~*~*~The Oct 2014 waiting patiently (or not so) for a discount thread ~*~*~

[MPB82]

I am getting Married on 10/17/14 and will be leaving that Sunday for Disney. Nothing is booked yet, waiting on some super deals I hope but if not we are able to spend if necessary. I went to Disney as a very young child with my parents and brother probably around 1990 and went back last year with my (then) girlfriend (now fiancé) and it was like being a kid "OMG EPCOT!!!" and except for my feet from walking it was amazing. I am hoping this time I am in better shape so I am not sore as soon as I walk out our room door.

She adores everything Disney to the point where we only have maybe 2 or 3 pictures that she likes because every other one makes her seem as if she's 4 with all the characters.

Our wedding is probably 1/2 to 3/5 paid for so I am hoping over the next 8 months all our spare change and a $20 here and there can help. The Visa card helps a lot, we have about $250 available just from using it in our regular day to day purchases.

We really want/need a great free food or good room discount but we have a hard time waiting.

We stayed at POR last time and were going to again this year but her Matron of Honor is going down for another wedding that week and my girl doesn't really want to spend time with her and her husband as they are not the most Disney loving, child acting couple.

 

[Meetmeinmontauk]

I am so ready for them to announce the discounts! I hate waiting

 

[jcyoung]

I am so ready for them to announce the discounts! I hate waiting

Me too! I am stressing myself out thinking about it. We are a family of 5, so we are headed to POR, and I keep freaking myself out that there won't be any discounts available for us. I know we could switch to a family suite at ASMu, but I REALLY don't want to do that!!! So I make myself crazy thinking and worrying!

On the upside, I called today to update our reservation, and just asked at the end of the call if she had heard anything at all about fall free dining. She said that I should look for the next round of discounts to come out mid-March. I assume those will be summer discounts, but you never know!

I LOVE planning this far in advance...it is the first time for me...but it is driving me a little bit crazy at the same time!

 

[Leslieloody]

Hello from Canada! What a surprise, I too am planning for October 2014! Dates are flexible, but I was hoping to go over Canadian Thanksgiving, but I'm just realizing this is also your Columbus Day. I'm thinking maybe it'll be busier then and perhaps I should go BEFORE the holiday? Anyone have input? My original plans was to eat OOP (it's just me and 2 boys, when we go they will be 8 and 6). I've paid twice for dining, and they just don't eat enough. OOP is cheaper since I can just get 2 meals and split (and still have goodies to go with us). And if that's the case, then I'm homing for a ROOM discount. HOWEVER, if Free Dining is offered, well that's pretty much a no brainer. Plan is to stay at POP again, although the boys really want to stay at AoA, but I know AoA usually doesn't offer any discounts. Waiting, no so patiently....

We stayed September 27th through Oct 7th, 2012. Stayed at AoA and had free dining. Great experience. We are planning cot trip in 2014, wishing on a star for free dining.

 

[Leslieloody]

Wanting so bad to go October Fall Break! Looking for a pin. We have always stayed at value resorts and would love to stay at moderate with a pin or discount. We had free dining while staying at AoA in late September/ early October 2012. All girl trip, we split a suite. Had a great time. Going with my DD and mother this year. Hope to see some of you there.

 

[PrincessAnnabell]

We are planning to go the week before Halloween. Do you book now and ask for discounts to be applied when they come out? Or do wait until a few months before your trip and hope the resort you want is available. I guess I,m not understanding how to make ADR if you don't know when you are going for sure.

 

[sugarbobbin]

We are planning to go the week before Halloween. Do you book now and ask for discounts to be applied when they come out? Or do wait until a few months before your trip and hope the resort you want is available. I guess I,m not understanding how to make ADR if you don't know when you are going for sure.

You can book now (or put a deposit). The discount would not be applied automatically, you have to ask to have it applied.

Man, I am dying for a discount!!!

You guys might think I'm having a bit of schadenfreude, but I'm hoping all these people postponing their trips due to FP+ is going to have Disney turn out a better discount for the fall. One can hope, can't she?

 

[Lollicollins]

You can book now (or put a deposit). The discount would not be applied automatically, you have to ask to have it applied.

Man, I am dying for a discount!!!

You guys might think I'm having a bit of schadenfreude, but I'm hoping all these people postponing their trips due to FP+ is going to have Disney turn out a better discount for the fall. One can hope, can't she?

You and me both. My Hubs is about put up with me jabbering about discounts I keep hearing things about mid march, I can only hope it includes Oct somehow. Unlikely but a girl can dream right?

 

[Meetmeinmontauk]

Me too! I am stressing myself out thinking about it. We are a family of 5, so we are headed to POR, and I keep freaking myself out that there won't be any discounts available for us. I know we could switch to a family suite at ASMu, but I REALLY don't want to do that!!! So I make myself crazy thinking and worrying!

On the upside, I called today to update our reservation, and just asked at the end of the call if she had heard anything at all about fall free dining. She said that I should look for the next round of discounts to come out mid-March. I assume those will be summer discounts, but you never know!

