How crowded is it on Columbus Day Weekend?

[figment27]

We will be arriving in WDW on Wednesday, Oct. 6th, and staying thourgh Wednesday, Oct. 13th.
This is Columbus Day weekend.
For those who have been to WDW on a long weekend such as this: Was it extremely crowded?
Should we still use the same touring plans as recommended in the Unofficial WDW Guide?
Should we use EE/Extra Magic Hour?
Any suggestions anyone cares to offer would be appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[barrie]

I was there last year on Columbus day and it was very crowded. Barrie

 

[tjmw2727]

We arrive thursday the 7th and depart wednesday the 13 and I expect crowds. We have Monday off for Columbus day as well as a teacher conference day on Friday and 1/2 day on Tuesday so it make for a great "extra" long weekend. I am taking my girls out of school for 2 and 1/2 days and get a weeks vacation! I expect other NE visitors as the teacher conference is regional and not just our area of MA. That said it is till much better than July!


TJ

 

[QuickGold]

You can find historical wait times for the Studios and see how the wait times were last year: http://www.mgmstudios.org/wait.html

 

[gottaluvdis]

We were there for this exact weekend last year because our daughter also had the Friday before the weekend off for teacher's conference. We didn't go to the parks until Sunday, and they were fine on Sunday but watch out for Monday, the actual holiday! We went to AK that day and it was crazy - very hot and very crowded. By Tuesday the crowds were much better because the locals had gone back to work/school. We're going earlier this year (9/30-10/5) partly to avoid that weekend.

 

[Timon]

Stay away from the Magic Kingdom on Saturday!!!!!!!!

This is on the bridge heading towards Liberty Square on the Columbus Day Saturday!

 

[figment27]

Matt- Thanks for the link. What a GREAT website! One question, can you tell me how to search the Historical Wait Times for last year? I can only see the recent history on the link you provided, cannot find how to search otherwise.

Timon- "A picture is worth a thousand words" Can you tell me if this was during or after a parade, or was it just the way the crowds were all day and evening? If you look closely, noone appears to be looking like they are in the "happiest place on earth"!

I planned to go to MK the day we arrive, which is Wednesday, Oct. 6th, and then to to MNSSHP on Tuesday, Oct. 12th.
The plan was to avoid MK on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Although, I will need to check on when Spectromagic is during our visit. I have never seen it, and would even bear the crowds on one of these nights just to see it, they say it is wonderful!
Any suggestions for what parks would be best for those days would be great.
Tentatively, we have planned:
MK: Wed, Oct 6 from noonish until 5:45 pm then to 'Ohana for dinner at 6:30, hopefully watch Wishes from there.
MK: Tues. Oct. 12th (MNSSHP from 4 pm to close)
Epcot: Thurs, Oct 7, and Sat, Oct. 9th or Sun. Oct. 10th
MGM: Sat or Sun, ?Mon. Fantasmic on of these nights?
AK: Fri, Oct. 8th, What park for evening? Suggestions Needed!
BB or TL: Tues, Oct 12th, 10 am to 2:00-2:30pm
Really unsure of this itinerary, I am finding it difficult to plan around the potential crowds of the weekend.
Figment

 

[kimwim8]

Although, I will need to check on when Spectromagic is during our visit.

Spectromagic is on Monday, Oct 11th. We will be in WDW from Oct 10-15th, and that is the only night of Spectromagic while we are there (of course it's on the 15th too!). We went ahead and made plans with family that live in Kissimmee for Monday night, and now we can't go to Spectromagic

Guess we'll just have to catch it next time. We are also hoping to catch MNSSHP on the 12th. Maybe I'll see you there!

We have plans to go to AK on Monday (Columbus Day), so I guess we'll just brave the crowds. But like a pp said, it's not as busy as July (hopefully!)

 

[princess lovers mom]

we were there last yr Columbus DAy wkend we went to MK on Sat as it was first full day there and first trip for DD age 4...busy all day but picked up tremendously in the evening...we stayed as it was only specto night for us.....went to other parks the rest of the weekend and no where near as busy back to MK on Tue for MNSSHP and seemed empty compared to Sat...

if you can avoid the MK on long weekend you shouldn't notice the crowds...but I would not miss spectro and maybe go over in evening for it even if another park during the day !!

 

[T&Tmom]

We will be there 10/06 thru 10/11(Columbus Day). The only night during our stay for Spectro is Saturday the 9th - guess we will be there with the crowds!!

 

[44disney]

We were there last year over the holiday weekend and for the rest of the week. The MK was crowded the entire time (but was definitely worse on EE day), and we went to the AK on an early entry day and left by lunch time because of the crowds. We went back the next day (not an EE day) and it was fine. Epcot and MGM were fine, except only one side of ToT was open, so there was a long line every time we went there (about 1 hour).

