH but, now there are a couple ofother people that wanted to go with us and they said everything is booked that weekend.

You will love GCH if you stick with that! It is a gorgeous hotel! Really cozy and elegantly rustic. As I said in my original post, I would still keep checking all the different options for openings at the Disney hotels (any of them) for your friends. Someone will cancel and something will open up - you just have to be ready to pounce on it! Keep calling Central. If they are still booked, call the Travel Company again. Also, call the specific number on the Disneyland website that is connected with the Fall Rates hotel promo, as there are probably separate rooms set aside just for that offer.