I LOVE planning this far in advance...it is the first time for me...but it is driving me a little bit crazy at the same time!

I am freaking out too because we realllllllllly want free dining.

 

[jennyincolo]

So glad to see people like me on these boards! Planning a trip for 10-25-11/1, and obsessing over where to stay, etc. Haven't been since I was a kid - planning to take our 3 this fall (and maybe drag along grandma and grandpa, too). Looking at PO - Riverside or FQ, not sure which is best for us - and hoping for free dining to make it worth the extra cost staying on site. Thanks for the heads up for mid-march, maybe I can calm down JUST a bit and not be so rabid on trying to find a place to stay right now. Then again, maybe I should book and just keep watching for discounts?

 

[Ceryssa]

So glad to see people like me on these boards! Planning a trip for 10-25-11/1, and obsessing over where to stay, etc. Haven't been since I was a kid - planning to take our 3 this fall (and maybe drag along grandma and grandpa, too). Looking at PO - Riverside or FQ, not sure which is best for us - and hoping for free dining to make it worth the extra cost staying on site. Thanks for the heads up for mid-march, maybe I can calm down JUST a bit and not be so rabid on trying to find a place to stay right now. Then again, maybe I should book and just keep watching for discounts?

That's when we're going too Hoping for the same thing! I have already booked us and I'm STILL obsessing over where to stay I have to keep reminding myself, no matter where we end up we'll be at Disney and it will be great!

 

[Meldev]

So glad to see people like me on these boards! Planning a trip for 10-25-11/1, and obsessing over where to stay, etc. Haven't been since I was a kid - planning to take our 3 this fall (and maybe drag along grandma and grandpa, too). Looking at PO - Riverside or FQ, not sure which is best for us - and hoping for free dining to make it worth the extra cost staying on site. Thanks for the heads up for mid-march, maybe I can calm down JUST a bit and not be so rabid on trying to find a place to stay right now. Then again, maybe I should book and just keep watching for discounts?

We took our 3 girls in 2010 and we just loved POR!! That'd be my vote between the two. You have more dining options and IMHO an even more beautiful setting than POFQ.
We loved it so much my DH just wants to return there - we don't get down often so I want to try something new - either new moderate or a villa.
Good luck planning and may we all be pixie dusted with an Oct deal!

 

[wdwmaw]

We are planning to go the week before Halloween. Do you book now and ask for discounts to be applied when they come out? Or do wait until a few months before your trip and hope the resort you want is available. I guess I,m not understanding how to make ADR if you don't know when you are going for sure.

You can book now and then call back when/if discounts become available. I for one believe that Disney is cutting back on discounts and believe that people should not book ahead but instead book when discounts are released. Why would Disney offer a discount on a room that is booked and being paid for?? Disney has been showing us this recently with discounts at resorts only with low occupancy and completely blocking out resorts or room categories. Being booked at the resort of your choice actually decreases your chances of getting a discount there.

If you do not have a reservation booked and need to make ADR's for dining then you would just book online or call each day you meet 180 day mark. I think this is a plus, Disney could see this as a guest who is staying off property. As far as not knowing when your going for sure, I will make a couple of different plans and book for both. When discounts are released and I set our travel dates in stone I just go back and cancel what we don't need. I try to book the very hard to get things in the middle of my dates so when I move our check in/check out dates to reflect discounts those hard to get ADR's will not be effected.

 

[mcurran]

I am getting Married on 10/17/14 and will be leaving that Sunday for Disney. Nothing is booked yet, waiting on some super deals I hope but if not we are able to spend if necessary. I went to Disney as a very young child with my parents and brother probably around 1990 and went back last year with my (then) girlfriend (now fiancé) and it was like being a kid "OMG EPCOT!!!" and except for my feet from walking it was amazing. I am hoping this time I am in better shape so I am not sore as soon as I walk out our room door.

She adores everything Disney to the point where we only have maybe 2 or 3 pictures that she likes because every other one makes her seem as if she's 4 with all the characters.

Our wedding is probably 1/2 to 3/5 paid for so I am hoping over the next 8 months all our spare change and a $20 here and there can help. The Visa card helps a lot, we have about $250 available just from using it in our regular day to day purchases.

We really want/need a great free food or good room discount but we have a hard time waiting.

We stayed at POR last time and were going to again this year but her Matron of Honor is going down for another wedding that week and my girl doesn't really want to spend time with her and her husband as they are not the most Disney loving, child acting couple.

Suggest to you and to anyone else who hasn't booked but would like to go with free dining or other hopeful discount:
1. Book now. Book the room, add the dining package, add the park tickets, and for a special occasion like yours, also book the photopass (memory maker). Pay $200 deposit.
2. Make your dining reservations 180 days in advance when they open. Get the reservations and times and locations you want when there's little competition.
3a. If FD promo comes out, have it applied to your reservation. You'll be ahead of the game by having your reservations already made and you won't be limited to "what's left".
3b. If other promo comes out, you can have that applied and if you want to eliminate your dining package because it wasn't free, that's ok too.
3c. If promos don't save enough and you choose to cancel the trip to Disney then just cancel your reservation and Disney will refund your 200 deposit.

