I admit that I did not do the best planning for my Walt Disney World Trip but I was wondering if anybody had advice for me.

I am taking my wife there September 21-26th at Wilderness Lodge. I realize we miss out on the free dining but my question is this....Everybody we talk to seems to be really against going in late September because of hurricanes and the heat. I don't mind the heat and the urricanes can be unpredictable. But it just seems to us that this free dining nonsense will make the park packed to capacity. It seems everybody is now going at a time that is normally a little less crowded being that school just starts up in early september.

So should we cancel the trip? It seems like it will be as crowded as the summer or holidays now that there is free dining. Am i way off base here?

Unfortunatley that week in September is the only time we can go with our busy schedules. Any advice will be greatly appreciated and hopefully put our mind at ease.
thanks

Just a suggestion but, if you go one day earlier you can get free dining for the length of your stay and from what I hear it shouldn't be too crowded during that time. Go & have a great time for all of us.

If it were me, and the only option was to keep or cancel it, I would keep it. If it were only a matter of rescheduling, I might consider that, but honestly... I have gone the past three years at that time of year. Yes the heat and humidity are pretty much unbearable, I can't believe people actually choose to live in Florida - to me it is disgusting. But, I have not worried about hurricanes. Yes, one might interrupt your vacation if you are unfortunate.

However, it IS Disney World... it will be fabulous. You should go!

Everybody we talk to seems to be really against going in late September because of hurricanes and the heat. I don't mind the heat and the urricanes can be unpredictable. But it just seems to us that this free dining nonsense will make the park packed to capacity. It seems everybody is now going at a time that is normally a little less crowded being that school just starts up in early september.

So should we cancel the trip? It seems like it will be as crowded as the summer or holidays now that there is free dining. Am i way off base here?

Yes, its going to be warm and you should expect a brief shower nearly every day. As for the hurricanes, I would not base your decision on such a random act of nature.

It is a good time of year to go, the crowds are decent, and you are not going to see a huge influx due to free dining. The biggest problem with the free dining is that if you dont do your ADR's at the 180 mark, you are going to have problems getting into your first choices of TS eateries.

I went once in the beginning of October (somewhat close to when you are going), and it was the best time I was down there. It wasn't too hot, there were low crowds, and no hurricanes. Don't let the idea of a hurricane cancel your trip!!!!

Another vote for the trip. My birthday is at the end of September, and I like to get down there every other year or so for that and the start of the Food & Wine Festival. While the heat in Florida is unbearable in July and August, by September it's usually cooled down into the mid-80's or so (still with high humidity, though!). And I don't even begin to worry about the hurricane situation. They rarely even come close to Orlando. And when they do, you'll find the Disney hotels to be incredibly sturdy and hurricane resistant.

Go, and have fun!

Go!!! Go!!! You will have a great time! It's humid and there will be daily showers, but September is very nice.

You will notice a lot of young families with strollers...there's not too many school-aged children at that time.

If you do just book one day earlier...you can take advantage (as mentioned before) of the FREE DINING! It's worth it!

:fez:

OK--Here's your worst-case scenerio: H, H, & H: Hot, Humid and Hurricane. I've done it. We were there for Wilma, which was NO big deal. We had to stay in our rooms for something like 12 hours (much of which was overnight) and although the parks were closed until early afternoon (for on-site guests), we were treated like royalty. They kept us informed. I felt safer here than in a big-thunderboomer-wind storm in the mid-west. No biggie. Yes, it was VERY hot prior to the hurricane. I've never felt humidity and heat like that (storm pushed it on-shore).

Now, would I avoid WDW because of it? NO WAY! I've been down there for three October trips (hurricane season). Only that one-day blip with Miss Wilma. Stick with your plans!