Park Crowd Levels and Free Dining?

[marshall4539]

My family is booked to go to Disney during mid- September... I am told there is going to be free dining offered.. This is great, but I am worried that now the parks will be very busy.. We picked September because it has the lowest crowd levels of the year...
How busy will it be? (All our dining reservations are booked!)
Thanks

 

[minniegirl19]

My family is booked to go to Disney during mid- September... I am told there is going to be free dining offered.. This is great, but I am worried that now the parks will be very busy.. We picked September because it has the lowest crowd levels of the year...
How busy will it be? (All our dining reservations are booked!)
Thanks

i worked there last year during free dining and september crowd levels are very very low longest you'll have to wait is 30-40 minutes tops except weekends could be busier but thats normal. just make sure you take advantage of fast pass and you'll be fine i also recommend mickeys not so scary halloween party especially if you have kids but even for adults i think it is worth it!

 

[floridagirl61]

We normally go during September for our long trips. We make sure to arrive after Labor day and before Food and Wine festival starts. We have found that the parks are great, low crowds and lines. The restaurants are busier but like you, we have our ressies booked so we are good. Can't wait until September 6th.

 

[ArwenMarie]

My family is booked to go to Disney during mid- September... I am told there is going to be free dining offered.. This is great, but I am worried that now the parks will be very busy.. We picked September because it has the lowest crowd levels of the year...
How busy will it be? (All our dining reservations are booked!)
Thanks

We went in October last year during a week that was supposed to be a low crowd week. I didn't think the crowds were that low. I think the free dining that was in place at that time made the crowd calendars less accurate. So I do think that free dining can increase the crowds, but it doesn't mean it will increase them so much as to make it too crowded.

 

[TheDisney411]

My family is booked to go to Disney during mid- September... I am told there is going to be free dining offered.. This is great, but I am worried that now the parks will be very busy.. We picked September because it has the lowest crowd levels of the year...
How busy will it be? (All our dining reservations are booked!)
Thanks

There has been a free dining discount in September every year for the last 9 years. The crowd levels will be the same as they are every year - low. That's why free dining has been offered every September for 9 years, to draw people to the WDW resorts and parks.

 

[GaBelle]

There has been a free dining discount in September every year for the last 9 years. The crowd levels will be the same as they are every year - low. That's why free dining has been offered every September for 9 years, to draw people to the WDW resorts and parks.

We have been 3 times in mid September, 2011 being the latest. Free dining was offered every time. The crowd levels in the parks are still low compared to other times at Disney. Restaurants will be crowded: TS very hard to walk up and get seated and CS pretty busy, but not packed.

 

[TDC Nala]

The parks won't be that busy but the TS restaurants will be packed.

 

[Cappy81]

I'm wondering if the cutting end of August and the very end of Sept. will cause Sept to be more crowded and end of August to be less crowded as people may move vacation dates to coincide with FD dates?

 

[ArwenMarie]

I'm wondering if the cutting end of August and the very end of Sept. will cause Sept to be more crowded and end of August to be less crowded as people may move vacation dates to coincide with FD dates?

I would think it would lighten up the end of August a bit. The people who can move their trip to those weeks in September probably will now.

 

[shyjade]

I'm wondering if the cutting end of August and the very end of Sept. will cause Sept to be more crowded and end of August to be less crowded as people may move vacation dates to coincide with FD dates?

I doubt it. Many families prefer to go in August over September because it's harder to pull the kids out of school at the beginning of the school year (around Labor Day). I believe the purpose of offering it at the end of August is because most kids are back in school by then and as a result, attendence drops.

 

[GrandCalifornian]

We were there the second week of September last year and LOVED the lack of crowds. While we had all of our ADRs booked 6 monts earlier, the restaurants still weren't as busy as during our trip in June 5 years earlier. We had such a great time that we booked a bounceback for the same week this year, and in doing so guaranteed our free dining. We can't wait!

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think it might depend on when you go back to school.

For families who go back to school in August, pulling the kids out in mid-September isn't as big a deal, at least they've had time to adjust and all that. If your kid go back after Labor Day, pulling them out a week or so later isn't as good.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm certainly not moving my end of August trip but DVC can't get free dining anyway (nor would I want it). So not everybody is going to move. Also remember that the free dining offer is limited. It's only a certain number of rooms per resort.

 

[chimilady]

We went mid-September last year, followed the recommended park days and we barely waited for anything, except a table at certain restaurants. lol

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm certainly not moving my end of August trip but DVC can't get free dining anyway (nor would I want it). So not everybody is going to move. Also remember that the free dining offer is limited. It's only a certain number of rooms per resort.

Back a few years ago...maybe '09, we had our DVC stay all booked. Had been booked for about 10 months. We normally didn't go in August, but that's just how it worked out that year. Okay. Well, about 3 months prior to our stay, Disney announced FD. Thought I was going to die. We spent our first 2 nights at the Dolphin, then moved over to BWV. The day we moved to BWV was the first day of free dining! The day before, the parks were terrific, the restaurants were wonderful. The rest of our stay at BWV, about 6 nights, was something to behold. Because it was still summer vacation time, a ton of people all desended on WDW that week. It was crazy!!! I was never so glad to leave WDW as I was that time. From what I understand, the second week and ensuing weeks were much better crowd-wise.
So, we decided to go down again, the next year. Okay, I moved my stay back into late July!!! Managed to miss free dining...well, most of it. I was there for the first two days of it at the very end of my stay!!

So, dh and I head to Vero Beach on Sept 1 and move to BWV on Sept 4. So, of course Disney is putting out free dining!!! It's a low time of year. All our ADRs are made, so that shouldn't be too bad. But, I have to wonder how many people will take advantage of that offer so close to the start of school. Maybe it will be more adults down there vs families. We'll see what happens.

 

[TDC Nala]

I leave on September 3, good timing here.

 

[goofy4tink]

I leave on September 3, good timing here.

I would say so!!!!

 

[Callalily6]

Sept crowds r great. We usually wait 15 mins to get on most rides. At certain times of day, lots are walk on. It's awesome. I haven't booked Sept yet bc I haven't seen the free dining yet. I'm hoping they'll do it this year. I don't remember it being so late into the year in the past. Really thought I booked last Sept trip in Feb. but maybe I lost track of time.

 

[tinkerbella16]

My last trip was in September and while I had the best time, it was during free dining and I was a little surprised at how crowded it was. It wasn't brutal, because I was at rope drop every morning and took breaks midday and went back to the parks at night... It was just more crowded than I thought. I believe the very first week of September, the parks are practically empty and quiet being that most schools start their first week of school. I usually never go in September, I usually go in November when there is really low crowds, so I could have just been anticipating that.

 

[amomma23]

We have visited at different times over the years, but September is our absolute favorite. FD works for us and crowds are so low. We follow easywdw.com and walk on a lot of rides. Like everyone has suggested, make sure to make ADR for your favorite places to eat and you'll be golden.