Crowds in Sept

[goofydad621]

My DF and I were there Mid Sept I think around Sept 17-18 for a 3 day weekend.

IT WAS WICKED HOT AND HUMID but even the locals said that it was a little hotter then normal.

That being said we swore we would never go back that time a year again because of the heat, so we postponed our trip this year by 2 weeks...
and are goign the last week of Sept. THe free dinning hooked us just can't beat that deal.

 

[AdventureGuru]

We will be there the last week in sept too!!! 25-30...we couldnt pass up free dining either...lets hope for decent weather!!!

 

[Nbtstatic]

Sept. 30 - Oct. 8 for me, free dining of course.

Lets hope an early cool front blows through!

 

[katied]

I'll be with you hoping for cool weather. We're down there Sept. 24 - 30th. I like the heat, so I'm not worried, but my DH hates it. When I first booked the trip, we didn't think he could make it - just me with DNiece and DNephew. (Also, my vacation time expires on Oct. 1st with work, so I really had to plan the vacation by them).

But DH has gotten the time off work and will be joining us. He asked about the weather first and I said avg. temp "in the 80's". Which is true, sort-of. His response was - as long as we don't have any days in the 90's! I guess he'll figure it out once we get there! I've already bought the mini misting fans and we'll drink lots of water... I don't think he'll agree to a trip in September ever again unless we have unseasonably cool weather though.

 

[KPeterso]

I noticed one day (9/26/04) was only a high of 78. I thought that was unusual - then I noticed there was over 5" of rain on that day

We have gone in September the last 2 years. 9/26/04 was when Hurricane Jeanne went through (we were there for it), so that is why the weather looks so strange for that date. We are going back again this September, but a couple weeks earlier (2nd trip on the AP right before it expires). In 2004, we were there 9/17/-9/27 and crowds were definitely lower. We went last year 9/22-10/3, and it was definitely more crowded than the previous year. Was it really crowded? No, not really. Make sure to have ADRs though because last year it was definitely harder to get a last minute one than in 2004. I love this time of year to go. I like it to still be hot, and not as crowded. I can go in cooler weather to Disneyland if I feel like it.

 

[AdventureGuru]

BF doesnt like the heat...I'm planning on camel backs and bandanas to keep cool...along with those mister fans.
Here's to hoping for 80's type weather!

 

[M<3'sMickey]

Does anyone know of anything special going on October 1st? That's my 21st birthday (and the reason why we're going down during this time) and also the start of Magic Kingdom's 35th Anniversary? I know someone said the start of the "Dreams" promotion but what's that mean?

Also, what's this deal with the free dining?

Thanks for your help?

 

[esdras]

Thanks for the insight...ok how do we keep cool?

Less crowded means shorter lines means more time on rides and less time standing in line in the heat.

Less crowded also means you don't usually have to make mad dashes to get to the best rides.

With shorter lines, you can slow it down and take your time - stop in the gift shops and other side (and often air conditioned) diversions.

Drink a LOT of water.

Those little fan/mister thingies can help too.

 

[eeyore45]

We always went the last week of September into October. As time went on, the crowds got larger. The Food and Wine Festival has boosted crowds and the free dining last year sent it over the top. The new "Dreams" campaign starts on October 1st, I think, so they're trying to give the crowds an even BIGGER boost.

Just be prepared - if you are prepared for low crowds because of threads like this, then you run into crowds, you will be disappointed - if your idea of low crowds is the same as mine anyway - last year, post after post declaring the first week of Oct low crowds - it was CROWDED - MNSSHP was CROWDED - wall to wall people, it was incredible - now we timed the lines, and we never waited more than 20 min, but the line was LONG for a fastpass lane, and I was shocked - it was not low crowds!!

So I planned this trip a week early. AND I cant tell you how many posts are "we're going the last week of SEpt to get the free dining, and there is a mNSSHP, and that's when Food and Wine Starts -" all those posts lead me to believe, it will be standing room on the buses!!

I will be prepared for crowds.

I will not be disappointed this time!! I will be in Disney, I will take advantage of fast pass, and breaks at our resort, I'm staying long enough to do maybe 10 attractions a day, and then rest and enjoy that resort!!

I'll be in Disney - a crowded hot humid day in disney is better than a cool spring day at work!!

 

[eeyore45]

Also keep in mind, Disney promotions want a full, crowded park!! The Wiggles are coming to Disney - that will bring in crowds!! They have to show a profit to their stockholders, an empty park is not good, so just enjoy the people, the parks, the magic!! Those "magical beginnings" are there to hit a market share that usually wouldnt go - last year they didnt have hurricanes, just some tropical storms, (one came close, but nothing like the previous years!!)

Again, a hurricane wont shut down Disney for long!! Bring Rain gear!!

 

[JENR]

We were there last year during free dining. We went end of Sept to begining of Oct. I thought it was pretty crowded, it was very hot and it rained alot. We had a great time. Just make sure you have a poncho. We did do MNSSHP and that was not crowded at all. This year we are going Sept 10 - 17th hoping for lighter crowds but I know it will be very hot.

 

[AdventureGuru]

maybe if we keep positivew thoughts of decent weather (70-80s) light crowds and profit for stock holders--does that sound like a good compromise?

 

[MScott1851]

This will be our fifth year going in September, and I'm not going to give you false hope.

It's HOT. It's HUMID. It will RAIN at least every other day (just pop-up showers in the afternoon, very hit or miss.)

This, of course, is if no hurricane is in the ocean or the gulf or bearing down affecting the weather patterns. A big one out in the ocean will suck every bit of moisture out of Florida and make for beautiful weather. OTOH, one coming across will make for rain every day.

But the crowds are a lot lighter than summer and spring, even with promotions. You don't have to wait outside as much. It's our favorite time to go. Then again, we live in a very hot, sticky place ourselves (Memphis is even more humid than Orlando...with higher temps.) and it really doesn't affect us. I can't imagine needing a jacket at night. It never got below 75 at night the last week of September any year we've been there.