Labour Day crowd questions

[Tiger926]

I'm a teacher, so we are never able to go to WDW in the fall - Sept, Oct and Nov (as well as Feb) are the only months we haven't been, and now I've helped my sis plan a trip to WDW for Sept. She was originally going at end of Sept, but has had to reschedule several times.

Can anyone tell me what the crowds are like Labour Day week? My nieces will be 9 and almost 11 in Sept. but they are sensory sensitive and learning challenged, so crowds may be an issue.

Any help anyone can give me, would be greatly appreciated as I'm trying to plan out my nieces' first trip to WDW and it has to be great!!!

Thanks, Tiger

 

[starrysky]

I have been on labour day weekend and I did notice a slight up turn in the crowds but it was much lower than I expected. Have you checked out the passporters info? They have links through allears.net or on the Disabilities section here. Both have loads of tips for people with special requirements.

Best advice would be to plan what rides they want to do and try and get there for rope drop.

Also if you go onto youtube and look up the videos of different rides etc then you have a better idea what to expect and what to avoid.

 

[WEDwayRadio]

Even though it is a holiday weekend, the crowds will be significantly smaller than peak season as most schools are in session.

You will see an influx of in-state travelers due to the 3 day weekend, however, most people who travel by plane, train or car will have kids who just started school and will not be there then (allowing for smaller crowds).

I believe WDW has extended the Halloween celebrations and decorations into mid-August now which should add some fun to your trip.

The major holiday I would absolutely avoid is New Year's Eve and New Year's Day - it is absolutely miserable at the parks on those two days.

Check out the Touring Plans website or the Unofficial Guide to WDW for crowd reference. It also serves as a good reference for many other things as well (attractions, travel, dining, resorts, etc...)

 

[dzorn]

We went Labor day week when dd turned 6. The crowds were great even with a older DD who has special needs. We like the time to go so DD get to spend her 8 birthday there also.

Denise in MI

 

[emacek]

We were there last year for Labor Day weekend and it wasn't bad at all. We went to Animal Kingdom and fast-passed EE twice. Another day at DHS my niece and her father ending up riding ToT and RR 7 times....granted that's all they did.

I got the sense that most folks were locals or annual passholder types.

 

[Best Aunt]

In some parts of the country, school doesn't start until a few days after Labor Day. I think places with warmer weather tend to start earlier in the fall and let out earlier in the spring.

 

[utkscvol1]

Where were there last year Labor Day. Crowds weren't too terribly bad. However, they dropped alot come Labor Day.

 

[Eljay]

Another for Labor Day.

 

[Tiger926]

Thanks to all for your input!

We have been tons of times as we are DVC members, and my sis and bil have been several times before kids, but with my nieces having special needs, this is the first time with the kids. I have set them up with photos, touring plans, etc., but since I had never been on Labour Day, and most of my friends are teachers, and they haven't been either, I had to come here for some expert Labour Day crowd experiences! I've been on New Year's Eve, March Break (St. Patrick's Day was in there too) and July 4th, so I know crowds, but I thought that Labour Day crowds would be smaller due to many schools being back in session, but being a holiday, I figured there might be more local traffic.

Thanks - I'm off to do some more planning for their trip. I am going over some dining reservations with them tonight. I love planning WDW trips for people, but when it's for my precious nieces, it's that much sweeter!

Thanks, Tiger

 

[Eljay]

...I'm trying to plan out my nieces' first trip to WDW and it has to be great!!!

Thanks, Tiger

Just a quick suggestion, I think your nieces would love the Princess Storybook meals that they offer at the Akershus in Epcot Norway. At separate times, I have taken a niece, age 13, for breakfast and a nephew, age 7, for lunch. Both times it was a surprise. OMG, can I just tell you, those kids were thrilled to meet the beautiful Princesses! (So were the adults!)

I'm going to find you a precious video that someone posted on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aoa3kKBq8zY
Here it is, how adorable is this?

 

[Tiger926]

Just a quick suggestion, I think your nieces would love the Princess Storybook meals that they offer at the Akershus in Epcot Norway. At separate times, I have taken a niece, age 13, for breakfast and a nephew, age 7, for lunch. Both times it was a surprise. OMG, can I just tell you, those kids were thrilled to meet the beautiful Princesses! (So were the adults!)

I'm going to find you a precious video that someone posted on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aoa3kKBq8zY
Here it is, how adorable is this?

Thanks, that is sweet, but we have been to that meal several times as my DD loves princesses, but my nieces are also picky food eaters, and I don't think they'll care for it (we actually don't like the meals either - we've been for B, L & D). We go very often to WDW as we are DVC members, so they are in good hands as we've eaten pretty much everywhere, multiple times!

My nieces struggle with ADHD, so long character meals are an issue, as well, one niece likes princesses, and the other doesn't, so character meals are an issue at the moment. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Tiger

 

[DisneyWisher]

Labor Day Weekend '07 the value resorts filled up so fast that a lot of people were offered an upgrade to Saratoga Springs, some were even lucky enough to get 1 or 2 bedroom suites. I just checked on Disney sites and there are tons of rooms at all Deluxe, Mods, and Value still available. The restaurants will be busy but I think the parks will be slow.

Good Luck and have a great vacation.

 

[Tiger926]

Just a quick suggestion, I think your nieces would love the Princess Storybook meals that they offer at the Akershus in Epcot Norway. At separate times, I have taken a niece, age 13, for breakfast and a nephew, age 7, for lunch. Both times it was a surprise. OMG, can I just tell you, those kids were thrilled to meet the beautiful Princesses! (So were the adults!)

I'm going to find you a precious video that someone posted on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aoa3kKBq8zY
Here it is, how adorable is this?

Thanks, that is sweet, but we have been to that meal several times as my DD loves princesses, but they are also picky food eaters, and I don't think they'll care for it (we actually don't like the meals either - we've been for B, L & D). We go very often to WDW as we are DVC members, so she is in goods!

My nieces struggle with ADHD, so long character meals are an issue, as well, one niece likes princesses, and the other doesn't, so character meals are an issue at the moment. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Tiger

 

[snykymom]

In some parts of the country, school doesn't start until a few days after Labor Day. I think places with warmer weather tend to start earlier in the fall and let out earlier in the spring.

That's generally true, but perhaps not this year. I'm in the Northeast, and schools usually start the day after Labor Day. But with Labor Day being so late this year, school districts are starting earlier; they can't risk snow days closing school and making them miss the required number of school days!

So Labor Day may not be too bad. (At least I hope so! We're arriving on Sept. 9! )