Crowds in Oct..

[abrahamalld]

Does So. Cal have a fall break. We are thinking of visiting the parks from Oct 7-10th so was wondering about crowds.. We are from Arizona. We would only go during the week as I understand weekends are often crowded.

thanks for any help/advice you can give me.

 

[mystic_path]

Well the first weekend in October is Gay days which is a very large annual event. It draws in larger crowds, and then the Mickey's Trick or Treat starts so october will be very busy. Week days will be your best bet if you do plan on hitting the parks.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

were gona be there same time its right after gay days and thursday 9,friday 10th and weekend should be crouded im excpecting 20 min waits on some rides if i get lucky or not is up to ppl who show up lol

i think its a good time tho as oct gets later id think more go to the halloween party

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

It will be quite crowded no doubt. Most of Oct. is though. Since a lot of the areas are on fall break (including Arizona, Utah.. ect..). Then there is Gay Days, Columbus Day (for those who get it off). Plus a big draw because of all the Halloween stuff. Then you add the Miley Cyrus birthday party too!

We went last year, and it was just too crowded for us. We won't do Oct. again. But my advice would be to get there early and really take advantage of FP.

 

[jason417]

I think people tend to paint a more negative picture of Oct crowds than necessary. The weekends will be like a summer day in terms of crowds but even that isn't unbearable. Just get there early and use the fastpass system efficiently and it won't be that bad.

Weekdays will be fine. Major rides like Indy will prob have 15-25 min waits (compared to 45-60 mins on the weekends). You'll have plenty of time to enjoy the rides Wed-Fri and then you can take it easier on Saturday when it's more crowded.

 

[Gisele]

Sounds good Jason.

 

[Rapunsel]

Some SO Cal schools will be out the 9th and 10th. For the jewish Holiday. We have tried going then and it was so not worth it!!!!!

The security line was 35 minutes. the line from the 5 to a park place was 35 minutes...


So be wary...

 

[TripHHH]

I think there are a few big events in October (Gay Days, Miley Cryus BD), but not too crowded outside of that. We went last year in mid-October and most things were a walk-on or 10-15 minutes tops for the big stuff.

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

I was worried about this for the longest time, but when I was reading about how crazy low the summer crowds were, I decided I wasn't going to worry about it.

People aren't going out to the movies or spending money on forms of entertainment. they're not going on vacations. Things are hard all around. The economy is bad all around so people just AREN'T spending money on vacations. I mean, I'm going to look and see how the Gay Day crowds impact the attendance this next weekend and hope for the best for my trip next week, but really... I don't think people can afford to go anymore.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

I think people tend to paint a more negative picture of Oct crowds than necessary. The weekends will be like a summer day in terms of crowds but even that isn't unbearable. Just get there early and use the fastpass system efficiently and it won't be that bad.

Weekdays will be fine. Major rides like Indy will prob have 15-25 min waits (compared to 45-60 mins on the weekends). You'll have plenty of time to enjoy the rides Wed-Fri and then you can take it easier on Saturday when it's more crowded.

I'm painting it just how we saw it last October. The only day that was not ridiculously crowded was Tuesday. Even the rest of the weekdays were super crowded. Considering we weren't even there on a weekend. With fall breaks, people are going to be there all week.

I think some people just don't like to hear the truth, since they have trips planned for this time. I was one of them last year, expecting low crowds. I wish someone would have warned us, so at least we could have been prepared. But if people would rather think it's going to be like low season, that's their business. I'm just telling it like it was last year, and from the sounds of all the events, like it will be this year.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

I'm painting it just how we saw it last October. The only day that was not ridiculously crowded was Tuesday. Even the rest of the weekdays were super crowded. Considering we weren't even there on a weekend. With fall breaks, people are going to be there all week.

I think some people just don't like to hear the truth, since they have trips planned for this time. I was one of them last year, expecting low crowds. I wish someone would have warned us, so at least we could have been prepared. But if people would rather think it's going to be like low season, that's their business. I'm just telling it like it was last year, and from the sounds of all the events, like it will be this year.

Im with you girl...you can only tell them what you know...if one person comes on here and says oh no thats wrong then people tend to go with the person they want to hear so all you can do is tell them and let them see for themselves...irregardless of what people are and arent doing as far as the economy isnt stopping people from coming down for MTOT, and alot of locals go there as well...and on top of that we have the pin codes that came out for this time as well as the AP 7 rate and although the hotels arent booked solid, they are still going to be buys...of course the weekdays arent going to be like summer crowds but they will still be busy....Im not expecting 10-15 min waits on anything especially the more popular rides are always long waits no matter if its crowded or not....my perception of how crowded it is will be by the amount of people walking around at any given area in DL...the most crowded areas are always Adventureland.. and around NOS...so I guess we will just wait and hear from people when they return from their trips...Im hoping it wont be busy for them but for me Im just going with the flow

 

[tlovesdis]

We were there last October around the 18-22 and it was perfect! Well, except for the weather becasue of the awful fires down there, but crowd wise we never waited for anything really. It was a very nice time to go!

