Crowds the last week of September?

[jenhelgren]

Can anyone with experience comment on the crowd levels in the end of September? I subscribe to touring plans and the numbers seem really low but we visited in the end of January one year and even though the projected crowd levels were low the parks were packed and lines were long!! It made me regret the trip because it was too chilly to swim and the only reason we visited in January was for the lower crowd levels.

I keep reading about how hot and humid it is in September. Will the heat let up any toward the end of the month?

If the crowds are so low that rides are almost walk on it would be worth the heat and humidity for us, so I wanted to hear some guesses from September vacationers. Another plus is MNSSHP dates start in September and Im thinking the parties would get more crowded as Halloween gets closer but I could be off on that too

 

[mom2rtk]

Not terrible, but not as low as earlier in September. Lots of folks want to book during free dining but put it off until the Food & Wine festival starts.

We did this a few years ago. It's still just as hot as summer. A couple days we hit some lowish crowds. A couple days we hit some high crowds.

 

[dreamit]

The crowds you experience can be greatly affected by going to recommended parks for the day. From what I've been researching, easywdw seems to be more accurate with the recommended parks than touringplans. I did a September trip way back in 2003. The weather was doable, but you need to plan for it. The short afternoon rains were helpful, as was planning for some type of afternoon break out of the sun, even if it just means visiting an indoor show or restaurant. Bring a fan mister or Frogg Togg Chilly Pad to cool off.

 

[SueDonym3]

It can be hot-I have been when it has been 90 degrees that week...and another time I went it was low 70s-upper 60s during the day. Crowds can be bad in Epcot due to Food & Wine, but far less than summer/peak times

 

[amber_cntrygrl]

We've never had bad crowds the last week of September. That's when we normally go. It can get pretty crowded in areas, but nothing like peak crowds.
The last week is really, REALLY hot. Just drink lots of water and wear lightweight clothing, and you'll be fine!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[jenhelgren]

Low 70's!!! My husband would be a happy camper!!

I'm guessing that is really odd and only happens once a decade-right?

We visited Halloween week in 2012 and it was in the 40s at night that week. We spent the days in sweatshirts which the cast members said was very abnormal also-so I guess we can always hope for cooler temps-I just didn't even think it was a possibility so early in the fall!

Is rain still common almost every day late September?

 

[mom2rtk]

Low 70's!!! My husband would be a happy camper!!

I'm guessing that is really odd and only happens once a decade-right?

We visited Halloween week in 2012 and it was in the 40s at night that week. We spent the days in sweatshirts which the cast members said was very abnormal also-so I guess we can always hope for cooler temps-I just didn't even think it was a possibility so early in the fall!

Is rain still common almost every day late September?

Yes, afternoon rain is still quite common.

And I wouldn't tell your husband about on odd occurrence of cool weather in late September. He's likely to be disappointed.

 

[NokOnHarts]

I personally wouldn't go do WDW at any time and expect the rides to be walk-ons, I think that ship has sailed at this point. Even with low-ish crowds, FP+ is affecting standby waits, too. I think you'll do pretty well last week of September but fall is becoming a more popular time as there are school vacations and such that allow families to travel. Better than expecting low crowds is just to have a good plan for touring. Easywdw is the best resource I have found, his Sept. calendar would be helpful to you. I would also plan on activities that get you out of the heat throughout the afternoon (in door rides, pool at the hotel, etc).

 

[2Tiggies]

We really enjoy the September weather, but then I enjoy the heat vs the cold. YMMV. Between indoor queues and the air conditioning for shows and shops, we find it perfectly manageable.

Crowds are fairly low compared to October, but I don't think expecting too many walk ons is realistic. The first time we went in the last week of September we thought it was extremely quiet, however it should be noted that prior to that, our trips were over Easter week and spring break.

Plenty of rain and almost daily, afternoon thundershowers are a very real possibility. In fact, I would say you can safely count on them. However with all that being said, it is by far the best time of year we have visited.

 

[DisMama5]

We have always went to last week of September for the past few years. One thing for sure is it is hot! But there's plenty of ways to cool off and later afternoon when the sun drops down a bit it gets to be just perfect actually. As for crowds we love it!! DH can't handle huge crowds which I know is silly to say when we travel to Disney a lot but it's true and thus why we travel to DW during sept, always the last week of sept. We have had so many walk ons for rides and sometimes even double rides without getting off its great! Do follow crowd calendars because even tho the crowds are low, if your at a wrong park on a wrong day, say when it's predicted to be a crowded park day for MK, you will feel the crowds then but nothing that can't be tolerated even in those situations because September is just generally such a slow time for Disney. We've never really seen anything over 20 minutes, and that's even rare, it usually says 10-15 mins and is usually walk in instead, for most rides. Big head liners like splash are usually 20 mins, sometimes 30 mins max on a very hot day. Soarin I think is the only one we've seen with a long wait in our sept trips, which was 45 mins. FP+ it and your golden. Now if you end up at a park on a non recommended day, which we have before a few times, it's really not a big deal, and wait times only exceed by maybe 10-15 mins more, it's truly a great time to go other than it being very hot during the day but for us that doesn't bug us at all. And you have a great chance at free dining in sept also, we've got it the past few trips. Enjoy

 

[DisMama5]

It can be hot-I have been when it has been 90 degrees that week...and another time I went it was low 70s-upper 60s during the day. Crowds can be bad in Epcot due to Food & Wine, but far less than summer/peak times

Oh yes I meant to mention, Epcot Ws can definitely feel crowded due to Food&wine but I agree it still doesn't feel like summer crowds. Avoid days Epcot crowd calendars say too and you will be good