Crowds the week of Labor Day

[gatorchinsky]

It's been awhile since I've been to WDW so I was wondering if the week of Labor Day (not the weekend) was crowded? I know most kids in Florida are back in school by mid August, so I wasn't sure if going to Disney during the week of September 1, 2008 would be a good idea. Unfortunately, that is the only time we can go in September or I would wait for the middle of September.

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

While the Holiday weekend itself might be a little more crowded than average, September crowds are historically among the lowest of the year.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Hi,

While the Holiday weekend itself might be a little more crowded than average, September crowds are historically among the lowest of the year.

Since Free Dining started in Sept. 2005, the crowds have grown tremendousley every year. Free Dining has been a brilliant plan on the part of Disney to fill the crowds during what was previously their slowest season, and hurrican season to boot. And then having the bounceback for free food while the free diners are there in the parks, on their Disney high, well I would call that sure marketing genius.

This past September (14 - 22) was a lot more crowded than I thought it would be. If it weren't for knowing about touring plans and knowing how to utilize the Fastpasss system the lines would not have been as manageable. There was the occasion that you walked up to something in the late afternoon and there was only a 10 or 15 minute wait, but most of the headliners kept 30 minute or more waits. At MK on our last day Space Mountain had a 75 minute wait at 3:30 p.m! Now, to you Christmas week, Easter week, or July 4th people that probably doesn't sound too bad, but we specifically booked these dates for low crowds, and there were not low crowds, in our opinion.

I don't want to sound like I'm being totally negative, because we did have a great time. Afterall, it is Disney, and we love Disney. The Halloween Party was awesome. It was crowded, but the parade and the fireworks were awesome.

 

[Bob P]

Since Free Dining started in Sept. 2005, the crowds have grown tremendousley every year.

Hi,

I'm not disputing you at all, what I said was that September crowds are historically among the lowest of the year. Now September may be more crowded than it used to be, but my statement is still true.

Sorry to go off on a tangent but what I have also learned on these boards is that one person's "empty" is another person's "crowded." A couple of weeks ago someone asked about crowds in mid-August, and I linked the OP to a trip report from our trip August 16-20, 2007. Among the things I said were:

--On Friday the 17th we went to the Studios for morning EMH and did RRC, TOT, Great Movie Ride, Star Tours, and Muppetvision by 10AM.

--That night about 7:30 we were back at the Studios and walked on TOT twice in a row with no wait.

--On Saturday the 18th we did morning EMH at AK, and the standby line for Everest was only 5 minutes.

--On Sunday the 19th we went to the MK (not an EMH morning) and we walked on to Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and evrything in Fantasyland except Dumbo.


Those points were all true.

Well, a few hours later someone posted that they were there the exact same days that we were and said he/she would never go again at that time because it was too crowded.

So again, it all depends on 1) what you are used to; 2) what your expectations are, and 3) maybe most importantly--how early you get to the parks.

Sorry, that was a lot wordier than I thought it would be when I started!

 

[maciemouse]

We have been this week for the past two years. We leave the Saturday before labor day and go home the following Friday. Now with saying that, we never go to the parks on Saturday. That Sunday was busy but not bad. The most we waited was maybe 25 minutes. That Monday was perfect, everything was either a walk-on or 10 minute wait. I will say that Tuesday and Wednesday the parks was dead. It was awesome. One thing that threw me for a loop - We were getting in line for Soarin on that Tuesday. It said it was a thirty minute wait. We got a fast pass. We came back and it still said a thirty minute wait. We went through the fast pass line and walked straight to the front. Well so did the people beside us that went through the normal line. So NO there was never a thirty minute wait. I will say that 2007 crowds were heavier than 2006 crowds during the same week. But even though the park had more people, we never waited long for anything. Have fun!!! It is a great time!! It is almost kind of strange seeing the lines so empty.

 

[accountingbabe08]

Labor day last year wasn't as bad as going in June . Planning on going again this September.

 

[Cee]

I've heard those little bugs are bad in September. Is that true?