October crowds--anyone puzzled?

[CindysGusGus]

Yesterday I was having a hard time finding any rooms at the AP rate, however when I went to WDW.com I found rooms of every type available at the AKL, I think it may just be the lack of rates!

 

[chamonix]

We'll be at the Poly Oct 6-12th. Expedia is showing no more rooms in concierge at that time, and I couldn't get the AP or BAT rate for all of our nights. (we're in LVC, as usual) In fact, I couldn't get offers for conciege anywhere during that time, except for 2 bedroom suites.

We haven't been in October before, but all of the other times we have been cold, with very light crowds. Hoping for warmer weather and trying to prepare for more people, lol.

I'm curious though--someone compared October to June and said it was less people than June...? I thought June was a madhouse--that's why we avoid it. If October is worse than June, I'll plan a trip for next June too. We are really looking forward to making the trip someday when it's hot.

Does anyone know what conventions are that week?
We might skip Epcot this trip if Food and Wine fills the place up. Maybe we'll just pop over for Illuminiations one night.

 

[jaygatz]

The first week of June crowds are almost non-existent. Remember though that my benchmarks are Christmas and Spring Break, so you might want to take my description with a grain of salt. As an indicia of the crowd levels, June 7th or 8th (can't remember exactly which) 2003, I rode ToT 12 times only wait was in the library and boiler-room. The rides were back to back--we got off and got right back into the library.

 

[mommytutu]

We'll be there October 8-15. Columbus Day is the 11th and we think that will be a good day to visit Kennedy Space Center and take a break from the parks---I'm thinking the parks will be more crowded on that day then any other. When we dicided to go in October, we made the decision based on weather and our schedule...we had no idea about Food and Wine Festival or Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (yep, this is our first Disney vacation), but now we are looking forward to attending both events.

 

[dpic]

Originally posted by CindysGusGus
Yesterday I was having a hard time finding any rooms at the AP rate, however when I went to WDW.com I found rooms of every type available at the AKL, I think it may just be the lack of rates!

I agree. My sister tried for BAT at WL the last week of October--no dates available. However, when she said she really needed to stay there, they had plenty of rack rates to offer. She took a standard (standard available so close to leaving?). Long story>short, she got BAT finally.

Also, when I finally scored my BAT at WL, they still were offering AAA discounts which is very surprising so close to October.

mommytutu, you will LOVE MNSSHP. It's our favorite time in MK. If you go on the 31st, it will be relatively crowded--until about 9:30 or so when the little ones peter out.

 

[bamadisney]

Hey I know you have gotten lots of responses but I thought Id throw in my two cents worth for what its worth. We went in Oct of 2002 and of 2000. ( our other three trips have all been the end of May). The Oct 2000 trip crowds were not big at all (almost small) and the weather was great!!! When we went in 2002, the weather was soooo HOT! But we had a local tell us that it had not been that hot in Oct in years. They were even talking about the hot weather on the news. The crowds were LOTS larger than in 2000 but not bad. They really were not bad...they were just larger than the first time we went in Oct. I do think it is because of schools having Fall Breaks now. I teach school in Alabama and we just started in 2002 having Fall Breaks. The time we went in 2000 I just took my child out for a few days and I took a few days off. We now have many schools in our area having Fall Break. Ours starts on Oct 18 this year. If you have a plan (and that is the key)then the crowds want bother you that bad. AND again, it is not over crowded , just more crowded than Octs of years ago. Have a great time. Ill be there too!