Tell me about October

[bunnyfoo]

I may have to postpone our May trip to October because of a new project that may start up at work.

I know there's Mickey's Halloween Party and the Food and Wine Festival and I'm wondering what the crowds will be like. We'll also be there over Columbus Day/Canadian Thanksgiving... do the crowds pick up significantly over that weekend?

Any tips/comments you can pass along would be most appreciated! TIA

 

[3for Me]

I can not comment on columbus day - but I did hear the crowds were heavier than the rest of the month -


However....


Everyone, myself included, was very worried about crowds this October due to Fairytale package, etc... We were there Oct.21-29 and I have to say the crowds were very light in my opinion. We never really had a wait of any significance for any rides and hardly ever had to use fastpass.

Although we had some difficulty getting PS times from home, once we got there it was a piece of cake. The weather was so mild that our kids swam every day.

Crowds at Epcot on Saturday for F&W were heavier than I have seen during the off season, but still not bad at all - VERY tolerable!! Mostly it was lines at the food kiosks, but not really for any ride other than Test Track and as usual that was due to its continuously breaking down more than anything else.

Hope that helps!

 

[tink2]

How's the October weather? We're considering going over our Fall Break- first week in October. We usually go Thanksgiving week and love the weather. I'm afraid the weather will be hotter and possibly rainier. We love Thanksgiving week, but the crowds were the heaviest we have ever seen them this year and may change our plans for next year.

 

[sarivers]

We arrived the Tuesday before Columbus Day and left the Tuesday after this year. Crowds were light to moderate throughout the parks until the Sunday prior to CD. By Columbus Day itself (Monday) crowds were (to me) unbearable compared to the rest our time there. We stayed at ASMo and used EMH at MK and MGM.

I should mention that during the week we were there, the Fairy Tale package was in full swing, Mickey's Philharmagic debuted the week before our arrival, Wishes debuted during our stay (although they had done several previews), and the press event for Mission:Space was held at Epcot, all of which certainly had an impact on crowds.

Also, the weather can be fickle. Columbus Day was the hottest day of our week, high near 95 and humid. However, we did Typhoon Lagoon the Friday before and had a couple of shivering kids because it was cool and somewhat overcast. If we had it to do again, I would have been more flexible about our schedule and gone to TL on the 95 degree day.

Hope this helps you.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

When we were there last October (10/24 - 10/31) I thought the crowds were very manageable. It definitely seemed busy - but it didn't feel crowded at all. F&W festival was ligfhter during the week (vs. weekends) and MNSSHP was a BLAST! We walked on to most the rides that night!

I think October will be one of our new vacation times - permanently!

D4D

 

[webray]

October can be manageable as long as you aren't there the week the food/wine festival, mickeys party and the golf tournament cross...crowds are like summer that time of the year.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Originally posted by webray
October can be manageable as long as you aren't there the week the food/wine festival, mickeys party and the golf tournament cross...crowds are like summer that time of the year.

Wow! Sounds like there's lots going on in October ... Do you know where I can find out about the golf tournament schedule? I read on Deb's site that the 2004 Food and Wine Fest is scheduled to run for 45 days starting at the beginning of October so that's probably going to be unavoidable for us...

 

[3for Me]

bunnyfoo -

don't know where you could get those dates this early - however - although it does seem like a lot and webray is right that they can and do all cross over one another - I believe this was the case for us this October and I promise you it was just not bad.

Golfers are golfing during the day and the people that come with them must go to watch because we honestly did not see them in the parks. Food and wine people must be sticking to Epcot mostly and MNSSHP was crowded but soooo managable. We walked on to every ride both nights we were there. You just have to have a plan.

 

[nowellsl]

We were there in October during the golf tournament and we went expecting big crowds. It was such a relief to get there and see that the crowds weren't bad at all. I would compare it to the crowds we encountered in May. The highlight of the trip was definately MNSSHP!! We had a blast! I definately plan to go back this October.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Originally posted by 3for Me
bunnyfoo -

don't know where you could get those dates this early - however - although it does seem like a lot and webray is right that they can and do all cross over one another - I believe this was the case for us this October and I promise you it was just not bad.

Golfers are golfing during the day and the people that come with them must go to watch because we honestly did not see them in the parks. Food and wine people must be sticking to Epcot mostly and MNSSHP was crowded but soooo managable. We walked on to every ride both nights we were there. You just have to have a plan.

3for Me, I found the Food and Wine Festival info here:
http://allearsnet.com/tp/ep/foodwine.htm

If the crowds are like May crowds, then that's perfect for me