Is Columbus Day a no no?

[G8r4evr]

Are the parks ridiculously crowded Columbus Day weekend?

 

[PSUGuy]

We're regular Oct Food&Wine goers and the one year, 2014 I think it was, we blundered into CD Weekend. We arrived the Wed prior and crowd levels were Moderate at worst, of course Sat in WS is always crazy, Fri was 'normal'. On Sat crowds grew noticeably and they stayed high until the Tues after CD when levels dropped. We've made a point of avoiding this week since then.

Bill From PA

 

[vinotinto]

Been there 5 Columbus Day weekends because they coincide with our Fall Break, so kids don't miss school. We're avoiding it this year.

 

[bashuck]

Every time I've tried a hurricane ruins it.

 

[anniemae]

Go. Have fun. Don't worry about crowds. It's always crowded. Bring a good attitude and you will have a wonderful time.

 

[Cuchman]

Ok - ignore my earlier post if you saw it.....I agree with the poster that said it is always pretty crowded - just be ready for it

 

[SarahC97]

My parents went last CD weekend and it was miserable and crowded for them. But, they really weren't prepared for it, either. They did see a lot of grumpy park-goers, including one who threw a wheelchair at a CM, so at least they got a good story out of it.

 

[Delirium]

We've been to several Columbus days. Although it's definitely gotten busier over the years, it's not 'run the other way' crowded. Careful planning and knowing which parks to avoid on what days and you'll be just fine.

I will say this though. To maximize your enjoyment of Disney during party season and the F&W festival, it's a good idea to have hoppers. We always have them, and make great use of them to help avoid the crowds.

 

[pooh4evr]

each year it gets more and more crowded as more schools have fall break that weekend

 

[kydisneyfans]

I'd agree that as time goes on, this weekend gets busier.
We've gone 11 of the past 13 years, definitely have a plan and a backup plan. Rope drops, avoid Epcot on weekend nights, etc.

Can't say we've had issues with hurricanes during any of the visits though.

 

[JerseyJanice]

IMO it is a fine time to visit unless there is a hurricane in town.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We've been to several Columbus days. Although it's definitely gotten busier over the years, it's not 'run the other way' crowded.

I would agree with this.

 

[Micca]

In my neck of the woods Columbus Day is a non event. Banks & fed offices closed, everything else is biz a usual. Most folks wouldn't even know it was a 'holiday"

 

[G8r4evr]

Thanks everyone! Columbus Day is just a bank holiday for us too, so I was shocked to only see availabillty at 3 of the onsite hotels for our dates. Made me a little nervous!

Only reason I even knew it was CD is hubby works at a bank and said he already had the day off when I told him to put in a time off request for it. LOL

 

[mamamelody2]

My parents went last CD weekend and it was miserable and crowded for them. But, they really weren't prepared for it, either. They did see a lot of grumpy park-goers, including one who threw a wheelchair at a CM, so at least they got a good story out of it.

Yikes!!

 

[randumb0]

what is this fall break that you speak of?

 

[srwarden1928]

Schools in Tennessee have one to two weeks off in October, called fall break. It is absolutely wonderful. October is a great time to travel to a lot of places. After nine weeks of school, everyone is ready for a break--students and teachers alike. It was DW's favorite school break.

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

Schools in Tennessee have one to two weeks off in October, called fall break. It is absolutely wonderful. October is a great time to travel to a lot of places. After nine weeks of school, everyone is ready for a break--students and teachers alike. It was DW's favorite school break.

Yes! You will see lots of TN orange (Go Vols!) in the parks in Oct. We're from TN and go to WDW every year on Fall Break. But our school has always taken the first week in Oct off, so typically we go Oct 1-8 or thereabouts, missing CD crowds (although last year we had a hurricane!). This year, they moved it to CD week. I'm pretty bummed about it but we do love MNSSHP and F&W so this is the time of year we love to go. We will be there Oct 6-13 and will make the best of it!!

 

[Music City Mama]

Schools in Tennessee have one to two weeks off in October, called fall break. It is absolutely wonderful. October is a great time to travel to a lot of places. After nine weeks of school, everyone is ready for a break--students and teachers alike. It was DW's favorite school break.

Yes! You will see lots of TN orange (Go Vols!) in the parks in Oct. We're from TN and go to WDW every year on Fall Break. But our school has always taken the first week in Oct off, so typically we go Oct 1-8 or thereabouts, missing CD crowds (although last year we had a hurricane!). This year, they moved it to CD week. I'm pretty bummed about it but we do love MNSSHP and F&W so this is the time of year we love to go. We will be there Oct 6-13 and will make the best of it!!

I guess it depends which school district you are in in Tennessee (or any state for that matter) as we've never had a full week off for fall break. For the past 9 years that I've had a child public school, it's been two days (either the week before Columbus Day or the week of) -- however, this school year it will be 3 days. Maybe one day we'll get a week off...

 

[jimandami]

Honestly I think the first half of October is just getting more and more crowded. I don't think it has to do with CD really, it's just the increasingly popular fall break. A lot of Indiana and Kentucky schools also get 1-2 weeks off around that time. Our kids only get a Friday and a Monday but we are taking them out of school for a few days and going the 10-18. I do expect it to be pretty crowded, but hey, it's still Disney World!