Tell me about WDW in Sept.

[GigiDisneyfreak]

I have been to WDW many times but never in Sept. I am curious what the parks are like crowd wise. I will be there the 12th-21st. I know it will be hot so I am planning to go back to the hotel mid-day for a couple of hours. I have never done this before and I am wondering if the crowd level is low enough to allow for this with the earlier closing times. I also have several ADR's scheduled for dinner around 5. So what I guess I'm asking is will we be able to get as much done with the lower crowds and still be able to take breaks and have our dinners or should I cut out the afternoon breaks. I would also like to go to MNSSHP. Is a Sun. or a Tues. better or is it pretty much the same. Anything else you think I should know about Sept. or helpful hints I would love to hear. No matter how many times you go you can always learn something new from someone else.

 

[2009CAN]

Our sept experience was very low crowds, it was VERY humid and hot. The heat didn't bother me so much, it was the humid weather. And we had 6 rain days out of 7, four of which were POURING rain all day.

We still had a great time and did a lot of riding. We did take breaks because we had small children with us.

 

[BrerTom]

I love September, low crowds. If you can manage the heat you will do ok. Afternoon rain storms are still persistent the early part of the month so if you have your ADRs scheduled around 5p allow extra time to get to where you need to.

 

[mrsmomo]

I would suggest late lunches rather than early dinners. Then u may miss the bulk of the heat rain and possibly crowds while enjoying foof and ac indoors.

Not a sure fire plan by any means. It can and does rain @ any time of day. But heat and crowds tend to build around 2ish

 

[wordwitt]

We were there Labor Day Wknd 2013. Hot like the surface of the sun. Only wetter. We still had a great time, but be prepared for that. We had Frog Toggs. They were a blessing but provided only marginal relief. And we never, ever ventured out mid-day. We did the water park twice. While crowds were generally a non-issue, it wasn't that different from our normal May "feeling." But again, this was over a holiday weekend.

 

[disneynerd28]

My family and I have been in September the past 2 years and our planning our next one for September. This is usually when WDW offers free dining as well. The crowds are really low. The longest wait was probably when my brother and I stayed for EMH at MK and waited about 30 minutes for Space Mountain. It wasn't too bad.

I personally don't think the weather is too bad. Just dress light and have an umbrella or ponchos to keep with you because you never know when it will it.

But September is an awesome time to go!

 

[2Tiggies]

We've experienced hotter weather in October than in September. The humidity was a little worse but nothing terrible. Crowd levels super low, although once the parties kick off, MK becomes very busy on non party days and nights. Expect a thundershower most afternoons. This is the first year since 2011 that we are not going in September and I miss it already!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We travel to WDW often, and almost exclusively during the various low crowd seasons - September offers the lowest crowds of the year. Even taking breaks you will get more done than is possible during more crowded seasons with longer park hours.

 

[DisneyFive]

I would suggest late lunches rather than early dinners. Then u may miss the bulk of the heat rain and possibly crowds while enjoying foof and ac indoors.

Not a sure fire plan by any means. It can and does rain @ any time of day. But heat and crowds tend to build around 2ish

Hmm, everyone has their own preferences, but we've gone in late Sept the last four years and schedule pretty much all of our ADR's for 5pm dinners for a few reasons...

1) It gets you out of the heat at roughly the hottest part of the day
2) Reservations are typically easier to get at 5pm versus, say 6pm to 7pm.
3) You get the dinner menu, which can have better options (IMO) that the lunch menu
4) Some TS locations start their dinner menu at 5pm (Ohanas for example, so the food is nice and fresh and not overcooked)
5) By the time 5pm rolls around, it's the perfect time for us to take a break (we don't do afternoon breaks)
6) We would rather have a lighter lunch. If we have a ADR TS lunch, it's too much food for us at that time of the day, and we are dragging through the parks in a daze all afternoon.

Our first year we scheduled some lunch ADR's, but learned our preference from that, and have now pretty much fully converted to dinners, and save the QS locations for lunch.

Now OP, regarding rain. Of course that's totally unpredictable, but of our 36 days of visiting WDW in late Sept, we've only had 5 1/2 days of ANY rain. The first year it was in the evening one day, the next trip it was the afternoon one day, the third trip it was a brief 1 hour DOWNPOUR one day, and a 1 hour shower on another, and last year it rained 2 1/2 days. Perhaps we've been blessed with good weather while there, but rain hasn't been a big factor. (it did impact 2013 though, as one day we pretty much had ponchos on most of the day )

Sept is an awesome time to go. Low crowds, and we like the heat (except for those 94F days with 90%+ humidity). That get's a little too hot, but even that is manageable. Most days are 88-90 in our experience, with high humidity.

