Help me decide Oct. trip

[vintagemomma]

We are planning to go back to WDW this coming October. I have been interested in running the Tower of Terror 10 miler. I am having second thoughts now based on other things I've read on this board, such as the fact that it is fall break for kids and that there is a big convention there as well.

So, I am wanting to book tomorrow and now can't decide do I do the race and deal with crowds I'm not used to in Oct. or skip the race and go the third week to avoid fall break and Columbus day crowds etc.

It would be myself, my husband and our two daughters and I am the only one running so I am concerned how it will affect them as well. Although my oldest is Tower of Terror obsessed so if anyone can tell me the after party is phenomenal or something that could sway my decision.




Disclaimer: I know this is my first post, I used to post under bluetickmom but had a major email compromise and wanted to start fresh with everything.

 

[LSUfan4444]

The crowds for the 10 milers would not be enough for me to move my vacation. Especially if you are a fan of RunDisney events.

 

[herb102211]

We were at Disney this past October during Columbus Day Week/Weekend. With the exception of Epcot on the weekends for the F&WF I didn't find the parks overly crowded.

 

[vintagemomma]

I guess it's not so much the race crowd as I have done the Marathon and experienced those race weekend crowds, it's more that big convention and the fall break for Southern States.

I guess that's what I get for reading too many threads on Dis, it made me second guess going for the race. Because I'm the only runner I'll feel guilty subjecting the rest of the family to heavier than normal October crowds just for the one race.

I've also been googling and searching like a fiend for after-party only reviews from the point of view of someone with little kids and haven't found any. Knowing if they would love the party would help with my decision. We are planning on doing MNSSHP no matter what so they will get a Halloween event no matter when I go. We love Food and Wine also.

Gah, why am I over thinking this?

 

[LSUfan4444]

I think you will be fine. Not you, perse, but I think too many people get caught up in grabbing the BEST FP+, or the BEST ADRs, or going during the BEST time of year, when in reality all of those things will vary from person to person, month to month and family to family. Just last week one of the most valuable FP+ I had was for Voyage of the Littler Mermaid I made while standing in line for Sofia.

Talk to your family, see what they want to do, but I wouldn't let the size of the crowds during that weekend change my decision. What others may say on here or other places is probably soley focused on their agenda, family and preferences (as it should be).

 

[heidijanesmith]

I guess it's not so much the race crowd as I have done the Marathon and experienced those race weekend crowds, it's more that big convention and the fall break for Southern States. We did not notice any large amounts of convention or fall break students, we thought Oct was not crowded at all (compared ot July and Aug)

I guess that's what I get for reading too many threads on Dis, it made me second guess going for the race. Because I'm the only runner I'll feel guilty subjecting the rest of the family to heavier than normal October crowds just for the one race. The only thing I noticed about the RunDisney event is that when we took a Taxi back from DTD that night some of the roads were blocked off for the event and it took longer than normal for us to return to the Poly from DTD. It was not a big deal at all.

I've also been googling and searching like a fiend for after-party only reviews from the point of view of someone with little kids and haven't found any. Knowing if they would love the party would help with my decision. We are planning on doing MNSSHP no matter what so they will get a Halloween event no matter when I go. We love Food and Wine also.

Gah, why am I over thinking this?

We went for our first time in Oct last year, Oct 3-12th 2013. Having gone the last two trips in July/August we weren't sure what the beginning of Oct would be like. The crowds were awesome!

F&W was quite busy on the weekend of the 5th and 6th, but other wise the crowds were good everywhere else.

The weather was very nice, little humidity and warm enough to swim during the day. Only rained for a couple hours one day.

We did not do the RunDisney event so I can't comment on that, but we did go to DS on the run night and it was very uncrowded that day.

I am coming back this Oct as were are now addicted to coming at this time of year. Good crowds, great weather, Halloween activities.....Oct for us from now on.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I guess it's not so much the race crowd as I have done the Marathon and experienced those race weekend crowds, it's more that big convention and the fall break for Southern States.

What are the dates for the convention and fall break, exactly?

We were there last year Sept 26 - Oct 8 and ran the 5K and 10-miler. LOVED the night race and would do it again this time of year. We didn't find the crowds bad. I will say that we do get to the parks early, take a midday break, and hop to another park at night.

 

[ZehnJahren]

I'm subbing to hear more opinions, since we're thinking about booking at the same time as the race - we'd like to participate this year, but I don't want swarming crowds.

 

[herb102211]

I guess it's not so much the race crowd as I have done the Marathon and experienced those race weekend crowds, it's more that big convention and the fall break for Southern States.

I guess that's what I get for reading too many threads on Dis, it made me second guess going for the race. Because I'm the only runner I'll feel guilty subjecting the rest of the family to heavier than normal October crowds just for the one race.

I've also been googling and searching like a fiend for after-party only reviews from the point of view of someone with little kids and haven't found any. Knowing if they would love the party would help with my decision. We are planning on doing MNSSHP no matter what so they will get a Halloween event no matter when I go. We love Food and Wine also.

Gah, why am I over thinking this?

I think the Convention you're referring to is the Gartner/IT Symposium? The dates for it in 2014 are October 5-9th. We did the Food & Wine Festival during the weekdays and didn't notice an increase in crowds at all. I wouldn't go to the Food & Wine Festival on the weekends (we made the mistake of going Saturday night and it was beyond packed).

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I think the Convention you're referring to is the Gartner/IT Symposium? The dates for it in 2014 are October 5-9th. We did the Food & Wine Festival during the weekdays and didn't notice an increase in crowds at all. I wouldn't go to the Food & Wine Festival on the weekends (we made the mistake of going Saturday night and it was beyond packed).

We kept most of our festival touring to weekdays as well and didn't find it bad at all... only ventured there on one weekend night, a Saturday for a special event, not booths. It was only DH and I -- would NOT have gone with the kids on a weekend night...

Our best festival days were those with intermittent rain... seemed to clear A LOT of people out while we braved the conditions (which turned out to just be sprinkles)!

 

[vintagemomma]

Made the decision and booked today. The pull of a rundisney event was too strong to resist. So we are going 10/4-10/12

Flying in the early AM day of race should be interesting, but no way around it. Thanks for all the input, now that the decision has been made I am happy with it!