Spoiled by September Crowds?

[Sarah McD]

I just got back from my very first Disney vacation and I'm totally obsessed now. I went September 6th to 13th and there were very minimal lines, we pretty much walked on everything and the longest wait was 30 minutes at Test Track.

If I had the choice, I would only go back in September, forever. But my boyfriend is going to be a teacher and missing the second week of work isn't an option. If I was to go at a different time, how much of a waiting wake up call am I in for? If I went in January or May, would there be a huge difference?

 

[disneymom0104]

I'm not sure, but we love Sept. for the same reason. It is great! We didn't wait in any line at all, really- between rope drop and FP+. We have only gone in Sept. (we were there 8/31-9/11) and one week in early May. It was not bad, either- but not as empty as Sept. Ultimately I think a good touring plan goes a long way- and the touring plan is more important when the crowds are higher (we have had some crazy crowds at DL).

 

[Sarah McD]

I'm not sure, but we love Sept. for the same reason. It is great! We didn't wait in any line at all, really- between rope drop and FP+. We have only gone in Sept. (we were there 8/31-9/11) and one week in early May. It was not bad, either- but not as empty as Sept. Ultimately I think a good touring plan goes a long way- and the touring plan is more important when the crowds are higher (we have had some crazy crowds at DL).

If it was up to me, I would only go in September. Being able to go on every ride I wanted to multiple times and even having our own log on Splash Mountain was really great. Super proud that he's going to grad school but a little bit selfishly disappointed about missing September at Disney.

Early May was another time I was considering based on crowd calendars. I was also thinking about January but living in New England means we would have to worry about snow and flight issues. But I never thought of a touring plan as a way to combat crowds, thank you for that! Makes me feel a little bit better about going at a more crowded time!

 

[Alesia]

I'd take May over September every single time. The crowds are about the same and the weather is typically better.

Some weeks in January are busy, some aren't. The weather can be pretty chilly.

 

[JRennie]

May is a beautiful time of year to go! Moderate/low crowds and the flower and garden festival

 

[Sarah McD]

I'd take May over September every single time. The crowds are about the same and the weather is typically better.

Some weeks in January are busy, some aren't. The weather can be pretty chilly.

How chilly? Like light sweater? Can you still swim? And thanks for your input, guess I need to reconsider May!

 

[Sarah McD]

May is a beautiful time of year to go! Moderate/low crowds and the flower and garden festival

Ohhhh flower and garden, totally forgot about that! Aside from awesome topiaries, what does flower and garden have? I'm totally clueless, I never looked into it because I was always going to go in September but now I'm feeling a bit more optimistic about May

 

[Alesia]

How chilly? Like light sweater? Can you still swim? And thanks for your input, guess I need to reconsider May!

Sometimes you can get away with a light sweater, sometimes you need a winter coat. Nighttime lows are generally in the upper 40s to lower 50s.

I wouldn't plan on being able to swim in January.

 

[Accident]

i'm not sure you can rely on September being uncrowded. Traditionally it was a quiet month and then frozen came out and that changed everything with crowds and more to the point, nonstop crowds. This year in spring it just suddenly dropped and while more crowded in the summer it wasn't like it was pre-frozen and definitely not like it was during the frozen years.. I do agree it's been really nice in the parks though with some days being minor exceptions.

You say going to be a teacher, does that mean he's graduating or not expecting to start until next sept? in that case, I'd aim for flower and garden but not the weeks surrounding easter. so around mid march or mid to late april. april being more safe as this march was the first time it started that early, and the flowers are just planted so they don't really fill out until april anyway if you want to see epcot in it's best clothing.

I think that time frame is also safe in case disney throws out some surprise that avatar will be opening earlier than people think.. that new land is going to be a game changer in crowds with it being as popular a movie as it was and many non-disney fans who are going to come check out disney for the first time who would have never come otherwise..

