What the heck? September, what happend to you?

[gototheleft]

Greeting everyone!
We got back from our annual September (9/20-9/27) family trip. We have been going to Disney in the fall for the last maybe ten years and this year was crazy! Between Fastpass+ and the crowds I am not sure if we will be returning... I normally come home from a trip and start thinking about when we will be able to return... this time...not so sure... Was anyone else visiting during this week? Did it seem crazy to you? Have I become spoiled from the years of low attendance?? Also- We stayed at Pop Century and enjoyed this place in the past..this time.. Our room was a bit run down.. we also discovered we had a mouse (not Mickey) in our room.. on the trip back home we discovered some bags of sealed chips we had brought had been chewed through... The food items we brought were stored in a box on the shelf in the closet area... I emailed a complaint and haven't heard back...

Also- our last night was crazy crowded and I think I had reached my limit.. As we were waiting in line to get on to the people mover (yes... the people mover had a line) we were stopped and a large group was let in front of us... I smugly asked the CM, "I guess not everyone has to wait their turn." He replied, "they are a Make a Wish Foundation Family." ....... Yes. I am going to Hell......

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We stopped going in late Sept and early Oct when F&WF started. No longer low season, and hasn't been for some time. But maybe it was even worse this year?

 

[thedjwaver]

We are here now it is not like it was in 2008 the last time I came. We got the bounce back free dinning but already having second thoughts.

 

[jaccceee]

Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded.
Yogi Berra
RIP

 

[DisneyMooners2010]

We were there last week too. It was pretty crowded some days, but we got a lot done in the mornings that were recommended by EasyWDW. The MK line for entrance was ridiculous last Monday. It was not a recommended day, but thought we could go there for an hour or two before heading to EPCOT. Shouldn't have bothered! That was the worst we had. I'm sure it was still much better than Christmas or peak Summer.

We were surprised to see a line for the People Mover too. We've gone this particular week three times before and it was the first time we've ever seen a line for that!

 

[Praying Colonel]

Greeting everyone!
We got back from our annual September (9/20-9/27) family trip. We have been going to Disney in the fall for the last maybe ten years and this year was crazy! Between Fastpass+ and the crowds I am not sure if we will be returning... I normally come home from a trip and start thinking about when we will be able to return... this time...not so sure... Was anyone else visiting during this week? Did it seem crazy to you? Have I become spoiled from the years of low attendance?? Also- We stayed at Pop Century and enjoyed this place in the past..this time.. Our room was a bit run down.. we also discovered we had a mouse (not Mickey) in our room.. on the trip back home we discovered some bags of sealed chips we had brought had been chewed through... The food items we brought were stored in a box on the shelf in the closet area... I emailed a complaint and haven't heard back...

Also- our last night was crazy crowded and I think I had reached my limit.. As we were waiting in line to get on to the people mover (yes... the people mover had a line) we were stopped and a large group was let in front of us... I smugly asked the CM, "I guess not everyone has to wait their turn." He replied, "they are a Make a Wish Foundation Family." ....... Yes. I am going to Hell......

My best guess as to what's going on with the big September crowds is that September is still slow in comparison to busier times of the year, but September 2015 is busier than previous Septembers.

 

[bc7ate9]

We were the 9/23-27 for the 3rd year in a row...This year was nothing like the past 2. Lines and crowds nearly everywhere - including the People Mover (I have never seen that before!). We used a FPs for small world and Little Mermaid. Splash Mountain was being run at full capacity, but still had LONG lines in the afternoon.

It wasn't awful - I'm sure July and Xmas and what-not are a whole different level of awful - but definitely not what we are accustomed to for September!

Maybe the late Labor Day this year had something to do with it?

No idea, but we'll be skipping Septembers for at least the next few years. If there are going to be crowds anyway, I'd rather deal with them when it's not so hot and humid!

 

[disneyseniors]

Don't know if this is relevant, but here goes: We went to WDW in September several years ago when free dinning was just started. We were told by our travel agent: "It will be slow this time of year because all the kids are back in school at that time". Well, I think everyone and their brother took all their kids out of school for free dining. It was brand new at the time. There were as many kids and families as in the summer (we've been in July). It was also very hot and humid, which we expected. We were very surprised about the amount of kids taken out of school, but it must have been too good a deal to keep them in school. We haven't been back in September since

 

[emilymad]

We were there last week as well. I agree with everyone. It was crowded. Much more crowded then the same week last year. I think we are done with September.

