How bad will the crowds be the first week of Free Dining?

[TheLittleRoo]

How bad will the crowd levels within the parks be from 8/26- 9/1? Last year, we went in mid September and although ADRs were required everywhere, the parks were so light they weren't even using the FP machines.

We've never been the last week of August/ Labor Day and I'm concerned that it might be considerably more crowded than in mid-September in the parks.

Anyone?

 

[Nienor]

Prepare for the worst, hope for the best?

Seriously though, I was there for free dining two years ago (last week of August into Labor Day weekend). The crowds were fairly light during the week. Schools in many states go back 1-2 weeks before Labor Day. However the crowds picked up significantly during the Friday before and Labor Day weekend. Not like peak crowds, but moderate ones compared to the light ones we had all week.

 

[smartestnumber5]

I was also there for free dining the last week of August last year. Like the poster above said, crowds were not bad at all. We were also there in mid-January (supposedly one of the slowest times of the year) and we didn't notice much of a difference from the last week of August in terms of crowds.

I do worry that crowds will increase somewhat just because it will be the first week of free dining and the earliest anyone can get it. I've read that check in lines on the last day of free dining last year were pretty crazy, so I'm expecting the same will be true for the first day this year.

 

[gshumaker]

We were there the 2nd week of free dining last year and the crowds were not that bad!!

 

[Disney's Fab 4]

We were there the 2nd week of free dining last year and the crowds were not that bad!!

Yippee!!! I hope so!!!

 

[kdzbear]

I went the 19th - 25th of August last year and the crowds were not bad. In the midwest school started the 15th of August last year. I hope this helps!