October guests left out in the cold

[Davey Jones II]

We've been planning a late October visit to the World; well, the cavalcade of good news keeps pouring in. First they announce the free dining for fall -- zilch for October. Then they announce the discounted rooms -- again, zilch. On Expedia, All Star "value" hotels are going for $160/night and up. That's ridiculous for a so-called value resort. Does anyone know why this is happening? I know October is a popular time to go, but so are many other times of year -- heck, the crowds show up all year long now.

Looks like they're going to force us to stay off-site for the first time, which sucks because we don't drive so we need Magical Express, and we just know that we'll get rooked out of the best FP+ reservations when booking 30 days out. We're loyal customers but we sure don't feel welcome at this point. Looks like they can take us or leave us. Whatever, it's all the same to them. Not happy

 

[Accident]

I've never found offsite for a single room vs value to be a savings once you add up all the other service fees, parking, getting to/from property..

But it's only april. generally the really good discounts are 1 season ahead so once it crosses into summer I would expect great fall rates to appear. Or pandora is working and oct is filled up as your thinking but right now, I think it's more careful placing of distant reservations and the last minutes will be much more fruitful.

fyi: fastpass at 30 days isn't really horrible. they've greatly improved the system. all of them dont' go into the pool at 60 days and 30 days is when peopel who couldn't pay off their trip cancel so their fastpasses go back into the pool..

 

[Amelia :)]

I've heard a lot of people say there is very limited availability for October. If the rooms are mostly filled, they don't need to discount them.

 

[Shanti]

We've been planning a late October visit to the World; well, the cavalcade of good news keeps pouring in. First they announce the free dining for fall -- zilch for October. Then they announce the discounted rooms -- again, zilch. On Expedia, All Star "value" hotels are going for $160/night and up. That's ridiculous for a so-called value resort. Does anyone know why this is happening? I know October is a popular time to go, but so are many other times of year -- heck, the crowds show up all year long now.

I just checked the WDW website and found standard rooms at the All Stars in the $115 - $135 range for October, even over Columbus Day weekend. Only the "preferred" rooms are $160 and up.

Skip Expedia and book directly through Disney. Expedia might be trying to steer you to the pricier rooms at each resort. Disney's website will let you see everything that is actually available.

In answer to your actual question: October is now one of WDW's busiest months. That's why resort discounts are nonexistent. And in general, resort prices are up. I haven't seen double digit pricing for value resorts in quite a while.

 

[MsThumper]

Have you tried getting quotes from travel agencies? We are going the last week of October and have had our reservations since February, at a good discount.

 

[ArwenMarie]

October is a really popular month now it seems. If they don't need to discount, they don't unfortunately

 

[tseitel]

Like Shanti said, I would check the Disney website. Not sure what your dates are, but I checked for Oct 20-27 and room only rates were $124 at Music.

 

[mom2rtk]

fyi: fastpass at 30 days isn't really horrible. they've greatly improved the system. all of them dont' go into the pool at 60 days and 30 days is when peopel who couldn't pay off their trip cancel so their fastpasses go back into the pool..

I don't think there has been credible evidence that this is the case.

 

[alliecat523]

Agree that discounts for October aren't even out yet. Also keep in mind there is a holiday that month and lots of school fall breaks. Add in MNSSHP and you've got crowds and less inventory.

As for FP, I just booked a trip this month for Memorial Day weekend and got every FP I wanted. No need to worry about it.

 

[Eastern]

I would also check popular Disney travel agents. Sometimes they have rooms that are not available on the website. I have gotten standard rooms a few times through a TA, when the website said that none were available.

 

[Marionnette]

We've been planning a late October visit to the World; well, the cavalcade of good news keeps pouring in. First they announce the free dining for fall -- zilch for October. Then they announce the discounted rooms -- again, zilch. On Expedia, All Star "value" hotels are going for $160/night and up. That's ridiculous for a so-called value resort. Does anyone know why this is happening? I know October is a popular time to go, but so are many other times of year -- heck, the crowds show up all year long now.

Looks like they're going to force us to stay off-site for the first time, which sucks because we don't drive so we need Magical Express, and we just know that we'll get rooked out of the best FP+ reservations when booking 30 days out. We're loyal customers but we sure don't feel welcome at this point. Looks like they can take us or leave us. Whatever, it's all the same to them. Not happy

I just noticed that you're Canadian. Is the price you quoted in Canadian dollars? That might be why others are seeing lower rates on the Disney website. They're looking at rates in U.S. dollars.

Unfortunately, the truth is that Disney doesn't care about you personally. The fact that you're a loyal customer isn't a consideration. If they're filling beds, one less family won't make a difference. Heck, a thousand fewer families in discounted rooms won't make a difference if they can be replaced by a thousand families willing to pay the rack rate. And since you still intend to spend money on tickets, food and souvenirs, they're fine with you staying offsite. They're still getting the bulk of your money.

October is busy due to F&W, MNSSHP and school fall breaks. It's popular because of the mild weather and lower hotel rack rates. They don't need to offer discounts. People are coming anyway.

 

[Pmlocke]

We are all going to have to get used to the idea that there are few if any down times at WDW. Attendance grew by over one million from 2015 to 2016 and it grew the same amount the year before. With the Halloween parties, October has gotten very popular. I can remember going back in early 200's and there were time you could have shot a gun down the middle of Main Street and not hit anyone in February. We got free dining (the one with a sit down and a quick meal) and 25 percent off a value resort. WDW is getting more and more popular and I think the anly way to ease the pain would be for them to develop another park to help disperse the crowds.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

October is not an off season. First week is Gartner IT which fills lots of deluxe rooms. Then you have Columbus Day, Yom Kippur, and a lot of school breaks. Lots of states and districts have full week breaks in October.

End of month is calmer but leads into Jersey Week, which means they limit discount.

Discounts exist for Disney's benefit, not yours. When rooms are acceptably full at rack rate, they will not discount.

 

[Poohsmommi]

I know October is a popular time to go,

There is your answer.

 

[Allison]

Does anyone know why this is happening?

If they don't need to discount rooms to sell them, they won't and shouldn't do that.

Looks like they can take us or leave us. Whatever, it's all the same to them.

Quite honestly, yes, it is all the same to them. Their business plan means they need to fill resort rooms and get people into the parks. Who the individual people are is not what they focus on. It's not personal.

 

[SaintsManiac]

More discounts will come late summer.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

More discounts will come late summer.

I still wouldn't expect much for October, though. After the 7th, you have Columbus Day, Yom Kippur and School Breaks all over the next two weeks. The ATA Fall Nationals will be taking up a bunch of space at All-Stars, followed by a Martial Arts festival and the MAAC Women's Soccer championship.

 

[msjprincess]

Like others have said, they offer discounts to fill empty rooms. They don't do it to be nice to guests. If rooms are selling well there is no reason to offer a discount.

 

[msjprincess]

I still wouldn't expect much for October, though. After the 7th, you have Columbus Day, Yom Kippur and School Breaks all over the next two weeks. The ATA Fall Nationals will be taking up a bunch of space at All-Stars, followed by a Martial Arts festival and the MAAC Women's Soccer championship.

Yom Kippur is on Saturday September 30th this year. Our district isn't getting a day off, since it's on a Saturday. I agree though, I wouldn't expect much in the way of discounts for October.

 

[DLgal]

If you want to go in October you better book a room now. October tends to be packed and if you wait too long, there will be very limited options. Don't count on discounts.