Better vacation in October?

[liveforthemagic]

OK. Maybe its just cause I am from the MidWest and we have had a really weird, kinda cold, kinda damp winter. But the idea of spending a kinda cold, kinda damp vacation at DW in December isn't that appealing.

So DD and I have decided a possible rescheduling is in order.

Turns out, she loves the idea of trick or treating with Mickey and Co! Here are my questions...

Can you guys share with me your weather experiences in October? I don't think we would do a WP, but we'd like to be able to do SM without fear of catching pneumonia! And resort pool swimming sounds nice in the afternoons!

Do they decorate the entire park for Halloween--or is it pretty subdued? Do the characters dress in costumes for the regular appearances, park opening, shows, meet and greets?

And finally, any recent guesses as to when the dates for MNSSHP will come out, or any links to an old site for last year's dates.

Finally, any large groups coming in October that I should plan around? Cheerleaders come to mind!

I like Christmas better than Halloween, but for warmer weather, I think I can get into this!

 

[eeyore45]

You know this is such a popular question/concern/reason to research question!! You can use the "search" function at pull up MNSSHP, weather, Oct - any of those, and I'll bet you'll get hundreds of "hits"!!

We went last October - it was HOT HOT HOT, and it was HUMID!! IT was also very crowded, I was "expecting" low crowds from so many posts here saying Oct was low crowds - wrong - Columbus Day crowds picked up - seems everyone had the same idea as I did DD only missed 2 days of school and we spent 8 days at Disney!! So many many schools do fall breaks, Jewish Holidays, and Columbus Day breaks all fall in that time frame.

MNSSHP - it rained early, and often, so only one parade = CROWDS... again, I wasnt expecting it, so I didnt plan for it.

Hurricanes - something to keep in mind, it is hurricane season, my neighbor planned 2 years ago to go in Oct - and they had one hurricane after another, so she will never plan on Fall again, and thinks I am crazy!! (guilty!! lol)

We went in July in '04 from my memory last Oct was just as hot and humid, and just as crowded... (we parked hopped, we went at opening, we didnt wait in lines - we followed advice and avoided the emh days/parks!)

 

[wdwguide]

October is right around the beginning of the dry season - it's still pretty hot and at times humid, but you don't get thunderstorms every day. IMHO, October is also pretty busy - not as bad as during the peak season, but I certainly wouldn't call it off-season either.

The December weather is certainly bearable unless a cold front is moving through. Otherwise there's usually little rain (certainly MUCH less than in the summer or even October) and high temps in the low 70s. But this is Florida - the weather varies tremendously from year to year. If I remember correctly, crowds are also fairly small until you get close to Christmas.

 

[mom2fivecs]

We went the week of halloween a few years back and that was our best trip so far. The weather was absolutely perfect 80 every day and the only day the park was crowded was on Halloween. If I could take my kids out of school again, I would definitely choose to go at that time.

 

[shellybaxter]

You know this is such a popular question/concern/reason to research question!! You can use the "search" function at pull up MNSSHP, weather, Oct - any of those, and I'll bet you'll get hundreds of "hits"!!

Yes that is very true. There is lots of info in the search. But I hope that doesn't stop people from posting questions. New people with new input and ideas join these boards everyday. If everyone just got their info from the search they wouldn't be able to get the most current information from the most diverse group of posters. Maybe people should do both!!

Shelly

 

[las3888]

We are fans of October, the weather tends to be really pretty nice, but it can rain at times (as with any month, really). Definitely hot enough for pool weather. We have noticed in recent years that October crowds are picking up more and more. Overall, we love October, especially if you compare it to December. We don't know much about being there for Halloween, since we usually go either b4 or after.

Good luck!

 

[DOOM1001]

I think any of these two months are great to attend.October is still pretty hot the first half of the month and a Hurricane is not out of the question.December weather is very nice and pleasant.Rain is less likely in December as the dry season seems to start like Oct.20th or so.

In October you have all sorts of Halloween events, MNSSHP in Magic Kingdom, a possible new scarier event in MGM studios that people are talking about, Howl-O-Scream in Busch Gardens and my favorite Halloween Horror Nights at Universal.You also have the Food and wine Festival that runs from late september to mid November at Epcot which is extremely popular.

December is great for obvious reasons, you can't get the Christmas magic anywhere like at the Disney theme parks.MVMCP at the MK.The Candlelight Processional and other christmas events over at Epcot and The Osbourne lights at MGM with the decorations everywhere you look this season can't be beat.However if you go from like Dec. 20th through the end of the year parks will be so crowded you won't be able to ride much.So an early December trip would be ideal.December temperatures probably average highs in the 70's and lows in the 50's but it could drop into the 40's or more and highs could get into the 80's.

 

[eeyore45]

Yes that is very true. There is lots of info in the search. But I hope that doesn't stop people from posting questions. New people with new input and ideas join these boards everyday. If everyone just got their info from the search they wouldn't be able to get the most current information from the most diverse group of posters. Maybe people should do both!!

Shelly

oh - please dont misunderstand me - my point was in that this was just "my experience" and I know so many posts have more postive things - I didnt want it to be a one sided opinion - ie mine!!

My other point in posting about the search function is (ok, maybe its just me!!) that its there!! I never realized until recently that was such an available option!!

You are correct in stating that these boards are very willing to answer questions - any questions, any time!! Many of the message boards I've been on have a "red warning posted" not to start "new threads" - I'm sorry if I was giving that impression - it wasnt my intention!!

