September Advice

[Dentam]

Annual pass holder here.

We wait for the end of September for crowds to be gone. School starts and everyone is forgetting about summer. Best time to go. Cheaper rates too.

From what I've heard crowds increase slightly toward the end of the month and hotel prices go up as well...

 

[Xennia]

I guess for non floridians it does. I get Florida prices and just planned my trip. It was cheaper the last two weekends in September.

But every year I go at this time and it's perfect. So I don't know what else to tell you. I go all year long. I notice the drops.

 

[Dentam]

That's great to hear from someone who goes every year! Our 2017 trip will be closer to that time and we were wondering about the crowds.

 

[jhaig]

We are going Sept. 6-12th and are planning to go to the most recommended parks each day based on the crowd calendars. We're hoping for very low crowds but have found that booking ADR's has still been a challenge to get the times we want. Hoping that's not an indication of higher crowds this year! I'm thinking it's due to free dining but who knows...

Free dining is usually the cause of ADR's filling up quickly in September. The restaurants are pretty busy, but wait times are generally pretty low for most attractions, excluding Mine Train and TSM. We go every year in Sept after Labor Day and the crowd levels have been great. The key is to get there early, have a plan, and take a break after lunch when it's the hottest and most crowded.

 

[Daisybell911]

I'm going September 23-29. I'm just hoping that the crowds aren't insane. That level of heat and crowds may drive me batty!

 

[SleepingUgly]

I'll be flying from Denver and the best I can find is about $340. My parents are coming as well from a tiny airport in Oregon since PDX is a four hour drive from their town. Cheapest they can find is $515 for a red eye. Hoping for some sales soon!

Go on Kayak. I just checked your dates and found fares for @ $314, but it's using multiple airlines. Not sure if any of those would work for you?

Where in OR are your parents flying from? Eugene? I used to live in Roseburg and would have to fly in / out of Eugene's airport ...

 

[Dentam]

Go on Kayak. I just checked your dates and found fares for @ $314, but it's using multiple airlines. Not sure if any of those would work for you?

Where in OR are your parents flying from? Eugene? I used to live in Roseburg and would have to fly in / out of Eugene's airport ...

I'll check it out - thanks! They will be flying out of Medford... it always has higher prices but they're hoping for under $500...

 

[Dentam]

Checked Kayak - I'm trying to avoid that red eye flight since I'm never able to sleep on planes and don't want to start the vacation exhausted. Thanks for looking for me though!

 

[keith1967]

Going Sept. 5th to 12th, I can take the heat and rain but hope for low crowds myself.

 

[keith1967]

Checked Kayak - I'm trying to avoid that red eye flight since I'm never able to sleep on planes and don't want to start the vacation exhausted. Thanks for looking for me though!

I see we are going at the same time and we both are at riverside. This is my first trip to disney, I hope Riverside is nice.

 

[Dentam]

I see we are going at the same time and we both are at riverside. This is my first trip to disney, I hope Riverside is nice.

Your first trip - how exciting! We have been a few times before but have always stayed at deluxe resorts. I'm looking forward to staying at POR since I toured it when I worked at EPCOT. It was called Dixie Landings back then but I remember really liking the resort and how peaceful and spread out it was.

 

[ChiroMouseDad]

Thanks for all the good information. We are taking our first trip Sept 5-11 and I was wondering about crowds. We are traveling with a 4 year old and a 22 month old. We also have an 18 year old as well. Any advice for traveling with kids of such different ages?

 

[Jarmo]

We've gone late September the last 4 years, and seems like the crowds have grown each year. Last year was the busiest we've seen. Obviously still nowhere near summer crowds, and the FP+ problems last year might have just made it seem more crowded as people were congregating around the FP+ kiosks. We're trying labor day week this year, hoping for a little bit better crowds.

Flight-wise, we got non-stop from upstate NY on Jetblue for $250 a person. Prices have crawled up a little since then, but I think part of our savings is from having a return flight on September 11.

 

[JessiMommy]

I see we are going at the same time and we both are at riverside. This is my first trip to disney, I hope Riverside is nice.

Riverside is gorgeous! My favorite resort!

 

[Dentam]

We've gone late September the last 4 years, and seems like the crowds have grown each year. Last year was the busiest we've seen. Obviously still nowhere near summer crowds, and the FP+ problems last year might have just made it seem more crowded as people were congregating around the FP+ kiosks. We're trying labor day week this year, hoping for a little bit better crowds.

Yeah, I had heard that crowds increase toward the end of September and F&W probably contributes to that a bit.

Flight-wise, we got non-stop from upstate NY on Jetblue for $250 a person. Prices have crawled up a little since then, but I think part of our savings is from having a return flight on September 11.

Wish I could find a flight in that price range! For me flying on the 11th would only save about $30 and I'd rather stay the extra day since my parents plan to leave the 12th.

 

[jpeden]

If you're flying from Denver, it might be a good idea to check Southwest. When we fly, it's out of Atlanta so it's much shorter, but I've found Southwest is usually cheaper, and even if it's a bit more, the free baggage makes up for that cost.

 

[Dentam]

If you're flying from Denver, it might be a good idea to check Southwest. When we fly, it's out of Atlanta so it's much shorter, but I've found Southwest is usually cheaper, and even if it's a bit more, the free baggage makes up for that cost.

Yep, I've been checking Southwest also and so far it's running about $30 more than what I've found on Orbitz. I'm hoping they'll come out with some sales soon but don't want to wait too long in case prices just go up more!

 

[anniemae]

I have always heard the parks clear out right after labor day. many northern and mid-western schools start the day after labor day, so parents obviously do not want to pull them out right at the beginning of school. It is busy leading up to labor day because everyone is getting in that last vaca before school starts.

 

[amber.miller]

We are going September 8th-19th, based on most responses it looks like we should have good crowd levels, it'll be our first Disney Trip in September as we've usually gone during Flower & Garden in the past and one trip at the end of August. It's a surprise trip for our boys and I know they will love the Halloween decor and MNSSHP!