Hot weather, low crowds worth FREE DINING?

[michelle1]

We have been twice during free dining at the end of August and this year am trying the 1st week of Sept. I don't find the head too bad since you are in and out of a/c most of the time or in the pool. I like the fact that it is easy to pack because there are no long sleeves or pants required and 1 pair of shoes for the week (crocs!). I will say that AK was VERY hot and you must go there at opening and leave when you can't take the heat anymore!

 

[TheLittleRoo]

I went the last week of august 3 years in a row.

2005 - low crowds, low heat, great trip
2006 - low crowds, mod heat, great trip
2007 - high crowds, high heat, not my favorite trip.

Same week all three times - Last week of August

I'm glad to hear someone else say they thought the last week of August in 2007 was high crowds too. I was spoiled from 2006 mid-September crowds (uhm, they even TURNED OFF the Fast Pass machines on most rides! Wasn't needed) and I guess I was a big whiner about the crowds last year!

 

[shelly3girls]

We went the end of Sept last year and like the pp said, the crowds were much bigger than past years. That said we are still going over Labor Day weekend. Now that DD is getting older I don't want to pull her out of school anymore. She is an excellent student but I felt her teacher took it out on her that she missed 5 days of school.

We plan to drink lots of water and late afternoon breaks at the pool.

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

One good thing about the heat in Florida the end of August and through September is that I am already used to the heat and it doesn't seem that bad. One year we went in late May and early June and it was unseasonably hot in Florida. Unfortunately I hadn't gotten worked up to the heat yet and I thought I wouldn't make it. To me, it is worth the heat to save the kind of money we save with the Free Dining. I wish the crowds were more like they were a few years ago, but I don't think there is any time of the year at Disney that hasn't gotten busier in the past few years. We have been at all different times and every time is busier than it used to be. I think they need to build a 5th park so the crowds will be spread out a little more! So I'm probably dreaming!!! But then I am always dreaming when I think of Disney World!

 

[MHTeacher]

We will be there August 30th - Sept 6th at the POP. (we had to book 2 rooms, b/c we did not want to cheat) Maybe we will run in to each other somehow. we have 3 children, twins 11 (boy & girl) and 13 year old daughter.

We'll be there almost the same time!!! We're staying at the POR, me, DH, DD14, DD12, and DS 5. We've never been during free dining. We went once July 5-12, and swore we'd never go at that time of year again---too much heat and crowds. I am realistic enough to know it will be moderately crowded that Sunday and Monday (Labor Day). I'm optimistic that the crowds will thin out considerably after that. If the crowds are gone, we can tolerate the heat!

 

[emalone]

I think because the gas is so high, that most people will stay home or they may see that the only time they can afford to go is during free dining. The only reason we are going is the free dining (saving $$$$1500). Normally we would go when it is cooler. We just went Dec 30th- Jan 5th 2008 and 2 days were nice and the others we froze to death. It was so crowded. I thought we could stand the crowds more if it was cooler, but the cold wind was so so cold. we said then, that we would come back when it was free dining and just try it one time. Things have gotten so expensive, that we really can't afford Disney.

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

So just how crowded are we talking towards the end of September? I've been to DW twice. I went in the beg. of Sep 06 for free dining. The crowds were very low, and we were able to walk on to most rides. I went in January when the hoards of toursit groups were there. We saw wait times for Peter Pan averaging around 30-40 minutes, Soaring 60 minutes, but we were able to do what we wanted with fastpasses and rope drops. So what do you all mean by crowded or more crowded? I'm starting to wish my trip was planned for the beg. of Sep, not the end.

Thanks!

 

[tinkerbell211]

I'm also interested in how crowded is "crowded"? We're going 9/20-9/27. I think we leave on the 1st day of F&W.
Thanks

 

[CampbellScot]

I'll take the heat and low crowds over "pleasant" temps and an over crowded park ANY DAY!

Yes, it's hot during that time, but it's not that bad. Truly. You get used to it after a day or two and there are SO MANY places to escape the heat. You just go in for some air conditioning when you need some, get refreshed...and then head back out. Stay hydrated and all that...use lots of sunscreen.

The low crowds are worth the heat. Truly. I don't see any use paying astronomical prices to be packed into a park like sardines waiting in endless lines.

Nope...lets sweat and maximize the fun!

 

[dawgsgirl]

It's not the heat, it's the humidity. It's a real killer. I have been in Sept 3 times--2003, 2004, and 2007. Last year was the worst humidity wise. It was much more crowded than I was expecting. Be aware that Disney counts it as a low attendance time and that affects transportation, rides, and just about everything else. Not as many buses running and rides not going at full capacity, etc. I know that the free dining is a good deal for lots of families, but I have always wondered about something. Most of the time in the heat of summer, I don't feel like eating a whole lot. I'm that way at Disney when it's hot too. Am I the only one that feels that way??? Sept is way too hot and humid for me to worry too much about eating, much less be on the dining plan. Last year was my last Sept trip. The weather is really a pain--humidity, rain, hurricanes--and the parks are not so empty anymore. Just not worth it to me.