For over a decade, we’ve been singing September’s praises (no, not the Cosmic Rewind music), with the early “fall” low season being among the many greatest occasions to go to Walt Disney World. However are mid-August via late September nonetheless good occasions to go to Walt Disney World? That’s the query this submit will discover.
We’ve been doing WDW in the course of the fall low season so long as we’ve been visiting collectively as adults. It began by chance. There was a quick window when Free Eating was provided however our faculty had but to return into session. We took benefit, and it was incredible. Hours have been simply as lengthy however crowds have been a lot decrease. We did the Pirate & Princess Events, noticed SpectroMagic, loved night Further Magic Hours till after midnight, all whereas having ridiculously good–and big–meals. It’s wild how a lot of that’s gone or not attainable.
We grew to become hooked on this time of yr and located ourselves routinely returning throughout this ‘candy spot’ at Walt Disney World, particularly as soon as we obtained Southwest Companion Passes and joined Disney Trip Membership. Then we began spreading the nice phrase about mid-August via September to anybody who would pay attention. Lengthy-time readers of the weblog most likely already know that our #1 month of the yr at Walt Disney World was September for a very long time. That’s not the case, but it surely was for the higher a part of a decade.
As we’ve identified for a number of years, mid-August via September have remained reliably uncrowded whilst different previous low season months have gotten busier. For us, what totally “cemented” the standing of mid-August via late September was when not even the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge moved the needle on crowds.
September 2019 was our first time experiencing the month as Floridians, and we took full benefit. In the event you weren’t there, it’s not possible to clarify how gloriously uncrowded the parks have been and the way superior ‘Further, Further Magic Hours’ was. It’s virtually unbelievable given how issues modified ~6 months later when the parks closed (they usually nonetheless haven’t totally recovered).
To be fully sincere with you, nostalgia for each our first low season visits collectively and people more moderen heyday of early fall low season has most likely clouded my judgment, and prompted me to maintain on my rose-colored glasses about this stretch. Nonetheless, actuality has actually set in over the course of the final couple years…
June 1, 2024 Replace: Properly, we’re not placing our “cash the place our mouths are” because it seems. For the entire digital ink spilled right here final yr concerning the warmth and humidity…we’re doing it once more! I simply need to disclose that now, a number of months upfront, so that you all can plan accordingly. Or not. And so that you don’t see our pictures from the early fall low season and assume we’re hypocrites who wrote this strategically simply to clear away the crowds for our personal egocentric enjoyment.
In my protection, this text initially ended by (spoiler alert) saying I’d be again in the course of the early fall low season as a result of it’s my civic obligation as a blogger to cowl Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Get together and the EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant. But it surely additionally indicated that we most likely wouldn’t do a household ‘for enjoyable’ journey. And that’s what is nearly actually altering.
There are a few causes for the change. The primary is that the delayed begin of the 2024 EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant means we will take an early September journey (versus early August) and hit each, rising our possibilities with higher climate. To that time, my September and October visits final yr have been a lot, a lot better than July and August. I do know that gained’t all the time be the case, however the odds of decrease temperatures do improve–even when barely–in September and October. (Sadly, the percentages of hurricanes additionally go up!)
The opposite large distinction is that my summer time and fall journeys to Walt Disney World final yr have been solo. Because of this Sarah didn’t expertise any of this firsthand, and if we’re being sincere, I believe possibly she’s underestimating simply how dangerous it was. (In fact, we’ve lived in Florida and skilled brutal summers, however they are saying time heals all wounds–so maybe she’s forgotten simply how dangerous it was.)
Extra considerably, Megatron hasn’t skilled Halloween at Walt Disney World. After an unimaginable first journey, we’re actually wanting ahead to each the Halloween and Christmas seasons within the parks. Seeing Walt Disney World via her eyes has already been unimaginable, and we need to do as many household holidays to WDW as attainable. Appears to be like like extra of these Southwest Companion Passes are in our future, once more!
