September post Labor Day crowds and planning

[AustinTink]

Hi y’all- We are thinking about a quick trip to WDW to check out Tron in September. We haven’t been to WDW in a long time, a dozen years or so. We switched over to DLR as our home park back then. But now, Tron has arrived and y DH is dying to go see it.

My question is this: September after Labor Day used to be pretty calm at WDW. Is that still the case?

I’m paging through this section of the Dis and it’s like a whole new language to me. The last time we went to WDW magic bands were not even released yet! I’d appreciate any tips you can give me since I’m like a newbie at this point.

We will likely do 2 full days and one half day and stay at one of the Epcot area hotels. That used to be our preferred area. We will focus on 1) Tron 2) MNSSHP 3)Epcot.

We will skip DHS since we go to DLR/California Adventure every year and it’s a lot of the same rides. Will skip Animal Kingdom as well since it’s our least favorite park.

We are just returning from a very long trip this month so we will be looking to keep this WDW trip to a long weekend. Is 2.5 parks days doable these days or am I nuts to even try?

 

[icc2515]

There are no slow times anymore. It is always busy. You will still have fun. It will be really hot and humid.

You really should go to AK. Pandora is truly spectacular, especially at night. Even if you don't want to go on Flight of Passage the land is great to look at.

 

[PalmettoPath]

In our experience, yes, it is still a good time to go. Pretty much all kids in NA are back in school at that time, so mid-week days in the second-third week of the month should be good (they were for us last year). It is definitely lighter crowds than the the major travel periods for sure, but it's not empty either. Pay attention to days when the Halloween Party is on at MK, as that is a bit of a red herring to consider (park will be closed for the ticketed event). Still, generally speaking, it remains among the best times of year to visit in our experience.

 

[danceintherain]

I've switched to DLR as my "home" park too...mostly. It's just so much easier than WDW. Flights of Passage is my favorite ride at WDW, so I think it's worth a trip into AK.
Beyond that, I think 2.5 days should be ok....especially if you're traveling west to east so night hours will be more doable.

 

[scrappinginontario]

September will be quieter than other times but as others have shared, nothing like the September’s of old where you felt like you had the park you yourselves. It will be extremely hot and humid and thunderstorms are often a daily occurrence.

MK is best to visit on a party day for the lowest crowds but will also mean having to leave the park by 6PM so unable to experience the park at night and fireworks.

We’ve visited in Sep over 10 times and love it!

 

[nw6675]

It's "better", but not low. As a PP said, it's always busy. Food & Wine. Halloween parties. Also keep in mind the possible hurricane weather.

But, that being said - I'd still go and have a blast. Some of our best trips were at that time.

 

[StageTek]

My question is this: September after Labor Day used to be pretty calm at WDW. Is that still the case?

Still pretty calm. But not the calm you experienced a dozen years or so ago. I have gone to The World the week after Labor Day every year for the past 14 years.

Is 2.5 parks days doable these days or am I nuts to even try?

2.5 days is very doable at this point. You are not nuts to try it. Be sure to check out the Food and Wine booths!

 

[SleeplessInTO]

The crowds are very manageable if you don’t mind the weather.

A long weekend is very doable.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Minus the awful weather, September is a great time to go crowd wise. Avoid Epcot on friday nights and saturday as that park is a zoo regardless of the time of year on those days. Locals LOVE coming in for the festivals and general "drinking around the world".

 

[focusondisney]

Be aware, Rosh Hashanah is Sept 15-17 & Yom Kippur is the 24-25th. Some schools are off those days. I’ve seen slightly higher crowds when those holidays were during my stays. Many people will take advantage of the long weekend.

 

[NileNellie]

There are no slow times anymore. It is always busy. You will still have fun. It will be really hot and humid.

You really should go to AK. Pandora is truly spectacular, especially at night. Even if you don't want to go on Flight of Passage the land is great to look at.

I'm not sure that is the case anymore, at least for 2023. The parks have been blessedly empty lately.

 

[AustinTink]

In our experience, yes, it is still a good time to go. Pretty much all kids in NA are back in school at that time, so mid-week days in the second-third week of the month should be good (they were for us last year). It is definitely lighter crowds than the the major travel periods for sure, but it's not empty either. Pay attention to days when the Halloween Party is on at MK, as that is a bit of a red herring to consider (park will be closed for the ticketed event). Still, generally speaking, it remains among the best times of year to visit in our experience.

That sounds like what I imagined it would be crowd wise. We are going to buy the MNSSHP tickets for the Halloween party, so I figure we will have a lighter crowd at least that night. I remember our first Halloween party more than a dozen years ago it was soooo empty. I’ve read here that the parties are more crowded now.

 

[AustinTink]

I'm not sure that is the case anymore, at least for 2023. The parks have been blessedly empty lately.

That’s promising news! Blessedly empty sounds blissful.

 

[AustinTink]

Be aware, Rosh Hashanah is Sept 15-17 & Yom Kippur is the 24-25th. Some schools are off those days. I’ve seen slightly higher crowds when those holidays were during my stays. Many people will take advantage of the long weekend.

Those dates won’t effect us thankfully.

 

[AustinTink]

The crowds are very manageable if you don’t mind the weather.

A long weekend is very doable.

I was hoping the weather would be cooler by mid-Septmeber. We’ve visited early October before and it was pleasant.

 

[AustinTink]

Still pretty calm. But not the calm you experienced a dozen years or so ago. I have gone to The World the week after Labor Day every year for the past 14 years.

2.5 days is very doable at this point. You are not nuts to try it. Be sure to check out the Food and Wine booths!

We’ve never been for the Food and Wine festival before. This will be a plus for us even though it will be crowded I’m sure.

Yes a dozen or more years ago we went in early October and had the place to ourselves. Same for Spring Break 2008. It was so empty at Epcot we kept running into the same two families from our school here in Texas and saying, “where is everyone??!!”.

 

[focusondisney]

I'm not sure that is the case anymore, at least for 2023. The parks have been blessedly empty lately.

It wasn’t empty when we were there in January or April. Crowds were 6-8 in January on TP. Spring break February - March were normal high spring break crowds. Maybe the last few weeks have been less compared to earlier in the year. But it‘s not unusual for early May to be a little quieter either.

 

[PalmettoPath]

That sounds like what I imagined it would be crowd wise. We are going to buy the MNSSHP tickets for the Halloween party, so I figure we will have a lighter crowd at least that night. I remember our first Halloween party more than a dozen years ago it was soooo empty. I’ve read here that the parties are more crowded now.

Definitely more crowded now, but still fun

 

[AustinTink]

Definitely more crowded now, but still fun

Are there lines for things now? When we went last everything was walk on.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Are there lines for things now? When we went last everything was walk on.

Rarely are attractions walk-ons right now with the exception of the first few minutes of the day and some attractions late at night.

If it were me I would plan to wait for all attractions then be surprised if anything was a walk-on.