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[RogerRabbit]

I had planned on going in mid to late Sept. My wife wants to go in Oct., when it isn't as hot. Is the temp that much different and does it get crowded in Oct. because of the Halloween bash?
I would also like to thank everyone for answering all of my annoying questions!! My wife said she is going to limit my talking about WDW at home, she said that I'm going to burn her out before we ever get there.

[2princessmom]

We went in mid Sept and absolutely loved it. You do have to be aware of the chance of a hurricane. We happened to luck out and went between two. There were no crowds and it wasn't overly hot. I would go again at that time if I didn't have school age kids!

[Eeyoresmom]

We went in early October and had a great time. Our trip started in "value season," so we got the "value season" pricing for the full week and we were able to enjoy the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot which was fantastic. I would highly recommend hitting that festival. And the lines weren't long at all. We were able to see a lot.

The downside was that it was still hurricane season, so it rained all week. But we didn't let the rain spoil our fun. And September is hurricane season, too - so either month you take that risk. Also, it was still hot in early October.

Have fun planning!

[RogerRabbit]

The way the hurricane season was this year I think it is open for one all year!! You take a risk of some natural disater any where you go. I try not to think about those sort of things. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/questionicon.gif[/img]

[ladyt]

Disney is the "best" place to be if there is a hurricane threatening central Florida. They take very good care of their guests.

We went in mid-Sept. and it was hot, but not unbearable. We were there between 2 hurricanes as well, so I think the weather was a little milder. You will see lower crowds in Sept., but as Tanya said, the Food and Wine festival is worth going for. It starts Sept. 29th.

[angiek1024]

We have been in October the last three years. We love it in October because the weather is mild and of course we can go to the Halloween party. The crowds are getting bigger in October because so many schools are out for fall break now. I believe the crowds would be lower in late September.

[DopeyGirl]

The crowds are slightly less in September, since the kids have been back in school in-state for almost 2 months . . . and kids around the country have been in school for at least a couple of weeks.

Here in NW Florida, the weather is no different between September and October . . . and I, honestly, find it to be no different, weather-wise, in Orlando. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

I think you might be better off in September! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Caldercup]

If you check in right as September changes into October, it's still value season. It's pretty much hot and humid all of September and October. (The big change seems to come in November.)

I think this is the season layout for 2006 (from the GF FAQ at AllEarsNet.com)
Value - 1/1-2/16; 7/5-10/4; 11/27-12/19
Regular - 4/17-7/4; 10/5-11/26
Peak - 2/17-4/16
Holiday - 12/20 - 12/31

So check-in before October 5th and you get the value season rate for your whole stay! (as long as you don't switch resorts after October 5th)

Except for Columbus day weekend and Halloween, the crowds are very manageable. But since Disney hyped their dining plan last season, they had an abnormally large number of guests Sept/Oct 2005. Don't know if they do something similar this year to increase attendance.

It's still much better than full-on summer and the crowds are nothing like peak times.

You should enjoy yourself either month. (We have!)
Eileen

oooh, and I also wanted to add info about Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP), which usually starts the first weekend of October -- a great reason to make the trip in October instead of September. This specially-ticketed event is terrific and allows you into the park with the MNSSHP ticket as of 4PM. That way, you can save yourself one day of park passes if you want to hang out at the pool and resort for the morning and rest up for the party that night! (More info on MNSSHP is at AllEarsNet.com.)

[DawnDenise]

We have gone twice in mid-September and the weather wasn't bad at all. I am trying to remember the crowd levels. In 2000, I think they were pretty manageable. In 2001, we went right after 9/11 and were completely spoiled so I can't count that one.

We have booked our trip this year from 9/30-10/6. We get the whole trip at the value season rates and still can take advantage of MNSSHP.

[luv2sail]

We were just there from October 1-9. The crowds were VERY managable except for when it got closer to Columbus weekend. Sat. the 9th was pretty bad at the MK.

Weather wise it was disgusting! We had rain off and on every day and the humidity was gross. The plus side was that it was overcase almost the entire time so you didn't have that hot sun. I can't stand humidity so I wasn't too pleased.

[jimmymac]

I always go in October and the weather and crowd levels have never been a problem

[Minnie Lor]

I've been in early Oct. and it rained hard every day and evening. I've been in late Oct. and the weather was beautiful. Warm and sunny. Crowds - no problem in either case.

[clio]

I've been there in both Sept. and Oct. I like the beginning of Oct. because we can go to the Food And Wine Feastival and the Halloween Party. Last year it rained alot the week we were there but the year before it was beautiful. You never know what the weather will be like.
Liz

[WDWRonda]

We went the final week of September of 2005. The weather was fine, if we get hot we head for a waterpark. Like everyone else I would advise trying to check in during value season.