October Crowds

[jerseygal]

Double fun!!! Happy Birthday To You too! are you going to MNSSHP on Oct 30th? Disney is throwing us a party, can't miss that! No dishes to wash, house to clean or food to make - easiest birthday party EVER!!!

THANK YOU! We are celebrating bday at Narcoosees. Haven't been there in a number of years, have been more often to Yachtsman which we always enjoy as well. CAN'T WAIT! We are not going to MNSSHP, but are leaving after dinner open right now. Probably going back to Epcot for a last walk around F&W, then Illuminations. Hanson is October 30th at Eat to the Beat, maybe do that, then finish with my favorite, Illuminations! ENJOY your birthday as well!

 

[Rich M]

So basically any day except my birthday is my un-birthday?

Correct. Its the song that the Mad Hatter and Hare sing in Alice in Wonderland during the tea party scene.

 

[Haley R]

Correct. Its the song that the Mad Hatter and Hare sing in Alice in Wonderland during the tea party scene.

I'm not a big Alice in Wonderland fan.

 

[Rich M]

I'm not a big Alice in Wonderland fan.

I like the cartoon version but was not a big fan of the live action one with Depp.

 

[Haley R]

I like the cartoon version but was not a big fan of the live action one with Depp.

I didn't really watch the cartoon so I might need to watch it sometime, but I did see the live action and it wasn't my favorite. Which surprises me because I LOVE Johnny Depp.

 

[Thiago Acquaviva]

I was checking Disney's website and most Disney hotels are unavailable for October 10-25th :O
I'm starting to get really scared about October crowds
It's gonna be our first time during october

 

[FoxC63]

I was checking Disney's website and most Disney hotels are unavailable for October 10-25th :O
I'm starting to get really scared about October crowds
It's gonna be our first time during october

Many people book multiple resorts in hopes for an offer which ties up the availability for discounts in the first place. I was able to secure a room for the exact days I wanted about a week or two after the promotion was released. As a matter of fact my husband and I were driving to Karmanos Cancer Institute for his chemo treatment when I saw it available. I couldn't book via cell so I used his phone and got it.

 

[Haley R]

I was checking Disney's website and most Disney hotels are unavailable for October 10-25th :O
I'm starting to get really scared about October crowds
It's gonna be our first time during october

We had a really tough time getting Beach Club through our TA. This will be our first October trip, also. I'm just gonna make sure we have good plans every day and I go in with the mindset that it is going to be busy.

 

[TulipMom]

I was checking Disney's website and most Disney hotels are unavailable for October 10-25th :O
I'm starting to get really scared about October crowds
It's gonna be our first time during october

Hotels were so booked last Oct that when we wanted to add 3 nights onto our 5 nights at Poly, there was literally no availability. We checked weeks leading up to our trip and then every day from the time we checked in until when we checked out (we'd had regrets about planning a switch to an off-site hotel, but in the end we loved the off-site move). We had a FABULOUS and MAGICAL trip! If you have a good plan for avoiding the worst of the crowds and have realistic expectations, it will make all the difference!

Overall, though, crowds have become enough of a problem to have to work around (using hours of planning + extra expense to find ways to avoid crowds) that it's deterring my motivation to plan another trip for my family. We'll likely wait a few years before heading back.

 

[winthropf]

We are contemplating October 13 - 20 2018; search feature did not work! How are the crowds at this time?

A minor warning, this is the week of the biggest convention on Disney property of the year. It significantly impacts the availability of hotel room especially at the Epcot resorts and other deluxe hotels. To give you an idea of how big, they usually set up circus style tents in the parking lots of the YC/BC and Swan/Dolphin to serve as dining space and exhibit space for the convention in addition to all of the convention facilities.

If you are counting on lodging discounts, the convention also impacts those.

 

[SarahC97]

I was checking Disney's website and most Disney hotels are unavailable for October 10-25th :O
I'm starting to get really scared about October crowds
It's gonna be our first time during october

Don't be scared, just be prepared! Think of it this way: it's better to go into it expecting it to be busy and be pleasantly surprised if it's not as bad as you thought than the other way around! October has become a very busy time, but you'll still have fun and the weather is great!

 

[Robin Burks]

Look at all these late October and early November birthdays! Mine is on October 31, but we decided to do the Halloween party (and my birthday party) on the 30th for fear that the 31st party would be more crowded. I really hope that week isn't too insane at the parks, but I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for crowds, just in case. We'll be avoiding the weekend at the parks at all costs, though.

