I have a question about crowds in Oct.....

[aplejax76]

We have always gone to Disney in July. We are going Sept.29-Oct.8 because of free dining!!!!
Here's my question. Do you think that the crowd levels will be the same as they are in July because of free dining? It really doesn't bother me. Although, It would be nice to visit Disney in a slower period. Thanks!

 

[Mickey1122]

No, it's during school, and there are no breaks at that time. It's a great time to go.

 

[nluvwithmickey]

We also travel often to WDW in July and we are pretty much used to heat and crowds.

It would be nice to have a little less crowds, might make the heat more bearable.

 

[rapriebe]

We have always gone to Disney in July. We are going Sept.29-Oct.8 because of free dining!!!!

I'm confused. I thought that the free dining offer expired on September 30. Was it extended?

 

[Jrabbit910]

The crowds are less in October then they are in July. Its not as hot either!!
HAVE A GREAT TIME and EAT UP!

 

[aplejax76]

I'm confused. I thought that the free dining offer expired on September 30. Was it extended?

If you stay before the 30th you will be able to use it for your entire stay.

 

[byoung]

No huricanes the crowdes will be low.

 

[Eeyore's Queen]

Sorry, I have to disagree. We have gone twice in July (both times 4th of July week) and we went in Oct. of last year. It was also at the end of the free dining. I thought it was almost as crowded as it was in July. I guess everyone took their kids out of school just as we did. Hey, free dining is free dining. But the free dining was worth the crowds in my opinion. Have fun and arrive early in the day to the parks. You should be fine. Oh and it was almost as hot as July too. Again, just my observations.

Heidi

 

[CalvaryMike]

I also went in early October last year and it was crowded. I believe it was the free dining and Food and Wine Festival that brought in the crowds.

 

[BlindTyldak]

I went in October of 2004 and it was very, very crowded . . . a CM told me that year that they had encouraged people who had to delay their trips due to hurricanes to rebook in October. I have no idea if this is general policy now, but after a second bad hurricane season in 2005 it wouldn't really surprise me.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We were there last year from Sept. 30- Oct.9 and the crowds were very managable. The only time we saw big crowds were Saturday & Sunday at Epcot for the F&W festival. We will be back again this year for the festival.

 

[Hopefully]

We have gone several years in October, specifically because we love the Food & Wine Festival. It has been more and more crowded every time we have gone.
October has become a very popular time of the year. It has gone from Value to Regular season as far as rates go. You have the F & W festival, Super Soap weekends, The Festival of the Masters in DTD, the PGA Funai Golf Classic, and often "Jersey Week". Also some school districts around the country do have fall breaks at this time of the year. I have never been in July, so I can not compare. But I would plan on it being busy but manageable. I think the touring tips you use during July will work in October.
We were there last October and I thought it was very hot and humid, more than any other October we have been. We flew out about 16 hours before Hurricaine Wilma arrived, so that may have stirred up the tropics and brought in the hot and humid air, but it was HOT.

 

[worlddreamer]

My DBF and I will be there the same time you will be, and I had been wondering about crowds too! Regardless of how many people are there we will have a great time becuase it will be our first! I am sure that if we both plan well, we will both have fun!

 

[rapriebe]

No huricanes . . . .

I have to disagree with you about no hurricanes. We were at WDW last October and we had to leave 2 days early due to Hurricane Wilma. We were there during the second and third week in October, if I remember correctly. So yes, they are still around even in October.

 

[Disney's Fab 4]

We were there Oct ober 10th thru the 17th (NOT free dining)... very very crowded .... MNNSSHP and Food and Wine @ Epcot were going on....We had gone the end of Sept 2003 and there were no crowds at all but it rained alot.... So we figured we would go in October and maybe it wouldn't rain as much..... Well it did not rain hardly at all only 20 minutes 1 day... but the crowds were unbelieveable.... Soaring had a 70 minute wait and there had finally stopped the line because it had become a hazard in the building.... We asked where these crowds were coming from and a few people hads said that the southern states have fall vacation.... We were unaware.. coming from Mass we figured everywhere had our same school vacations..... Again the weather was wonderful 80 or so degrees.... crowds terrible.... I would probably go in October again....

 

[nurseypoo5]

i too am going at that same time. Sept 30th - Oct 8 (thinking of making it until the 9th)...i'm bummed about the crowds tho, i was hoping it would be WAY less than July. I can not imagine it being as crowded then when the WHOLE nations kids are out of school.

That being said my son has fall break from the 5 thru the 15th. We are taking him out for an extra 3 1/2 days just because we couldnt bare to miss out on free dining either (no way jose) He is in 4th grade, he can make it up! So yup some schools do have vacation, and my nieghbor who went last October said it was crowded, and she thought that the Orlando kids had fall break. Can anyone confirm that?

We plan to go to the gulf and rent a beach front condo for 7 nights after disney...so here's hoping no hurricanes in our future!!!!!!!!


No matter what, i truley believe it cant be as busy as July, except perhaps the weekends....esp with the food and wine festival, im sure locals come for that. Plus there is a holiday...Columbus day, and its a Federal Holiday..the first Monday in October which means a long weekend for many!

No worrys, go have a good time, get to the parks 30 minutes BEFORE rope drop and run like hell to the best of the best. I'll be right there with ya!


Oh ....i do notice that ADR's are going fast, so make your plans on where your eating NOW..i know i cant get places like Le Cellier when i wanted them any more.

 

[Fastcars]

Here in Kentucky some schools have a Fall Break the First week in October. We have been to WDW the last 4 years during this time and each year we see the crowds getting larger. Just avoid the Sunday at MK and use fastpass and you should have a wonderful trip

 

[katiesmomluvsdizne]

We were there 10/9-10/16 in 2004 and crowds were bearable. Not low but not crowded either. We wanted to extend our stay and we couldn't because a lot of CM and fams were staying on site due to the 2 hurricanes that had hit the area that year. The Columbus Day weekend was busier than during the week. A lot of year round schools do a fall break during that week, but still not that busy. 2005 we went in November now that was CROWDED!!!! Jersey Week, F&W Fest, Fest of Masters, and Soap Stars!!! UGH! November never again for us!!

 

[sticker231]

last year we went during the last week of October and the crowds were pretty light. The crowds were bigger when we just went in April. We are going again in October. We tried to avoid the parks during the extra hour days and I think the plan worked for us.

 

[TikiGoddess]

We were there last year the first week of Oct. It was value season last year so unless that has changed this year, I think it is still value. Here's the honest truth, we stayed at ASMo and it was fine. It was more crowded than I expected as far as numbers of people, but we didn't wait more than 15 min for any ride and lots of them we walked right on. Rides like TOT, PoC, Jungle Cruise, SM and IASW. So there are lots more people than your probably expect, but you shouldn't expect long lines. Just plan your days accordingly and you should be fine. I'd definitely recommend checking out the best days to go to each park. It was also hotter than I thought it would be. Oh, and it rains intermittenly so take ponchos. The time we were there was free dining, which we missed, but did have the dining plan and while the restaurants were crowded we were fine b/c of ADRs. Don't think we had to wait any time to be seated anywhere. I would definitely go back in Oct. The only part I really didn't enjoy was the heat. Granted it wasn't near as bad a July, but it was still really hot. That's why we're going back in Jan. Still Oct. is a much better option than summer. Oh, and there wasn't much down for refurb. HTH.