September hours?

[MLbooks]

Anyone else dying to know September hours? I figured they would be out by now.

I want to continue planning my WDW vacation - but with real hours!

Can't wait!!!!

Oh yeah - now I can see my countdown too!

Mary

 

[BlessedMomOfTwo]

Yes, I am very anxious to see them too! We are going mid-September.

 

[Gillian]

I'll guess for you - short!

 

[dturner]

Last year, mid-September no park was open past 7:00pm except for Saturday and the MK was too crowded to do anything on Saturday.

I'm waiting too for September hours.

 

[disobsessed]

I, too, am impatiently wating for Sept hours. I am hoping they may be a little longer than in years past because of the FTP, but we'll see.

 

[jkovick]

I am waiting too! I keep checking but nothing so far.

 

[therealgoofy]

I have no problem with the short hours. When I've gone in Sept. previously, we had no problem doing everything 2 and 3 times.
By everything, I mean the larger attractions that I wanted to do. The short hours give you plenty of time to enjoy a nice 8 o'clock dinner without feeling guilty for leaving the parks. Personally, I'd take the shorter hours over a packed park anyday.

tRG

 

[Pat_Elliott]

A couple September opinions, starting with "lucky, lucky you."

First, Epcot still stays open until 9 PM for Illuminations. FW closes at 6, but Honey I Shrunk the Kids, Spaceship Earth, TT, and I THINK Universe of Energy stay open until 9. WS is open unti Illuminations. And on a Saturday, MK will stay open until 9, then have FITS. But I have to agree with dturner, MK is nuts on a Saturday, amazing since you have to hunt for people any other day.

We LOVE September. We've found despite decreased hours, the lack of a crowd means we can get more done on your average 8 hour day in September than a 14 hour day in July.

Our strategy last September: Pick a park a day (ANYTHING but MK on Saturday). On Saturday, we went to MK around 6:30, staked out a spot, and watched Spectro and FITS. All other nights, we went to Epcot and/or PI, usually both. Epcot at night in September is just a dream. Do ANYTHING you want.

Also, check out a waterpark on a Tuesday or Wednesday in September. You'll own the place.

In short, the lower hours in September are simply insignificant compared to the time and stress savings caused by no lines. Yeah, you loose some shows and parades, it's a trade-off. Personally, it's my favorite time. Hope it becomes yours!

Pat

 

[Wyndale]

and she said that they would try to post the hours for Sept. after July 4th. Usually it's only about 40 to 45 days ahead.

I can only imagine how hard it would be to schedule the hours this year because so many took advantage of FTP. I'm hoping the crowds aren't too bad, but after all...I'm Going To Disney World!!!!!

Yipee!!!!!

er, ah...I mean cool.

 

[tc]

I agree with Pat_Elliott, the shorter hours are really no big deal. I would, however, like to see what they are doing with the hours, so I know what to expect with crowds because of the FTP. If they extend a lot of the park hours, it means they expect the parks to be busier. I am not real happy with that. I have enjoyed a number of quiet Septembers, and prefer that over more crowds and more hours. I would like to see an enight. We haven't seen an enight in September since just after 9/11.

Wyndale: thanks for the info from the cm. I'll be sure to check back next week. Going to Kansas for the 4th, and have no Internet while at my daughter's.

 

[helenk]

tc
I'm with you on an e-night, that would be so nice. It would makes seeing the attractions in the MK at bit easier, when you know you got that "extra night"

The August hours were posted rather early so I was hoping for the same for September, but we will all just have to sit and wait.

I hope the FTP does not have too much of an impact on the parks, I chose September because I figured the parents would not be taking their children out of school so early in the school year. We went in Sept in '99 the last week of September into the first week of October and the longest we waited for anything was 20 minutes. I was hoping for the same luck this year.

 

[hightown]

Another one anxiously awaiting....

We've only gone in November so would really like a little longer hours for a change but not getting my hopes up.

With going 9/1-9/8 however, it's still going to be very hot and we'll definately take breaks in heat of the day unlike November when we could be at the parks all day. So unless hours are longer than our November trips, we really loose park time.

