Our kids have a fall break in the middle of October each year.
Just wondering how weather and crowds would be during that time of the year.
Our kids have a fall break in the middle of October each year.
Just wondering how weather and crowds would be during that time of the year.
"If you can Dream it you can Do IT." Walt Disney
It's my favorite time of year to go. It's still fairly warm (humid, too, to an Arizonian), Food & Wine Festival is going on and Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (Make sure you see the start of the parade, the Headless Horseman is great). It's getting more crowded, but not compared to Christmas, summer, or spring break. Whenever I hear someone say they are thinking about going to WDW, I recommend October!
Cathy
We went in 2010 for Fall break and will go again this fall. It is the perfect balance of kids off school and crowd level. I love it!
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Count me in for this time as well. It used to be a fave time for us to go till the schools started frowning on parents taking kids out of school for vacation.
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We went one year right at Columbus Day weekend. Although we loved the weather, the crowds were larger than I had expected them to be. Touring Plans predicts 8's and 9's during Columbus Day weekend, but if you are going around the 14th, the crowds dip down quite a bit. And Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party is wonderful!!!
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Stephanie
~A man's character can be judged by the way he treats his dog.~
Any worries about huricanes during this time of the year?
Our kids also have a week off usually in Mid March. Would this be a better time to go as far as weather and crowds?
"If you can Dream it you can Do IT." Walt Disney
Mid-March is not a good time. That is during Spring Break for 2013 and it's considered peak season with crowd levels packed. First week in March is a little lighter, but as you go into Mid-March the crowds get heavier. The weather is pleasant. But, October would be my first choice.
Hurricanes in October? We've endured Hurricanes late August and September, but never October. I think you will be ok.
Have a Magical Day, Month, Year!!!
When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable ~ Walt Disney
Stephanie
~A man's character can be judged by the way he treats his dog.~
No and no. It is the end of the season, so I suppose there is some possibility, but it isn't likely. And in March you'll have kids on Spring Break, which everyone gets. In October, you'll have kids on Fall Break which far fewer kids get.Originally Posted by sjhanksaz
There are 10 kinds of people in this world... Those who know binary and those who don't.
Ditto to all this. We are in AZ too and my Fall Break is the week of Columbus Day. We went this week in 2009. It was a little more crowded than I was expecting, but totally manageable. We loved the Food and Wine festival and the Halloween Party. There was a record heat wave the week we were there, so for us, the weather was HOT but I think that was abnormal. We hope to go the first week of Dec when we go back in a few years, but Oct is our back-up time if I am still teaching!
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When you say record heat, what was it like?
Where is your favorite place to stay when you are there?
"If you can Dream it you can Do IT." Walt Disney
I have gone in October (Columbus Day Week and later in the month) every year since 2008 and I recommend it absolutely. It's a bit warmer than I'd personally like it to be but the evenings are fabulous and the crowds very manageable. I'll be there this year from the 7th through the 14th at the Boardwalk Inn!
John
Technically it's still hurricane season - but risk is very low. I had one trip, I think it was in October, that had record highs on the weekend, and record lows on Tuesday! I had to buy more clothes and went into the charcter stop in Epcot JUST to get a little warmed up (and had a great interaction and saw another great interaction)
Cathy
I love WDW in October. Probably my favorite time of year to be there--other than very early December. For a family trip, October is #1 for me.
Working hard for that next WDW trip! December 2013
I have gone 3 times in the last 4 years during our October fall break. It was wonderful, we love the halloween decorations at MK and the MNSSHP is a must! The weekend of Columbus Day was alot more crowded than I had expected, but we managed. One year the temps were in the 90's and another year in the high 70's. But all in all, it has been our favorite time to be at WDW! My husband and I especially loved trying all the different foods at the Food and Wine festival at Epcot too.
Approximatly when are the fall breaks in your part of the country?
"If you can Dream it you can Do IT." Walt Disney
Our fall break is October 5th-9th, if you are planning after Columbus Day you should be fine.
Just look at it this way; any day at WDW is better than a day at work.
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Do you go fishing too?
I noticed that WDW does not offer discounts all October long. Sounds like there is a PGA event in FL each October. Does that impact the park much?
"If you can Dream it you can Do IT." Walt Disney
We have gone to WDW in October the last 3 years, 2 of the 3 years with the free dining offer. We love this time of year with the weather and the Food and Wine Festival. However, i think a lot of families seem to have fall breaks in October as the crowds seem heavier than late January/early February.
“A keen sense of humor helps us to overlook the unbecoming, understand the unconventional, tolerated the unpleasant, overcome the unexpected, and outlast the unbearable.” Billy Graham
Also adding to the October crowds - and in particular Food & Wine crowds on weekday evenings and on weekends - are Florida residents who have various ticket discounts (not available to non-residents).
Disney also routinely offers some very good room discounts to Florida residents during this time (valid only for holders of those Florida resident only tickets).
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Great point! I now remember that we avoided Epcot on the weekends.
“A keen sense of humor helps us to overlook the unbecoming, understand the unconventional, tolerated the unpleasant, overcome the unexpected, and outlast the unbearable.” Billy Graham
The PGA event doesn't negatively impact the parks, IMHO. You'll see cars parked in odd areas near the courses/wherever they're doing the shuttles from, and that's about it. One time when we checked in during the tourney, they actually had some sort of free ticket in our packet. Not sure if they were actually for the golf tourney, or what - we weren't interested so I didn't study them closely. To me, though, that says that the crowds aren't overwhelming for the venue.
And do avoid Epcot on Fri/Sat if you can!
Cathy
I used to think that October was empty, but not anymore. F&W has evened out that dip in their attendance. It's still not a summer or holiday time, and remains my favorite time of year to go, but it's not quiet. I echo the avoid Epcot on any FRI/SAT.....
Working hard for that next WDW trip! December 2013
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