Foreign Disneymooner query

[SouthAfricanDisneymoon]

Hi everyone,

We are in the process of planning our Honeymoon to Disney. It will be my fiancée's first time and my second. We are coming all the way from Cape Town, South Africa and we are starting to feel slightly overwhelmed by all the planning required for our trip.

In my initial research about a year ago, I had read somewhere that the least busiest time to visit WDW is during mid October 2018. We went ahead and planned our wedding date around this date and went full steam ahead with wedding planning.

I'm now reading up again and it is saying that October 2018 has become one of the busiest times to visit. I obviously can't now go and change the wedding date (as it is an entire weekend wedding)

I guess what I'm trying to ask is if it will still be an enjoyable trip for us - crowd wise? We are hoping to stay onsite and be around for about 10 days. (Of course having rest days in between and taking a trip to Universal Studios too)

Please put my mind at ease,
a very worried disneymooner

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

We found the end of October to be quite a bit more busy than May when we normally go. However it wasn't crazy busy ( except EPCOT for the food and beer festival. I am sure you will still have an amazing time, and congratulations on the forthcoming wedding.

 

[SouthAfricanDisneymoon]

We found the end of October to be quite a bit more busy than May when we normally go. However it wasn't crazy busy ( except EPCOT for the food and beer festival. I am sure you will still have an amazing time, and congratulations on the forthcoming wedding.

Yay! thank you!

 

[Minnie Mum]

All of October has become busier, thanks to both the MK Halloween parties and Epcot F&W festival at the same time. That doesn't mean the crowds are unmanageable or approach the levels of Xmas/New Years. But it does mean you need to plan your park days carefully. Avoid Epcot Friday night and Saturdays. That's when the locals flood the park to sample the F&W. And be aware that MK closes early on party nights.

I like to use Touring Plans website to select our park days (going to the recommended park) and also their touring plans to plan each day to minimize standing in lines. It requires a subscription, but IMO (considering the cost of a WDW vacation) is totally worth the price.

 

[dreamfinder]

The whole year is really becoming busier overall at WDW. They have done a good job of adding new events that help to bring people during what had otherwise been a slow period of the year. Avoid Epcot on Fri/Sat night during F&W. Make sure to use FP+ to setup rides in advance, and you should be fine.

 

[LeighM]

We've been twice the first week in October and the crowds were very heavy both times. Unfortunately the second time was interrupted by Hurricane Matthew. It was still enjoyable but we did have to change our expectations after the first trip. We only went to Epcot for the Food and Wine Festival during the middle of the week and not on the weekend. We had park hoppers so we could start out early at one park and, if it got busy, we hopped to another park with less crowds. We made more dining reservations at resorts instead of the park to increase flexibility. Which worked out perfectly for us because we enjoy the restaurants at the resorts more anyway We also spent more time at the resorts during the hottest part of the afternoon.

 

[SouthAfricanDisneymoon]

Thank you so much everyone!

 

[jaklgreen]

I go every October for the Food and wine festival events. It is busier then some months but not out of control like the summer or Christmas time. To get the most out of your trip you might want to follow the "get up early, mid day break" type of touring. Make your fastpasses for early in the day so that you have a better chance of adding more on. Please let us know if you have any other questions.

 

[yensid67]

I would echo Minnie Mum's advice...use touring plans to find out what you can expect. Planning a Disney trip is 75% of the fun of going! DO NOT stress out over it, but advance planning is a must with FP+ so you can get on your favorite rides. Enjoy your time planning and if I were you, I would get Hubby to be involved in planning it with you, If not already. It could be a bonding experience! Many blessings to you and Hubby to be for a long a prosperous life together....Disney style! By the way, if you want to move...Disney has homes for sale BESIDE the Magic Kingdom...ONLY starting at $3 million!

My advice to you since you are coming for 10 days to include Disney and Universal...and travelling from South Africa is expensive, my question is do you HAVE TO stay on property or would you rather stay in a nice hotel for a cheaper price!? The Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista(clarionlbv.com) is a 3 star hotel that is 5 minutes from Disney Springs just beyond Hotel Plaza Blvd. pillow-top mattresses, microwave, frig, coffee maker, 2 pools, bar/grille, convenience store, 24 hr deli, restaurant and 24 hr security. We are going in May 2018 and got 8 days for $528 INCLUDING a HOT breakfast buffet each morning! Let me know and I will send you the website(s)

But congratulations on your wedding!

