Sept not low crowds anymore?

[NicholeB630]

So I have been reading all these posts about this week being so crowded and the halloween party being ridiculous. This week was marked as literally the lowest week all year long. With 1 and 2 crowd levels on numerous sites. Now I understand that a 1 does not mean the park is empty that its still crowded. BUT it should be a big difference from a 10, otherwise whats the point in even rating crowd levels. I was planning my next trip for Sept 2016 we wanted to go this same week as it shows the lowest crowds and that is whats important to us and for my DH who hates crowds and only goes because me and the kids so I want to make it more enjoyable for him. Our last Dec trip was good the second week, it was manageable and we did everything we wanted. Some days at certain times got a bit crowded but nothing was too bad except AK on our last day (Saturday) and the Christmas party. But planning this second week in Sept I thought it would be much better now I am really worried. Will Kenny the pirate, touring plans, easywdw adjust next Sept crowd levels based on this year? Someone really needs to put what the crowds really were compared to what was predicted. Do you all think this Jewish holiday made a huge difference this as its a different time every year? I really want to go and have a good time. I wanted to go in Sept when the weather was hot so we could use the pools for once. But we cannot do wall to wall people and ridiculous waits for every ride. I had posted my doubts on going in Sept because its so hot but so many people assured me on this sites its a great time to go especially with low crowds. Now I have no clue if Sept is a good time to go anymore. They really should put a smaller limit on how many people can go into parks, they are going to get to a point where its not enjoyable for anything. Hope this made since I kinda rambled

 

[bsbrady]

Since Monday and Tuesday were Jewish holidays, many school districts were off. Anytime this is the case the crowds are higher.

 

[NicholeB630]

Since Monday and Tuesday were Jewish holidays, many school districts were off. Anytime this is the case the crowds are higher.

Do you think that really made the impact? Next year the holiday is in October I believe.

 

[bsbrady]

I cant say for sure, but what else would explain it.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

I think it's a combination of the Jewish holiday's, the free dining, the bloggers and press invited to the first MNSSHP that was also later this year, and any other possible event that could make people pick this week over another week. I've been there several times in September and never had very high crowds. That being said, if anything changes from year to year the crowd levels can and will change. The estimated crowd calendars aren't predicted by Disney. The people that do predict them are basing things off of historical data so I would expect next year to change.

 

[meggers628]

I was there this week and did not think it was too crowded. A little more crowded than I expected, but the Jewish Holidays explain that. The weather was also GREAT! I was never out in the late afternoon/evening for the rain, but it didn't last long and afterwards it was cool. There was only one day with pre-3pm rain on my 9 day trip. And temps were cooler than normal.

A&E wait times were around 40 minutes during mid-day. And I was able to make a TSM FP the night before. That has to say something. I would definitely go back in September.

 

[meggers628]

Also I would expect the first MNSSHP to be crowded. Right?

 

[DisneyFive]

I'll believe it when I see it. We'll be there in 9 days and I'm not expecting drastically larger crowds. Not sure why 2015 would differ all that much from all of our other four Sept trips (2010-2013) at the same time period with free dining being offered, etc...

Sure, park attendance is rising, but it's not doubling or tripling...

Dan

 

[lauraleh]

We were there last week and honestly it was significantly more crowded that the second week of Sept last year. Was it summer crowds? Probably not but there were some lines. I think I saw A&E at 100 minutes at one point. On a Saturday at Animal Kingdom (most recommended/least crowded park), I saw It's Tough to Be a Bug have a 30 minute wait. We headed for the pool at that point! I would still go in Sept but it wasn't as empty as it was last year for sure.

 

[NicholeB630]

I was there this week and did not think it was too crowded. A little more crowded than I expected, but the Jewish Holidays explain that. The weather was also GREAT! I was never out in the late afternoon/evening for the rain, but it didn't last long and afterwards it was cool. There was only one day with pre-3pm rain on my 9 day trip. And temps were cooler than normal.

A&E wait times were around 40 minutes during mid-day. And I was able to make a TSM FP the night before. That has to say something. I would definitely go back in September.

Thanks for this. I would think without the holiday next year it won't be so bad for crowds. Hearing the weather was great is nice although I know every year is different. I worry about hurricanes. I just want to go and enjoy ourselves and not feel like its so crowded we can't enjoy things. As far as the first party goes, I've read a few blogs saying the first party night is the best night to go because its less crowded. Maybe because it was later in Sept this year that changed it.

 

[NicholeB630]

I think it's a combination of the Jewish holiday's, the free dining, the bloggers and press invited to the first MNSSHP that was also later this year, and any other possible event that could make people pick this week over another week. I've been there several times in September and never had very high crowds. That being said, if anything changes from year to year the crowd levels can and will change. The estimated crowd calendars aren't predicted by Disney. The people that do predict them are basing things off of historical data so I would expect next year to change.

Theres always free dinning in Sept right? Do they typically do the bloggers and press typically get invited around the same time every year? Or is there a way to know when they are coming? I am guessing not though. I knew the crowds were predicted by the people that do the sites. I'll just keep my eyes out for when those sites put up Septembers crowd levels.

 

[GreatLakes]

Earlier this month people were talking about nearly empty parks. It just depends on when in the month you are talking about, what holidays are effecting work and school schedules, and if any special events are going on.

The first week that most of the country is back in school is usually a great time to hit Disney.

 

[godders]

Monday and Tuesday this week were definitely WAY busier than last year but I'm at Hollywood Studios today and the crowds are much more like what I would expect. It's also been raining on and off all morning so that has probably helped.

 

[NicholeB630]

Earlier this month people were talking about nearly empty parks. It just depends on when in the month you are talking about, what holidays are effecting work and school schedules, and if any special events are going on.

