Notices
Theme Parks Florida Rides, Attractions, Genie+ Questions and Info.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 26 Nov 17, 08:44 PM  
Link to this Post
#1
papasmurf
Imagineer
 
Join Date: Sep 13
Mobile How busy are the parks in early/mid october?

Always been late June to mid July so used to the busyness.

How busy are they in early to mid October? Particularly universal. We've always stayed onsite to get the express passes. Would this be needed in October?
papasmurf is offline Boy Mouse Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Old 26 Nov 17, 10:28 PM  
Link to this Post
#2
loldis
Imagineer
 
Join Date: May 17
Location: Sussex
I don't know about Universal but from every report I've heard from Disney, the October crowds were much larger than expected this year. There were even a few level 10 crowd days at MK according to TP's historical data.

ETA: You can also use the historic Busy Day Guide to view - hover over any park to see the actual crowd level that day. As an example, October 11th (a Wednesday, which is typically evening EMH but also the only non-party weekday that week) was rated 9.5 for MK.

https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/bus...?hours=10+2017

Edited at 10:33 PM.
loldis is offline Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Old 27 Nov 17, 09:08 PM  
Link to this Post
#3
Cloverlady
Imagineer
 
Cloverlady's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 12
Originally Posted by loldis View Post
I don't know about Universal but from every report I've heard from Disney, the October crowds were much larger than expected this year. There were even a few level 10 crowd days at MK according to TP's historical data.
I agree with this - We found last October (middle 2 weeks in 2016) at Disney to be incredibly busy too, more so than in the previous July when we'd last visited. It was walking shoulder to shoulder at times. Spoiled the whole atmosphere we found.
Fastpasses are all well and good for the rides, but its the fact that you couldn't get a seat to have a cup of coffee or an ice- cream that really spoiled the experience.
It doesn't help that MK shuts on several nights for the Halloween parties I suppose - and a victim of its own success, great for Disney but not so brill for guests!

As a result - Hubby and I have agreed we won't go in October again.
__________________
Florida - 04,05,06,08,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19, Covid - boo! 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Cruises - Caribbean x7, Canaries, Far East/India/Dubai, Mexico, Mediterranean x4, Greek Islands, Toyo, HK, Singapore
Other USA Many other states... but still more to see!
Cloverlady is offline Girl Mouse Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Old 29 Nov 17, 02:49 PM  
Link to this Post
#4
Nimbus
Imagineer
 
Nimbus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 10
Location: South Manchester

Nimbus's Reviews
Hotel Reviews: 8
Restaurant Reviews: 21

theDIBB Guidebook
Guidebook Photos: 36
Guidebook Reviews: 2
Originally Posted by loldis View Post
ETA: You can also use the historic Busy Day Guide to view - hover over any park to see the actual crowd level that day. As an example, October 11th (a Wednesday, which is typically evening EMH but also the only non-party weekday that week) was rated 9.5 for MK.
A day later - Oct 12th - it was rated 3.8. And a week beforehand on Thurs Oct 5th it was rated 2.0. Both of which indicate fairly low crowd levels - well, low for MK anyway.

Which, perhaps, just goes to show that it's best to visit MK on a day that is recommended rather than one where MK is not recommended.

Early to mid October, especially around Columbus Day, typically has average crowd levels. It isn't the quietest time of year by any means (and it seems to be getting busier as guests are keen to visit for the Halloween party days and Food&Wine festival) but it's not the busiest time of year either.

See the When to Visit page for a rough idea of crowds (although this is probably becoming more and more out of date).
__________________
DLC: Jun 1996 // DLP: Aug 2013 // WDW: Dec 1997 | Feb 2000 | Mar 2001 | Feb 2006 | Oct 2010 | May 2012 | Aug 2014 | Apr 2016 | Apr 2023

~ Trip Report Indexes ~
Nimbus is online now Boy Mouse Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Old 29 Nov 17, 07:14 PM  
Link to this Post
#5
loldis
Imagineer
 
Join Date: May 17
Location: Sussex
Originally Posted by Nimbus View Post
A day later - Oct 12th - it was rated 3.8. And a week beforehand on Thurs Oct 5th it was rated 2.0. Both of which indicate fairly low crowd levels - well, low for MK anyway.
Yup, I noticed that. It was really all over the place. I think it's mostly people avoiding MK on party days since it closes early. Which makes sense if you're not on a hopper and want a full park day.

I pointed out the 10 days though so people don't go expecting the 2-4 crowds every day that October always used to be. Those days are long gone!
loldis is offline Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Old 30 Nov 17, 11:21 AM  
Link to this Post
#6
Nimbus
Imagineer
 
Nimbus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 10
Location: South Manchester

Nimbus's Reviews
Hotel Reviews: 8
Restaurant Reviews: 21

theDIBB Guidebook
Guidebook Photos: 36
Guidebook Reviews: 2
Originally Posted by loldis View Post
Yup, I noticed that. It was really all over the place. I think it's mostly people avoiding MK on party days since it closes early. Which makes sense if you're not on a hopper and want a full park day.

