How busy is Columbus Day Weekend??

[Rellim]

I read attendence is "moderate" or something like that during the Columbus Day weekend. What exactly does this mean? Has anyone been during this time? We are bringing my inlaws for their first time and really want it to be a great first impression. I was considering changing it to the last week of September. Any advice on crowds, lines, etc.

 

[frannn]

It was more busy than when we went in Sept 2004, but about the same or less than when we went in March one year (Easter was in April that year, I think). I think we used the Sat of the holiday to go to Epcot or AK, to avoid the MK crowds. We are heading down the Fri of Columbus Day weekend this year, because the dates were most convenient. The weather is great, MNSSHP is extremely fun! I think crowds in Oct were much heavier last year due to the hurricanes. Isn't the Food & Wine Festival around the same time? I have heard a good deal of conventions take place in WDW in Oct, booking up the resorts. I wonder if people will shy away from Sept again this year? We loved it, as it was more quiet & manageable, but hot!

 

[princess lovers mom]

Sat/Sun/Mon....really, really crowded at Mk...but slow right down the rest of the week...other parks not as noticable...weather GREAT, MNSSHP not to be missed

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Whatever you do, do not fly ANYWHERE on Columbus Day. I was planning on coming home on the 10th, but airfare was astronomical on that 1 day.

Just a word of advice.

 

[ms.ojo]

We went in 2003 over Columbus Day weekend. Flew in Wed ...left on a Tues. Must have zigged & zaged just right as we found the crowds totally managable! Did MK 2 of our days and the MNSSHP which is just wonderful!!! We all dressed up!!! DS was Captain Hook (age 4), dh Peter Pan, I was Wendy and dd was tinkerbell (age 1) It was SUCH a fun night!!!!!! I think it's a great time to go, especially if you have children in school and need to minimize the amt of days missed.

 

[beccasmom]

It is a holiday for many folks (not me! ), so many people who live close by go to WDW and stay there for the three-day weekend. I cannot speak specifically for Columbus Day, but we were there on MLK Day in January and that weekend was VERY crowded. The days immediately following were fine and closer to historical attendance figures.

 

[stevec999]

We were there last year (2004) over Columbus day. We found it to be very busy the whole week. I would not go back that week again. I do not like large crowds so it may just be me.

 

[fan4life]

We also went last oct 04 wed thru monday
Everything was great up until saturday at MK
Very crowded/due to hurricanes.
The weather was just beautiful!
All the other parks were managable except Mk
We should of not went to Mk on a saturday.
I have learned a lesson.

 

[poohguys]

We also wanted to go over the Columbus Day weekend. I really wanted to be there to celebrate my ds birthday. I was thinking of going the week before so that we would miss Columbus Day weekend, and last year there was a hurricane the last week of Sept. Has it always been very corwded over the holiday weekend, or do you think the extra crowds were from all of the hurricanes in Sept?

 

[mommykds]

I was thinking of going the week before so that we would miss Columbus Day weekend, and last year there was a hurricane the last week of Sept. Has it always been very corwded over the holiday weekend, or do you think the extra crowds were from all of the hurricanes in Sept?

I had heard that several times here on DIS. Seems like alot of people mentioned that things were more crowded in the months after the hurricane because people posponed their vacations until fall. Hopefully it won't be as bad a last year.

 

[nygrl]

we went last oc t and it was definatly more crowded than usually in oct since we go every year that time..i was also told it was due to the hurricanes and people postponing there trips..lets hope for no jurricanes this year !!!we will be there in oct again and i want it to go back to the way it used to be

 

[ChickieToo]

We go every year the first week of October and Leave on Columbus day. It is usually great until the weekend, then it tends to get more crowded, but by then we've had most of our park time so the extra crowds don't really bother us. We think it's one of the best times to go. One year we went on the Saturday prior to Columbus day and left the Friday after Columbus day becaue we were travelling with family who wanted to minimize how much school their kids missed. I have to say, DH and I noticed and measurable difference in the crowds between the two weeks. Not terrible, not like Christmas, Easter, Spring break, etc., but a real jump in attendance over the Columbus day week. If anyone asked me, I'd advise them to go the week before Columbus day weekend vs. after.