The first week that most of the country is back in school is usually a great time to hit Disney.

We can honestly do anytime in january and I just want to pick the lowest week possible but also wanted to do the halloween party so therefore we'd have to wait and go the week it started but after this week I worry that it would be too crowded.

 

[wendow]

We were there last week and honestly it was significantly more crowded that the second week of Sept last year. Was it summer crowds? Probably not but there were some lines. I think I saw A&E at 100 minutes at one point. On a Saturday at Animal Kingdom (most recommended/least crowded park), I saw It's Tough to Be a Bug have a 30 minute wait. We headed for the pool at that point! I would still go in Sept but it wasn't as empty as it was last year for sure.

I agree with this. We have been regular September attenders for several years, and we were there last week also. We definitely found crowds to be higher, and wait times to be longer. I won't say it was like peak season or anything but it was nothing like how September used to be.

 

[Jenlyn75]

We can honestly do anytime in January and I just want to pick the lowest week possible but also wanted to do the halloween party so therefore we'd have to wait and go the week it started but after this week I worry that it would be too crowded.

We went in January one year and I don't think we will ever go in January again. This was 2011, the week schools went back in after the holidays. According to several crowd calendars it was a great time to go. I know the calendars only predict, but they were WAY off. There were tour groups from other countries (Brazil I think) every where we turned. I'm talking huge groups. We felt like we were being run over by them. Bad trip timing I guess, but all our other trips haven't been nearly that crowded (February, early May, late May to early June and mid September). We are leaving in 2 days so check back with me and I'll let you know how the crowds are this year. Last year they weren't bad at all. Good luck!

 

[NicholeB630]

I wondering if its better to just skip the halloween party and go the first two weeks of Sept to avoid crowds a little more. I'd love to the party but I want to pick the lowest crowd week I can and if that isn't the first week the party starts then I don't know what we'll do. I have time to think about it I know but it stinks because sites like Easywdw won't have Sept up for next year for awhile and I'll need to book our rooms probably before that. I'd hate to wait to long and then not get the rooms we want.

 

[Kristine316]

It could just be as simple as WDW getting more crowded every year and as it gets more crowded, more and more people look for those traditionally "slow" weeks of the year, which in turn makes those weeks more crowded.
It has happened to times like early December which just 7 years ago was considered an ideal time to go as far as crowds.. Now it's more moderate in terms of crowds.


Most people I know who go to WDW are checking all the sites and listening to the crowd calendars and choosing their vacation time accordingly. I think these tools are actually creating more crowds in the traditionally slower times because they tell everyone to go during months like September to avoid crowds. Obviously as more people utilize these tools, more people will go during the suggested time periods and in turn increase the crowd levels.
People do not seem concerned about taking their kids out of school anymore either. I get it.. You pay 5k for a vacation you naturally want to get your money's worth so you look for a lower crowd level to get the most bang for your buck.. And that means going when school in in session. But, if some parents aren't concerned about taking their kids out of school then obviously going during the school year becomes less of a sure thing for lower crowds.
Also.. , I think some forget that a "1" from 2010 is not close to a "1" from 2015. And a "1" from 2015 will be slower than a"1" from 2018. Unless we have a economic downturn then obviously that would affect attendance.. But, then again you have so many international WDW guests now and Disney will just increase discounts if the economy takes a nose dive again so that's not even a definite.
I think we just need to accept if you go to WDW you will deal with crowds no matter what time of year you go. There is NO slow time anymore!

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

Theres always free dinning in Sept right? Do they typically do the bloggers and press typically get invited around the same time every year? Or is there a way to know when they are coming? I am guessing not though. I knew the crowds were predicted by the people that do the sites. I'll just keep my eyes out for when those sites put up Septembers crowd levels.

There has been free dining for the last umpteen years, but that does change crowd levels mostly in the restaurants. I think the party being later had a huge impact. I'm not 100% sure about the bloggers. I'm pretty sure the press is normally at the first party.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

I went in September for the first time ever (thanks to the day off of school on Monday the 14th for Rosh Hashanah!) and it was fabulous! Granted, I have never been in September before, and I usually go during March spring break or late June when school lets out (teacher), but here are some things I noticed that I could do in September (with the "crowds" that people are talking about) that were VERY different than my other trips:

1. I rode Soarin' at rope drop this past Sunday with no wait...and then I rode it immediately again with no wait. In March or June, the wait is already 30 minutes plus by 9:05.
2. I walked on to Test Track via the single rider line last Monday afternoon at 3:00. My last trip in Junes 2013, even the single rider line had a wait of 20 minutes or more pretty much all day.
3. After the 9 PM fireworks at Magic Kingdom on Sunday night, everything except Peter Pan and 7 Dwarves was essentially a walk on - 15 minutes or less even for the mountains. This doesn't happen until much later in the evening in March and June.
4. SO much space in the walkways!! With the exception of post-MK fireworks, I could have done cartwheels in the streets had I wanted to. I took a picture and sent it to my husband who didn't come (girls trip) and he couldn't believe all of the bare street that was visible in the photos.
5. Fantasmic did not fill to capacity, and we could have just walked in 5 minutes prior to get a seat.

Things that seemed no different in September than they are during peak season:
1. Restaurants are still crowded, because, free dining.
2. In the middle of the day, you can't just walk onto headliners.
3. Characters still have long lines all day.
4. The Magic Kingdom was crowded packed on a Sunday night for Wishes after 2 nights in a row of early closings due to a special event.

Those are my thoughts...as someone who visited in September who had never been during a low season. I thought it was a great time to visit, and will be planning my visits in the future around Jewish holidays when school is closed. I think I would rather go for 4 days in September than for a week in June