Sept 2015 Crowd Calendar - Thoughts?

[DisneyFive]

I am very curious as to the crowd levels on the days you were there and what made the lower crowd days better?

Oddly enough I do keep track of that kind of thing.

We are typically able to schedule our days so that the park levels are 1’s to 3’s (with an occasional 4)


The following days each trip had crowds that we felt were noticeably higher, and they corresponded to levels of 5 or more from touring plans . These are just our observations, your mileage may vary. I don’t remember any days feeling busy that were rated 3 or below.

Most days feel about the same, but the times we’ve actually noticed heavier crowds were on these days:

EP - Fri Oct 1st 2010 - Level 5

HS - Sept 26th 2011 – Level 7

HS – Sept 28th 2012 – Level 6

MK – Sept 29th 2012 – Level 5

Late Sept 2013 – None felt crowded. All were 1’s and 2’s.

Dan

 

[SeilerBird]

Oddly enough I do keep track of that kind of thing.
We are typically able to schedule our days so that the park levels are 1’s to 3’s (with an occasional 4)
The following days each trip had crowds that we felt were noticeably higher, and they corresponded to levels of 5 or more from touring plans . These are just our observations, your mileage may vary. I don’t remember any days feeling busy that were rated 3 or below.
Most days feel about the same, but the times we’ve actually noticed heavier crowds were on these days:
EP - Fri Oct 1st 2010 - Level 5
HS - Sept 26th 2011 – Level 7
HS – Sept 28th 2012 – Level 6
MK – Sept 29th 2012 – Level 5
Late Sept 2013 – None felt crowded. All were 1’s and 2’s.
Dan

You are talking about ancient history. But you still didn't explain why it made a difference. Why were the less crowded days better?

 

[GatorMama]

We will be there the same week in Sept. I'm excited about doing MNSSHP and F&W! I'm nervous about the F&W crowd on opening day but it's our only chance to go and I've never been.

 

[DisneyFive]

You are talking about ancient history. But you still didn't explain why it made a difference. Why were the less crowded days better?

Dang, so what are you asking for? What more do you want? I don't visit WDW every single day. The crowd calenders in 2010 - 2013 were just the same as they are now. Can you explain why my observations from those years wouldn't matter? I'm using the exact same site for our Sept 2015 trip, and expect similar results. The crowd calendars back then were based on attraction wait times, just as they are now.

To answer your question, yes the less crowded days were better. Standby times were less, even for popular attractions. The parks felt less congested, with less of a hassle to get from point A to B. QS meals lines were less. Less wait for PP photographers, meet and greets, etc...

All around it was better. I have never noticed that there were not enough cast members for any particular attraction, or eating location, etc... during the slower time when we go.

Dan

 

[ocalla]

We have been waiting for Josh to post Sept!! Decided in the 12-19 to take advantage of lower crowd days.

Lower crowds most def make the parks more manageable!!!!

 

[SeilerBird]

Dang, so what are you asking for? What more do you want? I don't visit WDW every single day. The crowd calenders in 2010 - 2013 were just the same as they are now. Can you explain why my observations from those years wouldn't matter? I'm using the exact same site for our Sept 2015 trip, and expect similar results. The crowd calendars back then were based on attraction wait times, just as they are now.

Because you are talking about before FP+ changed everything. Most everyone admits that FP+ has done a great job of equally things out.

To answer your question, yes the less crowded days were better. Standby times were less, even for popular attractions. The parks felt less congested, with less of a hassle to get from point A to B. QS meals lines were less. Less wait for PP photographers, meet and greets, etc...

All around it was better. I have never noticed that there were not enough cast members for any particular attraction, or eating location, etc... during the slower time when we go.

What I want to know is what exactly is the difference in wait time between something like a 7 day and a 2 day? There might have been a difference in the past but I cannot walk around WDW and even come close to guessing what the crowd calendar predicts that day to be.

