Does WDW put in less effort during September?

[dave&di]

I went to WDW in September 2 years ago and am going back again this Sept, I know people say it the best time of the year for less crowds (which I love) and queing time is nearly non-existant (also love!).

I was wondering as this is the quietest time for WDW do they scale down certain things? Am I missing out on meet & greets, parades/shows etc by only going in September? Surely the same effort doesn't go into low season as high season? Are there any negetives to going in September?

Diane

 

[wdwmagic]

I went to WDW in September 2 years ago and am going back again this Sept, I know people say it the best time of the year for less crowds (which I love) and queing time is nearly non-existant (also love!).

I was wondering as this is the quietest time for WDW do they scale down certain things? Am I missing out on meet & greets, parades/shows etc by only going in September? Surely the same effort doesn't go into low season as high season? Are there any negetives to going in September?

Diane

Nothing is really scaled back to a point where you would not have a chance to see it if staying for a week or more. You will see less Fantasmics and less SpectroMagics (or Main Street Electrical Parade), but thats about it.

The most significant difference would be the reduced operating hours in September.

 

[stlbobby]

The two biggest differences are the shorter hours, and fewer runnings of shows. You should have an opportunity to see everything, but just fewer individual performances.

 

[Chrononymous]

They do also tend to have more things down for refurbishment during the off season.

If there is somehting you definitely don't want to miss...make sure to find out if it's closed for sprucing up time when you are going to be there.

 

[mike10]

That's what happen to me last year with Space Mountain. So this year that will be one of the first rides I will be doing this year. I did Star Tours last year so won't miss that.

 

[goofykt]

I went to WDW in September 2 years ago and am going back again this Sept, I know people say it the best time of the year for less crowds (which I love) and queing time is nearly non-existant (also love!).

I was wondering as this is the quietest time for WDW do they scale down certain things? Am I missing out on meet & greets, parades/shows etc by only going in September? Surely the same effort doesn't go into low season as high season? Are there any negetives to going in September?

Diane

We go every September and the hours are definitely shorter, but I've found the cast members to be much friendlier and more likely to go out of their way to help me during the off-season (not that cast members are rude or unhelpful during peak times). It's just that there are less people to deal with and it's more relaxed, so I think it's easier for them to devote extra time to the guests that are there.

 

[harveyt0206]

I'm not sure what your exact dates for your trip are, but one thing "extra" that you might consider for your September trip is Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. I believe it starts running sometime around September 14th. I consider that an extra perk for traveling in September and it is really one of the biggest reasons we go during that time of the year. Plus, the fall decorations are great.

 

[mike10]

I'm not sure what your exact dates for your trip are, but one thing "extra" that you might consider for your September trip is Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. I believe it starts running sometime around September 14th. I consider that an extra perk for traveling in September and it is really one of the biggest reasons we go during that time of the year. Plus, the fall decorations are great.

I would have to agree with that. While I missed out on it last year one of the things I'm doing this year with my trip in the second week of November is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas on Nov. 8th. That alone is enough of a peak for me.

 

[dave&di]

Thanks for the replies, I am really surprised to hear there aren't cut back in the low season, it seems too good to be true!

I'm not sure what your exact dates for your trip are, but one thing "extra" that you might consider for your September trip is Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. I believe it starts running sometime around September 14th. I consider that an extra perk for traveling in September and it is really one of the biggest reasons we go during that time of the year. Plus, the fall decorations are great.

I've already got tickets to MNSSHP for Sept 14th ! Am at WDW 8th - 15th so just made it! I had tickets 2 years ago but had to go back to the hotel due to sickness

 

[joel_maxwell]

Ive been 2 times in September and numerous other times of the year and September is BY FAR my favorite.

 

[marni1971]

That's what happen to me last year with Space Mountain. So this year that will be one of the first rides I will be doing this year. I did Star Tours last year so won't miss that.

Space Mountain was also down all summer...

 

[Erin_Akey]

How is Labor Day weekend? We are trying the Thursday-Monday of Labor Day......never been that weekend before. Usually mid-late September....

Are crowds bad that weekend?

 

[blackthidot]

I have been going every September since 2006. It is always great. Last year was a little busier and a little hotter but other than that it might close a little earlier and have less shows but thats a small price to pay to not have to deal with zillions of children crying all day.

 

[dave&di]

How is Labor Day weekend? We are trying the Thursday-Monday of Labor Day......never been that weekend before. Usually mid-late September....

Are crowds bad that weekend?

Labor Day weekend is very busy! Avoid if you don't like big crowds, thats why I purposly go the week after.

 

[dreamfinder]

There are cut backs. But not to the point of seriously diminishing show. Think of it this way. A restaurant will add extra wait staff, cooks, etc for the dinner rush. But they don't see a have them all come in at 2, and stay until 3 in the morning. They can make do with less staff, because less people are ordering food. But the experience for the people that are there at 3 in the morning will still get their food, and it should be the same quality as if they were there at 7. The same happen at Disney. Less people go, so they can offer reduced hours, fewer runnings of the shows, etc. If they have a show that can handle 5k people, and have 15k in the park that day, there is no point to have 5 shows when they do 3, and still give everyone a chance to see it. They can close the park earlier while you still do all the rides since SM has say a 15 minute wait instead of 2 hours.

 

[goofykt]

How is Labor Day weekend? We are trying the Thursday-Monday of Labor Day......never been that weekend before. Usually mid-late September....

Are crowds bad that weekend?

We visited during Labor Day weekend from 2007-09 and never had any problems with crowds. Yes, it's a little busier during those 3 days, but it's not unmanageable...nothing like visiting during the peak summer times...and the parks are practically dead the Tuesday after. We would have gone again during that time this year, but I moved our trip back to the 18-25th to coincide with my husband's birthday :sohappy:

 

[Erin_Akey]

We visited during Labor Day weekend from 2007-09 and never had any problems with crowds. Yes, it's a little busier during those 3 days, but it's not unmanageable...nothing like visiting during the peak summer times...and the parks are practically dead the Tuesday after. We would have gone again during that time this year, but I moved our trip back to the 18-25th to coincide with my husband's birthday :sohappy:

So nothing like when we come at Christmas huh?

 

[Thorpyness]

Ignorant brits ...I've just discovered that we arrive on Labour day itself.

 

[goofykt]

So nothing like when we come at Christmas huh?

No way!!! :lol: We also went the 2nd week of December last year (yes...we went twice in 3 months...it's a sickness!) and I couldn't believe how crowded it was! We wanted to see all the Christmas decorations but were hoping to avoid the crowds, so we booked from the 12th - 16th because from everything I'd heard on here, it typically doesn't get that crowded in December until the last two weeks of the month. I don't know if it was because of the free dining during that period or what...but there were a TON of people on property. I can't imagine what it was like during the actual Christmas/New Years holidays. That thought gives me nightmares!

 

[sublimesting]

For us that last week of Sept is the best. You get MNSSHP, Free Dining, and EPCOT Food and Wine Festival (where we use the free dining snacks credits), less heat, less crowds, less kids, shorter lines at the waterparks which are rendered unuseable in July.