Would a week make that much difference?

[Tink1987]

Hi all,

We are ready to book our 2014 trip to WDW. The only thing we are left debating on is the day which to go. The two options we have are the 27/09 - 11/10 or the 4/10 to 19/10.

There is only a week between these two dates and I was just wondering if there is any pros/benefits or cons to waiting a week? I understand the weather may start getting cooler whilst we are there which to us is a benefit but are there any others, i.e. huge differences in crowds etc?

It is our 10 year anniversary on the 30th September which is why we do kinda want to really go on the 27th but if that week has such an impact on crowds and weather we will wait

Thank you

 

[2Tiggies]

We have done both and covered all of those dates. There is definitely a slight up in the crowd levels from end of September going into October as the Food and Wine begins in October. I'd go with the first set of dates given the choice. It's not a huge difference but you will feel it at Epcot and also at MK.

Weather wise, the humidity isn't too bad late September and it's still plenty hot enough to swim and do water parks well into or even throughout October so that's not an issue.

 

[foxxxy83]

Really? I heard Food & Wine Festival finished when MNSSHP took over in the event stakes. Wish I'd have known or I'd have booked an earlier hol than 4th - 18th Oct. Ah well, nothing I can do now!

 

[2Tiggies]

Really? I heard Food & Wine Festival finished when MNSSHP took over in the event stakes. Wish I'd have known or I'd have booked an earlier hol than 4th - 18th Oct. Ah well, nothing I can do now!

Just checked the F&W dates for this year - seem to start a little earlier and start on September 27th (?) until November 11th. MNSSHP runs from September 10th to November 1st. The difference is that Food and Wine is on every day whereas the Halloween parties are only on certain nights. If you are park hopping and not doing MK in the evening, the party nights are the dates you want to spend the day at MK as crowds are much lower given the early closing, as many guests who don't buy the UK tickets, don't get the park hopping option added because it costs so they arrange their plans for MK around the days when there are longer park hours

 

[flortlebap]

We travelled on 27 Sept for two weeks about 7 years ago and the crowds were low and the weather was perfect. I would usually aim to leave by mid Oct as evenings certainly became noticeably cooler.

I would personally always aim for the last Tuesday-Thursday in Sept as historically the flight prices were lower. Of course if you were prepared to fly out around the 10th September next year then those were the cheapest flight days we found (so far)!

 

[wilma-bride]

Really? I heard Food & Wine Festival finished when MNSSHP took over in the event stakes. Wish I'd have known or I'd have booked an earlier hol than 4th - 18th Oct. Ah well, nothing I can do now!

The F&WF nearly always is on for at least the whole month of October and usually a week overlap into Spetmeber and November either side too.

If you want to avoid the huge crowds, I would steer clear of Epcot at the weekends.

OP, I would say that your first option is probably the best as far as crowds and weather. I honestly don't think the weather changes that much from September into October. The only thing is the possible risk of hurricanes/tropical storms is greater the earlier you go.

 

[Elise79]

Really? I heard Food & Wine Festival finished when MNSSHP took over in the event stakes. Wish I'd have known or I'd have booked an earlier hol than 4th - 18th Oct. Ah well, nothing I can do now!

F&W runs from the last Friday in September to the second Sunday in November so always covers all of October.

The only thing you want to is avoid Epcot in the evening at weekends as it is really busy with locals.

 

[Tink1987]

Thanks all - yes I had seen that F&W historically starts on the last Friday in September so knew we would be covering that and MNSSHP either date range we chose.

I think we will stick with the first choice just so we are there for our anniversary too.

 

[foxxxy83]

Ok cool.. don't think we'll spend much time at Epcot. We'll go to say we've been but, looking at the attractions there, it doesn't seem to be our thing. Could be wrong but we'll see. We're going to MK on a Sunday but are back there for MNSSHP so hoping that will be enough experience of MK for my son to be happy with assuming the Sunday will be busy with locals as it's a weekend. Probably should've done DC that day! Lol!

 

[clareyfairymouse]

Just a heads up that in the US there is a national holiday weekend for Columbus Day in October (13th October 2014) and the parks can get pretty busy over this weekend.