Dan

 

[SuperRob]

My wife and I always go second week of September. Kids are back in school, so crowds are the lowest of the year. Lines are pretty short, so if you get there early in the morning, you can usually be done before it gets too hot and crowded.

It is very warm, around the 90's, but it's the humidity that's the issue. Being from Seattle, rain doesn't bother me. My first trip, I figured I'd just do what Seattleites do, and power through. We're traipsing down Sunset Blvd in Hollywood Studios while everyone else is diving under awnings and buying ponchos. What we hadn't banked on is that we only got a little bit wet, but we NEVER dried out. The humidity kept us soggy all day. Now I know better. With the crowds so low, you can get a lot done earlier in the day, then take a pool break, before heading back out in the evening.

Another thing to consider are the "love bugs." They're perfectly harmless, but they are EVERYWHERE, doing their little mating thing. They totally gross out my wife, but she's learning to cope. One thing to note is that if you have a rental car, wash it down regularly, because dead love bugs are acidic, and can damage the paint. Could be a nasty charge if you aren't aware of the potential for damage.

Lastly, and probably most important ... dining reservations can be hard to come by. Free Dining promotions frequently run in September, and that can make it hard to get into restaurants without a reservation. Book a reservation SOMEWHERE to make sure you can eat. This is particularly important at Hollywood Studios, I've found, where the three main restaurants can be booked solid.

 

[DisneyFive]

Lastly, and probably most important ... dining reservations can be hard to come by. Free Dining promotions frequently run in September, and that can make it hard to get into restaurants without a reservation. Book a reservation SOMEWHERE to make sure you can eat. This is particularly important at Hollywood Studios, I've found, where the three main restaurants can be booked solid.

Good advice. We've started taking the friendship boat (docked right in front of HS) to the Beach Club and eating at Cape May's on our HS days. Like you said, the food options at HS just aren't that great and limited. There are other nice options at the Yacht Club or Boardwalk too. The boat ride only take about 15 minutes and the lagoon area by the Beach/Yacht Club looking over the Boardwalk is a VERY cool area. We love doing this.

Dan

 

[shyjade]

Low crowds...empty parks (by Disney standards), but HOT & MISERABLY HUMID!!!!! We the last week of September in 2006 and while the parks were SO empty, there's no way we'll return again that time of year. The humidity was just oppressive for us (we're from Wisconsin). We were miserable and got so dehydrated even though we drank a ton of water.

 

[galianowu]

This is usually when WDW offers free dining as well.

 

[katt789]

Sept is fantastic time to go, I think anyways lol!
Crowds are low, and you can definitely accomplish everything if you rope drop, take a break, and come back til close!
Weather is hot, and humid, and it will rain, but in our last 3 years of Sept we've only had really bad, long rain on one day each trip. Throw on a poncho, take some cover during the really bad part and once it's past the park is usually cleared right out.

Mnsshp is fantastic, definitely check it out! They say Tues are the least crowded but I haven't really ever noticed a significant change in the crowd level

 

[luvmylatte]

We have gone in September the last 2 years and plan on going again this year. Most times we just walk on rides or wait at most 5 minutes. We also do the MNSSHP, which is awesome. Like it better than Christmas.

We have only encountered rain last year ( we were going in November at one time and that was just as good as September) it was coming down in buckets, for 3 days straight. I think that was unusual. Some rain each day yes, but tsunami not the norm. Even though, we put on our ponchos and went to the parks. Still had a great time.

 

[FirstTimeDisneyVisit]

Last three years we have gone in September and we love it !! weather is good and lines are short. Cant beat it!! You also got the MNSSHP party and now food and wine a week earlier !

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

Sept is fantastic time to go, I think anyways lol!
Crowds are low, and you can definitely accomplish everything if you rope drop, take a break, and come back til close!
Weather is hot, and humid, and it will rain, but in our last 3 years of Sept we've only had really bad, long rain on one day each trip. Throw on a poncho, take some cover during the really bad part and once it's past the park is usually cleared right out.

Mnsshp is fantastic, definitely check it out! They say Tues are the least crowded but I haven't really ever noticed a significant change in the crowd level

Thanks that is my plan for the rain. I had heard that Tues is the best night. I wanted to do Hoop Dee Doo on Sun at 8:30 after going to AK and then MNSSHP Tues, but there isn't a HDDR available at 8:30 on Sun so I was thinking of doing MNSSHP Sun. instead and HDDR on Tues.

