Sept, Oct or Nov?

[MaidMarian]

We've been to WDW about 8 times in the last 20 years but we've always gone in Dec or Jan. We now have a 1 yr old daughter and with all the family holiday obligations we're thinking of going to Disney earlier this year. So-opinions please on when to go-crowdwise, weatherwise, special events, etc. Thanks for the advice.

 

[JulielovesDisney]

Sept is a great time to go. The parks are empty because a lot of people don't want to take thier kids out of school when it just started. This year, due to constuction, my school opened Sept 12. So we jumped on the chance to go in Aug into Sept. It was very hot and humid, and it rained almost every afternoon, but the crowds were empty. Every store blasts the A/C, so if you even walk by an open door, you get cooled off. I don't think there are any special events going on at this time.

Oct is nice too. I've never been down there at that time. Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom is going on during this month, which, from what I've heard, is great for adults and kids. I can't tell you more about MNSSHP, but if you check out allearsnet.com or disneyworld.com or even look around the boards, you find a lot more info.

Nov is another great time to go. It's still warm and nice. I've only gone down during Jersey Week, since I'm off from school then, and it's been busier, but not horrible. There is the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot, which is great for adults. The countries put up stands with wine samples and plenty of food samples, and even more countries set up little booths there. I think the countries change every year, but disneyworld.com should have an annual list that comes out with all the new countries coming in. There is also a great concert series on the stage infront of the American Pavilion. They have various famous singers come and sing a few songs nightly. It's not hugely popular people, mostly oldies or more scarce performers, but it's still enjoyable. Last year Blake Shelton was there, a country singer, which I loved. And my parents watched Eddie Money later in the week.

All 3 times are great times to go. But it also depends on the weeks and holidays. Nov has more busier weeks, with Jersey Week and Thanksgiving, it pulls a lot of people down there. I'm not sure about Oct, but after Labor Day, Sept is pretty much empty.

Good luck with the choosing! And have a magical time when you head down there!!

 

[jwfla422]

Sept is the best time to go "crowd-wise" however weatherwise probably the worst. This is peak hurricane season and peak rainy season. We can get rain for days at a time. It's always hit or miss as far as weather goes. And when it's not rainy it is very humid. This relatively quiet as far as special events go.

October is not too bad. Epcot does tend to get busy with F&W but it's still bearable and NORMALLY the weather improves--however if other areas of FL are expecting bad storms/hurricanes, Orlando is a major evacuation area as proved to be the case last year (and a major hurricane refugee escape), so keep that in mind as well.

November weather starts to improve and cool down and the rain chance drops, but tends to get more crowded during holiday times (Veteran's Day week and naturally Thanksgiving). Early November is a good time to go crowd wise and weather wise.

Of course anytime of year in FL you can expect rain (but not like July, Aug & Sept which is the worse, sometimes Oct can be rainy too).

 

[jann1033]

jumping on here cause i am leaning towards Nov. instead of our usualy Jan...can anyone be more specific about Nov temps...like 80? 70? 95?( daughter has asthma and i have health problems so too hot is no good but they want to go to a water park so it needs to be hotter than Jan might be

thanks to the op for asking the question i wanted to

 

[KimWDW]

We went in late October last year. Mornings were fantastic, nice temps, no lines, walk on every ride. But the afteroons were rough. It was about 87 degrees every afternoon and the parks were PACKED. We're going back again October 2006 and we're going to do the same thing we did last time--get to the parks at opening and go back to pool in the afternoon. It works out well for us and our schedule (3yo early riser).

 

[hockeybabe]

First trip was jan, second was end of Sept to beginning of Oct.. Sept was great crowd-wise, but Oct. 2 and 3rd (Sun and Mon) were very crowded. Monday was so bad, we decided to leave MK and wait for our plane home at the resort

Sept was very, very hot and humid. Poor DH was sweating buckets, he would bring a washcloth from the room with him to mop up. The lines were better than MLK weekend in Jan, tho. Sept. 28 We went on Buzz 3 times in a row without waiting, got to stay on Indy Speedway, and every FP machine was closed because it wasn't needed. Walked onto Pirates, Tiki Room, Small World. Never more than a 10 minute wait for anything. It was great. Epcot the next day, 10 minute wait for Soarin, 5 minute for Test Track. MGM was busier, no FP's but had to wait for some things. Did AK on Sunday, very busy and very hot, not hotter than the other days, just tougher to do in such a spread out, open park.

Had free dining, and low crowds, but next time, free food or no, it is back to winter for us. Thinking of the week after Thanksgiving, but I'm a little worried about the crowds...I think the secret is out.

 

[eblack0409]

September is a fabulous time to go....low crowds, good weather....we planned our trip this year for May, but will probably go back in September next year!