Crowds in October Half term

[disneymotts]

Hi all,


We are starting to plan our trip for next year and this will be our first trip having to coincide with school holidays.

Could someone tell me how heavy the crowds are likely to be in October half term? We are hoping to arrive the week before and have two weeks including the half term week.

We have two small children (will be 6 & 3 when we travel), so we won't be too worried about Space Mountain/ToT type rides. They love character dining & fantasy land at the moment (just giving you an idea of what we will be headed for!)

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mr Stoat]

Busier than it used to be. Columbus weekend is very busy and a lot of US schools now get a week off in October which makes Disney busier than it used to be in October. As long as you are avoiding Columbus it should be fine, wait times we found were about 20 mins or so. If they have never been before there is a useful book about preparing your kids for Disney, not a guide, but helpful advice, I just cannot remember the correct name of it.
Make any dining reservations at the 6 month mark, particularly if you are planning Cinderellas Table. Get to the parks for rope drop, you get more done in the first hour than in the rest of the day! When the kids get tired, go back to the hotel, splash in the pool, doze in the room, you can always go back to the parks later. Have fun!

 

[chmurf]

definitely busier than it used to be, but very manageable, as long as you remember the basics : arrive early, since the first hours after park opening are the least crowded. Sensible use of fastpass. Choosing the right park for the right day. And most of all Have Fun

don't hesitate to partake in one of the MNSSHPs while you're there. Kids will have a ball. The 3 year old might get tired (but that's what strollers are made for, aren't they ?) and it will be perfect for the 6 year old. (if you do a party, go on a sunday or a tuesday, as far away from halloween as possible, as parties get busier closer to halloween. Fridays are the more crowded)

 

[disneyholic family]

the thursday night halloween party was much busier than the tuesday night one when we were there....so if you have a choice...

the thursday party when we were there was impossibly crowded...

we were there the 3rd week of october last year...

during the day the crowds were fine....just that thursday night party was really terribly terribly crowded....i know that it was sold out, as there were signs at the entrance..

the one on tuesday wasn't sold out, as we bought tickets at the gate for that one....it was a pleasure....not crowded at all...

 

[disneymotts]

Thanks for all the info. I'll check out our dates and the Columbus Day holiday. We could always do half term and the week after if they coincide.

We've done WDW & DLP before, but always avoided school holidays - so the crowds will be a whole new experience!

Can't wait to try Be Our Guest - the fantasy land expansion was under construction the last time we went!

 

[Nakkira]

Busier than it used to be. Columbus weekend is very busy and a lot of US schools now get a week off in October which makes Disney busier than it used to be in October. As long as you are avoiding Columbus it should be fine, wait times we found were about 20 mins or so. If they have never been before there is a useful book about preparing your kids for Disney, not a guide, but helpful advice, I just cannot remember the correct name of it.

I had no idea that Columbus Day made any difference. DRAT! That is when we will be there, I though I was picking a nice quiet week.

 

[StarWarsJez]

We did Oct half term about three years ago. We normally go July but missed a summer and got a late deal.

I have to say that (compared with July) it was an absolute joy, most days the parks were half as full as the summer and we felt we got more done in 10 days than we'd normally do in 3 weeks.

Don't know if we were lucky but the weather was fantastic too. Big thumbs up from me!

 

[Julia Ann]

we've done october half term (without kids and not realising it was half term!) and it was fine - i do remember columbus day/weekend being busy but not overly busy - we are going again in 2015 with DD this time - have fun

 

[MrRomance]

Hi all,


We are starting to plan our trip for next year and this will be our first trip having to coincide with school holidays.

Could someone tell me how heavy the crowds are likely to be in October half term? We are hoping to arrive the week before and have two weeks including the half term week.

We have two small children (will be 6 & 3 when we travel), so we won't be too worried about Space Mountain/ToT type rides. They love character dining & fantasy land at the moment (just giving you an idea of what we will be headed for!)

Thanks in advance!

I haven't been for October half term for a number of years but it used to be quite a quiet time. I'm going this year over that period and am booked to go next year, so I'll be able to give you a better idea in 150 days time!

 

[disneymotts]

How exciting that you are going so soon! I'd love to go sooner but money and DH annual leave from work dictates 2014.

Still lots of lovely planning ahead, which is part of it for me! (And I may have to convince DH that a weekend in DLP is also needed!)

Glad October doesn't sound too crazy. I'm excited already!

P.S. apologise for the out of date ticker. I rarely get onto boards on my laptop to update it!

 

[irenep]

It's a great time to go and not too bad crowd wise and weather wise. Our school break usually coincides with Columbus Day but we always manage fine although maybe best to avoid Epcot at the weekend.

 

[Mr Stoat]

The change has been in the last two years, more and more schools are switching to a ballanced school year. When we first went about 6 years back it was a very quiet time, now not so quiet. Use the busy day planners and avoid the parks that are busy, unless you like standing in line for 45 mins!

Forgot to add, two years back we were there over Columbus weekend and they could not fit us into our first choice accomodation (OKW) at the 6 month out point, fully booked out for that weekend Friday through Monday, staed at Saratoga Springs instead.

 

[starrysky]

Been in October last few trips and its been great. Weather still good and crowds on the whole not too bad.
Busiest would be EPCOT at a weekend especially in the evenings as its the food and wine festival during October.
Overall we love going in October and can't wait to go back this year.

 

[theminx08]

What date is Columbus day? We are going 21st oct for 2 weeks!

 

[ninamouse]

Monday 14th October so will miss it!

 

[dixonsontour]

This will be our 4th October in a row - we go last 2 weeks of October.

Crowds are very manageable - I use touringplans busy day guide - we go for the 'best' park each day and always are there for park opening.

The busiest is usually MK on a night normal wishes is on - as mnsshp is on several nights a week it bumps up crowds on non party nights.

 

[disneymotts]

This will be our 4th October in a row - we go last 2 weeks of October.

Crowds are very manageable - I use touringplans busy day guide - we go for the 'best' park each day and always are there for park opening.

The busiest is usually MK on a night normal wishes is on - as mnsshp is on several nights a week it bumps up crowds on non party nights.

Great! Thanks for the tips. We've just booked half term and the week after (2014),so very similar time to you. So long to wait - but lots of planning and so glad to have it booked!

 

[Tink78]

We arrive Sat 12th Oct and are planning Disney Studios for Sun 13th and a pool day for Columbus Day, to avoid the crowds and also I find jet lag is worst on the second day.
I hadn't thought about MK being busier on the non halloween party days so I'll have to check my itinery again now! LOL!

 

[dixonsontour]

We arrive Sat 12th Oct and are planning Disney Studios for Sun 13th and a pool day for Columbus Day, to avoid the crowds and also I find jet lag is worst on the second day.
I hadn't thought about MK being busier on the non halloween party days so I'll have to check my itinery again now! LOL!

On the other hand we found MK to be very quiet on MNSSHP mornings - rides a walk on - US visitors without hopping will choose a non MNSSHP day as their MK day.

 

[Shocking Hocking]

Hi , I am going in October too and just wondered what the weather is like ? Not sure what to pack .