Unusual September Crowds

[UBSHANG]

Although September is typically a less crowded time of the year, this month's weather conditions have been anything but typical.

Because of the extraordinary amount of hurricanes which unfortunate Floridians have had to endure these past several weeks, we modified our original mid-September reservation for the last week of September.

Based somewhat on the rather full capacity of the WDW resorts, as well as unavailable priority seating reservations, I am wondering how many other vacationers were forced to change their itinerary to the end of September, or chose to book their trip for an entirely different month.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

I am worried about our early December trip crowds for the same reason. IMO, it was more crowded in early Dec 2003, than it was in early Dec 2002. With the crazy weather this year, anything is possible.

Tink

 

[katienyc]

UBSHANG,

Are you saying that when rebooking for the last week of sept. you found that the resorts seemed full as well as priority seatings booked?
I myself am wondering if the end of Sept. will be busier that normal due to travelers who rebooked from early Sept.

Katie

 

[Jennifer S]

Just a couple days ago someone posted that it has been VERY slow. I hope next week isn't mobbed. I'm already in the mind set that we could walk on a lot of rides.Oh, well - we are having fun no matter what the weather or the crowds

 

[dopeys biggest fan]

my sister arrives in WDW today, when I talk to her I will let you guys know how it is now!

 

[AllyandJack]

Maybe it will be a tad more crowded....but, it will still be better than going in, say, June or July.

I don't think we'll have anything to worry about.

 

[Happy2BGrumpy]

Just back from a 9/12 - 9/17 visit to the BCV. We were supposed to go to Vero Beach, but due to Charley had to re-book,
and we were able to get a studio at BCV.
It was very quiet Mon. - Wed., in fact we have a video of the Boardwalk with absolutely no one on it at 11:30 AM Mon.
It was somewhat eerie. The biggest crowds we saw were at ESPN for football
on Sunday.

We did 2 safari rides and Bugs Life at AK
within 90 minutes - 8:00 - 9:30. MGM
3 TOT in 30 minutes. Epcot 4 test track runs in about 45 minutes. Twice they just left us in the car for a second run. Same thing for Astro Orbiter and Buzz Light Year
at MK on Thursday. No crowds what so ever. Sort of took the challenge out of the
parks!! Just kidding!

 

[Harambe]

We were at Epcot this past Saturday night. When Illuminations began, people were lined up at the railings only one person deep! And the whole walkway from Japan to Canada was empty. Kinda odd!

 

[JaxCon]

I am worried about our up coming week too!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Yesterday my DH made 4 priority seatings for our trip and was able to get our preferred times for all of the PS's. Usually we'll get close to our time, but not exactly. I'm hoping the crowds won't be too bad, but I am concerned about early December when I return with our 4yo.

T&B

 

[mrsmom]

I it's not going to be crowded, I can't wait to get down there!!!


Kim

 

[vmkids]

We just got back and of course it might have been because of Ivan's threat but it was not busy. WE got to stay on Primevil whirl for two trips and test track for three! We only got off then because we felt like we didn;t wnat to abuse the politeness of the cast members. WE walked right up to the castle just before wishes! (must say the tomorrow land bridge is a better location).

 

[lulu71]

Originally posted by tinkerbellmagic
I am worried about our early December trip crowds for the same reason. IMO, it was more crowded in early Dec 2003, than it was in early Dec 2002. With the crazy weather this year, anything is possible.

Tink

You're so right about that! I observed the same thing. FWIW, the bartender at the BW pool bar was telling us last week that the early December "secret" has gotten out and it's not one of their least crowded times anymore. We're regular early December visitors and when people say that rides are walkons in early December, I think they're exagerating a little bit. I haven't seen the parks empty in December except for maybe 2001. The crowds have increased every year, IMO.

As for our trip last week, it was soooo empty. Here's some examples. We actually got to stay in our car on Test Track. We also were the only people in our safari jeep in AK. The driver asked if we wanted the regular safari or the backstage safari, so we did the backstage version which was very cool! When we rode Maelstom they asked us to take the card thing that they scan to determine the wait time and there was not a soul anywhere in the line. The only time we say anything resembling a crowd was Sunday at MK, where the Frontierland waits were about 20 minutes and the Fantasyland waits were about 30 minutes. We did see the Buzz line was about 15 minutes.

 

[tbthomps]

I'm wondering if Hurricane Lisa will impact Orlando's weather and/or WDW's crowds for the last week of September.

Anyone have any good/bad vibes on this???

 

[Jennifer S]

I just saw the tropical update on the weather channel an hour ago. They said Jeanne & Karl probably won't hit land and Lisa is too far away to say. These Hurricanes have been moving slow so I think the first half our trip will be fine and maybe all of it depending on what Lisa does.

 

[kilee]

I only began planning our trip to WDW for next week a few weeks ago (it was a spur of the moment thing). Anyhow, I made my PS'S about 10 days ago. Not only did I get everything I wanted-- I had an abundant choice of times too. If anything it might be just a tad busier but nothing like major crowds I don't think.

 

[SB in KY]

Friends returned 3 days ago from WDW...said it was more deserted than 2 weeks after 9/11...said 2 CM's at the BCV's told them that they had incredible numbers of cancellations, but October and November bookings were "off the charts"...expecting 90+% capacity throughout both months (including 2 weeks that are traditionally some of the slowest of the year) b/o rescheduled trips...not exactly the news I wanted to hear since we have a Nov trip planned

 

[SnackyStacky]

I'm just wrapping up 10 nights at here at the World. We spent 5 nights at the Beach Club starting on the 13th. It was dead. There was NOBODY here, or at Universal.

As of yesterday, the 21st, I couldn't get a Priority Seating at the California Girll before 9pm, and there was NOTHING available for a Fantasmic dinner package.

There are TONS of people here. The lines have been been pretty bearable. Even without Fastpasses, lines aren't exceeding 10 minutes. The last time I came in September, saying something was a walk on was NOT an exaggeration, but it would be this time.

I've been using Fastpasses when available, and everything is working just fine.

I've been eavesdropping on a few conversations and many people are saying that they've rescheduled after all of the hurricanes.

I think it's even taking the park management surprise. We were at Universal the other day, and they held up the line for quite some time to bring extra trains onto the tracks at Dueling Dragons.

So yes - crowds are up. No, they're not unbearable.