Is Oct. Always Like This?....Can't Imagine a Summer Trip

[KayleeUK]

Looking forward to being there soon!

 

[Rella Bella]

We just returned from a week long trip to WDW. This was our second time to go in October (also went in 2004) and I can't see us ever going at any other time. The crowds were very light both times. Most of the rides were a 10 minute wait or less and on some rides like Big Thunder we were able to stay on 2 or 3 times in a row as there were no lines. The Halloween party is a great time and again very short lines. I think the longest wait we had for any ride was 20 minutes and most were 10 minutes or less. We had some friends go in the summer and only have the opportunity to ride 3 or 4 rides a day. They said the wait for the Rockin' Roller Coaster was 3 hours, ours was 10 minutes and that included the 5 minutes or so it took to walk from the entrance and watch the intro, I can't imagine waiting 3 hours. Are the crowds always so light in October or did we just get lucky both weeks we were there? The only downside was that we had to take the kids out of school for a week but as I told my wife my parents used to take me out of school every year for a week of vacation and I still managed to graduate from college and now have a good enough job that I can afford to take the kids on vacation every year so it didn't set me back that much. Mike

Shhhuuuuusssss!
Mike dear... don't tell everyone!!

 

[Spaceship Earthfan]

Hmmm, we went last October and the crowds were *ok*, but not like, empty. Epcot seemed to be the most crowded as the F&W Festival was still in its early stages. But now that I think of it, we hardly waited in any lines at all, mainly due to planning ahead and using Fastpass. We went again in the summer and waited in some long lines, especially at EE and Kali because the Fastpasses were out. So yeah, there is a definite difference between summertime and now, but with planning and fastpass you shouldn't need to wait in many lines anyway.

 

[MassMom94]

We have been twice during the last week of August, and both times were very manageable crowd-wise. The last time (2006) we had re-rides (meaning we didn't have to get off) on Splash Mountain, BTMR and Buzz, but I think that was probably due to Ernesto. I know it is busier earlier in the summer, but if someone is reporting only being able to get on 3-4 attractions/day, they must be (1) arriving at the parks late (after 11 AM) and (2) not following the touring strategies mentioned in the UG and other free sites. Did you ask if they used Fast Pass, even?

 

[mrzrich]

We also were there last week and found it to be kinda busy. 110 minute wait for Soarin', no FP at noon for EE with a 60 minute wait, 50 minutes for Splash Mountain..

We were there in September and literally walked on everything, and never had to use a FP once. From now on its September for us.

 

[Sandy22]

I went last October (checking in on final cut-off day of free dining) and was surprised at how heavy the crowds were. I was expecting/hoping for light crowds.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Glad you had such a great time! I need to say, though, that we usually visit WDW during typically busy times--summer, spring/Christmas break--and we NEVER wait longer than 15 minutes for an attraction (one exception--POTC this summer with Jack Sparrow additions--30 minutes/no fastpass). Anyone who frequents these boards knows there are ways to greatly reduce wait time even during the busiest times, and ride much more than 3 or 4 attractions. (Don't want to dissuade people from going during those busier times. Wait--what am I doing? Let me rephrase that--people should never visit WDW during so-called peak times. Nope--only my family should go then! )

 

[kydisneyfans]

Just got home an hour ago and wondered where everyone was at!! This is the 3rd year in a row that we have gone this week due to fall break and crowds were considerably lighter than the other 2 years. MNSSHP was virtually empty on Tuesday the 17th-with no wait for any ride at all. We had gone to the party on the Thursday of the same week last year and it was packed. The weather turned hot on Wednesday, yuck!!

Sea World was also empty on Sunday-reports from others at our resort was that Universal was walk on all week too. Even traffic seemed light in the area. Where did everybody go??

 

[resol37]

This was the third time I've gone in Oct and I've never seen it busy during this time. The only things I saw with waits over 20 mins were Soarin' and the Seas w/Nemo and Friends.

I got two Fastpasses for ToT, but they were never collected. Everyone was just walking right on.

 

[deide71]

Just got home an hour ago and wondered where everyone was at!! This is the 3rd year in a row that we have gone this week due to fall break and crowds were considerably lighter than the other 2 years. MNSSHP was virtually empty on Tuesday the 17th-with no wait for any ride at all. We had gone to the party on the Thursday of the same week last year and it was packed. The weather turned hot on Wednesday, yuck!!

Sea World was also empty on Sunday-reports from others at our resort was that Universal was walk on all week too. Even traffic seemed light in the area. Where did everybody go??

Be glad you didn't go on thursday the 19th. MNSSHP was packed last thursday...and it was very hot! We still had a fabulous time .

 

[cybilx2]

We visited the 2nd week of Oct. and were very disappointed in how heavy the crowds were. We also came across 2 different tour groups and found some of the students to be very rude! If some of these kids parents knew how disrespectful their children had been I'm sure they would have been ashamed.
We had a great time, but I was exhausted from this trip, and can't imagine going back any time soon. I feel so bad for feeling this way as I LOVE Disney. Was so looking forward to this trip. Hate I feel this way. Can't imagine the crowds in the Summer and at Christmas.

 

[doodlebugs]

We were there the 14th to the 20th. I just love Oct. trips now! I can only recall waiting in one line that was more that 10 minutes the whole week. That was at Everest in the middle of the day. We arrived after 1:00 and there were no fast passes left. Waited in line 20 minutes in standby. By 4:00 that afternoon Everest was a 10 minute wait for standby. The day we were at MGM, RNR was a walk on as well as ToT. We were able to ride ToT 6 times in a row. Fast passes were not being used because of the no wait. MNSSHP was the same way on the 17th---no waits, very short lines for candy. It was a wonderful time to visit Disney. It will be hard to go at other times of the year now.

 

[minniebeth]

Wow, I just got back and thought it was busy. Everywhere I went there were lines. All the people must have been where we were

We didn't encounter any wait shorter than 40 minutes.

Just got back and I agree with this...
The only time that we went when it was more crowded than this was when we went in mid-June.

 

[amyah]

I was in the parks Oct. 11-14 and thought they were pretty crowded - but then it was the week of Columbus Day. Think Ill go later in the month if I return next October.

We were in the parks October 12-15 and went to MNSSHP on the 12th and thought the parks were pretty crowded in comparison to last year when we went at the same time. I thought I had read on the boards here that some of the local schools had the 12th and 13th off from school?? Didn't know if that contributed to the crowds, in addition to being Columbus Day week. Also, heard lots and lots of British accents, so maybe a popular time for holiday? As always, being in Disney World is great and we are already planning our next trip, but I sure was hoping for some of those "no more than 10 minute wait" lines.

 

[skier_pete]

Just back from a trip 14-20th. We did not wait more than 10 minutes for anything. (Unless you count some of the shows with set start times.) We on occasion saw waits posted up to 40 minutes (Soarin', RaR Coaster), but used FP to avoid those. Based on our last October trip of 6 years ago, I'd say the crowds were lighter at Epcot, AK, and MGM this time, and slightly greater at MK. Got a little hot on 19th and 20th, but we broke for the day around 1 PM each day, so it wasn't too terrible.