Disney in October

[sunnymom]

Only visited Disney in the summer months with the heat and crowds. This year trying something different ....going in October. Wondered what the crowd and weather is like during this time of year? Would you recommend PS arrangements for character Bkst etc? Anything else I should know????Thanks!!!!

 

[LisaInNc]

With the free dining I would highly recommend advance ADRs or you might get there and not be able to eat at sit down restaurants. Lots of people that dont' normally eat at character meals or sit down restaurants will be doing so because it was a free part of the package.

I have seen hungry families turned away at the podium because a restaurant is booked up. I always feel terrible for them.

 

[HappyMommy2]

Sunnymom, we're in the same position as you are so I am interested in your thread.
I could be wrong but I believe that right now the free dining only goes through the first week or so of October. We are going mid-month so I am hoping the crowds at character breakfasts, etc. won't be too bad. We are planning on making reservations for the couple of ones we really do not want to take a chance on missing, though.

 

[Bob P]

Crowds are pretty light compared to the summer, except it is a little more crowded on Columbus Day weekend.

It's still warm, often hitting 90 during the day, but not as relentless as July/August/September.

I definitely agree, if you have your heart set on eating somewhere, make a PS. There is no charge to make them and you can always cancel them later.

Bob

 

[powellrj]

we have gone the 3rd week in october many times, and its one of my favorite times to go. The weather is cooler, the crowds are smaller and you get MNSSHP!

 

[Orbrium]

What is an ADR? How far in advance do you making PS arrangements?

 

[Bob P]

ADR = Advanced Dining Reservation. It's just a new name for a PS (priority seating). You can call 90 days in advance.

 

[crisi]

October is our normal time.

Columbus weekend is very busy. Not Easter busy, but busy. October is much busier now than it used to be. Epcot in particular is busy - Food and Wine has extended into October. And the Halloween party attracts other people.

We've seen plenty of people turned away from meals in October. Make your reservations (whatever they are called) particularly for character meals or popular meals - and almost anything in Epcot over F&W.

 

[Kellie1989]

The crowds are lighter. If your going an the halloween party is happening its alot of fun. They also do halloween things at fort wilderness and downtown disney

 

[cruiserkaren]

DH and I are thinking of taking our DD2 in October. I've read a lot that crowds are lighter but what exactly does "lighter" mean? I mean would we still be waiting an hour or more to ride say Dumbo? We wouldn't be going to Epcot. I didn't realize planning WDW vacation could be so overwhelming!

 

[Laurajean1014]

If in the beginning of October, it will be hot and humid with lots of rain.

If late in the month, little to no rain and low humidity.

Crowds will be bigger because of the free dining.

However, it's one of my favorite times to go.

 

[Bob P]

DH and I are thinking of taking our DD2 in October. I've read a lot that crowds are lighter but what exactly does "lighter" mean? I mean would we still be waiting an hour or more to ride say Dumbo? We wouldn't be going to Epcot. I didn't realize planning WDW vacation could be so overwhelming!

No matter what time of year, go to Dumbo as soon as MK opens. It's a slow loading ride (meaning it has to stop completely to let a group off, then replace it with the new group) so lines get long very quickly.

October will still be relatively light even with the dining plan. There are just too many kids who can not miss school.

Bob

 

[crisi]

http://www.touringplans.com/BestDays.htm

On a 1-10 scale, most of October is 4s and 5s with a few 6s. You can compare that with the summer, which is 7 and 8s (9s and 10s around the 4th). We've found the Columbus Day bump to be worse than what Len reports - but he has the data, we are just a sample. (We saw a Splash Mountain two hour wait two years ago that weekend - a six should give you a peak wait time of about an hour).

Some schools have breaks in October - Minnesota is out this year on the 20th and 21st, turning that week into "Twins Fan week" at WDW (the Twins have been doing fairly well the past several years, its the tail end (or right after) baseball season, and there are a lot of Twins hats in the parks that week).

We've been a little shocked by Columbus day crowds - I've been at some slow times, and had gone previously in October when it was much slower. Its become a much more popular time than ten years ago, when October was much more Septemberish.

 

[thelionqueen]

Sunnymom, we're in the same position as you are so I am interested in your thread.
I could be wrong but I believe that right now the free dining only goes through the first week or so of October. We are going mid-month so I am hoping the crowds at character breakfasts, etc. won't be too bad. We are planning on making reservations for the couple of ones we really do not want to take a chance on missing, though.

The free dining plan is for check in up to Oct. 4th. so there will be vacationers on the plan up until the 14th (10 day max ressie on free dining). We are going 3-13th which is why I know.

It should be great fun, see you there...just won't know it

 

[cruiserkaren]

I didn't think about school breaks in Oct. We're just tossing around the idea of going so nothing is set. Our DD2 is just like her parents and doesn't have an over-abundance of patience. One of our big concerns is that the wait times for the things she would like would be huge and the expensive day would be shot. Maybe we should consider another time??? Beginning of November maybe? Thanks for the help and the site, I'll check it out.

 

[can'twait]

The last time we went, in 1994, it was November. There were still lines, although not long, and we were turned away at many TS restaurants. The place was slow, but by no means "empty". Not making that mistake again! I've got my dog eared copy of the UG in hand and have already made all my ressies for the beginning of Oct.

 

[madge]

http://www.touringplans.com/BestDays.htm

On a 1-10 scale, most of October is 4s and 5s with a few 6s. You can compare that with the summer, which is 7 and 8s (9s and 10s around the 4th). We've found the Columbus Day bump to be worse than what Len reports - but he has the data, we are just a sample. (We saw a Splash Mountain two hour wait two years ago that weekend - a six should give you a peak wait time of about an hour).

Some schools have breaks in October - Minnesota is out this year on the 20th and 21st, turning that week into "Twins Fan week" at WDW (the Twins have been doing fairly well the past several years, its the tail end (or right after) baseball season, and there are a lot of Twins hats in the parks that week).

We've been a little shocked by Columbus day crowds - I've been at some slow times, and had gone previously in October when it was much slower. Its become a much more popular time than ten years ago, when October was much more Septemberish.

I think I saw those same Splash Mountain crowds a couple of years ago, LOL...

I will never forget the one time that we went to the MK on the Saturday of Columbus Day weekend--we wanted to ride a few things before we went home. We got there early, rode the rides with little to no wait...and then, we hit Main Street to leave the park It was unlike anything we had seen earlier in the week.

a CM told us last year that the first few days into October are much like September...but the closer you get to Columbus Day/Canadian Thanksgiving/Golf tournament, etc. it's gets busy.

Still better than summer, I think. We love going in October!

 

[jeanyusjean]

We will be going Oct 22- 29 and this week is the 90 day mark for ADR's. I called to make mine and they didn't have many openings left at my choices. So if your doing your homework and have an idea of which Character Meals you want I'd probably call just in case.

 

[rt2dz]

Only visited Disney in the summer months with the heat and crowds. This year trying something different ....going in October. Wondered what the crowd and weather is like during this time of year? Would you recommend PS arrangements for character Bkst etc? Anything else I should know????Thanks!!!!

October is always one of my favorite times to go because the weather is no where near as bad--I won't even consider going in June, July, August! Crowds are way lighter too, although I do believe Epcot has field trip days on certain days of the week (Friday?) during October.

We have never had a problem getting ADR (PS) on the same day where we wanted to eat, but not always at the time we want. My suggestion would be get an ADR for anything you MUST try, but winging the rest shouldn't be too much of a problem.