Why is Oct. 20-22 so busy? Resorts almost all sold out

[DisneyFan32WI]

I am planning to kidnap my daughter from college and surprise her with a quick Thurs-Sun trip to the 4 parks. I couldn't get in to my favorite value (POP CENTURY). I managed to get in to Movies, but everything is now sold out when I go back to check if anything opened up.
What am I missing? I get that Epcot is busy on weekends due to the Food & Wine Festival. Why else is it so busy? Crowd planning sites range from an 8-10 those days. EEEEEK!

 

[Missyrose]

I am planning to kidnap my daughter from college and surprise her with a quick Thurs-Sun trip to the 4 parks. I couldn't get in to my favorite value (POP CENTURY). I managed to get in to Movies, but everything is now sold out when I go back to check if anything opened up.
What am I missing? I get that Epcot is busy on weekends due to the Food & Wine Festival. Why else is it so busy? Crowd planning sites range from an 8-10 those days. EEEEEK!

It's October? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

October hasn't been a low-crowd period for a few years now. While we know the onsite resorts are booked solid, we don't know how packed the offsite resorts are. That will be the true indicator of park crowds that month.

 

[anniemae]

Lots of schools have fall breaks now in Oct. It could also be a Jewish holiday, but I'm not sure about the exact dates (many schools close for Jewish holidays).

 

[NJlauren]

I doubt it's the Jewish holidays they are October 2-4 and 11-12, there is also one 16-23 but most schools don't close for sukkot.

 

[P800aul]

Hi

The UK break for a half term for a week on the 21st

Regards

 

[_auroraborealis_]

All of Minnesota closes that weekend, for instance.

 

[PSUGuy]

We're there from the 12th through the 22nd. We rent DVC points for BW and the first day the owner could call, 11 months out, the standard view studios were gone, we had to 'settle' for a Garden View.

Bill From PA

 

[missnic]

I've been trying to get a room at the Poly for Oct 6-8 or Oct 13-15 for several weeks now, and can't find anything. I finally called to complain and was told that Poly is pretty much sold out for most of October. They were able to grant me an AP discount on Movies - there were no discounted rooms anywhere for either set of dates. Well, AKL had a suite for $1600/nt which wasn't happening.. lol

 

[Minnesota!]

All of Minnesota closes that weekend, for instance.

Yup, just what I was going to say.

I am sure there are quite a few states that have schools closed over that time frame...whether it's just a few days (like MN), or the whole week for fall break. We went that week once.... and only once, ha!!

Enjoy!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Yup, just what I was going to say.

I am sure there are quite a few states that have schools closed over that time frame...whether it's just a few days (like MN), or the whole week for fall break. We went that week once.... and only once, ha!!

Enjoy!

Some of MN closes all week in the metro area.

I'll also mention it's the tail-end of Gartner, and some attendees may be extending their stay to enjoy F&W.

 

[DebbieB]

October is a big convention month. Gartner is a big one, October 16 to 20.

 

[Hopefully]

I've been trying to get a room at the Poly for Oct 6-8 or Oct 13-15 for several weeks now, and can't find anything. I finally called to complain and was told that Poly is pretty much sold out for most of October. They were able to grant me an AP discount on Movies - there were no discounted rooms anywhere for either set of dates. Well, AKL had a suite for $1600/nt which wasn't happening.. lol

WHY would you call to complain? A hotel has booked for folks making timely reservations. What is your complaint?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

WHY would you call to complain? A hotel has booked for folks making timely reservations. What is your complaint?

In fact, I bet Disney is happy about it. Nice, expensive, booked Poly rooms!

Gartner is using all of the Deluxes.

 

[missnic]

WHY would you call to complain? A hotel has booked for folks making timely reservations. What is your complaint?

More of a complaint about the website not working and showing weird availability (and lack thereof). It didn't seem possible that everything was sold out. But we are also very close to wdw and travel last minute quite frequently. It's frustrating not being able to find a room.

 

[Pembo]

Keep checking. I planned a trip on Easter for 4 days just two weeks out. When I first booked I could only get Coronado. I kept checking the website, multiple times in a day and finally got Music for all 4 days. Good luck and enjoy. We loved WDW last October.

 

[rcraw45425]

I've been trying to get a room at the Poly for Oct 6-8 or Oct 13-15 for several weeks now, and can't find anything. I finally called to complain and was told that Poly is pretty much sold out for most of October. They were able to grant me an AP discount on Movies - there were no discounted rooms anywhere for either set of dates. Well, AKL had a suite for $1600/nt which wasn't happening.. lol

Yeah, I just looked at adding on the night of the 13th in case my crew wants to come down late that evening to give us a little more time. Not much at all available, even at rack rate. Cheapest other than a campsite is a villa at AKL (Jambo and Kidani) but the only thing with two queen beds is YC at $367. Rack rate shows $342 for a suite at Animation as the cheapest room............ sheesh.... for all three nights with AP rate I can get a savannah view room at AKL for $490

 

[randumb0]

pop shows as available for me for the 20-22nd

 

[bethany0417]

Is 490

Yeah, I just looked at adding on the night of the 13th in case my crew wants to come down late that evening to give us a little more time. Not much at all available, even at rack rate. Cheapest other than a campsite is a villa at AKL (Jambo and Kidani) but the only thing with two queen beds is YC at $367. Rack rate shows $342 for a suite at Animation as the cheapest room............ sheesh.... for all three nights with AP rate I can get a savannah view room at AKL for $490

Is 490 per night or for all three nights?

 

[ClemmyIndyBambi]

When we went in October a few years ago I was shocked at how busy the parks were, and what a pain it was to get a hotel. I couldn't figure out why there were so many families. Here in Iowa, we don't get a "fall break". I'm not really sure what the purpose of the fall break is when students get Thanksgiving off. All the private and public schools around here have pretty strict rules about taking kids out during the school year too. So my point of reference for what a "school year" looks like appears to be pretty different than other areas of the country.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

pop shows as available for me for the 20-22nd

Sadly, not for me. But Coronado Springs is coming up as $818 a night!!!