Calling all former "Sept" travelers....

[Msslaydbug]

We are going 9/6/03 - 9/14/03. Taking the first two days to do Universal / IOA and then the rest of the trip will be devoted to our stay at Disney. I keep reading that Sept is a pretty "slow" time at Disney. I want to try and figure out just how slow we are talking about here ....

I have never been during a truly "peak" season but dont really have anything to compare it too.

Last year it wasn't bad we went the last week in August. The prks had about 30 minute waits but the last day we were there was the first day of "value" season and that morning we went back to MK for the last time and the "hords" of people appalled me . I couldn't beleive how long the lines were just to get into MK let alone ride the rides !!

So I guess I am just wanting to hear from other people who have traveled about the saem time we are going ......

Thanks

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

We like Sept. most of the kids are back in school, vacations, for the most part, are done and it is reasonably quiet. There is very little wait for any attraction, I think the max. I have ever seen is 30 mins (which to me is nothing).
One year we went in sept. and made the mistake of being there for labor day weekend, won't do that again. Very crowded.

 

[mickeysaver]

We went last year during the last full week of the month. The longest we waited for any ride was Jungle Cruise and that was only because FP was down. We waited 30 minutes for it. I was less than pleased to see what we waited for, but that's another story.

The crowds were low and we had a great time despite the rains that came everyday thanks to a hurricane that was out in the Gulf. We were surprised to see how many people would just flee the parks at the first sign of rain. We just put on our 2 for a $1 ponchos from Dollar Tree and kept on pluggin'. Just keep in mind that the heat and the humidity are in full force. Drink fluids even when you don't feel thirsty and find a cool spot to rest in every so often and you should be fine.

Have a great trip. Mickey

 

[n2mm]

Normally September is very slow, but with the FTP this year, all bets are off! I just returned and have found the crowds manageable in the summer (we take our grandson). But this trip everything was different. We actually tried to do an early morning entry...wrong. We are big fans of EE during our Spring and Fall trips, but the crowds were huge. We tried again on Wed. AM to do MK and the crowds were much more manageable. So imagine from 8:00 to 12:00 (4 hours) we did less than when we went from 9:00 to 12:00. Also tried to do e-ticket but it was sold out on Tue. July 29th. After hearing it sold out I was glad not to be there. After all, 9-10 rides and 5,000 tickets sold. So you see the FTP attendance is changing all of our past expectations. I can't imagine it being awlful, but my resort CM friends are telling me that the resorts are running 100% and I believe it as we spent 2 days at the All Stars before moving to the CR. We have a short 6 day trip planned for Sept. 18-24 and then a longer fall trip Oct. 23-Nov.1 and am hoping that the crowds will be manageable.

 

[karenjoy65]

Is see several people referring to FTP and it's potential of increased crowds during September. What is FTP and when is it?? I am trying to plan Orlando trip sometime in Sept or Oct.

 

[ashejen]

DH and I went towards the end of last September and it was *very* slow - example - for MGM we were there when it opened (prior to EMH coming back) - we were able to ride ToT, RnRC, RnRc, then ToT again in less than 1/2 hour.

I think the longest things we waited for were the timed shows and in some of the lines at BB!

It was a perfect time to go.

 

[n2mm]

FTP is the Fairy Tale Package that Disney promoted recently to increase attendance and IT WORKED. It was a great deal, esp. if you only got once a year and are not an AP holder or CM (like we are). It really filled the resorts and the package runs until the end of October, so there is no escaping it unless you take vacation early Nov. It was so successful lots of folks are hoping disney does it again next year. Prices ranged from $449 per adult for a 7 night stay at the all stars which included their ultimate park hopper ticket--a wonderful savings (higher prices for the other resorts). I would love to see WDW in September during our time there this year, as attendance has been in the past, but we are preparing for the worse.

 

[sarahandhannahsmom]

We are taking our first trip the same time 9/6-9/14. I was wondering also about the crowds. I hope they are not too bad.

I am a little disappointed that several of the rides are going to be closed for refurbishment at the time we will be there.