 

[Haley R]

Look at all these late October and early November birthdays! Mine is on October 31, but we decided to do the Halloween party (and my birthday party) on the 30th for fear that the 31st party would be more crowded. I really hope that week isn't too insane at the parks, but I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for crowds, just in case. We'll be avoiding the weekend at the parks at all costs, though.

We are avoiding the Saturday that we will be there (taking a pool day at BC instead and doing the Void at DS). On Sunday, we plan on going to AK so hopefully it isn't too bad.

 

[Rich M]

We are avoiding the Saturday that we will be there (taking a pool day at BC instead and doing the Void at DS). On Sunday, we plan on going to AK so hopefully it isn't too bad.

We had been concerned also about the weekends crowds and booked a cruise on the weekend so we are the Oct 8th through the 11th and then come back Oct 14th and stay until Oct 17th. We are hoping that during the week the crowds will be a little less but if not this is our first attempt at a relaxing trip so we will ride what we can and won't worry about what we can't do.

 

[Harmacist]

A minor warning, this is the week of the biggest convention on Disney property of the year. It significantly impacts the availability of hotel room especially at the Epcot resorts and other deluxe hotels. To give you an idea of how big, they usually set up circus style tents in the parking lots of the YC/BC and Swan/Dolphin to serve as dining space and exhibit space for the convention in addition to all of the convention facilities.

If you are counting on lodging discounts, the convention also impacts those.

Thanks, that explains why everything is booked. My friend just told me he wanted to an adult disney trip and thats our week off (we have to book vacation a year in advance so can't change week). So I'm either looking a POP, or CBR if they get a discount. With a convention I'm expecting days to possibly be less crowded and nights more crowded. We are planning 2 Horrornight nights so that will clear two nights.

 

[Haley R]

We had been concerned also about the weekends crowds and booked a cruise on the weekend so we are the Oct 8th through the 11th and then come back Oct 14th and stay until Oct 17th. We are hoping that during the week the crowds will be a little less but if not this is our first attempt at a relaxing trip so we will ride what we can and won't worry about what we can't do.

We are hoping for more of a relaxing trip, also. We were just there in March and DH and I have ridden everything so this trip will be more about trying new things (MNSSHP, Star Wars VR, new restaurants, Food & Wine).

 

[Thiago Acquaviva]

A minor warning, this is the week of the biggest convention on Disney property of the year. It significantly impacts the availability of hotel room especially at the Epcot resorts and other deluxe hotels. To give you an idea of how big, they usually set up circus style tents in the parking lots of the YC/BC and Swan/Dolphin to serve as dining space and exhibit space for the convention in addition to all of the convention facilities.

If you are counting on lodging discounts, the convention also impacts those.

how much this convention impacts the crowds at the parks? or they spend all weekdays at the convention only hitting the parks at night?

 

[winthropf]

how much this convention impacts the crowds at the parks? or they spend all weekdays at the convention only hitting the parks at night?

I am not sure how it impacts parks from families of convention goers. Years ago I found our about it because I could not find a room when I wanted to go to the Food & Wine Festival. That year and ever since I have scheduled around it.

 

[Brocktoon]

how much this convention impacts the crowds at the parks? or they spend all weekdays at the convention only hitting the parks at night?

Pretty much no impact on the park crowds at all (I've been down during this convention several times). You really only notice the attendees around the Boardwalk/Epcot area as during the late afternoon and evening the restaurants in those areas can get packed and as mentioned you may see the tents set up around the Swolphin and YC/BC resorts. I've seen many attendees hit the Boardwalk or World Showcase at night for the F&W Fest booths, but with typical F&W crowds there's really no noticeable increase ... I just recognized the attendees as many were traveling in small groups still wearing lanyards or name-tags.

 

[marcar12]

Pretty much no impact on the park crowds at all (I've been down during this convention several times). You really only notice the attendees around the Boardwalk/Epcot area as during the late afternoon and evening the restaurants in those areas can get packed and as mentioned you may see the tents set up around the Swolphin and YC/BC resorts. I've seen many attendees hit the Boardwalk or World Showcase at night for the F&W Fest booths, but with typical F&W crowds there's really no noticeable increase ... I just recognized the attendees as many were traveling in small groups still wearing lanyards or name-tags.

Good to know that this will basically impact on-site room reservations more than it will impact crowd level. I have been wondering about this convention for awhile because our trip overlaps with it! Thanks!