 

[Cameron1529]

Hi everyone,

We are in the process of planning our Honeymoon to Disney. It will be my fiancée's first time and my second. We are coming all the way from Cape Town, South Africa and we are starting to feel slightly overwhelmed by all the planning required for our trip.

In my initial research about a year ago, I had read somewhere that the least busiest time to visit WDW is during mid October 2018. We went ahead and planned our wedding date around this date and went full steam ahead with wedding planning.

I'm now reading up again and it is saying that October 2018 has become one of the busiest times to visit. I obviously can't now go and change the wedding date (as it is an entire weekend wedding)

I guess what I'm trying to ask is if it will still be an enjoyable trip for us - crowd wise? We are hoping to stay onsite and be around for about 10 days. (Of course having rest days in between and taking a trip to Universal Studios too)

Please put my mind at ease,
a very worried disneymooner

October tends to fall in the middle. Different sources state different things, so sometimes you just have to stick to what majority of sources say. Even if it is busier you can still have a great time by utilising FASTPASSES, getting there early in the morning before the crowds significantly increase, doing research and planning and attempting to stay away from the parks on weekends if your able.

Disney crowds are going to be bit unpredictable over the next few years. With the addition of Toy Story land and various other new features, it is becoming very hard to predict what the crowds are going to do.

 

[SouthAfricanDisneymoon]

I would echo Minnie Mum's advice...use touring plans to find out what you can expect. Planning a Disney trip is 75% of the fun of going! DO NOT stress out over it, but advance planning is a must with FP+ so you can get on your favorite rides. Enjoy your time planning and if I were you, I would get Hubby to be involved in planning it with you, If not already. It could be a bonding experience! Many blessings to you and Hubby to be for a long a prosperous life together....Disney style! By the way, if you want to move...Disney has homes for sale BESIDE the Magic Kingdom...ONLY starting at $3 million!

My advice to you since you are coming for 10 days to include Disney and Universal...and travelling from South Africa is expensive, my question is do you HAVE TO stay on property or would you rather stay in a nice hotel for a cheaper price!? The Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista(clarionlbv.com) is a 3 star hotel that is 5 minutes from Disney Springs just beyond Hotel Plaza Blvd. pillow-top mattresses, microwave, frig, coffee maker, 2 pools, bar/grille, convenience store, 24 hr deli, restaurant and 24 hr security. We are going in May 2018 and got 8 days for $528 INCLUDING a HOT breakfast buffet each morning! Let me know and I will send you the website(s)

But congratulations on your wedding!

No, we want the full experience of staying onsite and being completely immersed in all of the magic

Thank you so much for the tips and tricks x

 

[jackson2005]

We went the 3rd week, it was busy but just 2 of you will be good! We had children and grandparents. Where are you staying? I agree with on property, Makes a great Disney trip. If you are not renting car, which I wouldn’t, use Uber to get to and from universal. (Or one of those company’s)

 

[graphite1326]

I go every October for the Food and wine festival events. It is busier then some months but not out of control like the summer or Christmas time. To get the most out of your trip you might want to follow the "get up early, mid day break" type of touring. Make your fastpasses for early in the day so that you have a better chance of adding more on. Please let us know if you have any other questions.

This is good advise. Planning is the key. Get the rides/attractions in early before the crowds. Use your FP option. We go quite often in October and found as long as we plan this way the parks are manageable. By the end of our trip in the evenings we find ourselves just walking around EPCOT and just relaxing and enjoying everything. Sometimes we grab the boat over to the boardwalk and catch the street performers that come out in the evening.

 

[correcaminos]

There are no slower times really anymore. October has been busier for quite a few years now. It's not insane like the winter or Easter/Passover holidays but it's still not super slow. If you can avoid Epcot on weekends I would. the rest won't be horrible at least. Having a 10 day trip should help you get to 'see it all' including a lot of Universal.