 

[tinaluis]

I know what you mean about chancing the weather in December. Our last trip was November/December, 2005 and out of 2 entire weeks, there was only 1 day that I felt like swimming in the heated pool of our condo, let alone spend a day at the waterpark. We've decided on October, 2006 for our next trip and are actually looking forward to much hotter, more humid weather (and MNSSHP!!!). Have a great trip!!!!!

 

[KimWDW]

we went end of october last year. great time!
mornings were very nice.
afternoons were hot (about 87) and crowded, a nice time to go back to the pool
it didn't rain when we were there

 

[Lowillian]

We went at the end of October in 2004 and had perfect weather. Sunny, warm and not rain. We enjoyed MNSSHP and the F&W Festival. We were supposed to go again this last October, but we had to cancel.

 

[mommykds]

We were there last October 1-10. It was way more crowded than we had anticipated. If you plan for it you should be o.k. the larger crowds were just unexpected. It was also very hot, humid & it rained every day we were there. Bring ponchos & take breaks if you choose October.

 

[cobbler]

Like a previous poster said it was hot and humid. I have some really good pics of my hair

It was also quite busy. We did a MNSSHP night and it must have been one of the busier nights because all we did was watch the fireworks, trick or treat at all the places and see a few characters. The trick or treat lines were kind of long and the lines for characters were kind of long too.

It was Oct 6th if anyone remembers that night.

ETA:
And yes it did rain every single day while we were there. The worst rain was right before the party on the 6th. Between the transition time where the park shuts down and re-opens. It didn't rain all the time but it did rain every day.

 

[karrit2000]

I love going in October. The weather is normally pretty decent overall. There's the Food & Wine Festival & the Halloween Parties. My experience has been that Halloween itself is very crowded in the MK. Weekends are bad at EPCOT because of the F & W festival. The Friday Night Halloween Parties tend to be the most crowded besides Halloween itself, with the Sunday night ones a close 2nd. I enjoy MNSSHP more than MVMCP, maybe it's all the "free" candy. Columbus Day weekend is crowded all around.
The characters are only dressed for halloween during the parties. I think I remember some in EPCOT on Halloween day. They may be dressed all day on Halloween but I have only done MK during the party on Halloween. The Characters at the Crystal Palace & Liberty Tree Tavern are dressed for Halloween during dinner hours the nights of the parties. There are other characters in costume during the parties also.
I would say you can do SM during the day definitely without getting sick. Some days the middle part is hot enough for a WP but not an all day thing.

 

[Hopefully]

We have gone several years in mid October. Each year is more crowded than the last. The Food & Wine Festival has become very popular and expanded to 6 weeks. There is the Super Soaps Weekend, Festival of the Masters at DTD, Jersey Week (sometimes Nov. not Oct) and the Funai Golf Classic, all impacting crowds.
We went last year 10/16 - 10/23 and it was HOT and HUMID. Hurricaine Wilma arrived the day we left, and I think that the tropics were in an uproar in advance of the hurricane. I was miserable and surprised. It also rained each day near the end of the week each day - poured at times!
I have never been in December, I would love to some year.
I love October and the Food & Wine Festival and I will go this time of year again, even with the weather and crowds I just described.
HTH

 

[Hopefully]

We have gone several years in mid October. Each year is more crowded than the last. The Food & Wine Festival has become very popular and expanded to 6 weeks. There is the Super Soaps Weekend, Festival of the Masters at DTD, Jersey Week (sometimes Nov. not Oct) and the Funai Golf Classic, all impacting crowds.
We went last year 10/16 - 10/23 and it was HOT and HUMID. Hurricaine Wilma arrived the day we left, and I think that the tropics were in an uproar in advance of the hurricane. I was miserable and surprised. It also rained each day near the end of the week each day - poured at times!
I have never been in December, I would love to some year.
I love October and the Food & Wine Festival and I will go this time of year again, even with the weather and crowds I just described.
HTH

 

[Tosie]

Like a previous poster said it was hot and humid. I have some really good pics of my hair

It was also quite busy. We did a MNSSHP night and it must have been one of the busier nights because all we did was watch the fireworks, trick or treat at all the places and see a few characters. The trick or treat lines were kind of long and the lines for characters were kind of long too.

It was Oct 6th if anyone remembers that night.

ETA:
And yes it did rain every single day while we were there. The worst rain was right before the party on the 6th. Between the transition time where the park shuts down and re-opens. It didn't rain all the time but it did rain every day.

I remember it - I was there. It was also dd's birthday. We had a horrible time.

We also went in October 2003, had great weather, and a great time at MNSSHP.

You just never know.

Tracy

 

[byoung]

We got there on the friday before Wilma last Oct. It was hot and humid on the weekend. Wilma came though on sunday into monday (got mostly winds), and the temps took a drop nights in the 50's.

 

[Olallamom]

We arrived the Wednesday after Wilma and it was a bit chilly but it got warmer as our week progressed. I loved attending the Food and Wine Festival. We also did MNSSHP and that was fun.
I think October is a great time to go, I will be there this coming October to celebrate my 40th.

 

[chanty]

We've been to Orlando twice and both time it was in October.

2003 - Oct 3rd to Oct 8th (if my mind is good!). Hot, humid and only one day of rain (the morning we left Orlando!)

2005 - Oct 2 to oct 13th. Again, hot, humid, more rain this time but could have been worst! It was crowded.... but I think it was caused by the free dining promotion... you stay had to start before october 4th and you had free dining for your whole stay. I think it possibly attracted a larger crowd.

2006 - we are returning for our 1st yr anniversary from oct 1 to october 6th this year...will let you know how it is