Disney in september

[Glendamax]

Glendamax - loved your trip report, and seeing the pics from last year made me feel pretty good about the crowds for Sept.

You know what? Even if the crowds are heavier, it STILL won't be bad. I have NEVER been to WDW and was able to finish all the rides in Fantasy Land like I did last year. It was CRAZY! So even if I'm not able to come back with another picture of myself in an empty "Land" it'll still be great!

Glendamax... LOVED your trip report. Thanks for the link. And the TIPS were awesome.
Here's hoping that the rest of your "countdown days" go by REALLY REALLY fast!

Thanks Liisa! I want the time to go by fast, but slow enough so I can get ready!

Glendamax.... Are you ever worried about the weather, We loved September, especially the very low crowds, didn't mind the heat.... We are going next year and are trying to weigh out the pro's and con's.... And since you seem to be a Septmber pro, figured I would ask you!!! Also, were the crowds bigger last year when they offered free dining? compared to the September's in past past with no free dining?

1. Yes I AM concerned about the weather, but people who have been there during a hurricane said that Disney handles it well, and that they only lost a day.

2. The crowds did seem a bit bigger, but it's what I expected because people were scared to fly after 9-11. So to me, it just seemed natural, not because of the free dining. Everywhere wasn't empty, but it wasnt like the times I've gone in May, July and August.

3. I don't know if I'm going next year. I have to see how much money I have first. I've never seen WDW decorated for Christmas, so I MAY go in December next year. I don't think that free-dinning would ever deter me from going in September.

 

[smahoney6]

we'll be there sept 15-17..we live on the gulf of mexico so used to the humidity- just dress cool and drink lots of water....also- sometimes small 'cool' fronts come through

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

We've gone every September since 2000 (except one). The weather hasn't been too bad except for the year 2000 when it was hotter than it normally is from our experience. We were lucky enough to not be there during any of the hurricanes. We normally get there are the 17th and stay anywhere from 3 to 10 days. So far, so good. Let's hope that it stays that way this year!

 

[PlutoLuvr]

We've gone in September since '99. The parks have always been really light-crowd wise. Light to me is maybe 20 minutes tops to wait for a ride.

However, last year, we did notice the restaurants were very, very crowded, and our dining experiences weren't as magical as years past (we weren't on DDP and didn't know it was being offered free at that time).

As for the weather (native Floridian here), yeah, keep an eye on the tropics for 'canes. However, we've always found in September we need a midday break due to the heat. We just can't go from early a.m. to late afternoon like we can during the cooler months. With the parks being so light with crowds, this really isn't a problem as we've ridden pretty much everything we want by early afternoon anyway.

Do watch the afternoon thunderstorms we get during this time of year. You can pretty much set your watch to them. They're full of lightning and usually have a ton of rain. They're usually very short in duration, maybe half an hour or so, but these are not storms I would ever run around outside in with a poncho on (good time to shop indoors or be back at the hotel freshening up). Even our local weather puts up graphics showing all the lightning strikes in any given area.

Have fun, be safe, stay hydrated & try and stay cool! We'll be there, too

 

[cnids00]

This is our third trip going in September though this time we're going a week later then we normally do, and we love it at this time of year. We orginally booked for the first week of December, then changed it to first week of September and had to reschedule for 9/9 - 9/16, which we are OK with.

Coming from Kansas, humidity is something we're used to, it's the love-bugs we're NOT used to at all And hurrican season or not, here we come

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

Crowds seem to start dropping off starting in Sept, the end of summer fun, but look out mid Oct on.

 

[goofie4goofy]

We go every September and are going again in 2 weeks (YEAH ) We are going the 17th to the 21st, which is around the time we usually go.

The weather is hot and humid, some years more than others. The lines however are NON-EXISTANT Free dining does not affect the park crowds at all, but it may have an impact on some TS restaurants.

The longest wait last year was for Soarin' which was 20 minutes, but most everything was 5-10 minutes. We just stayed on Buzz for a round or 3!

In the afternoon you may still get a shower, but it is late in the afternoon. By that time our day is done since there are no lines for anything we are done by 4-4:30 and head back to the resort to relax and get ready for dinner.

I love this website for Orlando weather, it is the local NBC news, so the weather is accurate and there is also a webcam for USO. www.wesh.com
I don't go by the other weather websites, as I never trust a 10-15 day forecast.....weather cannot be accurately predicted more than 3-5 days out anyway.

September is a great time to go, actually one of the lowest crowd levels of the year. I can handle the heat but crowds are intolerable for us.

 

[MagicMe]

We were at WDW last Sept from 9/11-9/18. The crowds were non-existant except that they picked up that last Saturday. We never waited more than 10 minutes for anything and mostly just walked right on (in fact they didn't even open up the fast pass machines until the weekend). Of course EE was not up and running yet.

Weather - we did luck out (we actually ended up between two hurricanes - although they only brought mostly rain to Mid-Florida) and had great weather. I don't even remember any showers although there may have been one or two very small ones. The only thing my DS's didn't like was that it was still so hot and humid.

We're going back this year but trying late October (leaving 10/29 to experience MNSSHP and returning 11/5). We're hoping it will be cooler. We can stand it to be a little more crowded if it's cooler.

 

[ainmama2001]

We usually go every end of September into beginning of October. We have for the past five years. We're pleased with the crowd level, though last year it started getting heavier due to free dining and the Food and Wine Festival helped too. It's warm but NOTHING like the summer. I just got back and it was HORRIBLE as far as heat went. Since we're sick of pumpkins and such, we're going to try and go in late April this year.

 

[Disney's Fab 4]

I love this thread!!!! I am finding out such great info!!....


Also, thanks Glendamax for your response!!!!




I love that all of you are such September Loyals!!!

 

[Glendamax]

Check out the crowds from my trip September 8-14th 2006

Small World

 

[Camilo]

I was there from Sep 10th to 17th.
3rd trip to the World, 1st is September.
I will not go back in July or August,will only do it if there are really no other options at the time.
There were no lines (biggest wait was EE, at AK, 10 minutes), didn't use Fastpass once.
It took me 10 minutes from the MK and Epcot parking lots to my hotel
When I went in July in 1992, that used to take 1 hour. Even January (in 1998) was not as nice as now, in terms of crowds (the weather is a different story).

 

[Glendamax]

I KNOW! Wasn't it GREAT! But you know what? I would LOVE to see the Christmas decorations. So I may go during a slow week when they are up next year!

 

[duckyfordonald]

Just curious - did you experience the love bugs while you were there? I am trying to figure out approx. when in Sept. they start to come out - we were there the 16th-22nd and they were TERRIBLE! Thanks!

 

[City Girl]

We were there Sept. 21-27th. We saw them, mostly around our hotel and park benches, but they weren't bothersome. We rarely noticed them while actually touring the parks.

 

[Camilo]

I had the same feeling and we were there on the second week of September.

I guess some people are more sensitive to them.

We were there Sept. 21-27th. We saw them, mostly around our hotel and park benches, but they weren't bothersome. We rarely noticed them while actually touring the parks.

 

[European]

I'm a September fan too, mostly because of the light crowds. I must say it has become a little bit busier since last years, maybe because of free dining? In 2002 and 2003 I remember fastpass machines all being closed, because there were no lines, nowhere. But last year and this month, I have often seen 20 minutes at some attractions and even more for rides like EE and Soarin'. It seemed people in general were less friendly, but that might be my imagination. The weather doesn't bother me at all.