October guests left out in the cold

[Accident]

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

It's been a whole lot easier to get the hardest at 30 days or even same day for myself. maybe it's not they are holding some back but whatever changed, it's been much nicer than a year ago.

 

[mom2rtk]

It's been a whole lot easier to get the hardest at 30 days or even same day for myself. maybe it's not they are holding some back but whatever changed, it's been much nicer than a year ago.

That's great for you. But definitely not confirmation they are routinely holding back chunks of FPs for later release.

 

[jaiminee krikit]

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.

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.

My DD14 and I are planning our first October trip this year. We love POR. The weekend we can go, all that has been available is royal rooms. If I split it (1 night stay then 2 night stay), I was able to get a garden view room. I know there are 2 moderates being renovated, but I could not believe there were absolutely no standard rooms available for our stay, even before discounts are announced. Too bad for me, but it looks like we'll be paying full price for this stay unless we change resorts.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

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.

Floating holidays always mess me up. Nonetheless, that week is Gartner IT, so that packs 'em in. It was later last year (mid-month) and they make lovely neighbors. Quiet, no screaming about sippy cups in the hallways.

Mid-month with all the school breaks was quite crowded last year. Nothing a good plan and willingness to go sit by the pool couldn't cure, but it is not by any means "a quiet time."

 

[msjprincess]

Floating holidays always mess me up. Nonetheless, that week is Gartner IT, so that packs 'em in. It was later last year (mid-month) and they make lovely neighbors. Quiet, no screaming about sippy cups in the hallways.

Mid-month with all the school breaks was quite crowded last year. Nothing a good plan and willingness to go sit by the pool couldn't cure, but it is not by any means "a quiet time."

Yes, this past year we had the first Monday and Tuesday of October off for Rosh Hashanah and then the following Monday and Wednesday off for Columbus Day and Yom Kippur. It was the perfect time to take kids out of school for vacation.

 

[scard192]

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.

Free Dining was blacked out last year from October 2- November 14. There was no reason to expect that days in October would be added back this year.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I really wanted to book October next year, but we will see how we handle Thanksgiving crowds first. The other option is Labor Day week.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I really wanted to book October next year, but we will see how we handle Thanksgiving crowds first. The other option is Labor Day week.

October is less bad than Thanksgiving, simply because while there are many districts with breaks, it is more diffuse. The major holidays are always worse because everyone gets those.

 

[SaintsManiac]

October is less bad than Thanksgiving, simply because while there are many districts with breaks, it is more diffuse. The major holidays are always worse because everyone gets those.

I've read so many conflicting reports about Thanksgiving and the week of Columbus Day. It's hard to comprehend what it's really like unless you're there I guess.

 

[msjprincess]

I've read so many conflicting reports about Thanksgiving and the week of Columbus Day. It's hard to comprehend what it's really like unless you're there I guess.

It will be busy Columbus week, but nowhere near as crowded as Thanksgiving.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Dont expect any discounts in October other than room-only discounts. Last year i had the room-only discount. The year before they did offer free dining in October....which I had. it was great. But thats a thing of the past now. As i said, we're lucky if we get room-only discounts in October.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It really does follow logic.

Everyone gets off at least 2 days of Thanksgiving. Many places don't even get off Columbus Day any more. My state has a 4-day weekend universal the third week of October, and sometimes that includes Columbus Day (not observed in our state) and sometimes it doesn't. Many districts just say "heck with it" and do teacher conferences early in the week, then the state teacher convention at the end, and give us the full week off. (My district does this.)

 

[goofyintoronto]

I also wanted to add...yes Oct is crazy busy. Try going to MK on a day without a mnsshp party, OMG! its insanely crowded. With mnsshp being held several days a week (and MK closing at 7pm), there are very few days per week where MK will close late. So naturally those few nights where MK closes for example at 11pm or midnight (for EMH), EVERYONE and their grandmother will be at MK taking advantage of the late closing time. Its pretty packed. Be warned.

From now on, future trips for me will probably be in that small window from Nov.2 onward where there's NO mnsshp or mvmcp party. I cant miss F&W, so i must go in the fall.

 

[Farro]

Go the last week of October, into first few days of November, it will be fine! Crowds but not crazy. (except MK on non-party nights) Gartner is the first week this year.

Also, I've learned resorts being sold out doesn't necessarily equate to Holiday crowds - not as many locals during that time of year.

 

[Davey Jones II]

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.

We're going at the end of October/beginning of November. No fall breaks for school, and thus crowds predicted to be lower than the rest of October.

I did see some better prices on Expedia later on, and that's their Canadian site. But it's strange that Disney would be asking for higher prices, in U.S. dollars, when the U.S. buck is currently worth more.

Thanks to everyone for your input.

 

[Farro]

We're going at the end of October/beginning of November. No fall breaks for school, and thus crowds predicted to be lower than the rest of October.

I did see some better prices on Expedia later on, and that's their Canadian site. But it's strange that Disney would be asking for higher prices, in U.S. dollars, when the U.S. buck is currently worth more.

Thanks to everyone for your input.

That's when we are going! I'm actually happy there is no free dining- reservations will be easier to get than if it was offered!

 

[melanielll]

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.

Ahhh! February from a few years ago. It was the best! We watched a nighttime parade on Main Street with only a dozen other people on the block. We rode any ride we wanted without lines, and we rode repeatedly without getting off of the ride. Characters would hunt us down for pics. They danced with us. Big chicken dance with 6 characters because no one was waiting to see them! *sniff* Those days are gone forever.

 

[Davey Jones II]

That's when we are going! I'm actually happy there is no free dining- reservations will be easier to get than if it was offered!

Have a nice trip. If we bump into you, we'll be sure to say hi

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Beginning of November bumps into Jersey Week.

 

[DaniMoon]

We went early October 2013. We did get FD back then. But I can honestly say I was completely surprised by the crowd level. It was manageable, but totally not what I was expecting. It was one of the best trips we ever had because we were testing the "new" magic band system and we were able to grab paper fastpasses. We got to double dip that trip.

Future trips will most likely be late August. We don't go back to school til after Labor Day and my kids are getting older and don't want to pull them from school for extended trips. Definitely seeing a dwindling of the "off-season".