How bad (hot & humid) is the weather in mid Sept?

[bdiddy]

I see the average is about 90 but is it really humid? Is it an unbearable 90 or not really that bad?

(We'll be there from 13th-22nd)

Thanks!!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I see the average is about 90 but is it really humid? Is it an unbearable 90 or not really that bad?

(We'll be there from 13th-22nd)

Thanks!!

My husand said it was like vacationing on the surface of the sun! Here is a copy of my trip report from last September (Disclaimer: I have read literally hundreds of posts talking about last years crowds and heat and apparently the consensus is that we were there during the hottest (broke heat records 3 of the days we were there - 108 heat index on September 15 at MK) and busiest week of Free Dining last year. And I do want to reiterate that we did have fun. Just be prepared for the heat and crowds. :

We went this past Sept. from 9/14 - 9/22. Now, don't get me wrong, we did have a great time. Afterall, it is Disney World and we are Disney fanatics, but it was crowded and very hot (I don't mean a little hot. I mean sweltering. When you came out of an air-conditioned ride and walked out in the heat it would take your breath way hot). I live in Alabama, I know what hot is and it was hot, hot hot. Did I mention it was hot?

It rained at least a little bit every afternoon we were there. On one day, without any warning, no menacing clouds or noticeable wind change, the sky just opened up and poured. It poured so hard, it was like the sky opened up and dumped a bucket of water on your head. There wasn't even time to put our ponchos on. By the time we drug everyone's ponchos out and put them on the rain stopped. We then left for our Ohana ADR looking like someone had just thrown us in the hotel pool - literally socked to the bone. ):


We did have awesome food on our trip. We ate at Chef Mickey's, Liberty Tree, Planet Hollywood, 50's Primetime Cafe, Garden Grill, Cinderella's Royal Table, Ohana (best meal we had), and Crystal Palce. We had ADRs for all and always had to wait at least 20 minutes for our table. Saw them turning away walk-ups at all restaurants. Counter service was not too crowded, but we tried to eat early around 11:30 a.m.

I am a faithful fan of the UG and if it weren't for knowing about their touring plans and knowing how to utilize the Fastpasss system the lines would not have been as manageable. There was the occasion that you walked up to something in the late afternoon and there was only a 10 or 15 minute wait, but most of the headliners kept 30 minute or more waits. At MK on our last day Space Mountain had a 75 minute wait at 3:30 p.m! Now, to you Christmas week, Easter week, or July 4th people that probably doesn't sound too bad, but we specifically booked these dates for low crowds, and there were not low crowds maybe medium-ish.

When we left we had every intention of booking the Free Dining bounceback for next September that they were offering, but after the terrible heat and crowds my husband said he would happily pay the $1300 we saved on this trip and put it towards a slower, cooler time to visit.

We have previously been at the end of January into the first part of February and have also been end of November into first of December and those are the times we will be planning our future WDW vacations.

I don't want to rain on anybody's September Free Dining parade (excuse the pun ), because we really did have a good time (the Halloween party alone was worth the trip), but I wanted to be honest about the heat and crowds so others will know what to expect and not be disappointed.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

It is wickedly hot and humid. I know a lot of people go during this time, but I was cured for life after one time. Free dining couldn't even tempt me to go back in September. If you do go...prepare for lots of pool time and waterpark visits...and showers...lots and lots of showers!

 

[bdiddy]

Thank you! I figured that is how it would be. I grew up in the sand hills of NC so I know how those unbearable hot & humid days are! I just wanted to prepare for the worst but hope for maybe a cool spell !

 

[Xanthe]

Not to be a thread hijacker but we'll be there Sept 12-23 Brandy! Where are you staying?

 

[jewelshouse]

Yuck!!!! We have only been in October, this is the first time going in Sept we'll see if we can handle it

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

We were there for free dining last year, an swore never to do it again! It was unbearably hot, rained a lot (we got rained out of MNSSHP) and most of the restaurants we had ADRs for were jammed.
I did get an email with a VERY tempting code for free dining this year, but gave myself a little shake and decided "no". We'll plan our next trip when it is cooler and probably pass on the DDP too.

 

[bdiddy]

Uh oh! You guys are scaring me! This is our 1st trip and I hope we aren't miserable the whole time.

Xanthe - we are staying at Port Orleans Riverside. How about you?

 

[tomboy_m]

We went last September 16- 23 and we loved it. I have to admit I really enjoy the humidity though. I did not find it to be unbearable. We would go to the parks in the morning... take a mid day break at our resort pool and head back in the evening. Also the kids like to play in the fountains at Epcot/Down Town Disney when it is hot. I did drink a lot of water during the trip but other than that I liked the weather better then than I did in May of this year. As for the crowds, I really didn't notice that they were all that crowded except for in the restaurants both table and counter service. I would go back in September in a heart beat.

 

[jewelshouse]

We went last September 16- 23 and we loved it. I have to admit I really enjoy the humidity though. I did not find it to be unbearable. We would go to the parks in the morning... take a mid day break at our resort pool and head back in the evening. Also the kids like to play in the fountains at Epcot/Down Town Disney when it is hot. I did drink a lot of water during the trip but other than that I liked the weather better then than I did in May of this year. As for the crowds, I really didn't notice that they were all that crowded except for in the restaurants both table and counter service. I would go back in September in a heart beat.

