Afraid September is going to be PACKED this year

[girlsmom]

My first Disney trip was to DL, early 60s, summer. No FP. No wait time apps. No cellphones to coordinate. No Unofficial Guide. Nada.

To be honest, I don't remember what the waits were like, maybe they were 10 minutes, maybe they were an hour, maybe more. But we did that because that's what you did to see things. I do remember on subsequent trips pretty long lines for the submarine ride and autopia/tomorrowland speedway, perhaps because we used up the less crowded times for the Matterhorn or SM. We'd do our best to work around the busy times, but waits were inevitable.

Honestly, you'd think that waiting in line talking with friends and family was worse torture than going to the dentist. Yeah, the humidity in FL is worse than CA. And while some of the rides have really good wait areas, many don't. But you still get to hang out with friends and family, people watch, sip on the drink you got before getting on line, anticipate the ride and argue over whether you want the front or back of the BTMR train.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't be doing as much as you can to minimize wait times, I certainly do. But patience and waiting seem to be lost skills, to everyones disadvantage.

Oh my goodness --what an excellent point!!! thank you for sharing that perspective!

 

[anniemae]

I personally think it will be very busy this Sept. Between the late start for many schools, fall breaks, free dining, food and wine etc. all have contributed to making Sept busy. Not summer busy, but still busy.

 

[AlexaofArendelle]

I got all of my FP+ for our Sept 17-26 trip, 59 days in advance including 7Dwarfs, A&E, Toy Story Midway Mania. The hardest to get was A&E cause it had only one option 3:20-4:20 (which means we will miss Festival of Fantasy).

I booked my ADRs less than 100 days in advance because we upgrade our quick service plan to dinning plan at that time. The only one we had before upgrading was BOG. I was able to book Chef Mickeys twice, H&V, Crystal Palace, WCC among others.

I wasn't worried until this week my TA told me that POP is at full capacity. I really hope is not that full so that way my "first timer grumpy" DH can get hooked with WDW the same way his beloved wife and awesome son are. (That will surely mean more future Disney trips! )

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I wasn't worried until this week my TA told me that POP is at full capacity.

Maybe look for a new TA. Then go into MDE and plug in your dates. I just did and it's only pool views that are not available for September 17-26. Otherwise, there is plenty of availability. Maybe she was searching for discounted rooms, but just because all the discounted rooms have been sold doesn't mean a resort is at full capacity.

 

[patdoc98]

Yep, as others have said, there were tons of threads freaking out about this last year, too.

Last year, we had more difficulty than expected booking Magic Kingdom FPs 60 days in advance (even Enchanted Tales with Belle was unavailable for our first MK day, for example). ADRs were impossible, but a lot did free up just 1-2 days in advance. People obviously over-book and then cancel.

Once we arrived, the parks certainly "felt" crowded in the afternoon, and Hollywood Studios was a mess on a Saturday EMH day when TSMM and RNRC were both down for big chunks of the day. And 4th and 5th fastpasses were mostly limited or useless.

But overall, it was easy to ride a ton of rides without lines in the morning and early evening, and we could use FP+ after lunch for some big headliners, mixed with shows and anytime rides. We waited more than 20 minutes for two things the entire trip, and for the vast majority of rides, we walked briskly through the entire queue, so there was effectively no wait.

We were told that Pop Century was "basically full," but it didn't seem crazy except at peak meal times (i.e., early breakfast and 7-8 pm dinner). We didn't eat there at peak meal times any way, so we just observed the crowds as we walked past.

 

[AlexaofArendelle]

Maybe look for a new TA. Then go into MDE and plug in your dates. I just did and it's only pool views that are not available for September 17-26. Otherwise, there is plenty of availability. Maybe she was searching for discounted rooms, but just because all the discounted rooms have been sold doesn't mean a resort is at full capacity.

You're right. I just checked and there are rooms avalaible for that dates. Maybe I should not worry at all.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

It's all about the free dining. MK restaurants fill up because there are only six of them that take ADRs. The rest are filling up because you've got persons booking table service dining who would not have done so otherwise.

Even if all the restaurants were completely full, that still would not translate to huge crowds in the parks. Restaurant capacity is much lower than park capacity.

Same with the resorts - If the parks were closed to everyone except persons staying at Disney resorts, you would think they were pretty empty. Major crowds come from outside the resorts.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I get to book FP+ tonight for end of Sept and all of Elsa and Anna and Festival of Fantasy for my whole 5 day trip are already gone... bummer.

I wouldn't worry about Festival of Fantasy at all. We got prime spots near The Diamond Horseshoe about 30 minutes before the parade started. We sat in the shade and rested. After my last trip, I don't think I would want to spend a FP on any of the parades.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I get to book FP+ tonight for end of Sept and all of Elsa and Anna and Festival of Fantasy for my whole 5 day trip are already gone... bummer.

We did MNSSHP last September and lined up to see A&E right before the party officially started (7 pm). I think we waited about 10 minutes to see them (5 minutes before 7 and 5 minutes after). Are you doing the party? That is a great time to meet them if you don't have a FP.

I didn't have the FP issue last year since we only bought our tickets a few days before the party, so I really didn't expect anything for A&E or SDMT to be to be available between 4 and 7 pm a few days before the party. However, I did see FP availability for both of those attractions just 1-3 days before our party night. They were only morning times so we didn't get to take advantage (our party tickets only allowed us in at 4, and FP is not available after 7 during party hours), but I say this because you might be able to snag a FP for A&E if you are persistent and keep checking MDE a few days before your trip.