I pointed out the 10 days though so people don't go expecting the 2-4 crowds every day that October always used to be. Those days are long gone!
Yeah, it does look like October was very variable! Crowd levels of 3 or 4 on some days and then 8 and 9 on a couple of days. Depending on which parks you visited on which days it could either seem like the crowds were average or the crowds were manic. Although it looks like Animal Kingdom was consistently busy (Pandora was/is still affecting crowd levels).
__________________
DLC: Jun 1996 // DLP: Aug 2013 // WDW: Dec 1997 | Feb 2000 | Mar 2001 | Feb 2006 | Oct 2010 | May 2012 | Aug 2014 | Apr 2016 | Apr 2023

~ Trip Report Indexes ~
Nimbus is online now Boy Mouse Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Old 7 Dec 17, 10:11 AM  
Link to this Post
#7
AlpacaPicnic
Earning More Ears
 
AlpacaPicnic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 16
Originally Posted by loldis View Post
As an example, October 11th (a Wednesday, which is typically evening EMH but also the only non-party weekday that week) was rated 9.5 for MK.
It's all so objective, isn't it?! I was there from Oct 10-24 this year and spent the 11th in MK and found it just fine! We did go early and leave by 4 ish which may explain it but we went on lots of rides, had a good look around and at no point felt it was insanely overcrowded.

In fact, I was expecting huge crowds the whole holiday and literally the only time I felt overwhelmed was leaving the park after the fireworks on the 21st (non party Saturday). I had a dessert party booked so it was really relaxed and the day hadn't been too busy, lots of FP/ walk ons available so when we left I was very WOAH! at the crowds to get out.

I'm hoping to go back in 2019 and will opt for the same time of year again.

It may also be that this was my first visit so no previous experiences of parks being quiet to compare to. And planning to within an inch of my life, this forum helped with FP planning etc. Rode everything and never waited more than 25 mins for anything (and that was a night time photopass at rapunzels castle!)

Edited at 10:15 AM.
AlpacaPicnic is offline Girl Mouse Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Old 7 Dec 17, 01:37 PM  
Link to this Post
#8
Nimbus
Imagineer
 
Nimbus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 10
Location: South Manchester

Nimbus's Reviews
Hotel Reviews: 8
Restaurant Reviews: 21

theDIBB Guidebook
Guidebook Photos: 36
Guidebook Reviews: 2
Originally Posted by AlpacaPicnic View Post
It's all so objective, isn't it?!
I think you mean 'subjective' not 'objective'?

Everyone has a different opinion, and experience, of what's busy and what's not. I've seen DIBBers commenting on the crowds in a park on the same day and one of them thought it was rammed whilst another thought it was fairly quiet. So, yes, it is very subjective.
__________________
DLC: Jun 1996 // DLP: Aug 2013 // WDW: Dec 1997 | Feb 2000 | Mar 2001 | Feb 2006 | Oct 2010 | May 2012 | Aug 2014 | Apr 2016 | Apr 2023

~ Trip Report Indexes ~
Nimbus is online now Boy Mouse Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Old 10 Dec 17, 05:36 AM  
Link to this Post
#9
Vicki045
Getting to know the DIBB
 
Join Date: Oct 16
Mobile

We were at MK on October 11th and found it crazy. Took 40mins or so just to get the boat across to even get into the park. Cast members were telling you which side of the path to walk on as you couldn't move for people.
I know there was a combination of things Columbus Day, Irma etc which added to this but not sure if I would go in October again. Found September to be much quieter.
Vicki045 is offline Girl Mouse Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Old 11 Dec 17, 10:55 AM  
Link to this Post
#10
Nimbus
Imagineer
 
Nimbus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 10
Location: South Manchester

Nimbus's Reviews
Hotel Reviews: 8
Restaurant Reviews: 21

theDIBB Guidebook
Guidebook Photos: 36
Guidebook Reviews: 2
Originally Posted by AlpacaPicnic View Post
I was there from Oct 10-24 this year and spent the 11th in MK and found it just fine! ... at no point felt it was insanely overcrowded.
Originally Posted by Vicki045 View Post
We were at MK on October 11th and found it crazy. Took 40mins or so just to get the boat across to even get into the park.
Case in point - see the above.

One person's "crazy" is another person's "just fine".
__________________
DLC: Jun 1996 // DLP: Aug 2013 // WDW: Dec 1997 | Feb 2000 | Mar 2001 | Feb 2006 | Oct 2010 | May 2012 | Aug 2014 | Apr 2016 | Apr 2023

~ Trip Report Indexes ~
Nimbus is online now Boy Mouse Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:27 PM.


Powered by vBulletin - Copyright © 2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
DIBB Savings
AttractionTickets.com

Get £10 off each Disney Ticket with the code ATDIBB10

Get up to £50 off per room at Disney or Universal with the code DIBBHOTELS


theDIBB Blog
One of the the five worlds found in Epic Universe, How to Train Your Dragon... Read More »
Disney announced that a new nighttime show, “Disney Dreams That Soar,” will run nightly at... Read More »
Walt Disney World Resort guests can get ready to have a “glowing’’ good time when... Read More »


theDIBB Menu


Exchange Rates
US Dollar Rates
ASDA  $1.2346
CaxtonFX  $1.2297
Covent Garden FX  $1.2527
FAIRFX  $1.2365
John Lewis  $1.2398
M&S  $1.2191
Sainsburys  $1.2341
TESCO  $1.2364
Travelex  $1.2361
Updated: 11:00 29/03/2024
Euro Rates
ASDA  €1.1444
CaxtonFX  €1.1402
Covent Garden FX  €1.1510
FAIRFX  €1.1468
John Lewis  €1.1477
M&S  €1.1289
Sainsburys  €1.1440
TESCO  €1.1445
Travelex  €1.1469
Updated: 11:00 29/03/2024

DIBB Premium Membership
Did you know you can help support theDIBB with Premium Membership?

Check out this link for more information and benefits, such as...

"No adverts on theDIBB Forums"

Upgrade Now



X