Are all weeks in September created equal

[Informer1906]

I have decided to take the family in September as I have heard the crowds are lighter and the rates at the resorts are at their lowest. So my question is; are certain weeks better than other (i.e. is the week of Labor Day better than the last week of the month)? Please share any personal experiences or just what you know from word of mouth. Thanks.

 

[stahshee]

yeah I want to know

 

[stopher1]

We've been in every week of September, and our family definitely prefers the last 2 weeks. The temps/humidity are still up there in the first half, but do break a bit in the last 2 weeks - sometimes more cool than humid - at least that was our experience last year when we were there the last week of Sept. Of course you still have the "daily" rain clouds but even that didn't ever put a damper on our days.

The crowds are definitely less AFTER Labor Day than the week of - although they have run their Free Dining Promo that last few years, which add to the crowds (their way of bumping occupancy rates before the fiscal year ends 9/30).

We had no trouble getting ADR's, nor did we experienc any super long waits for attractions in any of our trips - even able to get on many of the "bigger" ones multiple times with no real burden or long return times getting our FP's (except for Soarin').

 

[Darcy03231]

If you can wait until the first week of October I would go then. The weather is great and by that time free dining (if its offered this year) will be over. I've found that the crowds are generally low this time of year.

 

[eeyoregon]

free dining (if its offered this year) will be over.

Free Dining is for sure happening again this year as many of us re-booked during our trips last year thru the bounceback offer.

OP: If you are interested in the free dining (why not if you are already staying on property??? FREE FOOD ROCKS!) book you trip beginning the last day of free dining = weather is getting better, crowds are thinned out and you still get free food the length of your stay as long as your first night was during the free dining promo!

 

[DVCJEN]

I would not plan to go over Labor Day weekend. It can be on the crowded side those days. With free dining coming again this year it is doubtful that crowds will be super light but they with still be manageable.

 

[ehrn]

Last yr we arrived the Sat before Labor Day and didn't go to a park that day, Sunday was fairly busy, Monday wasn't bad and the rest of the week was a DREAM!!!! Some parks didn't have trams running, crowd was so light. We never got to stay on a ride but we were able to walk right back on--Pirates, esp. Restaurants were quite busy r/t free dining but we expected that.
This year we can't do that week because my brother is in a wedding, we are going 9/7-13, we hope it will be as quiet as last yr. The heat is worth it for those kinds of crowds!!!

 

[eeyoregon]

Last yr we arrived the Sat before Labor Day and didn't go to a park that day, Sunday was fairly busy, Monday wasn't bad and the rest of the week was a DREAM!!!!

Hmmm....we were there the same exact time and thought the crowds were some of the biggest that we have experienced. Without fast-pass the wait times averaged 90 minutes or longer the entire week. Thank goodness for extra magic hours in the parks as that was the only way we were able to ride the big attractions!

The extreme heat and humidity that time of year is a whole other post!!

OP: Aim for the end of September

 

[Informer1906]

Bump.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

We always arrive the Friday after Labor Day and stay the following week. The parks are EMPTY. FastPass is rarely even up and running because there are no lines for the rides. Longest wait is MAYBE 15 minutes for some of the bigger rides. Even free dining does affect the crowd size by much. HOWEVER it does affect the restaurants (they are packed) so I would try to make your decision soon so that you can make your ADRs (I made mine a couple of weeks ago). It is hot at the beginning of September but the love bugs aren't out yet (haven't seen one yet). But I'm from New England, I go to Florida to get some sun!!!