Ok finally someone to ease my fears.

 

[BoomNLeon]

We went in Sept last year and did the bounceback for 11 nights this year. It was hot and humid, however the lower crowd numbers are what does it for us. We actually did not have to wait for anything the whole week we were there except for 20 minutes at Soarin' - and that was without a Fastpass!

 

[guelde96]

We have been to Disney in Feb, March, April, & September. September was horrible. SOOO hot and humid. You walked outside and your sunglasses fogged up, hot & humid. You could maybe get one bite of your ice cream before it fell of the cone, hot & humid. We stayed 10 days in September and saw way less than our previous 6 day stays. If you want to go to Disney and lounge around the pool and not see much of the parks it's great. Personally for me it was too hot in the middle of the night. I prefer 70's and 80's. I don't see us ever going back in September.

 

[mirmartinez]

I asked my sister the same question (she goes to wdw multiple times a year)
and she broke it down for me as follows.

Jan= great weather, not really hot enough to swim, low crowds, lots of closures for refurbishments, short hrs
Feb= More of the above, until presidents day, then very crowded, long waits
March and April= nice weather, very heavy crowds.
May=Nice weather medium crowds
June,july,August= schools out disney is packed and "your face may melt off", rain
September=low crowds, rain, not as hot as summer.
October&November=nice weather ,some rain, medium crowds
December=cooler, nice weather, very crowded at christmas.

So, though it may be hot and humid I figure its still better then extreme heat and crowds.

On a side note during one christmas holiday and easter she seen them close MK to outside guest do to fire code ,(to many people in park).

 

[Disneyvirg]

I asked my sister the same question (she goes to wdw multiple times a year)
and she broke it down for me as follows.

October&November=nice weather ,some rain, medium crowds
December=cooler, nice weather, very crowded at christmas.

Do you know if this time period is warm enough for pool time?

 

[Belle4mygrl]

Ok finally someone to ease my fears.

I can ease your fears as well! It is hot and ice cream does not need to be eaten outside! BUT the crowds are low and wait times on the bigger rides are smaller than the crowds during Thanksgiving week--been there last year and done that --never again. We have been during September, spring break, summer break, and Thanksgiving. I will take the heat over the mass of crowds!

The TS restaurants are crowded but most of us are taking advantage of the free dp.

 

[pepe of ohio]

You know folks, its Florida, no snow so what do you expect the weather to be in September. You decide to go to WDW, plan on it to be hot and humid and rain at 3 o'clock every day. We enjoy the heat, we enjoy the pool at our resort and we enjoy the rain shower every afternoon, still plenty of time in a day to do everything. We do not plan every minute of our vacations but just let nature take its course, there are so many alternatives to do no matter what the weather. Hey, you picked the time of year you're going, you can make different arrangements and weather conditions are something you have no control over, either go with the flow or pick a different time of the year. We do not live and die in a park, our resort is important, pool is important and the A/C in the room is important. Pick the time of year for heat and humidity and live with it, its not like Disney can lower the temps. we're from Ohio and we do not have the warm weather Florida has and no matter when we go we enjoy the heat and the humid conditions, we're in WDW.

 

[mirmartinez]

I asked my sister the same question (she goes to wdw multiple times a year)
and she broke it down for me as follows.

October&November=nice weather ,some rain, medium crowds
December=cooler, nice weather, very crowded at christmas.

Do you know if this time period is warm enough for pool time?

She said they do not swim in december, but they have in early nov. Averages in the low seventies, for december.
Thats to cold for us to swim.

 

[Schlbdriver]

bdiddy, would love an update of POR we're going to be staying there in Oct. The 17-26 and can hardly wait. So please post about your stay

 

[ilovediznee2]

Ok finally someone to ease my fears.

I've gone in Sept. before and I'm going this Sept. We didn't wait in line very long, if at all, for any rides. In fact, for some, we stayed on and rode again and again, like BTMR. Sure, it's hot, but it's Florida, what do you expect? I'll take the heat for no lines and no crowds. As for the afternoon showers, they feel nice after walking in the heat.

 

[guelde96]

I asked my sister the same question (she goes to wdw multiple times a year)
and she broke it down for me as follows.

Jan= great weather, not really hot enough to swim, low crowds, lots of closures for refurbishments, short hrs
Feb= More of the above, until presidents day, then very crowded, long waits
March and April= nice weather, very heavy crowds.
May=Nice weather medium crowds
June,july,August= schools out disney is packed and "your face may melt off", rain
September=low crowds, rain, not as hot as summer.
October&November=nice weather ,some rain, medium crowds
December=cooler, nice weather, very crowded at christmas.

So, though it may be hot and humid I figure its still better then extreme heat and crowds.

On a side note during one christmas holiday and easter she seen them close MK to outside guest do to fire code ,(to many people in park).

We were at Disney the end of Feb/ beginning of March 2006. The crowds were the same as the end of September. The weather in Feb/March is great. Don't expect low crowds during Free Dining it really packs them in.