 

[Accident]

How chilly? Like light sweater? Can you still swim? And thanks for your input, guess I need to reconsider May!

I would swim in jan but it would not be something to do outside of high noon for me. if the overnights are expected to hit freezing, it's not shocking to hear the water rides and water parks are not operational to protect them from frost. Splash mountain is always closed for a light refurb/cleaning in jan (and because of overnight temps). It's going to be wear layers weather but doesn't mean the water isn't warmer. It's not a suntanning time of year.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

We went the first week of May this year. It was also great. The lines weren't bad, the temperature much better, and it was Flower and Garden. Though I also love my September trips, I really enjoyed May.

Flower and Garden, besides being beautiful, also has kiosks set up with beverages, different food items, and much like Food and Wine but without the emphasis being on, well, food and wine. Way less crowded. I didn't feel as if I had to stand in the long lines I saw at Food and Wine.

ETA: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/epcot-international-flower-and-garden-festival/

An example of the outdoor kitchens:
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2016-...tival-outdoor-kitchens-menus-and-food-photos/

 

[Sarah McD]

Thank you everyone for your replies, you have really helped me out! I definitely want to check out May at some point, flower and garden sounds like a lot of fun with much better weather than January!

 

[kelma]

January can be completely unpredictable. We went a few years ago and it was below 30 and icing/snowing for the beginning of the trip (such a pain to remove coats, scarves, hats, and gloves EVERY time we wanted to ride an indoor ride) to 70 and beautiful the day we left. I would stick to September or May when you're pretty much guaranteed good weather .

 

[Surgie2]

This is going a few years back...but we had a miserably cold visit one year the first week of January. No one could believe the pictures of us bundled up in our North Face fleece coats, hats, scarves and gloves sipping hot chocolate with Cinderella's Castle in the background. Never again in January for us!

 

[magicwdw]

I guess I am in the minority when I say January is a great month to go. I have been the 3rd or 4th week of January every year for maybe the last 10 years. There are some cool/cold days for sure, but the crowds are low. I also enjoy May and September but it gets too hot for me.

 

[ConnecticutFlea]

I have never been to WDW in January, but I've been there in December and February. Some years were really cold, others beautiful and in the 80's.
I have been in May twice. It was warm and I wore shorts all week even at night. The crowds weren't bad. By early afternoon there were lines for the headliners.

 

[hulagirl87]

I've been in both January and May. I vote for either. I like the temperature in January because coming from upstate NY where it is snowing that time of year and being able to wear short sleeves, or even a light sweater is awesome. Plus the crowds don't seem that bad unless it's marathon time. May is beautiful. Not overly hot and as another mentioned, the Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot is fantastic!

 

[Sugart]

How chilly? Like light sweater? Can you still swim? And thanks for your input, guess I need to reconsider May!

We are usually Last week of January, first week of February people and swimming is hit or miss. My suggestion would be don't plan a pool day. We made this mistake on one of our first trips and it didn't work. Now we just make general plans, rope drop and back to the resort or stay all day. We ve have highs of 60 one day and the next in the 80s.

 

[Sarah McD]

I guess I am in the minority when I say January is a great month to go. I have been the 3rd or 4th week of January every year for maybe the last 10 years. There are some cool/cold days for sure, but the crowds are low. I also enjoy May and September but it gets too hot for me.

Are you from a place where it snows? I like the cold so January sounds nice, but I'm paranoid about having a flight cancelled or delayed due to snow/ice.

 

[tinkerbella16]

We were spoiled as well. We were there 9/3-9/10 and the crowds were great. After Labor Day, they disappeared. We never waited for anything. We usually go in mid November, and wow what a difference September was! We are going back next year, 9/3-9/12 and can't wait. I'll gladly take the heat for lower crowds. We even got spoiled with the weather on a few days this trip! It only rained twice and there were 3 days where the humidity was gone and the sun was shining and it was nice and breezy at night.

I have heard great things about May. I would love to go during Flower & Garden.