Value Season Changed?

[mlamanna1701]

Maybe I missed it as I don't go to WDW every year, but when did the Value Season change, at least for Deluxe Hotels? I was trying to price out Nov/Dec 2018 and came across the following 2017 info when viewing the Rate Details:

*Value season dates for 2017
Value and Moderate Resort hotels in 2017 – Most weeknights (Sunday – Thursday) August 27 – September 14, October 29 – November 9, November 13 – November 16 and November 26 – December 7
Deluxe Resort hotels – Most weeknights (Sunday – Thursday) August 27 – September 21
Deluxe Villas – Most nights August 25 – September 21
Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort – Most weeknights (Sunday – Thursday) July 30 – August 31 and September 4 – September 28
The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort – Most weeknights (Sunday – Thursday) August 13 – August 31 and September 4 – September 21

Unless I am mistaken, when we went in Dec 2015 and stayed at the Polynesian, that time was still considered Value Season. Is it that this time has become so popular that Disney is trying to cash in on everyone?

 

[kmb584]

Maybe I missed it as I don't go to WDW every year, but when did the Value Season change, at least for Deluxe Hotels? I was trying to price out Nov/Dec 2018 and came across the following 2017 info when viewing the Rate Details:

*Value season dates for 2017
Value and Moderate Resort hotels in 2017 – Most weeknights (Sunday – Thursday) August 27 – September 14, October 29 – November 9, November 13 – November 16 and November 26 – December 7
Deluxe Resort hotels – Most weeknights (Sunday – Thursday) August 27 – September 21
Deluxe Villas – Most nights August 25 – September 21
Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort – Most weeknights (Sunday – Thursday) July 30 – August 31 and September 4 – September 28
The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort – Most weeknights (Sunday – Thursday) August 13 – August 31 and September 4 – September 21

Unless I am mistaken, when we went in Dec 2015 and stayed at the Polynesian, that time was still considered Value Season. Is it that this time has become so popular that Disney is trying to cash in on everyone?

You are correct. Not that long ago early December was considered to be value season, but Disney changed that a couple of years ago to "fall" season. We go in both June and December, and I find our early December trips to be more crowded than our first week of June trips.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Maybe I missed it as I don't go to WDW every year, but when did the Value Season change, at least for Deluxe Hotels? I was trying to price out Nov/Dec 2018 and came across the following 2017 info when viewing the Rate Details:

*Value season dates for 2017
Value and Moderate Resort hotels in 2017 – Most weeknights (Sunday – Thursday) August 27 – September 14, October 29 – November 9, November 13 – November 16 and November 26 – December 7
Deluxe Resort hotels – Most weeknights (Sunday – Thursday) August 27 – September 21
Deluxe Villas – Most nights August 25 – September 21
Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort – Most weeknights (Sunday – Thursday) July 30 – August 31 and September 4 – September 28
The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort – Most weeknights (Sunday – Thursday) August 13 – August 31 and September 4 – September 21

Unless I am mistaken, when we went in Dec 2015 and stayed at the Polynesian, that time was still considered Value Season. Is it that this time has become so popular that Disney is trying to cash in on everyone?

Not sure where you got that info from but it's an oversimplification of "value season" as Disney defines it, at least in terms of the Deluxes. Poly, for example, has 9 different pricing 'seasons' for 2017, 1 being the cheapest, 9 being the most expensive. (There are also variations within the 9 as well)

December starts out as Season 3 12/1-/12/9, Season 6 12/10-12/14, Season 7 12/15-12/21, then Season 9 12/22-12/31.

There isn't that much of a difference price wise between Season 1 and Season 3... it's relatively small dollars. So that first week of Dec is among the cheaper (but not cheapest) rack rates you'll see all year... for Poly at least. The other resorts should be similar.

Does that help?

 

[mlamanna1701]

Not sure where you got that info from but it's an oversimplification of "value season" as Disney defines it, at least in terms of the Deluxes. Poly, for example, has 9 different pricing 'seasons' for 2017, 1 being the cheapest, 9 being the most expensive. (There are also variations within the 9 as well)

December starts out as Season 3 12/1-/12/9, Season 6 12/10-12/14, Season 7 12/15-12/21, then Season 9 12/22-12/31.

There isn't that much of a difference price wise between Season 1 and Season 3... it's relatively small dollars. So that first week of Dec is among the cheaper (but not cheapest) rack rates you'll see all year... for Poly at least. The other resorts should be similar.

Does that help?

Thanks! I found that info when I searched for a room in Nov-Dec 2018 on the WDW site. I clicked on the "Rate Details" and it showed up underneath the per night costs. I am also finding that the first week December, at least for now, is being blocked out for discounts. I am going December 2017. The first time we went during the first week in December was 2011, and it was nice...not too crowded and prices were reasonable (for Disney). We went in Dec 2015 and prices shot up and the parks were so much more crowded and long wait times.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Thanks! I found that info when I searched for a room in Nov-Dec 2018 on the WDW site. I clicked on the "Rate Details" and it showed up underneath the per night costs. I am also finding that the first week December, at least for now, is being blocked out for discounts. I am going December 2017. The first time we went during the first week in December was 2011, and it was nice...not too crowded and prices were reasonable. We went in Dec 2015 and prices shot up and the parks were so much more crowded and long wait times.

Yeah, I hear you. I've been twice now right after Thanksgiving and I like that time a lot. It's crowded, but not crazy crowded in my view... and somewhat cheaper.

If you're looking at Dec 2017, I don't think discounts that cover Dec are out yet. Per Mousesavers they came out in early Aug last year.

Good luck!

 

[mlamanna1701]

...If you're looking at Dec 2017, I don't think discounts that cover Dec are out yet. Per Mousesavers they came out in early Aug last year.

Good luck!

Thanks! I much prefer a room discount, so I am hoping. I saw the the free dining is not offered the first week December 2017...first check-in date is December 8th, which is my check-out day.