Plus with this Nights of Joy thing we want to avoide MK like the plague both Friday and Saturday so there goes Spectro and FITS for us probably. (OK, call the WAAAAAAAAAmbulance)

When I found out about the NOJ deal (after airfare booked) I wrote to Disney and just said how wonderful it would be to have an E night 9/2 since that following weekend is shot for for the 'magic of MK at night'. If that comes to pass, you can all thank me later (kidding)

 

[normmo]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who is anxiously waiting for the hours! It makes the trip seem more real once you know how long you'll be in the parks, etc.. I've never been in September - how rainy is it? Is MK okay crowdwise on Sundays? Is it crazy to want to start packing now?

Must get a grip.....

 

[Gillian]

Last year there were no fireworks or spectro scheduled for the weekend of nights of joy (1st weekend after labor day). I don' t know if they had them for people who attended that event.

This past year everything closed early - MK at 6, AK at 5, FW at 6 (but might be 5 this year), MGM a little later with 1 showing of fantasmic every night.

It was hot & humid, but because the crowds are small, it's not so much of a problem. It's easy to go slowly, and the heat is less annoying when you aren't standing on long lines. Most of the time fastpass wasn't even in use, except for things like Pooh.

I don't think you'll have a problem taking an afternoon break. We were there with a 2 year old and usually stayed out at 1 park until early afternoon. Sometimes he napped in his stroller, sometimes not. Then we would go back to the room for a break and dinner. At night we would do Epcot or MGM or the boardwalk. One night we went to see Cirque.

It's a very relaxing time.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Originally posted by normmo
I've never been in September - how rainy is it? Is MK okay crowdwise on Sundays? Is it crazy to want to start packing now?

Must get a grip.....

The good news: MK is fine on a Sunday. Avoid Saturdays (accept for after six if you want to see FITS), but Sundays have always seemed like an "ok day." Of course, none of us know what it will look like with the FTP, but I can't imagine it's going to have that great an affect. Bottom line is families, who must make up at least half of a normal Disney crowd, have just put their kids back into school the first week in September.

As for rain, it WILL rain in September, but don't let people scare you about that. First, it only seems to rain for about a half hour each afternoon. And when it comes, you'll be grateful. It cools things down. We were always adventurous. We had good rain gear, and while everyone else sat at the exits of their last attraction, we'd head off to the next. And watch for the rainbows, they're wonderful.

As for packing, I'm not totally sure when we'll go on our next trip, but I still keep an overnight bag packed at all times. Just in case! Don't tell anyone....

Pat

 

[normmo]

Originally posted by Pat_Elliott
[As for packing, I'm not totally sure when we'll go on our next trip, but I still keep an overnight bag packed at all times. Just in case! Don't tell anyone....

I'm so relieved that I'm not alone! My carry on bag already has some stuff packed.

 

[kcatoir]

also waiting anxiously!!
Sept 21-25th
also hoping FTP crowds are minimal


K.C.

 

[rctac]

This might seem like a dumb question but people keep talking about FTP... What is FTP mean?

 

[hucifer]

Originally posted by rctac
This might seem like a dumb question but people keep talking about FTP... What is FTP mean?

Not a dumb question!
FTP is the Fairy Tale Package that Disney put out this year. It's a -- correct me if I'm wrong -- 7-night stay for the price of 4.

Obviously this is a great deal. So we September folks, who choose September for the reason that crowds are nonexistent, are terrified that lots of people will take advantage of the FTP (and why not? It's a great deal!), which obviously will impact the size of the crowds.

 

[MLbooks]

Hi there rctac -

Welcome to the DIS Boards! You will find incredible people here with incredible amounts of information all about Disney. I check these boards every day planning our vacation in September (hence the thread on September hours)...

Anyway, the FTP is the Fairy Tale Package that Disney recently offered (it expired on 6/29). (I think it was good for travel through 7/1 - 10/31). Purchase a 4-day package at a Disney resort with an unlimited Park Hopper Pass and get 3 days of resort and package for free. This package encouraged LOTS of people who might have been putting off a trip to Disney to get on the phone and call. So we anticipate more visitors to Disney.

Mary