So am I going to be sorry I booked in September??

[ssledoux]

I picked September because I read it was a VERY UNcrowded time. I was assuming they were offering this dining plan because it was an uncrowded time.

However, every place I post about my trip, someone tells me they will be there when we will.

I understand that Disney is a HUGE place, but am I going to be sorry I went at this time? I don't expect to have no waits, but I chose an off-season to keep from fighting large crowds.

What are your experiences with this? Does the free dining increase the number of people in the park by a bunch? Would we be better off going in early December and paying for our food?

 

[mirmartinez]

I was wandering the same thing.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I picked September because I read it was a VERY UNcrowded time. I was assuming they were offering this dining plan because it was an uncrowded time.

However, every place I post about my trip, someone tells me they will be there when we will.

I understand that Disney is a HUGE place, but am I going to be sorry I went at this time? I don't expect to have no waits, but I chose an off-season to keep from fighting large crowds.

What are your experiences with this? Does the free dining increase the number of people in the park by a bunch? Would we be better off going in early December and paying for our food?

This is a copy of our trip report from last September. But, please note, that since we returned last September I have read literally hundreds of posts on the weather and crowds during free dining last year. Apparently, the week we were there was the most crowded and the hottest. We did have fun, but I think people should expect mediumish crowds and not low, so you won't be disappointed:

We went this past Sept. from 9/14 - 9/22. Now, don't get me wrong, we did have a great time. Afterall, it is Disney World and we are Disney fanatics, but we will never (and I mean never) go in September again. It was very crowded and very hot (I don't mean a little hot. I mean sweltering. When you came out of an air-conditioned ride and walked out in the heat it would take your breath way hot). I live in Alabama, I know what hot is and it was hot, hot hot. Did I mention it was hot?

It rained at least a little bit every afternoon we were there. On one day, without any warning, no menacing clouds or noticeable wind change, the sky just opened up and poured. It poured so hard, it was like the sky opened up and dumped a bucket of water on your head. There wasn't even time to put our ponchos on. By the time we drug everyone's ponchos out and put them on the rain stopped. We then left for our Ohana ADR looking like someone had just thrown us in the hotel pool - literally socked to the bone.

We did have awesome food on our trip. We ate at Chef Mickey's, Liberty Tree, Planet Hollywood, 50's Primetime Cafe, Garden Grill, Cinderella's Royal Table, Ohana (best meal we had), and Crystal Palce. We had ADRs for all and always had to wait at least 20 minutes for our table. Saw them turning away walk-ups at all restaurants. Counter service was not too crowded, but we tried to eat early around 11:30 a.m.

I am a faithful fan of the UG and if it weren't for knowing about their touring plans and knowing how to utilize the Fastpasss system the lines would not have been manageable. There was the occasion that you walked up to something in the late afternoon and there was only a 10 or 15 minute wait, but most of the headliners kept 30 minute or more waits. At MK on our last day Space Mountain had a 75 minute wait at 3:30 p.m! Now, to you Christmas week, Easter week, or July 4th people that probably doesn't sound too bad, but we specifically booked these dates for low crowds, and there were not low crowds maybe medium-ish.

When we left we had every intention of booking the Free Dining bounceback for next September that they were offering, but after the terrible heat and crowds my husband said he would happily pay the $1300 we saved on this trip and put it towards a slower, cooler time to visit.

We have previously been at the end of January into the first part of February and have also been end of November into first of December and those are the times we will be planning our future WDW vacations.

I don't want to rain on anybody's September Free Dining parade (excuse the pun), but I wanted to be honest about the heat and crowds so others will know what to expect and not be disappointed.

 

[dsnygirl2006]

We have been there the past 2 years in September during the free dining, the only place we had to wait was at the restaurants, we would sometimes have to wait 20-30 past our ressie time, but as far as rides, we didn't wait more than 20 min on anything, there were a lot of people in the parks and I would agree with PP, that crowd levels were medium-ish, but there were hardly any wait times on attractions, Space Mountain was a 5 min wait and we walked on most things, I rode BTM about 3 times in a row one night that we were in MK without waiting and same for SM...it was great, and has been the past 2 years..I love september

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

I went last Sept 20-27, this past January 24-28, and just got back from May 7-12th. I can say that Sept was the LEAST crowded of those 3 trips.

The weather in Sept is HOT, very hot (90-95 dgrees) but if you have spray fans and take breaks in the aftrnoon it is not unbearable. Just don't go to Animal Kingdom. It did rain almost every afternoon, which we thought was a welcome cool down.