Good luck

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by sarahandhannahsmom
We are taking our first trip the same time 9/6-9/14. I was wondering also about the crowds. I hope they are not too bad.

I am a little disappointed that several of the rides are going to be closed for refurbishment at the time we will be there.

Good luck

There is not that much being closed. There is a thread on this on one of these boards.

I am sure that the FTP has boosted attendance, but, I doubt it will be unmanagable like the summer is.

 

[Msslaydbug]

Thanks for all of your responses . I too hope the FTP does't make it unbearable for us. Although I will have fun either way and enjoy myself and my time off of work I am a little disapointed that the BTMRR will be closed since this is my sons 2nd favorite ride (Buzz will always be first LOL). I just hope all the other rumors aren't true re: RnR and TOT !! That would make me more than a little upset since those are my favorite rides !!!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Msslaydbug
Thanks for all of your responses . I too hope the FTP does't make it unbearable for us. Although I will have fun either way and enjoy myself and my time off of work I am a little disapointed that the BTMRR will be closed since this is my sons 2nd favorite ride (Buzz will always be first LOL). I just hope all the other rumors aren't true re: RnR and TOT !! That would make me more than a little upset since those are my favorite rides !!!

Lori,
go to this site. This is a very reliable source.

http://wdwig.com/rehabs.htm

Also, go to the wdw site, under parks and FAQ's.

 

[laurabelle]

I went last Sept 12th and it was very quiet, and I have only gone in Value season (before this upcoming trip). Just wanted to echo what the other posters have said about it, more limited hours but you can ride all the biggies quickly, you can go again on some rides without even getting off. Haunted Mansion was down for refurbishment when I went, and CoP was closed(as usual). I don't know how FTP will be this Sept, you have to remember that school will be back in session, so I'm sure it won't be like summer. Have fun and let us know how it went.

 

[primax]

We went on 9/3 - 9/11 in 2001. It was simply awesome. The crowds were so small our longest wait was 10 minutes! We did alot that trip. Best trip we had in WDW, coming home that was another story for obvious reasons. Driving from FL to NJ due to terrorism is not fun. Rental Cars were scarce, planes were not flying, etc ....... and we had no tv so we had no idea what was going on.

 

[7beasley]

I think September is a great time to go to Disney. The kids are back in school and the summer season is over and I have always found it to therefore be alot less crowded.

We went mid Sept in 2000 for our honeymoon and the longest lines were 10-15 minutes. Then we went back 4 days after Sept. 11th in 2001 and there were no lines and for that matter no people in any of the parks. It was an erie experience. The parks were so empty we were allowed to just stay on the rides (w/o getting off) for as long as we wanted to. We rode Dinasour in Animal Kingdom 8 times in a row!

We skipped our annual trip last year because we had just bought a house and now we are planning on returning this September from the 13th to the 20th.

We are expecting crowds of about a 10-15 minute wait for teh big rides but in general, if history is any indication, the parks should not be crowded.

As an aside re: all the rehabs - after reading all the rumors on this board, espcially about Tower of Terror - I called Disney - after complaining and staying on hold for about 1/2 hour - I finally was able to speak to Jennifer in the Executive Offices re TOT. What she told me is as follows:

"There is an official list (posted on the website) and a tenative list (not posted anywhere). She said the tenative list represents rides that they know they need to work on, its just a question of when the work will be done. TOT is on the 'needs work' list for August or September. I told her I would be there from 9/13 through 9/20 and she said there is a very strong possiblity that TOT will be closed at that time. When I asked her the likelihood of only one side being closed at a time, she said that if the repairs were minor only one side would close at a time but she did not have any news on that and I should prepare myself for the ride being down while I am there."

I felt better at least talking to someone who was looking at the tentative, unofficial list as opposed to the people at the # Disney gives you to call who just robotically read from their computer which is not even as updated as the Disney Website.

My fingers are crossed that September will be slow and quiet and TOT will be open (even just one side) while I'm there!!!!