Is Columbus Day horrible?

[staceychev]

We're planning our trip for this fall, and have it narrowed down to the week starting Sunday Sept 27th, or one of the weeks in October (though not Halloween). I'm toying with the 11th to the 17th, because (a) that week contains our wedding anniversary and my birthday and (b) the kids are off Columbus Day, so they'll be missing 4 days of school instead of five. (Kids will be in fifth grade and Kindergarten.)

But, how are the crowds Columbus Day? Last time we went was July, with a 5 year old and an infant, but I've also gone as an adult a couple times in March/April with school trips.

 

[mom2rtk]

We're planning our trip for this fall, and have it narrowed down to the week starting Sunday Sept 27th, or one of the weeks in October (though not Halloween). I'm toying with the 11th to the 17th, because (a) that week contains our wedding anniversary and my birthday and (b) the kids are off Columbus Day, so they'll be missing 4 days of school instead of five. (Kids will be in fifth grade and Kindergarten.)

But, how are the crowds Columbus Day? Last time we went was July, with a 5 year old and an infant, but I've also gone as an adult a couple times in March/April with school trips.

Lots of people go through the same decision making process as you and end up going Columbus day because their kids are also out of school.

It will be busier the weekend leading up to Columbus Day. If you go then, expect that weekend to be crazy busy but lighten up after Monday.

 

[OKW Lover]

Columbus Day happens at a time of year that typically has lower crowd levels. Even with the holiday up-tick in attendance you'll still find it very manageable.

 

[Disneylover99]

We are typically used to low/moderate crowds since we go at the end of August. We went to DW for the Columbus Day weekend in 2013, and we did not find the crowds to be significantly higher then what we were used to. I would say moderate crowds.

 

[notrub98]

I respectfully disagree with anyone saying it will be "moderate". I went this past Columbus Day weekend and found it absolutely insanely crowded. Touring Plans had it as 8-10 in retrospect all weekend, and I found that to be accurate. To the point that I would never go that weekend again. The only thing that saved us was we had MNSSHP tickets for one night, and that was the only day it was not insane. If you could plan to go down on Columbus Day itself, and skip the weekend following up to it, you will do much better (crowds did lessen on Mon/Tues in my opinion).

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We've gone over Columbus Day a number of times. Feels to us like it's been getting more and more crowded as time has gone on -- anecdotal, so take with a grain of salt. I'd say that given when you're used to going, you probably won't see a big difference between past trips and Columbus Day. But you would see a diff between that weekend and the late Sep/early OCT option. With planning, we've not found Columbus Day to be prohibitive. We won't AVOID it going forward, but we won't aim for it either.

 

[star72232]

It's also the same day as Canadian Thanksgiving, so that may also Impact crowds to a certain extent.