What is it Like in October Really???

[Miniefan]

I try to read the boards religiously, as many of you all probably do as well, and now I am beginning to worry that maybe we chose the wrong time of year for our trip. We are going to be there 10/15-10/23, and I need to know from many of you October travelers, what is it really like during this time. We are planning to attend the MNSSHP, but I haven't gotten our tickets yet, is it feasible to buy these on our arrival or should we try to get them ASAP. I have been in OCt, but it was in 1994 and I don't think they were doing the MNSSHP then, and the crowds were almost non-existent, but now with the F&W festival in Epcot, and MNSSHP, it seems as though many people are choosing Oct as the month to travel, can someone please inform me so that we are not disappointed or surprised. We were last there in March,(spring break) and it was pretty crowded, so I was really hoping that going in Oct would put us in that Off-season category but now I am really beginning to get nervous. Someone please Help me!
Kim

 

[campinggal]

I love October! Granted I've only been once in October but would go again.

We were there from Oct 19-26 last year and it was great! Weather was sunny and in the 80s- low humidity too. Crowds were minimal- I don't think I saw a ride with a wait time of longer than 50 minutes (that was at Kali River Rapids in the late afternoon).

We went to MNSSHP on a Sunday night and walked on to all the rides. It was fabulous and lots of fun. We even watched the fireworks from the middle of Main Street with lots of space and nobody obstructing the view. We had seen the fireworks on Sat night as well as Spectro and MK was packed for that so it was a much different scene for the Sunday MNSSHP.

Regarding MNSSHP- last year I think the only night it sold out was Halloween so you can probably wait to get tickets. A Friday night MNSSHP is often more crowded than a weeknight.

Your Oct trip is earlier in the month than ours was so you might get some crowd 'overflow' from Columbus Day weekend but it should be nothing like the March crowds.

Hope that helps!

Happy planning!

 

[llij]

We went last year -- October 17 - October 25. The weather was perfect! Warm enough for the water parks, but not too hot where your energy would be drained by the heat! I didn't think the crowds were too bad and the wait times were low if you used fastpass and got to the parks early. Now, others in our party (we traveled with 4 other families) thought it was more crowded than we did, but they didn't utilize FP or go with a plan. Of course, last year they had the Fairy Tale Package going on when we went, but I really thought the crowds were fine and everything was manageable. They key is to go early and use FP. I've been in March during spring break before when it was much more crowded --- still not too bad though if you use FP and go early.

MNSSHP was fun and we went on a Friday night. I don't remember that being sold out, but I could be wrong on that one. I think if you go during the week you might not have to buy your ticket until you get there.

Enjoy your trip! October is a wonderful month to go!

 

[skoi]

Thanks. I didn't post the original question, but was wondering the same things-- esp. about the weather. My friend's family might come along, and her dd is very sensitive to heat, so maybe it'll be tolerable. We usually go early-mid Sept and it is still so hot, but we like it.

Julie

 

[Miniefan]

Thanks for the replies, I am really not worried about the weather, since we are from Northwest Fl, I pretty much know how it is going to be, as long as there are no Hurricanes, knock on wood. I guess after reading all the threads around here lately I am starting to second-guess my original thoughts that October would be a great time to go in coorelation to the crowds, unfortunately I guess everyone else has decided that it is the best time to go as well, I guess I just want to know what the crowds are like, in the parks and at MNSSHP as well, Any help would be great!
Thanks,
Kim

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Originally posted by Miniefan
Thanks for the replies, I am really not worried about the weather, since we are from Northwest Fl, I pretty much know how it is going to be, as long as there are no Hurricanes, knock on wood. I guess after reading all the threads around here lately I am starting to second-guess my original thoughts that October would be a great time to go in coorelation to the crowds, unfortunately I guess everyone else has decided that it is the best time to go as well, I guess I just want to know what the crowds are like, in the parks and at MNSSHP as well, Any help would be great!
Thanks,
Kim

You are right, that many major disney fans like us choose October to go, because of the lesser crowds. But remember, we are not an accurate sampling of the population of visitors at WDW - we are misnomers.

I always think about Bob's "Unoffical" guide when I think of this type of thinking - be if in Disney parks or in other areas where the concept applies. Basicly, Bob answers the question of "touring plans" (i.e. Step 1 : Visit ToT, Step 2 : Get fastpass for...) becoming invalid once released, because obviously if everyone followed the same plan crowds would be worse, not better - the bottlenecking would be immense. What you need to remember is that only a tiny percentage of the population is using those plans, and an even smaller percent following them exactly. Thus, fears of the "plan" ceasing to work because everyone catches on never really happens.

The same can be said for off-season touring. Thankfully, I don't think you'll find most of the "average" Disney visitors aren't coming as much in Oct - which is a big reason I think you will find MNSSHP exists in the first place.

N.E.D.

 

[Miniefan]

Thank you for the support, I guess I am just worried that since we have this big major trip planned, that has now turned into almost 15+ people, I am a little worried that if it is more crowded that everyone will blame me for choosing that time to go. I have been in Oct but it was way back in 1994 and I don't remember the MNSSHP, but then the crowds were almost nonexistent. I know me, for one, I will have an excellent time no matter what, so I can't wait to be in the world in October.
Thanks,
Kim

 

[frannn]

We went in mid March for a few years, and didn't find a big problem with the crowds. One year we decided to make use of our APs twice and had the good fortune of going in Oct. We found that Oct had manageable crowds, about the same as March. I have heard that March is now pretty busy due to Spring Break, but in the years we visited (1999, 2000), we found it not bad at all. So, what I am really trying to say is that Oct is a great time to go. There are probably slower times, like Sept and Jan, but for that reason you would not be able to experience MNSSHP, and whatever was being refurbed in the slow season. We did MNSSHP twice- once with just me and DH, and had an ok time. The second time, we brought DD1, and it was great! We stayed later (as she slept in the stroller and our arms) and the park was so empty towards the end of the party that there was very little wait times for the rides. I believe we went on a Tuesday night, or other weeknight. Definetly worth it for the extra time in the MK!

 

[cdpa4d]

Miniefan -
I am going the same week as you. I am not going to MNSSHP. After I booked our trip I noticed the the Walt Disney World Golf Classic (Funai Classic) is that same week. I hope that doesn't affect crowds too much. This is the PGA tournament held every year at the world. They play at the Palm and Magnolia course near the GF and Magic Kingdom. Maybe we will get lucky and everyone will be at the golf tournament and we can hop on the rides with little wait times.
ADP

 

[decker96]

cdpa4d

I asked the same question about the golf tournament and crowds as we will be going that week in 2005. People said that it really doesn't seem to affect the park crowds too much but that the monorail resorts seemed to be more crowded. I would assume this also means they book up quicker. Have fun, wish we were going this year too!!

 

[Geomich]

We went last October (11 of us) for the first time and I was a bit nervous since I did the planning for everyone and usually go in September but we had a great time.

We did MNSSHP and the kids had a blast! We did buy the tickets ahead of time but since we were doing park/cruise we didnt have many dates to choose from.

It was a bit more crowded then we are used to in September but last year I believe they had the 4/7 deal going on which maybe made it more crowded. The 5/7 may not have the same draw.

Not too many lines except I remember that Mission Space fast passes were done by early afternoon one day but since this attraction was new that may be the reason. I really dont remember waiting more than 15 minutes for anything else.

I would not hesitate to go in October again.