Will this Sept. be more croweded than normal?

[WillCAD]

this is to my post of hotels being booked and numbers are up at Disney for September. It will be busier. What is posted below is part of my newsletter from mousesavers. And everyone knows that their info is pretty accurate.

Most of the Disney hotels seem to be pretty well booked for that
period due to a "free dining" promotion that has now expired. However, many
non-Disney hotels near Walt Disney World are offering fabulous deals
for August and September. There are great offers from Nickelodeon Family
Suites by Holiday Inn and Embassy Suites Resort Lake Buena Vista in
this month's newsletter.


Hmmmmmm....I can see it now. It's going to be very busy.

If the off-site places are offering fabulous deals, it's because they are under-booked. The better the deals they offer, the worse thier bookings are and the more desperate they are to attract more Guests.

If the off-site places are offering better-than-usual deals for September, then their bookings must be worse than usual. I can think of two reasons for this:

1) Fewer people overall are going to Orlando this September
2) The same amount of people are going to Orlando this September, but a larger percentage of them are staying on-site because of the free dining plan

Personally, I think what's happening is a little of both.

Also remember that over the last couple of years, Disney has saved themselves a tremendous amount of money in teh slack seasons (particularly September) by closign off entire wings of some of thier larger resorts. Sometimes they use this time to do rehabs, sometimes they just close the whole place down to save on housekeeping and utility costs; why turn on electricity and water to rooms that are vacant?

But if whole buildings of ASMU or CBR are closed, this reduces the number of available rooms, meaning that the resort can be "booked" when only half the rooms are actually occupied.

It's September. It will not be crowded. At all.

 

[Little MerGirl]

We're going to WDW September 1-10. I finally made all my ADR reservations today. The only restaurant I had trouble with out of the 21 reservations I made (yes, I'm an obsessive-compulsive planner type) was Le Cellier.

The CM said there was nothing available for 2 people. This was for our last day (Saturday) at 4 PM.

We were able to get California Grill, Les Chefs de France, San Angel Inn, Citrico's, etc. without any problems. I'm not sure what the deal is with Le Cellier. It's not exactly a small restaurant.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I'm going on the tail end of the "free dining plan" but technically it's only the last few days of Sept. I really feel like it's not going to be busier than normal at the parks (hope hope hope I'm right LOL) because you can't really judge by the restaurants (or the resorts either for that matter) because of the free dining plan. That is going to have more people in the TS restaurants and making AR's because they want to get the full value of the free dining plan- and it might have also caused some people to stay onsite where they might not have without the dining plan.

I had difficulties getting AR's when I wanted and STILL can't get the resort I want (still trying in case someone cancels!) but I'm hoping that really won't reflect on the crowds in the parks.

 

[eclectics]

We're going to WDW September 1-10. I finally made all my ADR reservations today. The only restaurant I had trouble with out of the 21 reservations I made (yes, I'm an obsessive-compulsive planner type) was Le Cellier.

The CM said there was nothing available for 2 people. This was for our last day (Saturday) at 4 PM.

We were able to get California Grill, Les Chefs de France, San Angel Inn, Citrico's, etc. without any problems. I'm not sure what the deal is with Le Cellier. It's not exactly a small restaurant.

I had the same problem with table for 2. I'll be there 9/4 to 14. Got all the restaurants and dinner times I wanted EXCEPT Le Cellier! I even gave multiple days to choose, but it was either 4pm or 9pm!

 

[old one]

I think they really do not like to book tables for 2. I booked 90 days out and I only got one dinner at the place and time I wanted.

 

[DisneyWisher]

I booked 75 days out and got everything I wanted. Arriving on 9/11 and just doing a CS meal for dinner.
9/12 Hoop-dee-doo 7:15.
9/13 Le Celliers 5:30 I wanted it early before it got hectic.
9/14 Ohana's 7:30
9/15 Concourse Steakhouse 7:00

I'm thinking they are also figuring in that with the dining plan, meals will take longer because of the App, entree, and dessert. Usually we either get one App to share or none at all and usually only DD gets dessert.

 

[kizmac]

If the off-site places are offering fabulous deals, it's because they are under-booked. The better the deals they offer, the worse thier bookings are and the more desperate they are to attract more Guests.

If the off-site places are offering better-than-usual deals for September, then their bookings must be worse than usual. I can think of two reasons for this:

1) Fewer people overall are going to Orlando this September
2) The same amount of people are going to Orlando this September, but a larger percentage of them are staying on-site because of the free dining plan

Personally, I think what's happening is a little of both.

