Two Questions~Will it be really busy in Oct. & one about using the Disney Visa

[**MIGNONNE**]

We are planing at trip for the week of October 12th. I know that Gay Days will just be getting over. Do you know if any other events are planned that week? Do you think the crowds will be bad or should we be OK? We have always gone the week before Thanksgiving and have never had too much of a wait for rides. I hate to go if it will be super crowded.

If you purchase Park Hopper tickets through Ares Travel, as mousesaver recomends, do you get extra points for using your Disney Visa? Or does that only happen for in park purchases?

Thanks for answering my questions!

 

[DangerMouse]

Mid-October is Fall break for many AZ schools and Northern California schools. Also, UEA (Utah's big teacher convention -- renamed "Utah Escapes to Anaheim") is the week of October 10 this year.

I don't think this will make the parks extraordinarily crowded, but definitely not quiet.

Also, you will get Disney points with any purchases on your Visa not just Disney purchases. So yes, you will get points for purchasing through AREA, AAA or wherever you decide to purchase. However, you won't get the free financing of your vacation or some of the Disney freebie add-ons (totally not worth it IMO) if you do not book through WDTC.

HTH!

 

[LittleWoodenHead]

Don't expect October to be as slow as it used to be. One word: HalloweenTime. Last year, this promotion was so successful that, by mid-month, Disneyland was adding showings of Fantasmic! to its Friday schedule. (This worked to my advantage, as I was able to snag a Buffet balcony seat only a week before going.)

I was there on Friday the 20th and Saturday the 21st, and the Park was very crowded both days. By mid-afternoon on Saturday, in fact, it looked like Summer crowd levels.

I plan on going sometime mid-week this October. I loved the Halloween decorations last year, and would not be surprised to see even more theming in years to come.

Also, UEA (Utah's big teacher convention -- renamed "Utah Escapes to Anaheim") is the week of October 10 this year.

According to the UEA website, the conference is October 29-30 this year.

 

[funnygarcia]

UEA does make a difference in crowd levels. Not extreme crowded like the holidays but enough to slow you down if you don't plan ahead.

Weekends any time of the year makes for larger crowds, locals come to the park on the weekends... soon I will be among them
Friday evenings get busy, Saturday mid day is crowded (the crowd empties out after the fireworks/parades), Sunday is a little lighter.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

To the best of my knowledge N. Cali schools do not get a fall break. At least the ones in the Bay Area don't.

 

[DangerMouse]

According to the UEA website, the conference is October 29-30 this year.

Sorry about the incorrect info. I took it from another fan site which obviously had it wrong.

 

[camouseketeer]

But some So Cal schools do get Columbus Day off, and that is around October 12. That is a very busy day at DLR.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

I believe that Monday is Columbus day, so I'd assume that Monday may have some crowds. That is the week were going also. We'll be in the parks Tuesday-Friday. I was hoping to skip the Gay Day and Columbus Day crowds that way.

 

[LittleWoodenHead]

Sorry about the incorrect info. I took it from another fan site which obviously had it wrong.

No problemo. Since I haven't decided on the dates of my October visit, I'm just trying to keep track of all the different things that could have an impact.

Case in point:

But some So Cal schools do get Columbus Day off, and that is around October 12. That is a very busy day at DLR.

Columbus Day this year is Monday, October 8.

 

[wvnative]

I know the schools here in Tempe, and some of the surrounding areas, will be out the second week of October. We were there from Thurs - Sat of that week last year. The weekdays were great, but Friday evening and Saturday were pretty busy. It wasn't untolerable though.

I wish we were going again this October. It was really nice that time year. Unless something unforseen happens, we won't be making it back until at least March.

 

[**MIGNONNE**]

Thanks for all of the replies!

I have checked into other weeks and can't get even close to the room rates that I have for that week. (I booked back in April) I think we will stick with the plans that we have made.

We would be going Monday-Wednesday or Tuesday-Thurdsay. It sounds like it will be tollerable. We will just plan on it being a little busier than we are used to.

Thanks again!