Experienced October DISers please help1

[gris gris]

Hi,

Can you give me some advice on crowd levels for these dates in 2012?

We have been in February, August, September and December. Our idea of low crowds wait times like 5 minutes on POTC and 20 on Thunder Mountain. We've had crowds like this in September and December.

This year due to school schedules here are our choices:

October 4 - October 12 or October 26 - November 3.

October 8th is Columbus Day.

Which week would you choose? The only thing we really care about is low crowds. If trends continue free dining might also be out during these times which would be great. Also when were were there in 2010 it was the last week of Sept/first week of October and love bugs were everywhere!

Many thanks.

 

[dansdad]

Definitely not "experienced" in October visits to WDW. But we were just there this past October 23-30. Crowd levels were low except for Epcot on the weekend due to Food and Wine, but still very manageable. No love bugs either.

 

[mom2rtk]

I've watched reports on October traffic for some time and would definitely go with the end of October. The days around Columbus Day get VERY busy. It drops right back off, but I'd rather not deal with it. You also stand a better chance of avoiding summer hot weather as temps finally moderate.

 

[PixieDustFanatic]

I'm all about low crowds and have been during Columbus week. For us, it was too crowded. Not horrible, but crowded enough. We also encountered tour groups during that week. They were fine and well behaved, but it added to the overall feeling of being too crowded. We actually left DHS one day because it was too crowded for us.

Admittedly, I haven't been at the end of October, but from what I've heard, it's much better then.

If the option were mine, I'd choose 10/26 - 11/3.

 

[sydconmom]

We are October veterans. Let me tell you that our last few trips the crowd levels just keep getting worse & worse. This past trip was the worst October yet! We went 10/1-10/7 and wait times were longer than we expected and Halloween parties were already selling out. We went during our trip and lines were LONG!

Also, keep in mind that Fantasyland is still a wreck but somethings might start opening meaning crowds maybe larger.

If you want low wait times, you are probably better off with September.

 

[mickeymom55]

We were in the World October 20-25. Crowds were definitely manageable and the weather was absolutely wonderful. Epcot was busy in the evening - we went on a Monday for an early dinner at the F&WF crowds picked up around 6 but still not too bad. Wait times were usually around 15-25 minutes for the major rides in any park. Already planning a return trip around the same time frame for 2012.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

We've been heading down in early October since 2003, and can confirm what sydconmom mentioned about crowds getting increasingly worse over the years, especially the week of Columbus Day. It once was a more quiet time of year to go, but unfortunately no longer. We've never been towards the end of October/early November so can't really comment on that time of year.

As for the love bugs - I believe they typically arrive in September and are around for about 5-6 weeks.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

We like to go over Halloween and it is def getting more crowded each year. This year the congestion was at the point of annoying. After this last Halloween trip, we decided to try a different time of year for 2012...not sure when that will be, yet.

 

[blondietink]

We have gone mid-October 2 years and found it to be manageable and nice weather. Weekends at Epcot are very busy. However, we have found out that the English have a 2 week break then, and they come over the pond in droves. So, we have avoided the week of Columbus day. They seem to thin out the middle of October. MNNSHP is the best!

In 2012 we plan on going the 21st - 27th, then catch a cruise for Halloween week.

 

[Nermel9]

I went the first week of October this year and it was pretty crazy, in terms of crowd levels! I did 2 Halloween parties that week, one of them was sold out, which made it impossible to do almost anything, and the Food and Wine Festival was really busy on the weekends! During the week it was ok, but definitely higher crowds than my DH and I are used to (we normally go in September or early November). I'd go again in October, but I'd probably wait til the end of the month, rather than the beginning.

 

[mommyrosa2]

I too have been during both times and agree with others...Columbus week was extremely crowded! This year, we went 10/22-10/29 and the weather was perfect and crowds were manageable. I would definitely go towards the end of October.

 

[bloodonthesaddle]

Have been going the 2nd or 3rd week in October for F&W for years and concur crowd levels have gotten progressively worse each trip. Epcot should be avoided on weekends as the locals come out in droves for the F&W. We are going Columbus day week 2012 as it best fit wife's work schedule. Expecting bigger crowds than we are used to in past. We have been able to walk right on to POTC boats with no wait and we have waited over an hour for BTM so it can be hit or miss depending on the attraction. We try and avoid the parks with EMH or MNSSHP on those days as the crowds tend to be larger on those days.

 

[mom2rtk]

. We try and avoid the parks with EMH or MNSSHP on those days as the crowds tend to be larger on those days.

Actually you want to avoid the MK on days withOUT MNSSHP. The days with no party have longer hours and night entertainment (MSEP and Wishes) and that really attracts people. We've done many party and non-party days and your odds for lower traffic are far better on non-party days.

 

[RMAMom]

We also go every Halloween weekend / week and agree with the pp. The crowds are worse every year and this year they reached the point of annoying!

 

[MotherKnowsBest]

We like to go over Halloween and it is def getting more crowded each year. This year the congestion was at the point of annoying. After this last Halloween trip, we decided to try a different time of year for 2012...not sure when that will be, yet.

Really? We were there Oct 30 - Nov 6 this year and we thought it was great! Not too busy at all. We didn't do any of the Hallowe'en parties though.

To the OP, we loved the end of October so much this year that we booked to go back next year Oct 26 - Nov 4. Can't wait!

 

[msmith1026]

We went 10/21--10/29 this year and the weather and the crowds were great. I made sure to look at crowd calendars and planned my park days around their suggestions and as mom2rtk said we avoided the Magic Kingdom on MNSSHP days. The last couple days of our trip we walked on to most rides at the MK. I am planning our next trip for the same timeframe.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

We just got back this year from a late October trip and the weather and crowds were great. We got some rain on 2 of the 10 days but the crowds were very low, IMO. We almost walked onto everything with little to no wait. We went to Epcot for F & W but we went during the DAY and during the WEEK. In the afternoons and on the weekends it gets busy. There were no bug problems of any kind except one night we were sitting out by the resort pool when it got dark and we got a few Mosquito bites. We are going back October 2012 as well. I don't like HOT and I don't like CROWDS. SO late October it is for us.

 

[gris gris]

OP here it sounds like the end is the way to go thanks for the input. We never do the parties and Epcot is our least favorite park so we tend to spend one long day there and do multiple days at the other parks. I will remember to pick a weekday. It must be fun to be there for Halloween. We actually really liked the last week of September but the love bugs were out of control. We don't mind heat either we are all about short waits and walk ons. Actually when we went in September last time the parks were very crowded but everyone seemed to be walking or eating and not actually on rides it was deceiving!

 

[Art 1]

October is one of the best times to go. Maybe the best.

 

[autismmom1]

Hi,

Which week would you choose? The only thing we really care about is low crowds. If trends continue free dining might also be out during these times which would be great. Also when were were there in 2010 it was the last week of Sept/first week of October and love bugs were everywhere!

Many thanks.

We've been the last two years during the first week of October...and we didn't see any love bugs!! Maybe we just didn't notice because we were having too much fun though ....anyway, we go during that time because of my son's fall break and we swore we'd never go back in the summer - the worst crowd days in October are better than the best crowd days in the summer to me!!