 

[puffinp51]

We went Sept. 12 - 19, 2014. We chose it for what we thought would be lower crowds. It was a wonderful, amazing trip. But the crowds were higher than we anticipated. The first few days were good but then it really picked up. We did RD, hopped a lot, and took early afternoons off and had a good plan for us. Most late afternoons we were in MK - almost daily - the wait for Pirates was 35-50 min., Peter Pan 50-60, and the Mountains 50-75 min. Talked to a few CM's and they said the week right after Labor Day was so slow. One said many southern schools now have a fall break in late September (I have no idea if that's true or not) which is why the crowds were higher when we were there - from 22,000/day in MK (the week right after labor day) to over 40,000/day in MK the week we were there. It was very hot and steamy and a bit rainy but we were prepared. Still a great time to go (if you don't mind heat or humidity) but just make sure you have a plan so you get to do what's important to you. And I highly encourage RD! Have a magical time!

 

[anniemae]

I would go in Sept if I were you. I think the last week of Aug/first week of Sept will be very busy this year. Since labor day is so late, many northern and mid western schools will be starting around the 8th of Sept I keep seeing multiple posts from folks going at the end of Aug and beginning of Sept. I would think your Sept week would be very slow. No way would I trade mid-Sept for end of Aug. From what I hear, the parks empty out after LD since all the kids are back in school and Sept is one of the slowest times. It does get busy around F&W, but from what I understand, weekends are worst and it's just Epcot.

 

[DisneyFive]

Because you are talking about before FP+ changed everything. Most everyone admits that FP+ has done a great job of equally things out.

What I want to know is what exactly is the difference in wait time between something like a 7 day and a 2 day? There might have been a difference in the past but I cannot walk around WDW and even come close to guessing what the crowd calendar predicts that day to be.

www.touringplans.com It says exactly what the wait time difference is for each attraction between each predicted crowd level. They also go back and report actual crowd levels from 1 - 10 based on what the actual wait times were. (their predictions are typically +/- 1 level based on my recollection)

I'm sure FP+ changed how they need to rate certain attractions on a scale of 1 - 10 versus pre FP+, (especially those attractions that never had FP like Pirates, IASW, etc) but that can be accounted for. FP+ has been in full swing for many many days now. I don't have the time to repeat what is already on the tp website. If interested enough, you can find the info.

Dan

 

[DisneyFive]

We went Sept. 12 - 19, 2014. We chose it for what we thought would be lower crowds. It was a wonderful, amazing trip. But the crowds were higher than we anticipated. The first few days were good but then it really picked up. We did RD, hopped a lot, and took early afternoons off and had a good plan for us. Most late afternoons we were in MK - almost daily - the wait for Pirates was 35-50 min., Peter Pan 50-60, and the Mountains 50-75 min. Talked to a few CM's and they said the week right after Labor Day was so slow. One said many southern schools now have a fall break in late September (I have no idea if that's true or not) which is why the crowds were higher when we were there - from 22,000/day in MK (the week right after labor day) to over 40,000/day in MK the week we were there. It was very hot and steamy and a bit rainy but we were prepared. Still a great time to go (if you don't mind heat or humidity) but just make sure you have a plan so you get to do what's important to you. And I highly encourage RD! Have a magical time!

Are you able to find a site that lists the crowd levels for previous days at the parks? Would love to find that info!

Dan

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

We have been waiting for Josh to post Sept!! Decided in the 12-19 to take advantage of lower crowd days.

Lower crowds most def make the parks more manageable!!!!

We were looking at those dates too (those 1's days look very tempting) but we're going to stick with the timeframe directly after Labor Day. In our past experience it has had THE lowest crowds. I trust Josh a lot so it's hard to not go on what looks like the lowest week - on his calendar but I'm going with my gut this time.

 

[SeilerBird]

www.touringplans.com It says exactly what the wait time difference is for each attraction between each predicted crowd level. They also go back and report actual crowd levels from 1 - 10 based on what the actual wait times were. (their predictions are typically +/- 1 level based on my recollection)

I'm sure FP+ changed how they need to rate certain attractions on a scale of 1 - 10 versus pre FP+, (especially those attractions that never had FP like Pirates, IASW, etc) but that can be accounted for. FP+ has been in full swing for many many days now. I don't have the time to repeat what is already on the tp website. If interested enough, you can find the info.