I love September, low crowds. If you can manage the heat you will do ok. Afternoon rain storms are still persistent the early part of the month so if you have your ADRs scheduled around 5p allow extra time to get to where you need to.

Thanks I didn't think about the extra time

We travel to WDW often, and almost exclusively during the various low crowd seasons - September offers the lowest crowds of the year. Even taking breaks you will get more done than is possible during more crowded seasons with longer park hours.

This is what I wanted really wanted to know. My kids exclusively get up at sunrise in WDW and they don't care they like to stay late too. My 16 year old complained about the park closing so early. I will have to keep on the look out for the next 24 hour event and plan around that, that will probably make them happy

Hmm, everyone has their own preferences, but we've gone in late Sept the last four years and schedule pretty much all of our ADR's for 5pm dinners for a few reasons...

1) It gets you out of the heat at roughly the hottest part of the day
2) Reservations are typically easier to get at 5pm versus, say 6pm to 7pm.
3) You get the dinner menu, which can have better options (IMO) that the lunch menu
4) Some TS locations start their dinner menu at 5pm (Ohanas for example, so the food is nice and fresh and not overcooked)
5) By the time 5pm rolls around, it's the perfect time for us to take a break (we don't do afternoon breaks)
6) We would rather have a lighter lunch. If we have a ADR TS lunch, it's too much food for us at that time of the day, and we are dragging through the parks in a daze all afternoon.

Dan

This is exactly what I was thinking. I have my ADR at 5 for Ohana. I figured a very early lunch or late breakfast for those 5 pm dinners

My wife and I always go second week of September. Kids are back in school, so crowds are the lowest of the year. Lines are pretty short, so if you get there early in the morning, you can usually be done before it gets too hot and crowded.

It is very warm, around the 90's, but it's the humidity that's the issue. Being from Seattle, rain doesn't bother me. My first trip, I figured I'd just do what Seattleites do, and power through. We're traipsing down Sunset Blvd in Hollywood Studios while everyone else is diving under awnings and buying ponchos. What we hadn't banked on is that we only got a little bit wet, but we NEVER dried out. The humidity kept us soggy all day. Now I know better. With the crowds so low, you can get a lot done earlier in the day, then take a pool break, before heading back out in the evening.

Another thing to consider are the "love bugs." They're perfectly harmless, but they are EVERYWHERE, doing their little mating thing. They totally gross out my wife, but she's learning to cope. One thing to note is that if you have a rental car, wash it down regularly, because dead love bugs are acidic, and can damage the paint. Could be a nasty charge if you aren't aware of the potential for damage.

Lastly, and probably most important ... dining reservations can be hard to come by. Free Dining promotions frequently run in September, and that can make it hard to get into restaurants without a reservation. Book a reservation SOMEWHERE to make sure you can eat. This is particularly important at Hollywood Studios, I've found, where the three main restaurants can be booked solid.

Thanks I have my ADR's scheduled except for HDDR because I am waiting on my parents to make up their minds I just recently read about the love bugs. Thanks for the tip about the car.

Low crowds...empty parks (by Disney standards), but HOT & MISERABLY HUMID!!!!! We the last week of September in 2006 and while the parks were SO empty, there's no way we'll return again that time of year. The humidity was just oppressive for us (we're from Wisconsin). We were miserable and got so dehydrated even though we drank a ton of water.

I have lived in SC for the last 6 years, while I don't love humidity, I really hate the cold. I went March 1-10 2013 and it was in the low 30's the first couple of days. Part of the reason we are going in Sept. I don't want to risk the cold again and the other reason is we have never done MNSSHP. I will take the humidity over the cold and wind.

Thanks everyone for helping. If you think of any other tips please let me know.

 

[DisneyFive]

This is exactly what I was thinking. I have my ADR at 5 for Ohana. I figured a very early lunch or late breakfast for those 5 pm dinners

You have chose wisely (at least in my humble opinion.) We eat lunch in the 11:30am time-frame

Thanks I have my ADR's scheduled except for HDDR because I am waiting on my parents to make up their minds I just recently read about the love bugs. Thanks for the tip about the car.

Not sure if you've done HDDR before, but it's SOOOO much fun. We did HDDR for the first time last year, and it is one of the highlights of our 4 trips! Loved it!

Have a great trip!

-Dan