Week after labor day or first week of October?

[Floridadreaming2016]

Considering crowds and heat which is better? The week after labor day or the first week of October. Have you had experience with either? Is Halloween decorations anything to consider?

 

[SG131]

Disney starts Halloween parties in August, so you'll get to see the decorations either way. I'd pick the week after labor day. The crowd levels are generally lower since it's early in the school year and there isn't necessarily much of a temp difference between September and the first week of October.

 

[SamanthaH]

The crowds are historically low both weeks. Weather wise... both weeks are typically hot with that week in October being slightly less hot (maybe 5 degrees or so). September is prime hurricane season, but hurricane season does spill into October. Free dining was offered the week after Labor Day, so I don’t know if this may help equal out crowd levels. I would pick the week that works the best for my family logistically.

 

[Floridadreaming2016]

The crowds are historically low both weeks. Weather wise... both weeks are typically hot with that week in October being slightly less hot (maybe 5 degrees or so). September is prime hurricane season, but hurricane season does spill into October. Free dining was offered the week after Labor Day, so I don’t know if this may help equal out crowd levels. I would pick the week that works the best for my family logistically.

How do i find out about free dining?

 

[jim01]

The crowds should be lower after labor day. Many schools start the week after labor day, most parents are not going to ditch the first week of school for a Disney trip and some schools that start in early August have break in October.

 

[saddleup4dis]

I would suffer heat and hurricanes if it meant a break in crowds
Consider resort availability. If you have your heart set on someplace in particular, that might make the decision for you.

 

[skippytx]

I'd go the week after labor day. Weather will be hot during both of those weeks. We went early October in 2018 and it was pretty busy. Kentucky and Tennessee (possibly other states around that area) have a fall break during the first part of October. KY blue and TN Orange as far as the eye could see.

Halloween parties start really early as mentioned, but in October they're running 4 nights a week, which really limits evening MK trips

Columbus day weekend is historically busy as well.

 

[SamanthaH]

Unfortunately, the free dining offer expired January 16th, but there may be another round available in the future. The dates included the window Aug 29-Sept 8. This means that you could book the free dining to start Sept 8th and still get free dining for the subsequent days of your trip. September is a common month for free dining, so keep checking back on the Disney web site for special offers or on the discount board of these forums. I believe they are still running the Sun and Fun room discount offer. Last year they added the free dining promotion after the first Jan/Feb go round in July. Who knows if this will happens again this year, but it is worth keeping an eye out. We usually book a room only discount because it ends up being a better deal for us since there is just 2 of us.

 

[beccasmom]

I think crowds would be lower in September after Labor Day although I believe Free Dining might be offered then too (it was a year or two ago; I remember that because we booked a trip and had to cancel). The Food & Wine Festival is a busy event and that runs through early November; weekends are especially busy at Epcot for that; it’s a very popular event. The Halloween party is held select nights at the MK.

 

[mamamelody2]

We've gone the week of Labor Day twice. 2019 and 2017. Both times crowds were great. I would do then.

 

[BalooPA]

There used to be no real difference between the two weeks. In the past few years, though, October has become SLIGHTLY more popular. Popular enough so that October stopped being included in free dining. Probably not much difference in crowds or weather, but I don't think there were any deals for October last year. If you're really set on the first of October, find out when the September deals end, and check in that day. You will get the deal for your entire stay, even if only your first day falls within the deal period. It will be close to (if not) the end of September, so check in then and your stay should run into that first week of October.