***The Official October 2016 Thread***

[otten]

I really don’t know why this appears to be happening but given that resort occupancy is very high the month of October it would be foolish for anyone to assume that low summer crowds will translate into lower fall crowds. It doesn’t appear that that’s going to be the case. The changes to the available dates for discounts offered in the current bounceback also suggests that Disney may be noticing a shift in when people are visiting. It’s possible that more people are pulling kids out of school, or that more are using the fall breaks, or there is a larger number of adult travelers going without kids (for Food and Wine perhaps?)

 

[Belle2006beauty]

I was, and still am, expecting it to be busy. I also noticed how few rooms seemed to be available, and how difficult certain restaurants were too book. I didn't have issues with fastpasses, but I'm going solo and got on right away so that probably made a big difference. That's why I shared the article and why I question it. I feel like if summer was low it might indicate a busier fall. Either way I know I'll have a good time. Two weeks mostly solo will be fun no matter what, besides it's Disney!!

I have to say that I would absolutely take my kids out of school for vacation. We are taking them to Disney World in April actually. I feel like they are only kids once and I want to make as many memories with them as possible. Their education won't be harmed by taking a week off.

 

[otten]

I am taking my kid out for vacation. She starts kindergarten this fall and with our Thanksgiving holiday (Canada) she'll miss 4 days. Not at all worried about it and I've made myself aware of our district's policy.

When she's older I might feel differently.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Map is out for this year's Halloween Party: http://www.wdwmagic.com/events/mick...lloween-party-nights-at-the-magic-kingdom.htm

 

[Pesky]

We have a fall break so are taking advantage and the kids will just miss a couple days of school. But I don't know that I agree with the article. I can hope they are light crowds but I don't know how much that will impact the crowd numbers. Aside from our usual vigilance and strenuously advising our kids to stay away from fresh water (alligators, snakes, brain-eating amoebaes, oh my!), we aren't altering our plans.

BTW, count-down to getting those MB! Can't believe the first in our month group should be getting them soon.

 

[Cluelyss]

Map is out for this year's Halloween Party: http://www.wdwmagic.com/events/mick...lloween-party-nights-at-the-magic-kingdom.htm

Note that some of the show times will change in October.

 

[otten]

The article just seems to me that they are assuming that low summer crowds = lower fall crowds and maybe that will be true for September (I have had no reason to look at hotel occupancy that month) but from what I've experienced planning for October it seems like a big leap to make.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I really don’t know why this appears to be happening but given that resort occupancy is very high the month of October it would be foolish for anyone to assume that low summer crowds will translate into lower fall crowds. It doesn’t appear that that’s going to be the case. The changes to the available dates for discounts offered in the current bounceback also suggests that Disney may be noticing a shift in when people are visiting. It’s possible that more people are pulling kids out of school, or that more are using the fall breaks, or there is a larger number of adult travelers going without kids (for Food and Wine perhaps?)

I agree that low summer crowds will not translate into low fall crowds, especially during Food & Wine. We were at WDW the third week of October last year and I have never seen the World Showcase so crowded before. I think people are waiting for the cooler weather in October. The lack of Disney discounts is probably the biggest indicator that it will be crowded.

BTW, count-down to getting those MB! Can't believe the first in our month group should be getting them soon.

Our check in date is October 1st. I'm not expecting them to arrive until after Labor Day, though. They have been shipping them at around three weeks out lately.

 

[vrajewski10513]

Our check in date is October 1st. I'm not expecting them to arrive until after Labor Day, though. They have been shipping them at around three weeks out lately.

Us too! Last day to customize was yesterday so I keep checking for shipping info even though I know it'll take a couple days lol

 

[otten]

We already have magic bands so I'm not waiting on those. Does anyone know when I should start looking for our ME luggage tags in the mail?

 

[Wood Nymph]

We already have magic bands so I'm not waiting on those. Does anyone know when I should start looking for our ME luggage tags in the mail?

How long ago did you sign up for the Magical Express? We already have our luggage tags. They came about two weeks after I had signed up.

 

[otten]

Months ago. It's definitely listed in our reservation. I was told they weren't mailed right away. Interesting that you got yours.

 

[patches07]

My last day to customize is today, I thought the luggage tags come with the Magic Bands.

 

[Belle2006beauty]

If we haven't gotten luggage tags for Magical Express should we be calling to verify our reservation?

 

[CinderBelleDVC]

Did anyone else see this piece today?

http://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-...-years-coming-this-fall-to-walt-disney-world/

I was wondering what people here thought of this. I've been reading the FB comments and people said the crowds have been low all summer. My view may be skewed due to being on the Octover thread, but it seems like a lot of people have fall trips planned. Just curious, as I haven't been since I was a child, I have no idea what to expect. I would think between Food & Wine and the free dining offer it would be a pretty busy place. Even with the negatives people have been saying recently, those seem like they would be good draws.

I have some extra DVC points that I've been renting out for sept/oct/nov. I can tell you, at least on the DVC side, there is barely ANY availability. People asking for even two or three consecutive nights can expect to enjoy a split or partial stay, if that. It's a bit insane, really. People who are wanting to add just one night, maybe at the beginning or end of something they already have, are sometimes in luck, but rarely for the smaller rooms. So, I'm not sure that I'm really buying this idea.

That said, I believe that 'low' is the norm across theme parks in the US this year.

 

[megster1123]

We got our luggage tags today!

 

[CinderBelleDVC]

School schedules drive attendance right? As far as I know (based on wdwprepschool's take on school schedules earlier this year) there are not massive changes for more fall breaks in the U.S. school systems. So what you are suggesting is more people are pulling their kids out of school this year. What would be prompting more people to pull their kids out of school in the fall this year instead of going during the summer?

If anything, I think that with Food&Wine and the runDisney event, Disney's managed to pull in a crowd that wouldn't otherwise come while kids are in school.

 

[CinderBelleDVC]

Map is out for this year's Halloween Party: http://www.wdwmagic.com/events/mick...lloween-party-nights-at-the-magic-kingdom.htm

Yay!! Thanks for posting!

 

[CinderBelleDVC]

Note that some of the show times will change in October.

Agh. Thanks for the heads up on this

 

[patches07]

We got our luggage tags today!

Were they shiped with your magic bands.