The massive eye-opener of the early fall low season the final couple years was the climate. It was scorching in 2021-2022 to the purpose that we discovered ourselves taking extra noon breaks than regular and actually being ‘beat’ by the climate. On the time, that felt just like the worst climate we’d skilled in the course of the August and September low season. It was noticeably hotter, however not essentially surprising or traditionally dangerous. Simply worse than regular.
Then the early fall low season of 2023 occurred. I’m no stranger to scorching summers in Central Florida, and the couple weeks I used to be there in mid to late August have been the worst climate I’ve ever skilled at Walt Disney World. August was so terrible that there have been extreme warmth advisories frequently and the Florida Division of Emergency Administration warned residents and guests of dangerously scorching and humid situations.
Precise temperatures usually flirted with triple digits, and looks like temperatures routinely hit 110-115° all through month. It was a record-breaking summer time for Central Florida, with August being particularly terrible.
You may assume that Florida is all the time scorching and humid this time of yr. Not solely that, however climate forecasts are steadily stuffed with hyperbole, discovering new methods to sensationalize and scare. So possibly these 110°+ looks like temperatures aren’t truly all that a lot worse than the 90s you’ve skilled in Florida and elsewhere in different months, proper?
Incorrect. At the least, for my part. I don’t have an incredible tolerance for warmth and humidity, however I not less than grew to become accustomed to it whereas residing in Florida. This was not like something I’ve ever skilled in Orlando. About the one factor that compares was a summer time a couple of years again at Hong Kong Disneyland, which by some means manages to surpass Central Florida with regards to warmth and humidity.
By definition, report warmth waves are unprecedented and atypical. And this was the second yr in a row that I’ve encountered unseasonably scorching climate in the course of the early fall low season. The subsequent few years might be downright nice by comparability, however the development shouldn’t be your pal with regards to temperatures. You’re playing on climate this time of yr, and Walt Disney World journeys price so much.
It wasn’t simply triple-digit temperatures and looks like warmth this low season in Florida. Add to that humidity above 75% plus UV indexes of 10/10, and it was an ideal storm of uncomfortable climate. About the one constructive I can say concerning the climate throughout my weeks in Central Florida this August and September was that it was, fortunately, a reprieve from storm season at Walt Disney World.
Sarah was unable to affix me for apparent causes. Once I first purchased my ticket to attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Get together–the primary she had missed in over a decade–she was dissatisfied to be lacking out. That wore off by the point the social gathering rolled round. I had been sending periodic updates on the climate, with screenshots of the temperature after I first left my room every day.
The day of the primary Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Get together was significantly brutal. At first of the occasion, the temperature was 100° with a looks like of 115 levels. This wasn’t whilst dangerous because it obtained this explicit day–the precise temperature hit 102° and the looks like reached 118 levels. Nothing says “Halloween” like triple-digit warmth in early August!
There was virtually no reprieve from the warmth and humidity. I obtained up every single day on the first light for Early Entry, and it was scorching even at 7 am. I started protecting my digital camera bag on the balcony in a single day so my lenses wouldn’t be fogged up after I wanted them the subsequent morning.
Night was the same story. Sundown was a welcome aid, however solely partially. There have been nights after I left the parks and the looks like temperature was nonetheless over 100 levels. Now in equity, once you go from blazing solar and 118° looks like temperatures to darkness and “solely” 101° looks like temperatures, the distinction is fairly pronounced. However I used to be nonetheless sweating like loopy at just about all hours of the day.
I labored across the climate with noon breaks, taking issues gradual after Early Entry and cord drop, and discovering methods to keep away from the warmth. However even that wasn’t sufficient. I couldn’t assist however take into consideration how a lot my Walt Disney World expertise differs from the common visitor, as I do the parks in atypical methods and “for the sake of analysis.”
I additionally wore my dorky bucket hat paired with athletic shirts, and nonetheless managed to sweat via these every single day by like 10 am. I’ve this actually thick sunscreen that offers me the complexion of a ghost (higher than most cancers!) and that plus the debilitating warmth, getting up early and staying out late, gave me a “good” deathly look.