 

[bc7ate9]

My best guess as to what's going on with the big September crowds is that September is still slow in comparison to busier times of the year, but September 2015 is busier than previous Septembers.

I'd agree with that. I am definitely comparing the same week this year to the past 2 years. I'm used to no waits - 10-20 minutes would not seem like a big deal to me at all during other times of the year, but in September it seemed crazy! We still had a great time - just wouldn't mind avoiding the late summer heat if crowds aren't going to be significantly lower.

 

[staceyrhood]

This^^^^^ free dining makes it packed anymore. This September was the worse I've ever seen it and I've lived here 14 years. September used to be great. It was crazy busy!

 

[MIGrandma]

I feel the same way about going in January. DH and I have gone in January several times, always super low to practically non-existant crowds. Either no wait, or maybe 5-10 minutes for rides, although longer for the major ones but still do-able. Almost empty buses, etc. Loved it! This past January we went with extended family and I couldn't believe the crowds and wait times for rides. Nothing like it used to be and I was so disappointed. We have no plans to return anytime soon.

 

[Canuck16]

Sounds like there are no slow times anymore at WDW.

We went the first 2 weeks of May last year and found it to be a great time to go. The crowds didn't seem all that bad and the weather wasn't too hot.

But we were at DL during Spring Break this year and the crowds were crazy lol

 

[anniemae]

I think there are many reasons for the crowds this year.

First, the free dining makes many many many people go.
People seem to be more willing to pull kids out of school.
F & W is starting earlier in Sept it seems
Many southern schools have fall breaks
This year, the Jewish holidays had a big impact on crowds
The Halloween party starts in Sept and draws big crowds (as we see by the many posts about it)

I don't think there is a slow time anymore. Just busy and really busy. I think Disney is a master of filling the parks/hotels.

 

[Nole95]

Not sure if this would have made a big deal, but this year many of the counties in the Atlanta area took a fall break for the first time. Some were this week and some were the week before. I know a lot of people who took advantage and planned a trip to Disney.

 

[lustergirl]

We just enjoyed a stay from 9/24-9/29 stayed at CSR. What a beautiful resort but quite big. We stayed in Casitas #2 ground floor, couldn't ask for a better spot. We noticed an increase in crowds as well, but not to the point where we struggled. Now maybe this is my opinion because we visited the parks early, went back to our room for a rest, then headed back out to another park for the evening. I did notice big crowds at EPCOT during the festival on the weekend.

 

[mickeygirl78]

I was there 9/12-9/26 and typically go these two weeks during September. It was busier this year then previous years, although I feel every year it gets busier. I have noticed more international guests on my trips, so disney must have figured out someone to market September too. From what I read it is still the slowest time of the year, it's just not as slow as it use to be. We planned our FP for the busier times and tried to take advantage of odd times. It worked good and we had a very good trip. We're planning to back next year 9/17-10/1.

 

[anniemae]

I still think Sept is the slowest time to go. I think the week after Labor Day is the best because of all the schools that start right before and right after LD and parents don't want to pull out right when school starts.

 

[lustergirl]

I feel the same way about going in January. DH and I have gone in January several times, always super low to practically non-existant crowds. Either no wait, or maybe 5-10 minutes for rides, although longer for the major ones but still do-able. Almost empty buses, etc. Loved it! This past January we went with extended family and I couldn't believe the crowds and wait times for rides. Nothing like it used to be and I was so disappointed. We have no plans to return anytime soon.

When in January?

 

[jne7043]

Not sure if this would have made a big deal, but this year many of the counties in the Atlanta area took a fall break for the first time. Some were this week and some were the week before. I know a lot of people who took advantage and planned a trip to Disney.

I've wondered too if this contributed. We are in Atlanta (there are many counties/school systems that make up the Atlanta area). Our county has had a Fall break for years, but did see that there were many more around us taking them this year. We were in the 30A/Seaside area of Florida for the break along with my parents that always go in September. While it still wasn't crowded there they said they had never seen so many kids that time of year and that it was much busier than past September trips. We met an older couple at the beach and the first thing they said was "Let me guess, you're from Atlanta. Everyone we've met here is from Atlanta." I'm guessing Atlanta isn't the only area that has a Fall break.