Will more rooms open up in October?

[Toad Hall]

I've been a WDWmagic reader for a while, but decided to finally register and pose a question to the experts...

I usually take week-long trip with my family down to WDW, but I'm going to be making a VERY quick visit to WDW in October (two nights, two days) and am looking for rooms 10/7 and 10/8. There a very limited resort options published for those dates right now, and some that are are outrageously expensive. (Poly > $800 / night) Do you think that because these nights are right before the Columbus day crowd that there are rooms open that are just not available yet, or are many of the resorts truly at 100% occupancy for those nights?

Want to have some reservation soon so that I can start to make my FP+ ressies at the 60 day window (which will be around Aug 9).

Thanks in advance!

 

[DarthVader]

Do you think that because these nights are right before the Columbus day crowd that there are rooms open that are just not available yet, or are many of the resorts truly at 100% occupancy for those nights?

I think middle of October is a busy period and many of the resorts are booked. Disney may open up more rooms but I think it being fall break for many southern schools means the price will be higher then non-school break times.

I'd maybe book at a different resort, even a value resort and then keep an eye on availability, if you see a resort you want open up, call disney to have them change it. That way you don't lose out on the FP+, the risk is you don't get any availability and you'll be staying at a place you may not be too jazzed up about. Truthfully though, I don't think you can go wrong with Disney resort

 

[HolleBolleGijs]

I think it's because of Columbus day. We were looking at rooms for that whole weekend in June, and even then, some resorts had very limited/no availability. The best I can say is keep checking. We were trying to get POFQ, so we booked at an All Star just so we had something. Eventually, something opened up at POFQ so we changed the reservation.

If you're worried about FP, I would book somewhere (even if it's not your first choice), and keep checking to see if something becomes available. Since you only have 2 nights, you might have better luck. When we decided to do a split stay and bumped our FQ stay down to 2 nights, we had a few more room options than when it was 4 nights.

 

[Toad Hall]

Thanks for the quick replies. The approach you both propose makes a lot of sense...I'll look to do that. Thanks.

 

[HolleBolleGijs]

I think middle of October is a busy period and many of the resorts are booked. Disney may open up more rooms but I think it being fall break for many southern schools means the price will be higher then non-school break times.

I'd maybe book at a different resort, even a value resort and then keep an eye on availability, if you see a resort you want open up, call disney to have them change it. That way you don't lose out on the FP+, the risk is you don't get any availability and you'll be staying at a place you may not be too jazzed up about. Truthfully though, I don't think you can go wrong with Disney resort

They don't even have to call to change it. You can easily modify an existing reservation online without cancelling, and you would still keep FP since it's the same reservation number.

 

[ToInfinityAndBeyond]

I've been a WDWmagic reader for a while, but decided to finally register and pose a question to the experts...

I usually take week-long trip with my family down to WDW, but I'm going to be making a VERY quick visit to WDW in October (two nights, two days) and am looking for rooms 10/7 and 10/8. There a very limited resort options published for those dates right now, and some that are are outrageously expensive. (Poly > $800 / night) Do you think that because these nights are right before the Columbus day crowd that there are rooms open that are just not available yet, or are many of the resorts truly at 100% occupancy for those nights?

Want to have some reservation soon so that I can start to make my FP+ ressies at the 60 day window (which will be around Aug 9).

Thanks in advance!

Check into the DVC renting market, too. When it's busy, it's usually a bust, but we have been able to make some last minute trips by renting DVC points.

 

[HolleBolleGijs]

Check into the DVC renting market, too. When it's busy, it's usually a bust, but we have been able to make some last minute trips by renting DVC points.

I'm sure inventory for this changes, but I looked into it last month, and the only availability they had for our dates (around the same time as OP) was a 1br villa at SSR through David's. DVC rental store had absolutely nothing. That being said, there are some last minute deals that pop up.

 

[ToInfinityAndBeyond]

I'm sure inventory for this changes, but I looked into it last month, and the only availability they had for our dates (around the same time as OP) was a 1br villa at SSR through David's. DVC rental store had absolutely nothing. That being said, there are some last minute deals that pop up.

The best place to check is on DVC rental forums. There are some very reputable places for people who rent their points and don't do it through an agency. You'll also get a lower point to dollar ratio, since there's no middle man involved.

 

[DarthVader]

They don't even have to call to change it. You can easily modify an existing reservation online without cancelling, and you would still keep FP since it's the same reservation number.

Stuff like that, I prefer to talk to a human being I can ask a few questions have them double check some others etc.

 

[HolleBolleGijs]

Stuff like that, I prefer to talk to a human being I can ask a few questions have them double check some others etc.

Understandable. It's relatively painless to do online, if all you're doing is changing the resort. Plus, it's quicker. If a resort is full and something opens up, I would want to do it the quickest way possible so I don't miss out.

But your way works too

 

[Polydweller]

The Gartner Symposiun is Oct 4-8. It's huge and takes up a massive number of rooms across the property. It's Gartner on the 7th that's causing your problem. Very unlikely that any of the rooms reserved by Gartner will open up.

 

[Toad Hall]

Thanks, Polydweller.

Not familiar with the symposium. Room issues aside, what affect will this have on parks on Thursday the 8th? I was going to try to get to MK that day before the true madness starts on Friday. Any events I need to be wary of?

 

[DarthVader]

Thanks, Polydweller.

Not familiar with the symposium. Room issues aside, what affect will this have on parks on Thursday the 8th? I was going to try to get to MK that day before the true madness starts on Friday. Any events I need to be wary of?

Probably not much since during the day they'll be in conferences and lectures, unless they decide to skip out on that stuff to visit the parks (which I'd probably do )

 

[Polydweller]

We've been a couple of times during the Symposium time. Not really much of an effect really except maybe busier at restaurants in the evening.

As for the Symposium, it's an annual hugely important IT gathering usually having about 24,000 attendees and as many as 6000-7000 CIOs from major companies. That's why so many rooms are taken up. And most attendees do attend the talks during the day. It's important to hear the trends and developments in your industry/area to stay current.