If this have been a visit with Sarah and Megatron, we’d need good household pictures. I’m unsure the extent to which that even would’ve been attainable except we prioritized footage very first thing within the morning or took second-showers and returned for post-sunset pictures.
The warmth provides everybody a shorter fuse, too. Though it’s not one thing that’s measurable, I can say with full confidence that I overhear and observe extra meltdowns–amongst each youngsters and adults–in August and September than throughout November and December.
This isn’t me passing judgment. The warmth and humidity are in charge, and it’s not like I’m resistant to it. The climate causes crankiness, and I discovered myself being a bit extra irritable than regular, and aggravated by issues I usually would’ve dismissed. The distinction is that I used to be flying solo, so it was merely an inner grumbling to myself and never outward orneriness.
Even stopping in need of full meltdown territory, the warmth and humidity simply beat you down. The climate is exhausting, making it exceedingly tough to do a full day within the parks with out a noon break or taking time to decompress. This alone can undermine any effectivity features from the decrease crowds.
In the event you’re skipping a couple of hours or going at a slower tempo as a result of climate, you may find yourself conducting simply as a lot in the course of the slowest days in August as you’d throughout barely busier (however far more nice) weeks in late October to December.
Unscheduled breaks or needed downtime may exacerbate tensions and stress. In case your months-in-the-making plan dictates being within the park from opening till closing–but it surely turns into clear that’s not possible–it may be crushing to see that slip away. One of many causes we’re anti-spreadsheet is as a result of we’ve seen precisely this situation play out too many occasions.
Whereas I did a number of full days from Early Entry till after park closing in August and September, my batting common was most likely lower than .500. And that’s simply me, an grownup who likes to energy via each time attainable. Envisioning how we’ll do Walt Disney World as a household with a toddler in tow…I simply can not fathom full days throughout this time of yr.
Against this, I can do full days in the course of the vacation season with ease. The temperatures are far more conducive to it, as are the less hours of daylight. Even when crowd ranges are greater, which may solely quantity to an additional ~5 minutes of ready per attraction. However should you’re spending an additional ~2 hours within the parks per day, you’ve greater than offset the added wait occasions.
And though it’s robust to quantify, I’d argue that the entire vibe is merrier throughout that point of yr, from company to Forged Members. Foolish as it would sound, I totally consider you feed off of the power round you at Walt Disney World. It’s a lot simpler to be reinvigorated and upbeat because of the collective power in November and December than August and September.
One other challenge that’s changing into extra pronounced is park hours. There’s now fewer hours that the parks are opening after darkish, which is essentially the most nice time of day to do Walt Disney World throughout September.
I did Prolonged Night Hours a pair occasions at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT throughout the latest low season, and it was the busiest I’ve seen it at both park–worse than the height of spring break, regardless of a lot decrease crowds in the course of the day. I’m guessing there are a number of causes for Prolonged Night Hours getting busier, however the obvious to me can be climate.
Eligible company most likely took noon breaks with the intention of returning to the parks within the night. (Relatively than staying all day, getting burnt out, and heading residence earlier than ExEH began, as usually occurs.) The inflow of company at first of Prolonged Night Hours would appear to corroborate this.
Equally regarding is how Walt Disney World quietly shortened hours in September. Lots of consideration has been rightfully paid to Magic Kingdom closing too early or now opening at 9 am on most MNSSHP dates. Walt Disney World reducing hours at EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is simply as large of a deal–and one which has flown underneath the radar. It’s actually unlucky and if this development repeats itself in September 2024–however not October, November, or December–it should considerably change the calculus on which of those occasions is the “greatest” to go to.
With all of that mentioned, mid-August via late September stays a very interesting timeframe for a couple of causes. In the beginning is that it’s persistently uncrowded. Yeah, it’s busier now than it was in 2008 or 2017, however relative to different months in the identical calendar yr, it’s #1 for crowds.