Tying up $200 isn't insignificant amount for a lot - so understand hesitancy there - but tying up funds with the likely probability that FD will be coming (as it has for years) works for lots of people's budget while allowing you flexability to make your own dining choices and trip planning.

Besides, who are we kidding - since your future wife wants to go to Disney for your honeymoon, you should at least learn now that what she wants is what you do - it will make for a much happier marriage when you get aboard that train. Be proactive, pull the trigger, make your reservations, and surprise her with the news.

Congrats in advance!

 

[middlesista]

So glad to see people like me on these boards! Planning a trip for 10-25-11/1, and obsessing over where to stay, etc. Haven't been since I was a kid - planning to take our 3 this fall (and maybe drag along grandma and grandpa, too). Looking at PO - Riverside or FQ, not sure which is best for us - and hoping for free dining to make it worth the extra cost staying on site. Thanks for the heads up for mid-march, maybe I can calm down JUST a bit and not be so rabid on trying to find a place to stay right now. Then again, maybe I should book and just keep watching for discounts?

We just got back from POFQ a few weeks back. We really do love this resort but I can understand that it is not for everyone. I do agree with folks about booking now and if you need to change later, just follow the policies and you will be fine.

Have you looked at the threads about these two resorts? Really great information.

 

[Meetmeinmontauk]

So glad to see people like me on these boards! Planning a trip for 10-25-11/1, and obsessing over where to stay, etc. Haven't been since I was a kid - planning to take our 3 this fall (and maybe drag along grandma and grandpa, too). Looking at PO - Riverside or FQ, not sure which is best for us - and hoping for free dining to make it worth the extra cost staying on site. Thanks for the heads up for mid-march, maybe I can calm down JUST a bit and not be so rabid on trying to find a place to stay right now. Then again, maybe I should book and just keep watching for discounts?

We stayed at POR on our last trip and loved it! We are looking at POFQ for this trip because we'd like to stay at all resorts. In October 2013 POFQ was excluded from Free Dining so I hope that isn't the case this year. If it is we will be staying at Coronado Springs!

 

[jtirishbelle]

Suggest to you and to anyone else who hasn't booked but would like to go with free dining or other hopeful discount:
1. Book now. Book the room, add the dining package, add the park tickets, and for a special occasion like yours, also book the photopass (memory maker). Pay $200 deposit.
2. Make your dining reservations 180 days in advance when they open. Get the reservations and times and locations you want when there's little competition.
3a. If FD promo comes out, have it applied to your reservation. You'll be ahead of the game by having your reservations already made and you won't be limited to "what's left".
3b. If other promo comes out, you can have that applied and if you want to eliminate your dining package because it wasn't free, that's ok too.
3c. If promos don't save enough and you choose to cancel the trip to Disney then just cancel your reservation and Disney will refund your 200 deposit.

Tying up $200 isn't insignificant amount for a lot - so understand hesitancy there - but tying up funds with the likely probability that FD will be coming (as it has for years) works for lots of people's budget while allowing you flexability to make your own dining choices and trip planning.

Besides, who are we kidding - since your future wife wants to go to Disney for your honeymoon, you should at least learn now that what she wants is what you do - it will make for a much happier marriage when you get aboard that train. Be proactive, pull the trigger, make your reservations, and surprise her with the news.

Congrats in advance!

I just wanted to say that you do not have to book your vacation to plan for dining.

If you plan on going, but are waiting on a discount, you can still book all your dining. You do not need a Disney reservation to book dining.

This is just an FYI in response to the above post.

Personally I would not book a room or package until I have the discount I want. Booking a room under rack rate does not increase your chances of securing that room under a discount. There are only a limited number of each type of room per discount. If the rooms are being booked up ahead of time at rack rate, there is less likely hood of those rooms being offered for discount when the discount comes out.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[wdwmaw]

I just wanted to say that you do not have to book your vacation to plan for dining.

If you plan on going, but are waiting on a discount, you can still book all your dining. You do not need a Disney reservation to book dining.

This is just an FYI in response to the above post.

Personally I would not book a room or package until I have the discount I want. Booking a room under rack rate does not increase your chances of securing that room under a discount. There are only a limited number of each type of room per discount. If the rooms are being booked up ahead of time at rack rate, there is less likely hood of those rooms being offered for discount when the discount comes out.

Just my 2 cents.

I agree 100%, actually booking ahead decreases your chance of getting the room you want discounted. If your dead set on a resort then rack rate will be available to you.

 

[wdwmaw]

New discounts may be released soon Will we see anything for fall this time or just summer discounts??????
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=50827704&postcount=2195

 

[jtirishbelle]

New discounts may be released soon Will we see anything for fall this time or just summer discounts??????
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=50827704&postcount=2195

Thank you for the link . These discounts will probably be until the end of September. The October discounts do not usually come out until the summer.