How busy are the parks? [Archive]

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firstmark

4 Apr 08, 09:01 AM

Hi guys, could someone please tell me how busy the parks can get in September as thats when i've booked our holiday.
We went 2 years ago in June and had trouble getting on any rides in Universal, least to say the kids were quite upset.
Anyone been in September before feel free to drop me a line, many thanks.. :)

Laydee_J

4 Apr 08, 09:28 AM

Silva

4 Apr 08, 09:36 AM

Hi Mark, we have been the last two weeks in September and it was great, most of the rides in US, IOA and Seaworld were walk ons.

Disney parks are busier, but even then the average waits were about 10-15 mins.

I think September is a great time to go.

Agree with you on that we always go september as it was only time parents could go (own B&B), very quite unless weekend of course and not to hot either which is nice

schumigirl

4 Apr 08, 09:37 AM

We went last sept for our first trip and have booked to go back again same time this year.
We didn`t really know what to expect but it was fabulous. Queues were non existent some days, we walked onto POTC one day and there was no-one in front of us walking at all. We got to the boats and the CM`s whooped with delight at having someone to see.
The only real wait we had was for soarin. It was 90 mins and we hadn`t gotten fastpasses. Ended up not bothering.
Universal and IOA were the same, parks not too busy and longest queue we had was for The Mummy which on the fourth time we rode that day was around 25 mins. But most of them were walk ons or a few minutes.
You`ll have a great time. :wavey:

ShelTaylor

4 Apr 08, 09:47 AM

good to hear as that's when we are booking our holiday for, but in 09! i hate queing! :pgig:

p.s- this must be a really dumb question, as i see people putting it all the time- but what does IOA stand for??? :blush:

Harry

4 Apr 08, 09:49 AM

Have been last week in Sept and 1st week in October quite a few times.... years back (early 90's) Disney used to be like a ghost town then... I mean we have got pictures of us at Epcot and it looks like we are the only people in the park!!

It still is better than a lot of other times in the year but with the advent of Dis' Free Dining I found there was a big increase in volume... our hotel (All Stars Movie) was packed full and turning people away when we was there.

I think the longest we had (without a fast pass) in Dis' was 50 mins' for Thunder Mtn apart from that all the biggies was fastpassed and with some decent planning we done every thing we wanted to do. Universal was a different story... I ended up walking off the queue for the Mummy... I had been queing an hour and reckon I had another hour to go... the missus wasn't very happy when I got back (she had been with our daughter in one of the playgrounds).

Would and have been since at in Sept/Oct (was about the same volume in the parks as the previous year)... only pain is it is smack in the middle of Love Bug Season.... just like our May/June trip that is coming up!!

So in summary.... it's a good time to go but don't expect it to be like a Ghost Town like years past.

schumigirl

4 Apr 08, 09:58 AM

ShelTaylor

4 Apr 08, 09:04 PM

IOA, just short for Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios :wavey:

arrr....i see. now i know what everyone is talking about! :pgig:

thanks!

pinkypominnie

5 Apr 08, 08:29 AM

September is a great time to go - but having been in June last year, we also thought that was a great time to go! We didnt queue any longer than 20mins for anything in June and got on every single ride with some planning and use of fastpasses, we found Universal to be quite empty and had rode everything by 4pm, so I guess its what you are used to and relative to what other times of the year you have visited. I think June and september are very similar times with regards to crowd levels :)

Ruth

5 Apr 08, 05:46 PM

We HATE queuing so ALWAYS get to the parks for opening time.

This way we do the rides we want before the queues build up - often we are leaving the park at noon when others are arriving for a 90min wait for a ride.

As you've been before you know which rides you want to head for so do those (a couple of times) before you do the shows or take time out to eat.

In 2006 we went in Sept (21st) and were surprised at how many US kids were about for the firstweek - and then on the Monday of the following week Busch gardens was apcked with it being Columbus Day?

Check out the American School holidays because CD may be a day you'd be better shopping or chilling around the pool!

Ruth

apollo163

6 Apr 08, 12:53 AM

generally its a reasonably quite time

JudyC

6 Apr 08, 03:12 PM

After Labor day which is on 1st Sept this year the crowds really drop off considerably. They start to build up again mid October I think, I checked and Columbus day isn't until 13th October this year.

Get to the parks early and it should be a breeze getting on the rides this time of year.

Nomy

6 Apr 08, 03:19 PM

We're going 30th August for 2 weeks which is Labour Day weekend. We expect it to be very busy then, but hope the crowds will quite down after Monday. We intend to rest in our villa and shop on the Sunday, and generally rest up and get rid of the jet lag. Hopefully after that we will be full of energy for the real holiday :)

firstimer

6 Apr 08, 03:29 PM

We have been to florida for the previous 2 Septembers,the first year was reasonably quiet,all the rides were walk on.
Last year was different with the introduction of the DDP the Disney Parks were far busier,queues for most of the rides,only about 20 minutes though so not too bad.(Soarin being the exception 90 minutes at peak times)
The rest of Orlando was still quiet though,Seaworld,Busch Universal and IOA were all very quiet!!!!

Didn't stop us booking again though!!!!

Jaydee

6 Apr 08, 06:29 PM

We found June alot busier than in the September so you should be
fine :thumbs-up