October crowds

[andrychowski]

Looking to travel in the less busy/less expensive fall time. I am hoping for October of next year, but have a concern. We homeschool our children so we are free to travel anytime. My family visited there a few years ago in October and it was very crowded due to school breaks from the southern states. Can anyone give me any directions? If I stay away from Columbus Day am I ok?

Thanks for your help.

 

[ilovejack02]

We were there for Oct 24 - Nov 4. It was not crowded at all, except for Sat and it still wasnt awful. No real lines at all and we would def. choose to go back at that time again.

 

[crisi]

I've been going in October (generally) not every year, but regularly for almost thirty years. About fifteen years ago it went from "dead" to "quiet." Every trip since then has been noticably busier. Columbus weekend is particularly bad, but Food and Wine and the Halloweeen party, plus lower prices, good weather and (ha) smaller crowds, bring people in.

It isn't Christmas, but October 07 (not Columbus week) was MUCH busier than June 08.

 

[Mom2OandElle]

We have gone in October the last two years; last year we were there Oct. 9 - 17. It was very crowded, but not terrible; especially if we got to the parks really early. We attended MNSSHP both years and last years did seem much more crowded than the previous year. I agree that MNSSHP and the Food & Wine are bringing in more crowds because they are so wonderful. So, yes it is crowded, but those two events are worth it (to me at least!).

 

[disneyderns]

After going in summer the first 2 times (both DW and I are teachers) we saved up personal days and went the last week in Oct. of 2006. Totally worth it! We walked onto most every attraction with almost no wait. We're going again this Oct 28-Nov 2 - staying on site this time YEA!!! Had no trouble getting our ADRs for exactly the restaurant and the times we wanted. We had family go in late April "after the spring breaks"...they said it was crazy busy...We'll stick with the fall from now on.

 

[viluvsdisney]

We've gone 2 different trips in Oct...this last year in 2007 was awfully busy compared to 2 years prior....so we're trying a different month this year.

 

[hardingk]

We are looking to go next October as well. Besides the Monday off for Columbus Day, do schools in the south get more time off then that? We are looking to go the week before Columbus day.

 

[FairyGodmotherJen]

The beginning of October 2005 was great, though the weekends were more crowded. We had no more than 10 minutes of wait (or a good FastPass return time) for everything except Soarin' (no surprise, now that I know more about it. We haven't been back since, though, and I think that was one of the first years for free dining.

 

[Ninnygunk]

We're in KY & our schools most generally have Fall Break the 2nd week of Oct each year. We're going this year Oct 11-19th & can't wait. I hope it's not too hot or crowded!