Dan

I completely agree that on different days the crowd level will be different. That is a no-brainer. My point is that it really doesn't have a real world effect on enjoying a day a WDW no matter what the crowd level might be (except major holidays). I go on the same amount of rides no matter what the crowd level is.

 

[puffinp51]

Are you able to find a site that lists the crowd levels for previous days at the parks? Would love to find that info!

Dan

I'm not sure if you mean actual crowds or what was estimated . . . . one of the 2014 Sept. calendars I used is still on 2014 (only months through Aug. are updated to 2015) but this is just the estimated crowd levels. As I said, the days for ours were estimated 2's to 4's - I know the 2's were way off as the wait times were well over 1-1.5 hours on the big rides. But it was still a great trip - and if you don't mind the heat/humidity it is a good time to go!

 

[MinnieMeep]

Last week we changed our late October 2015 reservation to a split 4-night at each BWI/AKL stay 9/12/15-9/20/15. This will be my first time visiting in September, I've done August when I was a teen. Due to how late Labor Day is this year, I'm wondering if we should keep the 8 nights as is, or move the stay up a week to start around the 5th/6th instead? I've read how the week following LD is pretty much lowest crowds, but how about the 2nd week after LD? Any advice from anyone? I'm so torn!

 

[anniemae]

Last week we changed our late October 2015 reservation to a split 4-night at each BWI/AKL stay 9/12/15-9/20/15. This will be my first time visiting in September, I've done August when I was a teen. Due to how late Labor Day is this year, I'm wondering if we should keep the 8 nights as is, or move the stay up a week to start around the 5th/6th instead? I've read how the week following LD is pretty much lowest crowds, but how about the 2nd week after LD? Any advice from anyone? I'm so torn!

I think you will be fine. I don't think there will be mud difference in crowds those 2 weeks.

 

[ShayBells]

I'm going Sept 13 to 20. Im anxious to see how the parks feel to me. I was there last May and it felt crowded. Totally forget what the levels were predicted as. I just remember we waited around 30 for IASW and I was blown away. Never waited for that ride in my life. We always go in Sept. Last time was sept 2013. FP+ was rolling out about that time if I remember correctly. I didon't use it but didn't notice a difference. I Never used FP- so didn't even think to try it. my thoughts though are that crowd level is subjective. If someone is use to going over xmas sept crowds would probably feel like a ghost town no matter what. Since I'm use to sept crowds I'd probably die with xmas crowds. Also two people could go the same week same days and come back here saying the waits were awful while the other ones say it wasn't bad at all you can never really tell. And fortune telling isn't real no matter how much we all live in the magic of our disney world.

 

[anniemae]

I'm going Sept 13 to 20. Im anxious to see how the parks feel to me. I was there last May and it felt crowded. Totally forget what the levels were predicted as. I just remember we waited around 30 for IASW and I was blown away. Never waited for that ride in my life. We always go in Sept. Last time was sept 2013. FP+ was rolling out about that time if I remember correctly. I didon't use it but didn't notice a difference. I Never used FP- so didn't even think to try it. my thoughts though are that crowd level is subjective. If someone is use to going over xmas sept crowds would probably feel like a ghost town no matter what. Since I'm use to sept crowds I'd probably die with xmas crowds. Also two people could go the same week same days and come back here saying the waits were awful while the other ones say it wasn't bad at all you can never really tell. And fortune telling isn't real no matter how much we all live in the magic of our disney world.

You are going at the slowest time.

 

[ShayBells]

You are going at the slowest time.

I know but everyone is saying that FP+ has screwed up wait times etc. I was saying I'm anxious to see what they feel like to me. I'm use to the slowest week of the year always having basically walk ons to rides. If they have screwed everything up crowd levels won't matter I'll still have higher wait times than I am use too.

 

[canadiandisneymommy]

We checked into POR in mid sept and the cm said that the week before (the week you are considering switching to) POR was only at 30% capacity and one of the slowest weeks of the year.

 

[SeilerBird]

I know but everyone is saying that FP+ has screwed up wait times etc.

Not everyone has said that FP+ screws up wait times. I think the system runs just fine.