September dates - thoughts?

[Ashley Marie]

We can travel any time in September. We are considering taking a 2-week trip some time within the first 3 weeks of the month.

The EasyWDW crowd calendar says that the 3rd week of September will have lower crowds than the first week of the month (due to late Labor Day and schools starting later, I'm assuming). Free dining deals are going on all month, yet when I look up dining options, there's much more availability for harder to get reservations (like pre-park opening CRT, etc.) during the first week of the month -- which makes me think that crowds may actually be lighter that week than they are in week #3?

I know that all of early September should be pretty good crowd-wise, so it's not a big deal. But I'm just curious which dates you all would choose.

ETA: We'd like to attend MNSSHP (first one is on 9/15) but it's not a deal breaker.

 

[PrincessP]

Our family has traveled to WDW every week of September. The least crowded was last year....starting the Tuesday after Labor Day. With LD being nearly a week later this year, Sep. 7th v. The Sept. 1st date it was last year, I would say start Sept. 8th...or arrive on LD and be ready to start your park touring on the 8th. You would also get that Sept. 15th date in for MNSSHP since you are staying 2 weeks.

life circumstances for us have changed so I do not think Sept is an option for awhile. We just got back from a trip last weekend....and I MISS September trips already. You will love the low crowds! Have fun!

 

[glohoffman]

We are going the 13-19th...and that week and the week before seem the best as far as crowds. Just trying to mentally prepare for the heat! It will be our first September trip!

 

[Lucius Best]

I know that all of early September should be pretty good crowd-wise, so it's not a big deal. But I'm just curious which dates you all would choose.

ETA: We'd like to attend MNSSHP (first one is on 9/15) but it's not a deal breaker.

If MNSSHP is important, then I'd go mid-September. Personally I typically do not plan a trip around restaurants, I pick the dates and parks first, based on crowds/flights/etc, and then see what's available for ADRs. ADRs can also open up between now and then. Also if I really wanted CRT, and couldn't get 8am, I would grab whatever was available (I think every time we have eaten at CRT it was a 4pm early dinner).

It would make sense that first week of September might be a little more crowded this year because of late Labor Day, but I would hesitate to judge crowd levels based on ADR availability. Disney's dining system is kind of a mess, and you don't know how many ADRs they have made available, how many Free Dining offers they are giving out, etc.

 

[Ashley Marie]

Oh, we won't be basing our decision on dining reservations. We did CRT breakfast once, and that was enough, haha.

But I was wondering if the dining availability showing up was an indicator of crowd levels.

We are thinking 9/8-9/22, unless there's reason to believe the first week of Sept. will actually have lower crowds.

And yeah... not looking forward to the heat, but we'll be smart and try to take it easy to cool off. We have two little kids (3 year old and baby).

 

[MataHari22]

I am not sure if it's an indicator of crowd levels, or just because it's free dining. I am hoping the latter. We were talking about this for November, too. I think it's just that more people are doing table service since there is free dining going on. Though it is true that attendance is up at all times and super low crowd times are disappearing.

 

[kmn952]

We picked the week after Labor Day! Excited to see the Halloween party! I think all of September would be great though!

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

Our family has traveled to WDW every week of September. The least crowded was last year....starting the Tuesday after Labor Day. With LD being nearly a week later this year, Sep. 7th v. The Sept. 1st date it was last year, I would say start Sept. 8th...or arrive on LD and be ready to start your park touring on the 8th. You would also get that Sept. 15th date in for MNSSHP since you are staying 2 weeks.

life circumstances for us have changed so I do not think Sept is an option for awhile. We just got back from a trip last weekend....and I MISS September trips already. You will love the low crowds! Have fun!

I agree completely - whenever we can we go the Tuesday after Labor Day and stay for the week. Those 4 days (Tuesday - Friday) after Labor Day are IMO some of the quietest days at WDW. Now I love easywdw and plan trips around Josh's crowd calendar the rest of the year.....I don't know why he has the Labor Day week as 'higher' crowds than the rest of September....I trust him but have to go with my gut - we arrive Sept 8th!

 

[Ashley Marie]

But if you were staying for 2 weeks would you add on the week before 9/8 or the week after?

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[macraven]

i usually prefer the 3rd week in september but booked the last september week for my room this fall.
started doing adr's at the 180 mark and had issues trying to get everything i wanted at a time i preferred.

went back to readjust my adr's and now it is wide open for the places i really want.

very surprised so many places on my list are now available and i can switch adr's around.

i check touring plans for park crowds after i make adr's.

op, which ever week you decide on, you'll have a great time.

for me, the closer to the end of the month feels not as hot and humid.
but then, i'm so happy to be there, it could be in the 90's and rain and i would still have fun....

 

[ArmyVet80]

Almost all of our trips are mid/late september. We love the crowd levels, ADR's (usually) aren't hard to get, F&W Festival and MNSSHP. This year we are going Sept 19th to the 26th. Early flight in and the latest flight we could get out of MCO. They did change the start of the F&W Festival this year so we'll be there the first day and part of the 2nd. Both of which will be crowded since it will be a Friday and Saturday. We have our MNSSHP tickets for 9/20 which is a Sunday and we have had good luck with the crowds being lower on a Sunday party than a different day.

We got all of the ADR's we wanted for our trip but booked back in March. Only two of the ADR's times had to be modified by 30 minutes which wasn't a big deal.

