Crowds between October 15th-29th lighter or heavier than late September/early October?

[Walt Disney1955]

I went from September 26th-October 10th, 2009. The crowds, I found, were pretty good. Not busy at all. We never went to MNSSHP at all. I didn't have a lot of interest. So I assume we went to the Magic Kingdom certain days it wasn't happening. So this year I am trying to do the same dates but might not get the chance and we might have to settle on later in the month from the 15th to 29th of October.

I don't plan on doing MNSSHP either then and when we go to Magic Kingdom I'll work around those days. But how are the crowds at MK that close to Halloween? I know they aren't bad in the time I went a few years ago on those dates, but I've never done it that close to Halloween. Is it worse?

I know the other three parks have the same hours (open till 9pmish) or so either way and aren't the ones I am worrying about being busy. It is just the MK.

Do people flock for MNSSHP and are the "off" days when MK is open until 9 crowded beyond belief?

 

[LUVofDIS]

Typically you can go by the cost of the tickets, the higher the cost the more crowed MK will be at that party. Last year we were there on September 15 through the 24 and the crowds were not light. They were not as heavy as the week before Christmas, but most rides were not walk on.

I have read that October is busier than September and as it gets closer to Halloween the crowds pick up. This sorta makes sense. But we have noticed and much reading will show that there is almost no slow time at Disney, especially during special events and holidays. The experience you had in 2009 will probably be much different today even if you visited at the same time of the year. You will most likely find much higher crowd levels.

There are steps that can be taken to make it less so. The parks tend to be less crowed on weekdays, especially the parties. There still seems to be less people in September than October. You should have some sort of a plan. Crowd calendars have been less useful the last few years, but they still offer some insight. We have found that parks with EMH are the parks to avoid. It still holds true that middle of the day is the heaviest part of the day, morning and late night crowds still seem to thin out a little.

As for the party in particular, week nights are probably the best during the time you are going. For your dates and depending how many times you want to do the party, October 16 or October 23 are most likely the best nights to go. Check out all the things to do and have a plan. If you are interested in the Boo-to-You Parade and only want to see it once, than the second parade is usually less crowded. There are special character meets that only happen during this party, etc. It is difficult to it all so a plan is suggested.

 

[WondersOfLife]

There is no "down time" anymore.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

Personally I want to go the days that there isn't the MNSSHP party. Are those days lighter than the days it is happening? Because I want to go to the park until 9pm and see Happily Ever After. So I plan on going on the non-MNSSHP days. Last year we went the day before the big Christmas party at MK, the day it closed at 4:30pm. I thought I was being smart, but I wasn't because everyone else was.

 

[LUVofDIS]

The days of the party tend to be less busy because if you do not have a party ticket you have to leave by seven pm. This will put more pressure on days when there is no party taking place.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

True enough. For whatever reason I just remember the parks not being busy at that same time in 2009.

 

[graphite1326]

We actually go the days of the party because the crowds are less. We always get PH and go somewhere else in the evening. Then if we want to go to any night shows we go on the non-party nights.

 

[Cuzzi91]

From personal experience, the last half of October is definitely busier then the first half.
(Besides Columbus Day weekend). Non party nights are do-able, but expect a large crowd especially if your going to see happily ever after.