I agree, WillCAD....I bet it isn't any busier than normal. I think it just appears that it might be because of the larger percentage staying on-site that normally stay off. Our family is one of them. Due to our family size we have always stayed off-site, but didn't want to miss this deal. We were planning on going in September anyhow, before the dining deal.
Hopefully we'll be safe crowd wise unless all these off-site places offer deals you can't pass up. Then we may be in trouble.
My thoughts are that Disney Hotels and TS places will be more crowded, but I bet the parks should be your average Sept. crowd. I think whatever people decided to go who weren't planning a trip until free dining came out will be balanced out by the people who after last years hurricanes season are saying "NO way" to September. Atleast lets hope so!

 

[moopdog]

MY opinion, for what it's worth is that it will be more crowded than usual... to me that's an obvious answer. If for no other reason than because of the celebration and also because of the "deals" going on. I also think that people are getting more and more used to the idea of taking their kids out of school to go to WDW, but that's sort of beside the point a little.

The question is: how MUCH more crowded?! I had the CM tell me that it's going to be a record year for the (usually light) months. I had trouble even getting lunch for our family of 5 for Lecellier - dinner was way out of the question - so we ended up booking 2 different tables for 2:30 in the afternoon. I'm not too thrilled about it, but oh well!

I am going with the idea that it will be crowded, and that way I'll be pleasantly surprised when it's not too bad! Ya know... expect the worst & hope for the best!

Again - just my opinions!!

 

[ssdeverell]

I also had the problem with Le Cellier for a party of 2. We will be there on 9/13. I called back on Friday and told them I had a party of 3, and I was told "we have most everything open, what time do you prefer?" My husband fussed at me for doing this, but as I told him, I feel like they are not being fair to those that a smaller party. You might try that.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

So you're baseing that WDW will be more crowded in September because you can't get AR for 1 restaurant? I called the day before the free dining plan expired and there were still rooms available at numerous resorts. We had no trouble getting AR's for any restaurant and we even have CRT for breakfast. And BTW, even if it is a little more crowded, it will still be way less crowded than during the summer, Christmas or Spring Break,.

 

[B'rer Karen]

So you're baseing that WDW will be more crowded in September because you can't get AR for 1 restaurant? I called the day before the free dining plan expired and there were still rooms available at numerous resorts. We had no trouble getting AR's for any restaurant and we even have CRT for breakfast. And BTW, even if it is a little more crowded, it will still be way less crowded than during the summer, Christmas or Spring Break,.

When you put it that way it seems a little silly I know. But in my experience I could book this far out in September for just me (table for 1 which ends up taking a table for 2) and I never had any problems with any times at any restaurants. It just sort of threw me. But again, I forgot about the free dining plan which explains a lot.

I may try the earlier poster's suggestion of asking for a table for 3. If the only reason I can't eat at Le Cellier during the whole week is because I have only two people, that's just not right.

Update

I just called and asked for a table of 3 on Sunday 9/11, the same day I asked for originally and was told they only had 8:50pm for a table of 2. I was told I could have any time between 4 and 8:50. And I don't feel bad at all about this because there are obviously plenty of tables available for parties of 3 and 4 if they had everything open. Thanks for the idea!

 

[tn_disney_addict]

MY opinion, for what it's worth is that it will be more crowded than usual... to me that's an obvious answer. If for no other reason than because of the celebration and also because of the "deals" going on. I also think that people are getting more and more used to the idea of taking their kids out of school to go to WDW, but that's sort of beside the point a little.

The question is: how MUCH more crowded?! I had the CM tell me that it's going to be a record year for the (usually light) months. I had trouble even getting lunch for our family of 5 for Lecellier - dinner was way out of the question - so we ended up booking 2 different tables for 2:30 in the afternoon. I'm not too thrilled about it, but oh well!

I am going with the idea that it will be crowded, and that way I'll be pleasantly surprised when it's not too bad! Ya know... expect the worst & hope for the best!

Again - just my opinions!!

Oh, how I hope you are wrong... . I love the first week of September because of the "no crowds" thing. I will say, though, that they always offer a fall "deal". A couple of years ago, 2003, they offered pay for 4 nights, stay for 7!! We took advantage of that - practically a 1/2 priced vacation and the park crowds were non existing...

Pixie dust and luck that they are slow again this year!

 

[foolishmortal]

Here are my ps's and I did this on Saturday 7/16, forget 90 or even 75 days out this was more like 50 days out and I got EVERY single time I wanted!!!!!

