Tell me about september ....

[Mills1878]

All booked to go next year, 8-22 Sept, cant imagine how excited we'll be closer the time if now is anything to go by! Lol. Got the 14 day disney pass with Univeral tickets and planning Discovery cove and Busch also.

Anyone been at this time of year, maybe even this year? Pass on any experience of how the parks are at that time of year, que times, weather etc. Any any other general thoughts. Thanks alot.

 

[orangetiggs]

we got back on the 12th sept and the parks were fine, even went on TSM 3 times without queueing!

Will be going 1st to 15th next year

I went 24 weeks pregnant with twins this year as well and thought it was fine, busy over labor day weekend but you will miss that

 

[Twilight Terror]

Currently, the parks are very quite. This year they are even quieter than normal, and this is our 4th holiday around this time of the year. However, that is partly to do with the credit crunch having a delayed reaction on Disney. Most people have their holidays booked a year or more in advance, especially those from abroad, so holidays were booked and paid for/budgeted for, before the credit crunch hit.

Almost all rides have been walk-on, except for Toy Story Mania, which the shortest queue I've seen for that so far is 50mins stand-by. Most others at our Dis Meet last night said the same - all rides have hardly any queue, except from TSM! We are hoping to do it tomorrow after DTD Check-In and before breakfast!

Normally though, it is still quiet, with waits around 15mins rather 60+mins that the summer brings. The temperature is normally a little lower than the summer period, although there have been above average temperatures the entire time we've been here!!!! There are usually afternoon showers, lasting only about an hour max, and usually around 2-5pm. The other thing to remember is that September is the height of the hurricane season, with the 10th (I think) being the most active day in the season.

Just watch out for the weekends, because no matter how quiet the parks are in the week, at the weekend they will not be! The locals and those within driving distance descend on the parks. This year, because of the extreme quiet, the weekends have been a sharp contrast to the weekdays!

 

[zippy99]

We just did 6th-19th Sept.

At Disney..

No more than 10mins for any ride - most were straight on

TSM was always a queue - I have no idea how Orangetiggs managed three times without a queue! unless there was some kind of parallel dimension!!
We were at Studios on 4 separate days during this period and we went as it opened, late at night and during magic hours and there was always a Queue - shortest was 30 mins - max was 90mins! Although in fairness - next Sept TSM will not be as new so perhaps it won't be as busy by then.

If you do fantasmic you will still need to join the queue 90-75mins before it starts (bearing in mind seating starts 60 before so once you have your seats you can nip to the toilet and grab food from the back)

We went to Busch Gardens on Tuesday 15th.....it was dead - no queues for anything - it was almost uncomfortable and embarrasing walking round there - surely it cost them money to be open that day - I would not bother paying for the quick queue or anything like that - also watch out for Gwazi - great looking wooden coaster - but omg the headache afterwards - it is VERY rough.

 

[zippy99]

Just to add - we did see weekends busier (especially Saturday) so we tended to use these for resting at the pool, water parks, doing the shows and dining.

 

[Netty]

like twilight terror says the parks are very quiet here at the mo, its been so hot mostly in the early nineties, outside on the 192 - its very quiet, the restaurants are empty to, we went to logans roadhouse and there must of only been 4 tables of people, the server said every where is very quiet

 

[Mills1878]

Sounds like a great time of the year to visit, which is what we hoped and asked our travel agents advice on. Thanks for all the replies.

Bummer about the ques for the fireworks at the end but Im sure its worth it, are the parks open late or do they close pretty early due to kids being in school? Think we will plan Disc Cove for one of the weekend days as we hear it only lets in a certain amount anyway and never feels crowded.

 

[Twilight Terror]

The parks do close earlier than they would in the summer period, but the hours are still pretty good.

SeaWorld and Universal are all 9am - 6pm
Typhoon and Blizzard are both 10am - 5pm
Animal Kingdom is 9am - 5pm

Epcot - Future World is 9am - 7pm
World Showcase is 11am - and usually to 9pm, but it can vary

Magic and Hollywood open at 9am, but have varying closing times.

The four main parks all have EMH, both in the morning and the evenings. AK evening magic hours are great, opening the park from 5pm - 8pm, which allows you to wander around in slightly cooler temperatures!

The latest Magic closed (to regular guests) was 10pm, and earliest was 7pm (for party nights).

The latest Hollywood closed (to regular guests) was 9pm, and earliest was 6:30pm (Night of Joy), or 7pm (regular night).