How bad are crowds in October?

[Violet123]

This year will be our 4th trip to Disney with our two boys, who will be ages 11 and 14 at the time. It's getting tougher for my teen to miss days of school - he will be in 8th grade, however the kids really want to go when the ride wait times and crowds aren't so bad. This may be our last trip for a long time so I am struggling with trying to make it the best it can possibly be while also not stressing out my teen with having to miss lots of school. How bad have October Fall Break crowds made WDW lines and wait times in past years? Obviously the past two years are not a good comparison point. My options for the trip are late Aug, late Sept, or mid Oct (start trip Wednesday after Columbus day). The October trip would mean my kids would miss less days of school and less stress for my older son, however, it won't be good if we get there and encounter Spring Break like crowds (we went in March one year and it was a disaster). Based on what I've seen so far, it seems like late Sept. may be the best option as far as crowd levels. Thoughts?

 

[Fangorn]

October is no way near as crowded as Spring Break. In October, Epcot will be the most crowded of the parks, due to the Food & Wine Festival. Avoid Epcot on the weekends of you want to avoid the crowds. Other than that, crowds are pretty good. Not as light as September, but very reasonable.

Steve

 

[MICKIMINI]

We're late October travelers as we enjoy Halloween and F & W. Typically we arrive around October 20 and leave early November. The parks are packed, especially MK and EPCOT. We've been going at this time period for over ten years and it gets progressively busier every year (including 2021). Early November is Jersey week which adds to the crowds.

Late September will be your best choice for light crowds. Enjoy!

 

[Narcoossee11]

October is the busiest month of the year.
There is a event EVERYDAY. Christmas / Easter is a 2week period not 31days

Fall break for schools, Halloween major events, food and wine, nice weather to name a few.

 

[Veracity]

Touring plans crowd calendar is an excellent resource.

 

[_19disnA]

Touring plans can't predict the future of various random events any better then any other source. There is also no one who has any ideas how things relating to covid will be in October. Disney has some sense of future crowds based on their new park reservation system but doubt they will share that with any 3rd party.

 

[Veracity]

Fair enough

 

[happiestpoe]

This doesn't fall within the months you suggested, but we've had good luck travelling in January. We've been a few days after schools resume (6, 7, 8ish of Jan) and we've been toward the end of the month (25, 26, 27ish) and crowds have been reasonable.

But I think we'll still see higher crowds than usual as people make their way back from the Covid closures.

 

[Lilsia]

Octobers are busy. People go for the F&WF but it is one of those situations where 1 park might be significantly slower then the rest. I go every October and I look at the wait times throughout the day for all of the parks and there seems to always be 1 park that is much slower then the others. The problem is that you don't know ahead of time but you can park hop. It won't be anywhere near spring break crowds though. Honestly, this year is just going to be busy no matter what. Go if you want to go and talk to their teachers and see what they can do ahead of time. With everyone having laptops now, it is easier then ever to do school work away from class.

 

[chiburple]

I'd encourage you to consider the weather as well. I don't know yet if I trust this forecast (I discovered these guys last year and plan to monitor them this year to see how accurate their forecast really is), but if they're right, Florida may be in for a few Hurricanes this year: https://www.wesh.com/article/wesh-2022-hurricane-season-forecast/39164302

 

[RileyJames]

We have not had a chance to travel during October, but we would like to go during the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot. Sounds like it could get busy at that time.

 

[Lilsia]

I'd encourage you to consider the weather as well. I don't know yet if I trust this forecast (I discovered these guys last year and plan to monitor them this year to see how accurate their forecast really is), but if they're right, Florida may be in for a few Hurricanes this year: https://www.wesh.com/article/wesh-2022-hurricane-season-forecast/39164302

As I am sure any local can tell you, the weather in October is unpredictable. I have been going that time of year for at least a decade and it can go anywhere from cold and rainy to extremely hot and humid. You just don't know what you're going to get.

 

[snout]

Hello! We were planning to visit the last week of October this year. Are the crowds at Epcot for F&W really bad during the week? It's our favourite park so if it's going to be ridiculously crowded maybe we should back up by a few weeks? Any advice appreciated!

 

[Brett Wyman]

Hello! We were planning to visit the last week of October this year. Are the crowds at Epcot for F&W really bad during the week? It's our favourite park so if it's going to be ridiculously crowded maybe we should back up by a few weeks? Any advice appreciated!

Food and Wine(or any Epcot festival really) are nuts year round on the weekends when the locals flood the place. Just visit on a weekday for much lower crowds.

 

[snout]

Food and Wine(or any Epcot festival really) are nuts year round on the weekends when the locals flood the place. Just visit on a weekday for much lower crowds.

Whew! Thank you Brett!

 

[beccasmom]

We’ve got a mid-September trip planned. We had considered late October, but opted to go a bit earlier. And the airfares were a bit less expensive in September (although still crazy expensive ), so there was a bit of a savings there.

 

[beccasmom]

We’ve got a mid-September trip planned. We had considered late October, but opted to go a bit earlier. And the airfares were a bit less expensive in September (although still crazy expensive ), so there was a bit of a savings there. I’ll be there in early August too celebrating a milestone birthday (not mine). I’d have preferred trips scheduled not so close together, but it’s all good!

 

[beccasmom]

Excuse the double posting - laptop issues!