9/4 arriving later in the day so dinner at Lotus Blossom probably
9/5 L- toy story Pizza Planet, D-fantasmic package at Hollywood & vine
9/6 Crystal Palace character lunch, D-California Grill 8:00pm for wishes at 8:30
9/7 no ps's this day, playing by ear in AK & DTD (maybe Bangos??)
9/8 L-Shutters D-Whispering Canyon
9/9 L-Touring the WS D-Coral Reef
9/10 we leave this day so play be ear

Sound good??? should I make any changes due to a not so good place???

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I ended up booking for a party of 3 at CRT when we only have 2. It's crazy that you can't get a reservation for 2 when they have every time open for 3 people.

 

[WillCAD]

I ended up booking for a party of 3 at CRT when we only have 2. It's crazy that you can't get a reservation for 2 when they have every time open for 3 people.

I think I see a trend here.

Those calling for ADRs in September are having trouble getting tables for 2, but no trouble getting tables for mroe than two. Hence, we can conclude that the restaurants are not booked, they are simply out of tables for two.

This fits with my original theory that September will not be any more crowded than usual, but a larger percentage of those who will be there will be staying on site and eating at sit-downs instead of counter service because of the dining plan.

It also means that, as is usual in September, a larger percentage of the overall crowd will be couples without kids, whereas in the summer months there is a larger percentage of families. This is perfectly normal; many childless couples go to on vacation during the school season to avoid the summer crowds and take advantage of the lower hotel, car, and air rates.

Again, I believe that the overall crowds at WDW will not be large in September. They will also not be largER than normal in September. I am certain that this year will see the normal LOW September crowds, just as in years past.

 

[Little MerGirl]

I noticed today that they extended the booking date for the free dining plan to the end of August.

That leads me to believe that reservations are down (or at least still not where Disney wants them to be).

I'll take it as a good sign!

 

[KarenW]

I agree with the person who said that it is the TS places that will be busier. We always go in the fall, but this is the first year that we are doing TS meals and that is, of course, due to the free dining plan. So, you definately can not go by the restaurants in determining if it will be more crowded.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Since Disney has just renewed the free dining plan offer for the same period and has tons of availability in general, I think we can assume the crowds won't be overwhelming.

However, yes, TS is going to be pretty busy. A much higher percentage of people than normal is going to be on free dining. Le Cellier is among the highest value single-credit offerings (and, I believe, the #1 value actually located in a park and not a resort), so it makes sense that it's tougher to get into. I also sense the whole two-person vs. four-person is true - I have had no problem making ADR's for anyplace for a table of 4 with lots of choices versus many people who have posted problems with the same places.

So, dining might be a bit more time consuming, but I really think attraction wait time will be just like always. Perhaps even better, since many people who don't usually stop for an hour or two for a good sit-down will be because of free dining.

I'm really surprised they extended free dining - happy, because I got new resort availability for my dates and was able to switch back to my choice resort, but surprised nontheless.

N.E.D.

 

[mitros]

September, especially after labor day, is usually a good time to go {baring a mean hurricane season as they are predicting} However, from everything I have been reading on these boards and other places, the next 15 months during the 50th anniversary celebration, things are going to be busy, busy, busy at the resort.

 

[WillCAD]

September, especially after labor day, is usually a good time to go {baring a mean hurricane season as they are predicting} However, from everything I have been reading on these boards and other places, the next 15 months during the 50th anniversary celebration, things are going to be busy, busy, busy at the resort.

Judging crowd levels by these boards will give you a skewed perception.

These boards, and all the others like them all over the net, are populated by people who are already planning or are considering planning a WDW trip. If you look just at the boards, you would think 100% of all people in the universe are getting ready to go to WDW, which is certainly not the case; rather, 100% of the people on these boards are getting ready to go to WDW.

There has been much exceitement and hullabaloo over the free dining plan this year, and much speculation that it will increase bookings and make WDW more crowded, but in truth, the only people who actually KNOW about the free dining plan are those who are plugged into boards like these or find out from their travel agents when they go to book a trip. The general public doesn't know about the dining plan, because it's not being advertized on TV, radio, or magazines very heavily.

So the excitement you are seeing, and the increase in bookings you might expect from it, is only in one small niche market - those of us who are already planning trips.

And as for the HCOE celebration, I don't think that's going to increase bookings in and of itself, at least no more then the WDW 20th celebration, the WDW 25th celebration, the Millenium Celebration, or the 100 Years of Magic celebration. WDW has been having 15-18 month celebrations almost continuously for the last five or six years; why should HCOE be any different than the others as far as drawing in people who have never gone to WDW before?