AppleInsider is reporting that Apple has blacked out vacation time for employees from October 9th to 12th and then for October 14th and 15th. Kasper Jade posted:

Apple is quietly denying requests for employee vacations during the second week of October, hinting that the company currently anticipates an influx of customers to its stores around that time related to availability of its new iOS 5 and fifth-generation iPhone products.

It is rumored that Apple will launch iOS 5 software update around 10th of October and has already asked AppleCare division and Apple retail employees to prepare for an influx of iOS 5 related inquiries. The October 9th to 12th vacation blackout almost confirms this rumor. As for blackout dates of October 14th and 15th, rumors are that Apple will announce the next generation iPhone on October 4th or 5th and will start taking pre-orders 10 days later and will finally ship the device on October 21. We think the October 14 blackout is to help customers having problem with online order or even take pre-orders in stores.