Not like different months that have been as soon as the low season however have since seen spikes (taking a look at you, January and October!), August and September are prone to keep uncrowded. The principle components protecting attendance down–faculty schedules and climate–aren’t going to vary. Walt Disney World can’t get artful scheduling runDisney, ESPN Extensive World of Sports activities, conventions, or different occasions in September to buoy attendance, because the climate makes it a non-starter for a lot.
Most faculties are going to be in session throughout most of August and all of September, and fogeys are unlikely to tug their youngsters out after the brand new faculty yr simply began. For tons of individuals, it’s merely an undesirable time to go to, and that has remained true regardless of what number of occasions they’ve heard effusive reward concerning the early fall low season. Many followers, maybe the wiser ones, may view that because the Siren’s Tune of September (and August).
One other is occasions. In an try to reverse the low season lull, each Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween and the EPCOT Worldwide Meals & Wine Pageant now begin as faculty goes again into session. Once more, that didn’t all the time was the case–it wasn’t even that way back that each started in September, relatively than August.
Lastly, there’s pricing. In the event you have a look at the Least expensive Occasions to Go to Walt Disney World, you’ll see that the early fall low season usually trails solely the winter season. Even that’s no certain factor, as superior reductions in mid-August via September can greater than bridge the hole.
An arguably higher comparability is how the early fall low season compares to the ultimate three months of the yr. Not solely are room reductions higher and rack charges decrease, however there’s a wider vary of offers–just like the current 4-Parks Magic Tickets. Then there are considerably decrease costs for exhausting ticket occasions like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Get together. All of it provides up!
In the end, I can see why the early fall low season remains to be such an interesting time for thus many Walt Disney World diehard followers to take journeys. It’s cheaper and fewer crowded, harking back to less complicated days in previous many years when costs and attendance have been decrease. The seasonal occasions are a ton of enjoyable, and there’s one thing so satisfying about strolling onto points of interest with nearly no waits. You are feeling like a VIP.
Personally, I really like the concept of August via late September. I see pictures of us in empty parks that fire up fond recollections, conveniently forgetting the warmth we endured alongside the best way. To a point, I believe that’s how nostalgia works–your thoughts savors the nice and lets go of the dangerous, creating an idealized model of a previous that by no means existed.
However like an egg on the Magic Kingdom sidewalk, this yr’s recollections of the warmth are fried into my thoughts. It’s robust to see myself wanting that have once more. (Properly, till I overlook all concerning the climate however proceed to recollect the low crowds!)
In equity, we now have warned about climate and even made ‘qualitative’ suggestions to go later in September or October, avoiding the perfect stretch of crowds in favor of the chance of a extra nice expertise. Neither our Greatest & Worst Months to Do Walt Disney World nor our 10 Greatest and 10 Worst Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World in 2024 & 2025 advocate the weeks that usually have absolutely the lowest crowds.
We’ve as a substitute suggested ready till later in September when it’s barely busier (however nonetheless gradual relative to the remainder of the yr), late October, or the low-crowd home windows in November and December. Despite the fact that none of these dates are as objectively uncrowded as mid-August via early September, they’re subjectively superior.
I’ll positively be again for the beginning of the 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Get together and EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant, however as a result of I’m a blogger who doesn’t study from previous errors and that’s what my folks do. In the case of household for enjoyable journeys or suggestions to buddies (together with you all), it’s getting more durable and more durable to justify mid-August to late September with out severe caveats. Even should you assume you recognize what you’re getting your self into…it’s robust to totally comprehend that warmth till you’ve felt it. And by then, it’s too late!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study motels on our Walt Disney World Motels Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every thing you might want to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Do you assume it’s nonetheless price braving the climate in August and September for the bottom crowds of the yr at Walt Disney World? Or, would you are taking the marginally greater crowd ranges however subjectively superior general expertise in the course of the November and December lulls? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even once you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
