September/October 2014-when to go?

[Rienchen]

Mum and I went to WDW Easter 2006 and May 2012, we want to go back in 2014 but thought about going slightly later that year.
The weather was gorgeous last year, though quite a fair amount of rain and it looks like it's the same again this year. Also don't really fancy the love bugs...

I'd like to go in September or October 2014, I wouldn't mind avoiding Food&Wine Festival due to the crowds but seeing the parks decorated for Halloween would be lovely too.
So we're torn.

We were going to do Coronado Springs with QSDP, we don't want to upgrade to the DDP.
But something to consider would be seeing if we can get a U.S. deal for free dining in a value resort as all we would want is QSDP anyway...

 

[scoobydooby]

October is getting further away from the rainy season.

 

[wilma-bride]

We have been in both September and October.

In terms of avoiding crowds, September would be the best option as the kids are all back at school and the parks are fairly quiet.

The first time we went in September 2004, it was just after a major hurricane had passed through and the parks were eerily quiet. One morning, at Epcot, we walked almost halfway around World Showcase without even seeing another person (other than CMs).

Unless you plan to attend one of the Halloween parties, I don't really see any advantage to visiting in October since the parks aren't decorated that much for Halloween. In fact, I don't recall seeing Halloween decorations at any park except Magic Kingdom anyway (maybe that's just my poor memory)

The Food & Wine Festival, in my opinion, IS worth visiting for though, and, as long as you avoid weekends, it's not that crowded.

 

[Elise79]

This year US free dining is only for arrivals in September (at the moment) so bare that in mind if think you might switch.

I would choose the last 2 weeks in September personally. Low crowds & the start of F&W.

The only park that is decorated for Halloween in MK and even then it is only main street. The rest of the 'decorations' for the parties are light effect mainly.

 

[tinkerpea]

We always go the last 2 wks of September or the last wk into the at 2 wks of October, always been perfect weather sometimes rained late at night but cleared by the morning, its hot and we love pools and water parks so we need it hot!

In 2010 we did have 2 days of really stormy weather out of our 3 wks but it had break through sun of a few hours each day, last yr we had to go later and so didn't leave until the 8th of October and on our last wk it was so cold we had to all go and buy jumpers to do Universal it was blowing up for a storm or the tail end of the hurricane ( can't remember the name of it) but it was horrid for our last 3 days

We will def go back to September again or may for our next trip.