 

[Canyon girl]

Jen...What were your dates last year?

 

[disneegrl4eva]

We were there last October around the 18-22 and it was perfect! Well, except for the weather becasue of the awful fires down there, but crowd wise we never waited for anything really. It was a very nice time to go!

oh smack!! you just said the operative word "fires" alot of people canceled because of the fires...I was a little worried myself but I got there as the tail end of the smoke infestation was going away...I just barely missed the ash blowing around like alot of people said...I remember people saying they ate at CC and ash blew in their food yuck!!...so I probably wouldnt go by last year at all...Im glad you brought that up..I had completely forgotten about the fires...

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We were there the 9th-12th, with going home on the 13th.

It's possible the economy may make it better this year. Although I still wouldn't compare it to the low summer crowds. Gas prices have come down some, and the locals are no longer blocked out. I think a lot of people stayed near their homes this summer, but may venture out for their fall breaks. In hope of better deals.

I just don't really appreciate someone saying I'm exaggerating or making up what we experienced. Uh, why would I do that? I remember the wall to wall crowds of people making walking difficult, and rides like Pooh having a ridiculous line. I'd say that's pretty darn crowded. Maybe others deal with crowds better, or maybe some have never been during a slow time so to them that's great. But to me that really did not make it fun, even being at DL. We loved the Halloween decorations, and would plan to see the HM overlay at a differen time some day. But we felt that was much too crowded.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

oh smack!! you just said the operative word "fires" alot of people canceled because of the fires...I was a little worried myself but I got there as the tail end of the smoke infestation was going away...I just barely missed the ash blowing around like alot of people said...I remember people saying they ate at CC and ash blew in their food yuck!!...so I probably wouldnt go by last year at all...Im glad you brought that up..I had completely forgotten about the fires...

Yeah we went in Oct, I think it was 2004? When they had those big fires going. People were wearing face masks the smoke and ash was so bad. You thought it was snowing!!

 

[disneegrl4eva]

We were there the 9th-12th, with going home on the 13th.

It's possible the economy may make it better this year. Although I still wouldn't compare it to the low summer crowds. Gas prices have come down some, and the locals are no longer blocked out. I think a lot of people stayed near their homes this summer, but may venture out for their fall breaks. In hope of better deals.

I just don't really appreciate someone saying I'm exaggerating or making up what we experienced. Uh, why would I do that? I remember the wall to wall crowds of people making walking difficult, and rides like Pooh having a ridiculous line. I'd say that's pretty darn crowded. Maybe others deal with crowds better, or maybe some have never been during a slow time so to them that's great. But to me that really did not make it fun, even being at DL. We loved the Halloween decorations, and would plan to see the HM overlay at a differen time some day. But we felt that was much too crowded.

aww Jen I dont think thats what the poster meant I know where you're coming from...Ive experienced it at all different times of the year and I agree 100% on your analogy of the summer issue...gas prices have dropped quite a bit and locals are definitely back in swing....and its been said many many times throughout the years that locals make up a HUGE portion of the visitors on any given day...

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Hopefully that wasn't what he meant, I mean we can only say what we saw!

I actually remember when we got back, several people here said the days following were lighter in the crowds. Probably hit or miss, depending on the fall breaks and such. We must have hit a time where a lot of people were off! But I can certainly say on those weekdays we were there Space mountain and such was no 10-15 minutes. I remember DH and DS being gone an hour or so. I remember because of all the shopping I got to do.

 

[Canyon girl]

I think a lot of people don't understand that you really can't quantify crowds on a monthly level. If I read the school calendars correctly, the local year-round schools are off the first half of October. You also have fall breaks in AZ near that time. That probably explains the crowds that you had. You were there. You are the only one that can say what the crowd levels were. We believe you. I also believe the pp that was there 18-22. That is after the fall breaks. A person can never tell. It is amazing how many locals frequent the park. It is a totally different situation with WDW.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

It is amazing how many locals frequent the park. It is a totally different situation with WDW.

i know right? that is exactly what my point I was making...Ive heard that so many times throughout the years AND what Ive recently been hearing from a couple of people who know both DL and WDW well, that what WDW vets consider crowded is nothing like DL crowded...which makes me very happy for my trip next year to wdw because DL crowded is awful