 

[my2lovedisney]

Also remember that even at the lowest crowd times, you're still looking at waits of an hour or more at headliners during the afternoon/evening.

I've been to Disney multiple times in September and have never waited longer than 20 minutes for a ride. EVER.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

My first Disney trip was to DL, early 60s, summer. No FP. No wait time apps. No cellphones to coordinate. No Unofficial Guide. Nada.

To be honest, I don't remember what the waits were like, maybe they were 10 minutes, maybe they were an hour, maybe more. But we did that because that's what you did to see things. I do remember on subsequent trips pretty long lines for the submarine ride and autopia/tomorrowland speedway, perhaps because we used up the less crowded times for the Matterhorn or SM. We'd do our best to work around the busy times, but waits were inevitable.

Honestly, you'd think that waiting in line talking with friends and family was worse torture than going to the dentist. Yeah, the humidity in FL is worse than CA. And while some of the rides have really good wait areas, many don't. But you still get to hang out with friends and family, people watch, sip on the drink you got before getting on line, anticipate the ride and argue over whether you want the front or back of the BTMR train.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't be doing as much as you can to minimize wait times, I certainly do. But patience and waiting seem to be lost skills, to everyones disadvantage.

Waiting patiently is actually a skill that I possess. It is not one that I enjoy. I am also quite skilled at cleaning my bathroom. I prefer, however, to avoid using those skills whenever possible. I choose to let others develop their skills in those areas while I dine at Sanaa, eating Naan and watching giraffes.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Can't wait for our Sept trip. Tell you what, if you get bummed over high crowds at the parks swing by POR AB and look for two happily relaxing midsomethings drinking beer and wine at a quiet pool. We'll have plenty to share. Then we'll go hit Yeehaa Bob or Jellyrolls.

 

[Katholicchik]

We did MNSSHP last September and lined up to see A&E right before the party officially started (7 pm). I think we waited about 10 minutes to see them (5 minutes before 7 and 5 minutes after). Are you doing the party? That is a great time to meet them if you don't have a FP.

I didn't have the FP issue last year since we only bought our tickets a few days before the party, so I really didn't expect anything for A&E or SDMT to be to be available between 4 and 7 pm a few days before the party. However, I did see FP availability for both of those attractions just 1-3 days before our party night. They were only morning times so we didn't get to take advantage (our party tickets only allowed us in at 4, and FP is not available after 7 during party hours), but I say this because you might be able to snag a FP for A&E if you are persistent and keep checking MDE a few days before your trip.

this is a great tip! We are planning on MNSSHP but can't decide between Fri the last day or Sun at the beginning of the trip.

 

[Katholicchik]

I wouldn't worry about Festival of Fantasy at all. We got prime spots near The Diamond Horseshoe about 30 minutes before the parade started. We sat in the shade and rested. After my last trip, I don't think I would want to spend a FP on any of the parades.

wonderful. I was thinking Liberty Square. Got a FP+ for Haunted Mansion right after the parade (well during and after).

 

[Cando86]

Just wanted to say I shared your concerns. ADRs have been an absolute nightmare to get. I barely got what I wanted when I originally made them but have got everything by using one of the ADR finding tools. FPs were also a lot harder to get than I was expecting. I've been able to mostly get what I wanted for roughly the same times but when I originally booked them I was very surprised. It seems like things get snatched up quickly and then have freed up, so perhaps this time of year just requires more system stalking which is a pain.

It's good to hear others' reports about this time of year! It felt like it was going to be Christmas busy with all this planning.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

this is a great tip! We are planning on MNSSHP but can't decide between Fri the last day or Sun at the beginning of the trip.

That is a very hard decision. Personally, I like to save MNSSHP for near the end of the trip because it really does seem to be the highlight. I like to save the best for last.

However, and this is a big however, I have attended the Halloween party on a Sunday, a Thursday, and a Friday, and Friday was by far the most crowded. Granted, last year was the year we did Friday, and Disney does tend to get more and more crowded as the years progress, so that may have had something to do with it, but I think it just makes sense that more people attend on Friday nights because I imagine most locals who go would choose a weekend for work and school purposes.

This year, we are going Sunday thru Saturday, so we have a choice between Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday. Since we are arriving Sunday, I don't want to do it then because we will be tired from travel. I would like to go Friday night, but I really feel that Tuesday will be less crowded. So I am pretty set now on the Tuesday night party.

 

[dcraythorn]

Mistake

 

[disprincess2213]

Just want to say that we have never had a problem booking fastpasses for our trip right at 180 days. I was unable to get an A&E the entire trip. I couldn't even believe my eyes. Im not talking a less desirable time, im talking NOTHING! Granted, it is only a 5 day trip but what the heck! Not one?! Even SDMT was at a less desirable time but at least we got it. I am also thinking it is going to be much more packed this year.

 

[mom2rtk]

Just want to say that we have never had a problem booking fastpasses for our trip right at 180 days. I was unable to get an A&E the entire trip. I couldn't even believe my eyes. Im not talking a less desirable time, im talking NOTHING! Granted, it is only a 5 day trip but what the heck! Not one?! Even SDMT was at a less desirable time but at least we got it. I am also thinking it is going to be much more packed this year.

Maybe you should check again at 60 days?

J/K.

Lots of reports just like yours. Some say it's because of the shorter park hours. I have a hunch Disney is staffing that meet & greet at a lower capacity because they consider it a lower season. That should not be taken as an indication of how busy the parks will be in general.

 

[doylegang6]

I have had a lot of trouble this September getting ADRs for our group. I did not have this trouble last year in September. January is always nice to go too - low crowds.