So-- I would avoid the EE park, or go just for EE and then switch.

That being said, even with the lines it still was great!

 

[Timon]

figment27

This was about 30 mins after the fireworks. We thought waiting 30 mins before we moved was a good idea....WRONG!! And apparently, nobody wanted to go to Liberty Square (not most people are moving towards hub)

 

[Dznypal]

we arrive on oct 12 (just after the columbus holiday)

so our first day in the parks will be the 13th and I was wondering

when the holiday crowds tame down somewhat.

thanks

 

[castleri]

The weekend days last year were very crowded- We did some other park and then went to MK for the parade and fireworks at night. Will never do that again - I thought it was worse than Christmas week. The days afer Monday were much lighter and I would assume the days before will be also. I think there are several big things going on around that time so it will probably be crowded. The F&W festival starts Oct 1 this year where last year it was the weekend after Columbus Day so that will make EPCOT busy also. We have missed the F&W festival both years by one day. Maybe next year I can get there. This year we chose Sept 23-30 partly because of the crowds last year and partly because of the cheap airfare we were able to get. Even with the crowds we had a good time - just did the things that we really wanted to do and planned on doing more another time.

 

[figment27]

All this information will help plan a better strategy, at least I hope it does!
I know we will have a great time despite any crowds that will be in the parks.
This is my friend's 12 year old grandson's first trip since the age of two. I think he will just be in awe of the whole Disney experience, and, of course, I don't think crowds bother most 12 year olds, it is the old fuddy-duddies they travel with that are most concerned!
Figment

 

[princess pooh]

Originally posted by figment27
All this information will help plan a better strategy, at least I hope it does!
I know we will have a great time despite any crowds that will be in the parks.
This is my friend's 12 year old grandson's first trip since the age of two. I think he will just be in awe of the whole Disney experience, and, of course, I don't think crowds bother most 12 year olds, it is the old fuddy-duddies they travel with that are most concerned!
Figment

You're absolutely right. I went during that time last year and had an AMAZING time! We used fast pass and EE, and were able to see everything we wanted to. Even the weather was perfect. I'm going back again for columbus day and I can't wait

 

[t-roy]

We were there last year during Columbus Day weekend. We did the EE at AK and it was crowded and hot and we had the time of our lives. It was great. I think if you have a plan and use the FPs you'll be alright.

Last year there was a big media event with the opening of Mickey's Phil and Mission Space before the weekend so I'm sure it was little more crowded than usual. It seemed to slow down a bit after Monday. We went to MNSSHP on Tuesday and the crowds were very manageable.

We arrive this year on the 10th so here we go again.

 

[2Disneybuggs]

We're arriving on the 9th, late. I plan on spending Sunday at the villa and going to Ohana for dinner. Monday the holiday we will be at MGM. Tuesday we're doing the party. I booked this week so DS would miss one less day of school, even though my goal has been a crowd free WDW. Crowds or not, I am not stressing and will just have fun! I am upset that we will probabaly miss Spectro. I am not brave enough to deal with huge crowds that Monday!

 

[jtjarvis]

We'll be there that weekend also. We arrive late Thursday to FW cabin. Friday a.m. we plan to hit MGM just for the morning and lunch at SciFi to wind down a little -- then back to cabin and to mnsshp. Saturday we plan to go to Epcot as early as seems reasonable after a late night! I have Tour Guide Mike plans (used them before for MK; they're very good) and I anticipate F&W crowds but hey, I really like food and wine so I will bear them! I'll do the best I can with the rest of my crew!

Sun. is up in the air for us. I think we'll play it by ear, see where we want to go and hit that park at opening time. This sounds criminal to say, but probably mnsshp will be the only time we get to MK this time. We went for two great whole uncrowded days in Jan. so we want to see some other parks. Never been to any others, can you believe it?! But early entry is on Sunday and not sure we can stay away from MK. If we do go we'll plan to get in and out kind of early though probably because I am sure it will be packed.

 

[tinkernelllec]

We were there last year around Columbus Day and was told they had record crowds!!! And believe me, it was CROWDED!!!!! I firmly believe there should never be an hour wait for PeterPan or SnowWhite. We did ride Buzz Lightyear 5 times (my ds favorite) by utilizing FP, and we had a great time regardless, but I will never go around Columbus Day again. Also, there is the golf thing going on around the same time, so alot of people are there for that too. We have gone for the past 6 years at the same time (around Biketoberfest in Daytona-which is around Columbus day) and it has gottem consistently more crowded every year.