 

[smidgy]

But if you were staying for 2 weeks would you add on the week before 9/8 or the week after?

Thanks for the feedback!

it depends if you want to be there for the halloween parties and the food and wine festival.
last fall (late sept.) they had started the food and winde festival eariler than they used to. we enjoyed the "eat to the beat " concerts (joDee Messina) bu5t we arent' really into the food and wine festival.. and they have started the halloween parties earlier and earlier. (kinda like the retail stores.... do you see 4th of July things? better start thinking Christamas shopping! lol)
the halloween parties can definietely put a damper on your plans.. also, early sept. the magic kingdom had the nights of Joy weekends (Christian music) which is also a hard ticketed event
I would definitely check out the WDW website calendar of events and plan accordingly. you dont' want to get surprised that the nly night you have planned for the MK, it is closed for Night of Joy or MNSSHP

 

[puffinp51]

Crowd Levels Our experience from last year in September!

We went last September, knowing it would be hot and humid, but ready to battle that in exchange for lower crowds. We did RD, hopped a lot, and took early afternoons off, but were expecting crowd levels of a 2 or 3, they were more like a 5 or 6. 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 in MK the week of Labor Day to over 40,000 in MK the week when we were there. Still a great time to go (if you don't mind heat or humidity) but just make sure you follow a plan, use FP+ and do RD!

 

[PirateFish989]

Almost all of our trips are mid/late september. We love the crowd levels, ADR's (usually) aren't hard to get, F&W Festival and MNSSHP. This year we are going Sept 19th to the 26th. Early flight in and the latest flight we could get out of MCO. They did change the start of the F&W Festival this year so we'll be there the first day and part of the 2nd. Both of which will be crowded since it will be a Friday and Saturday. We have our MNSSHP tickets for 9/20 which is a Sunday and we have had good luck with the crowds being lower on a Sunday party than a different day.

We got all of the ADR's we wanted for our trip but booked back in March. Only two of the ADR's times had to be modified by 30 minutes which wasn't a big deal.

I think we have twin trips! We are going September 19-27 and our MNSSHP tickets are for 9/20. We booked back in February and didn't have any issues getting ADR's either. Our first trip was in March 2014 so I'm excited to see the difference in crowd level. I'm not excited about the humidity (this Central California girl about died in Dallas this last weekend) but I think it will be a great trip no matter what! From all the research I've done, it should be a good week, crowd wise.

 

[jpeden]

My wife and I are going the 11th-15th of Sept. I've been tracking crowd calendars from both Easy WDW and Touring Plans and this looks to be a low crowd time (with MK even rated as a 1/10 a few times we are there). We chose this weekend b/c our wedding anniversary is on the 14th, but you should note that Night of Joy takes place the 11th and 12th, and thus limits you Magic Kingdom availability as it closes at 7PM on these nights (although this won't be a problem if you are going for two weeks). We are attending the first MNSSHP on the 15th so we will get in plenty of MK and not worried about the shorter days but if this is a concern, you may wish to arrive after that weekend.

 

[MmmSuite]

I went last year September 19-27 but I'm going 3-12 this year. I think the beginning will be lighter. I saw the wait times last year and the pictures posted on The Dis. While it was pretty quite and calm when I went, the beginning looked MUCH better. I'm going to give it go for the beginning of the month.

 

[ArmyVet80]

I think we have twin trips! We are going September 19-27 and our MNSSHP tickets are for 9/20. We booked back in February and didn't have any issues getting ADR's either. Our first trip was in March 2014 so I'm excited to see the difference in crowd level. I'm not excited about the humidity (this Central California girl about died in Dallas this last weekend) but I think it will be a great trip no matter what! From all the research I've done, it should be a good week, crowd wise.

You will definitely like the crowd levels. I have not been to WDW in March since I was 12. Only a short 23 years ago.. Hahaha. The heat/humidity can be a little overbearing but there are some afternoon rain showers that makes it a little more tolerable. We actually ride more rides when it rains because everyone seeks shelter.
I do a lot of research for our trips and even with the weather we really really like Sept.

 

[smidgy]

the one thing we HAVE found about september trips... the plus:: not a lot of families with kids.... school just started,etc.
the minus: TONS of STROLLERS!! the people without school age kids (or kids who are in kindergarten and 1st grade)will be there.
now I have NO idea what a mom and dad with a 2 month old and an 18 month old think they will get out of disney, but what ever. and if you have money to come every year or 2, go for it.
but I have tol MY kids (they are in their 30's) "take your kids out of school when they are young enough to still do it, and go in sept."
anyhow. there will be TONS of strollers (and I mean the RV of strollers) in sept.
but we still like sept... or DID until lately..
seems Disney doesn't like having any "slow times" anymore. (sigh, I guess they ARE a business) (pooh heads.. lol)
so the typical slow times they tried to ramp up in sept with the "free" dining. now they have started the food and wine festival much earlier. AND they have started the halloween parties darned near the labor day weekend!!!! (if I wore a flag for my costume, would that be unpatriotic? tee hee) or maybe in nov I could dress up as a Christmas tree? lol

sorry, I digress. I think sept is a great time to go.

 

[alicat130]

Well they've pushed back both eventS from start times last year. MNSSHP (starts on 15th) and Food and Wine (starts on 25th) this year. I hope it means the first half of the month is slower.