Will this Sept. be more croweded than normal?

[Densgirl]

Le Cellier is among the highest value single-credit offerings (and, I believe, the #1 value actually located in a park and not a resort), so it makes sense that it's tougher to get into.

I agree with those posting that it wont be a great deal busier in the parks, just at some of the TS places. I keep calling this the Le Cellier factor, this is one of the best values on the dining plan and a place where many people would be uncomfortable spending the money to eat. But if it is included with the free dining package it is a little easier to justify b/c they have already paid for it. I had no problem with any ADR for our trip the last week in Sept. (we are also a party of 2)except for Le Cellier and I called at 90 days. I think we got 7:30 which isn't bad but 1 and 1/2 hours later than I wanted. Dont worry, I really don't think crowds will be significantly worse.
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[mitros]

Simply because there is FAR MORE hype for this celebration, including all of the special offers, the addition of new rides, the fact that Orlando is coming back pretty strong from 9/11, which the businesses here were really waiting for.
And, I respectfully disagree with your claim that only people on these boards are planning to come down during the celebration. The disboards, as much as I like them, are NOT the only place where folks are finding out about what is happening during Disneylands 50th anniversary. There are spending a wad of dough on advertising this thing, more then they did for the other recent events, judging by what I see on TV, the internet, newspapers, magazines, mailings to homes, etc.
We are on wait lists for 3 seperate times for any DVC resort between September 1st and the end of the year, and we have been since January, and not one has come through. It's the way I see it, is all....

 

[crazymomof4]

I will say, though, that they always offer a fall "deal". A couple of years ago, 2003, they offered pay for 4 nights, stay for 7!! We took advantage of that - practically a 1/2 priced vacation and the park crowds were non existing...

We went in 2003 too! During the time prior to that trip, there was also much speculation on these boards about the crowds. The above mentioned deal was being plastered all over TV and newpapers! Supossedly, there was a huge response to this promo. Many persons, myself included, were very concerned that their "value season" Sept trip would be really crowded. We were pleasantly surprised to find that the parks were not at all crowded. Our trip extended into the first week of Oct. and the crowds did increase when the MNNSHP's started, but Sept was fine.

Let's hope that this Sept will be the same!

 

[crazymomof4]

It also means that, as is usual in September, a larger percentage of the overall crowd will be couples without kids

That's OK, I don't mind sharing mine!!! Just to keep the percentages in balance, that is.

 

[deacondarlin]

My guess is the restaurants will be more crowded, but the park itself probably won't be. DH and I are from Western NC, and everyone keeps saying we're crazy to go to Florida in the middle of hurricane season, free dining or no. Even if the crowds are larger than normal, it HAS to be better than going Spring or Summer Break.

 

[mhingher]

I've been planning my parent's upcoming trip, 9/17-9/24. THey originally wanted earlier dinner PS (like 5 or 5:30pm) and then recently changed their minds. I wasn't able to change all of them, and some I had the choice of an "early" seating or 7:30pm and later. I think the free dining offer has made more people make PS.

 

[WDW1st-timers]

I've been planning my parent's upcoming trip, 9/17-9/24. THey originally wanted earlier dinner PS (like 5 or 5:30pm) and then recently changed their minds. I wasn't able to change all of them, and some I had the choice of an "early" seating or 7:30pm and later. I think the free dining offer has made more people make PS.

And for some people that I have seen out here in posts, saying ..." I have 2 ADR for such and such at the same time....what one should I keep?" It's people like this that made it hard on others to get the reservation that they would like. So I think that has alittle affect on PS. I'm sure that within the next couple of weeks there will be some ADR spots that open up because of this.

 

[WillCAD]

Well, here we are at the end of September.

All the reports that I have been getting in the last few weeks have been that the parks are deserted, and that crowd levels have been at the perfectly normal September levels.

Any observations from recent returnees? Have the waits in the restaurants been longer than normal for September because of the free dining? Have thier been any waits or delays for attractions, busses, or resort check-ins?

 

[crazymomof4]

Any observations from recent returnees? Have the waits in the restaurants been longer than normal for September because of the free dining? Have thier been any waits or delays for attractions, busses, or resort check-ins?

We were in WDW from 9/14-9/23 and we were amazed at the low crowd levels. We've been before in Sept. but have never seen it this dead! We walked on almost everything. Peter Pan was about a 10 min wait. Even Soarin' was only a 15-20 min wait in stand-by if we hit it before noon. On two different days we rode TT early in the day and when we were finished the ride, before we exited the car, the CM asked if we wanted to go again bc there were no people in line....of course, we went! Theaters that hold about 200 people had only about 40-50, at the most, in them! We often sat front and center!! The kids rode Space Mt. over and over again. Splash Mt. and BTM were walk-ons.
Most surprising was that restaurants were not crowded either. We changed our mind last minute about where we wanted to eat in EPCOT. At 11:30am I went to Nine Dragons and hoped to get a dinner AR. I said "What do you have available?" and was told that they had all times open!!

We avoided EMH days, instead we went to the parks the day AFTER that park had EMH
Also, avoid EPCOT on Fridays during the school year. That is when class trips are scheduled. (Found this out when I hoped over there on a Fri. just to get something at TT gift shop)

That's why I go in the off season! Instead of spending hours waiting in lines, we had enough time to go on our favorite attractions 2 and 3 times or more! Over all it just makes for a very relaxing trip.

 

[mitros]

Just back from 3 days at SSR. Sept. 26,27,28. Things were very quiet. We even rode Soarin' after only a 25 minute wait on the regular line. {Unbelievable ride, by the way!} The CMs at SSR resort said that the entire month of September had been quiet, but starting next week, with the opening of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, they will be at 100% capacity at the resort for the next 3 weeks or so.