Resort availability in October?

[StefWalsh]

Hey guys! A day after returning from Orlando and I'm already planning my next trip! I'm hoping to bring my niece to Disney for her 10th birthday in October, just for 6 days (16-22) and want to stay in a moderate resort. I'm looking at resort availability now and it seems like slim pickings unless I want to go for the more expensive options in those resorts, like at Port Orleans Riverside or Coronado Springs which are my top two picks. There appear to be no standard or preferred rooms available, and that also seems like a trend throughout a lot of the other resorts as well.

I know October isn't that far out but I'm still surprised at the current lack of availability since I've booked less than 6 months out in the past without much issue. My understanding is that the dates I'm hoping for are a relatively less crowded time of year (if such a thing really even exists anymore) so I'm a bit taken aback. Is there something happening at that time that I'm not aware of? Is it possible that Disney are withholding rooms for an upcoming promotion? Any insight would be great!

 

[dansdad]

The popularity of Food and Wine, the MNSSHP parties and people booking rooms, against their best interest, with the hopes of Free Dining make October extremely difficult to find standard rooms.

 

[StefWalsh]

That makes sense. I knew that there is not a free dining promo released as of yet, but I have read that once it's released it may not be for the dates I'm going. if that's true, perhaps some rooms will open up once the dining promo is released?

 

[Hopefully]

We have been going every October for over 10 years. Each year has been busier than the one before. I am not at all surprised by limited availability.

 

[BigAl_PT]

We've been in October in years prior so I did expect it to be busy (we're going that exact same week). BUT, I was caught off-guard with just how limited availability was for that week. I booked today (room only as we became AP holders in January) and wound up choosing Saratoga Springs over Art of Animation as it was a bit cheaper. I even looked through the non-discounted rooms and there were only a few more rooms available that route including the Royal Rooms at Riverside. I may look into moving our trip to early September. Availability looked really good. The only reason we chose this particular week in October was because my wife's cousin is going that week. I would much rather go at a less crowded time.

 

[PSUGuy]

The gal we've been renting DVC points from for years called to get us a Board Walk studio the instant the 11 month window opened and couldn't get one, they were gone that fast. We 'settled' for a water view for a little more, didn't break the bank and I'm sure we'll enjoy the view but this is typical of Oct., you snooze, you lose.

Bill From PA

 

[AngiTN]

You may see rooms pop back in to inventory over the next few days once folks learn that Oct is excluded from free dining promo.

 

[Dizjunkieee]

You may see rooms pop back in to inventory over the next few days once folks learn that Oct is excluded from free dining promo.

That is exactly what I was going to say!

 

[ktlm]

The Gartner Convention is at WDW from October 16-20 this year. It doesn't have much impact on the parks, except for EPCOT in the evenings, but it does have a big impact on room availability. Even thought they mostly do deluxe- that makes a lot of deluxe rooms blocked off on hold for the convention or filled, which means more people booking moderates who would probably more likely book deluxe.

 

[StefWalsh]

That's what I'm hoping will happen so I'll keep my fingers crossed! In the meantime, I did book a river view room at French Quarter since it's still a place I would like to stay and still within my price range.

 

[mommyrosa2]

The Gartner Convention is at WDW from October 16-20 this year. It doesn't have much impact on the parks, except for EPCOT in the evenings, but it does have a big impact on room availability. Even thought they mostly do deluxe- that makes a lot of deluxe rooms blocked off on hold for the convention or filled, which means more people booking moderates who would probably more likely book deluxe.

This exactly! Found out months ago that they have rooms blocked at every Epcot resort this year. I have been checking availability almost daily, since the holidays, for the timeframe we're going in October and have not been able to secure one single room at any of the Epcot resorts....so frustrating!

 

[Kd241710]

Does the room block extend into the week of the 22 to the 29th? Availability has been tight for that window too even after it became clear it was outside the free dining window.

 

[vinotinto]

We're going Oct 5-10 for Fall Break. October is such a great time to go: kids don't miss school (Fall breaks down here in the South, Columbus Day, Rosh Hashanah in the NE), MNSSHP, Food and Wine. It's a great time, but it's NOT low crowd time. We were there at the same time last year and it was crowded. The TP historical calendar "how did we do" put the weekend at a 9-10. I think Disney has done a good job of making that time frame a great time to visit and many of us book for that time frequently, so the resorts are booked and there's no need to offer additional incentives.

I do wish there weren't these big conventions, sucking the resort and deal availability .

 

[AngiTN]

Does the room block extend into the week of the 22 to the 29th? Availability has been tight for that window too even after it became clear it was outside the free dining window.

For free dining you just have to check in on the last day of the promo to get it for your entire stay. If that answers your question

 

[Wood Nymph]

For free dining you just have to check in on the last day of the promo to get it for your entire stay. If that answers your question

Unfortunately, the last day for free dining in October is Oct 1st. And they were looking for the dates of Oct 22nd to 29th.

 

[Kd241710]

For free dining you just have to check in on the last day of the promo to get it for your entire stay. If that answers your question

Thanks, I was more asking about availability for RO discounts. Right now there is no availability at any deluxe and it seems like that is mostly because of the convention the week before. I'm hoping that they have unfilled convention room blocks that are distorting available inventory at the deluxes. The last week of October is not supposed to be as busy as the fall break weeks but right now there is less availablity than earlier in the month.