September crowds

[Aurora_Disney]

I am thinking of going to WDW in September and I am wondering what the crowds are like. My husband and I are planning for the 1st or 2nd week. Just kind of want to get an idea for what to expect, like heavy crowds with 30+ minutes a wait for rides kind of thing. And does it make a difference of going right after Labor Day or later in month?

Thanks!

 

[ErinsMommy]

Labor Day weekend is usually very busy esp since that's the last weekend before the start of school here in NJ/NYC at least. We're going 9/16-9/25. Not sure there's any such thing as low crowds anymore especially with Pandora opening -- but when we went a couple of years ago the week after labor day the waits were quite low.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

The week after Labor Day will have very low crowds, though weekend nights at Epcot will have heavy crowds due to local attendance of the F&WF, which begins very early this year. By the end of Sept, crowds will go to moderate levels and increase from there.

 

[anniemae]

Right after labor day is one of the the slowest time of the year. All kids are back in school. It gets busier each year it seems, but still very slow. Just really hot!

 

[Aurora_Disney]

Right after labor day is one of the the slowest time of the year. All kids are back in school. It gets busier each year it seems, but still very slow. Just really hot!

That's good to know. I had heard rumor that the few days after Labor day are nice crowd wise, but wasn't sure if it was just that. A rumor. The whole super hot and dealing with crazy crowds sounds a bit intimidating.

 

[lindsey]

We were there last year 2nd week, and crowds not bad. It was hot, and some rain.

 

[DisneyCAL]

I went the second to third week in September and the crowds were very low with a mild increase on the weekend. Largest waits were for Splash midday in the 90 degree + heat at about 60min and of course 7DMT, but everything else was anywhere from walk-on to 20 minutes.
I do have to preface this with the fact that this was a year when Food and Wine didn't start until 3rd to fourth week of September. This coming September will have F&W starting at the beginning of September which will effect crowd levels.

 

[joyjoy]

This is when we always go. Sun before Labor Day through the following Sunday. Sunday and Monday are busy but in the past, starting Tues the crowds are really good. HOWEVER: This is the first year they're doing F&WF this early so I have no idea how that will affect crowds at Epcot or otherwise. We're trying to plan around the local festival goers. Also, it's still hurricane/rainy season, so expect a shower, if not a deluge, pretty much every afternoon/evening.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

If I could pick 2 weeks to go to WDW, it would be the first two weeks of September hands down. Heat/humidity doesn't bother us, but that's about the only downside.

I especially love the early MNSSHPs that time of year.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

We arrive September 10th. And planned it because of the lack of crowds.

 

[Cee]

I have been the first and second week in Sept. several times and the crowds have def gotten bigger. I say just choose when you can go and enjoy.

 

[Karl66]

We love going in September. Weather is great and the crowds are low. I would wait til the first full week after labor day though just to make sure the all schools are back in session. We were there the second week of September in 2011 and 12 and I was surprised by the number on school aged kids there.

 

[anniemae]

We love going in September. Weather is great and the crowds are low. I would wait til the first full week after labor day though just to make sure the all schools are back in session. We were there the second week of September in 2011 and 12 and I was surprised by the number on school aged kids there.

Likely could have been a lot of Canadians. I think they start the week after LD.

 

[ellbell]

Likely could have been a lot of Canadians. I think they start the week after LD.

Nope, we start the day after Labour Day.

 

[jhaig]

We have gone to WDW the week after Labor Day almost every year since 2007. In our experience it has steadily gotten a little busier each time. That was, until last year which seemed like the least crowded it has been in many years. Not sure if last year was an anomaly because of the hurricane that just missed Orlando, but mid-Sept is still great for low crowds (for now).

 

[Day-Day]

Three years ago, there seemed to be a large number of foreign families, mostly from Brazil, that bumped the crowds up a bit but the crowds were relatively light. We visited a little later last year than our previous visits in September (17-23 SEP) and the crowds were a little higher than our previous September visits but still very low on most days depending on the parks we visited.

I am always surprised at the number of families with kids though; many homeschoolers and parents taking kids out of school will visit to take advantage of lower prices and crowds. Also, as mentioned in earlier posts, the Food and Wine Festival has an impact; the monorail to EPCOT late afternoons or early evening always seemed packed.

I really like visiting in September. It is still warm enough to plan a visit to the pools. I am not able to plan vacations during the middle of winter so the expected low crowds during January and February are not an option for me but Septmeber is great.

Pay attention to special park events for the Magic Kingdom (MK) like Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party and Nights of Joy. We have not participated in these but normally will visit the MK during the day of these events then hop somewhere else for the evening.

 

[IrishNYC]

We're going 9/19-25 because we have 2 days off of school in that timeframe. I am expecting higher crowds than when we went first week of May two years ago.

 

[JuniorSkipper]

Oh my gosh I went the first week of September in 2016 and I loved it so much it was my new favorite time of the year to go! The crowd were so small it was wonderful, however if you can't stand the hot and humid it may not be the best time for you, but personally I love it