In Sept there was not more than a 20 minute wait on anything except the big rides like Soarin, Everest, RNRRC. To me, the least amount of crowds is worth anything, including bearing the heat. We were able to wake Tink with no competition and no early entry. We had the greatest MNSSHP EVER with an empty park and rides all were literal walk ons.

In Jan the waits were horrendous (30+ at a minimum) and the park was full of Brazailian tour groups. That's their summer break. Now, not only did we have long waits, but I must say the crowds were quite rude (immature). We had a little rain and the weather was between 65-75 degrees (very nice!). The PNPP we attended was packed!

In May it seemed to be half way between Jan & Sept. More crowds than Sept but less than Jan. It didn't rain at all but it was HOT, 90+ each and every day. We had one commando day that almost killed me but by then we learned to go back to the hotel for pool time (almost) every day. The PNPP we attended was a walk on for everything.

I hope this helps. I know everyone's experience seems to be different. But I have booked free dining and I am excited, you should be too! There are no more SLOW times at WDW anymore but plan accordingly, subscribe to TGM if you can, avoid EMH evenings (I've always had good luck with EMH ams), stay flexible and take breaks. Your trip is what you make out of it and although we each spend a lot of $$ to go to Disney, being with your family and enjoying the magic is what it's all about!

 

[KatMark]

We have gone the first week of September the last three trips and would go at no other time. We find the crowds very manageable. We were there September 1 - 8 last year. The most crowded of the days was the Sunday before Labor Day (September 2) and the Magic Kingdom was crowded...but we were still able to do a lot of attractions. On average, every other day, we waited 10 minutes for an attraction with the exception of the mountains (Space, Splash, Thunder, Expedition) where we waited 30 minutes and 40 minutes for Soarin'. However, we rode all of those rides at least three times during the trip and took advantage of fast pass. We did find the restaurants to be much more crowded. However, we never waited 5 minutes beyond our ADR time (with the exception of dinner at Boatwright's where we waited 40 minutes--I think this was an omen for the entire meal--as it was the worse meal we ever have had at Disney and we will never go back). It was very hot last year--average of 95 a day with high humidity. It did not bother us. We just drank a lot of water and went to the pool at our resort (CSR) every afternoon (I often took a nap) and then went back to the parks in time for our dinner ADR and more rides. We love this time of year.

 

[Microcell]

We have gone the past three years in September, and while I will admit the crowds have gotten larger the past year or so, it was still more manageable than June or President's weekend!

The only ride where we had waits was Soarin, but we are not Space or Splash people so we probably have that in our favor ride wise.

The rain was every afternoon but just for a little bit and it was refreshing!

We usually have heat here in Missouri until we go to WDW, so it is like an extension of our summer when we go (in Aug around here it is usually in the 90's every day, and more of the same in Fl with a little bit more humidity). I grew up in Michigan so the weather change from anytime in the summer to fall in florida is probably a 30 degree upswing. So the heat is really a function of what you are used to.

Have fun and expect that it might be some wait, but I wouldn't wait over 20 min for anything no matter when I go.

 

[raven69david]

We did it once for Magical Beginnings from end of August to early September and we will NEVER do it again. There are discounts during that time because it's HOT and HUMID (and i'm sure that's a big factor why it's slower, other than kids going back to school). My DD2 at the time got dehydrated even though we thought she was getting enough liquids. It was so bad that we'd break out in a huge sweat simply by just walking outside of the resort for 30 seconds and we're lean & fit people. The heat & humidity was awful and we'll never go back. We'll stick to our customary 2nd week of December and never worry about that miserable time again.

My story may be unique and i'm sure many more will say that their trip in August/September/October was great without any issues, but that certainly wasn't the case for us. Florida weather is pretty predictable so you should be prepared for it by staying hydrated, using sunblock/sunscreen and wearing light colored clothes. Best of luck.

P.S.
For this reason we canceled our bounceback for September of this year and decided to only go in December.

 

[Disney's Fab 4]

Hot and Humid.. yes, definately!!!!

crowds... ummmm, nope!
Almost no lines... I mean once in a while you will hit a long line for a big tic ride aka Soarin and EE but not bad at all !!!! We did free dining last year and even then... no waits either... As long as you are good with the heat.. you will be very happy with September.... IMO

 

[5 for WDW]

PrincessTiffany and I were there at the same time. We were there September 13-22nd.
We seem to have the same opinion of that week. Which seems by all reports, to have been busier then other weeks Free Dining was offered.
We went in September for the past 12 years. We were so surprised by the crowds compared to previous years that we have given up on September for now.
But, unless you went in September and are used to how it used to be, you probably won't be disapointed. But, as others have said, the parks will not be empty. We still had a wonerful vacation. We are just spoiled by the ghost town September used to be.
I hope you have low crowds and a great time!!