talk to me about October!! Please:)

[lroger01]

The increase of fall breaks caught a lot of people - including the crowd calendar makers - off guard last year. It seems most of the fall breaks were around Columbus day. I'm planning to go in October too but will wait until the new calendars are out before I finalize my dates.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Everyone's definition of "crowded" is different, so it's hard to give a definitive answer. I've gone the last week October for the last five years and always found the crowds to be very manageable, but it isn't a ghost town. With advanced research and smart touring, though, you should be able to hit all of the attractions with minimal waits. My average wait time for attractions is probably 15-20 minutes, which I consider to be very good.

Throw in MNSSP, F&W, and beautiful weather and it's my favorite time of the year to go.

I agree, although we go in the beginning of the month. We've gone the end of September/beginning of October the past two years and never had any issued with crowds. However, Epcot will be more crowded on weeknds during Food & Wine and non-party days at MK are busier because there are less opportunities to see MSEP and Wishes. I think the middle two weeks of the month are busier because of fall break. It is hot in the beginning of the month, but we don't mind.

 

[jkc0325]

We went last year from the 4th to the 14th and found the beginning of our trip to be very manageable. As we got to the 11th, it started to get much busier, so much so, that we left MK at about 10am and went back to our resort and had an awesome rest/pool day. (We needed it desperately, but didn't realize it until we were actually the pool and resting so it worked out perfectly for us) Returned for our BOG dinner and then left again. We went to the Darkside for the 12th and 13th and found those crowds very manageable, it helped that we had Express Passes. Spend our last day in Epcot and although it was definitely more crowded, we had an awesome last day. We knew to adjust our expectations. We saw only one tour group in that time and it was about 1/3 the size of the groups we saw on our July 2011 trip.

We never waited longer than 30 minutes for any ride and most of the time we waited 5-15 minutes, even for the headliners.

We thought it was a very successful trip. I was amazed to hear about how much the crowds exploded after we returned home.

Good luck with whatever you decide!!!

 

[scard192]

we were there last year Oct 19-26 (FD started up on the 18th after a break) and did not notice any tour groups. Parks did not seem overly busy; we were testing FP+ and pulled a few FP- as well. EPCOT WS was a mess due to F+W even mid week in the afternoon.

Only thing I did not care for was the fact that MNSSHP was scheduled 4 of the 6 days we were at the parks. We used Easy WDW to schedule our park days but had no choice but had to be at MK on a non recommended day to see Wishes and MSEP because there were only 2 nights we could do it.

Weather was much nicer than the heat of our previous September trip. Loved earlier May trips, around the 7th-17th.

 

[Collette]

I have loved October. My most recent October trips were 2009 (30-11/6), 2012 (12-18) and 2013 (16-21). Those last two trips were miserably hot and humid. The best time for warm weather and not so humid would be the last week/week and a half. My 2009 trip, I sometimes wore a light jacket at night.

That mid-October time does seem more crowded now. But it was the humidity that got me more than anything. I didn't see any tour groups either year.

I love MNSSHP and enjoy the Food and Wine Festival. Be sure to stay away from F&W on the weekends.

 

[ZoZo]

I've been several times in October, but not for a few years now. Here's my experience:

Pro's:

• F&W Festival (avoid the weekends because of the crowds)
• Halloween Party
• Manageable crowds (at least in my experience)
• Weather is usually good for swimming and waterparks.

Con's:

• Potential for very hot, humid weather. Some of my trips were fine, but others were extremely hot and humid.
• Potential for rain is greater than some other times of year. Luckily, most rain showers are short.
• It's hurricane season. I was at WDW for Hurricane Wilma in 2005. It wasn't too bad; we only got the outer edges of the storm.

I do recommend October, but would actually pick November instead because you have less of a chance of having that miserably hot and humid weather.

 

[Mr. Pig]

We go the last week in October (7 out of last 8 years). Sure it is busier than it was in the past but when isn't it. I sure would not call it as crowded as summer or holidays. I saw no South American tour groups although there are lots of Brits because they have school holiday around that time. We go to recommended parks generally and get there early and have no problems with crowds.

Generally the weather is great. Hurricane season is ending and it could be hot and humid but is usually cooling off without summer humidity. Last year we only had one day of rain.

 

[frozengurl]

I LOVE OCTOBER! I will agree with many posters here that the last week of October is the best week! I have never had an issue with crowds or groups! However, Epcot WS is pretty crowded w/ food & wine... For us w/ small children we just do one go around quickly, grab a bite, a drink, and come back later for illuminations! The MNSSHP is a blast,.. They do get a little more crowded the closer you get to Halloween for obvious reasons... We were at a sold out party last year and it was not nearly as bad as people made it out to be! We had a blast!
I'm going back this year but my DH is back in school right now finishing his masters so we now have to go during his break.... Which is that week of Columbus Day.... And after reading a few of these posts I'm a little nervous! :/

 

[Mightybee987]

We went in October last year from the 13th to 19th. It was our first visit and we had a great time. We only saw one tour group while we were there and it was at Animal Kingdom. My friend was at WDW the week before and they saw lots of tour groups and thought it was really crowded.

 

[Crispity]

We went last October 19-25, and we had a great time! We didn't see any tour groups, and the longest we ever waited in line was about 15 minutes. There were a few attractions with very long standby lines (Kilamanjaro safaris was 90 minutes at 10:30 on a most recommended day), but we used Fastpass for those.

I will agree with a pp that F and W was a zoo even mid-week in the afternoon. I would definitely go back in October, but I'd skip food and wine. Also, it was HOT the first few days we were there, although the last couple of days were quite pleasant. Have a great trip!