Should you schedule your Disney World Trip for September?
First check out the calendar below to see what crowds and weather might be like in September. Then see our recommendations below.
Please read this first: Remember that our crowd projections charts are “guesstimates”. Many times in the past I consulted other well-known crowd projection charts, and would get to the parks only to find that reality was completely different from the estimates. Regardless, the general trends I saw on the charts effectively helped me choose the best travel dates for me. So please refer to our estimates only as a general planning guide. Know that accuracy is not a guarantee here or on any crowd projection calendar you’ll see, and everything below is subject to change.
Click on the calendar to enlarge it:
Weather Considerations for September at Disney World:
- Average Rainfall for September: 6.1 inches with daily thunder storms.
- Average high temperature is 90. Average low is 73.
- September is within Hurricane Season.
Special Events and Holidays during the month of September at Disney World:
- September 5th is Labor Day.
- Magic Kingdom’s Not So Scary Halloween Party begins. This is held intermittently in September and October.
- Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival begins September 14th and goes thru November 14th.
Other Considerations:
September has its pros and cons as a time to visit Disney World.
It’s a mixed bag. It’s definitely a huge step up from July and August, but the weather is not significantly better. Here’s what you might want to consider:
- Weather-wise, it’s still intensely hot, and it’s also quite humid. The average high temperature is only two degrees lower than that of August. The average rainfall is only 1 inch less than August for the month. There’s still a lot of rain, and it’s still very hot. It’s very uncomfortable, and may even be a concern for those with some health conditions. It rains almost daily. Storms are usually temporary, happening in the afternoon for an hour or two, but they can last all day. See the Weather at Disney World & Picking Travel Dates page for details on what it’s like. If you choose to visit in September, try to go later in the month because there may be drier, cooler weather than in the beginning of the month.
- This is a very low crowd period historically, and crowd size can change the quality of your trip. The waits for rides tend to be shorter. The walkways in the parks tend to be less crowded. Lines for quick service food tend to be shorter. You’ll spend a lot less time waiting, and many people find it a lot less stressful.
- Hurricane Season starts in June, and September is a part of hurricane season. August and September tend to have the most hurricanes historically. See the Weather at Disney World & Picking Travel Dates page for more details.
- Some costs may be lower because of the light crowds. Ticket pricing tends to be lower during these reduced crowd periods. The resort prices can be lower, especially for the value and moderate resorts. You can check out the changes in resort prices here on mousesavers.com.
Health considerations when visiting Disney World in September:
Those who have sensitivity to heat, humidity or light may wish to visit late in September, but October and the winter months may be more comfortable. We’ve found that the September heat can be extremely intense, even for those without health issues. Heat stroke is possible for anyone, so care must be taken. The combination of heat and humidity can make everything feel much more intense.
Keep in mind that when you’re walking the paths in the parks, most are uncovered. Also some attraction queues are uncovered. Not only will you be dealing with the sun beating down on you, you’ll experience the heat that’s reflecting back up from the ground. The intense heat lasts late into the day. If this is a problem for you physically, I’d suggest scheduling your trip in the cooler months.
Since mold grows in moisture, those who have mold sensitivity may want to avoid Orlando in September because it’s wet and humid. It’s not that you’ll see the mold, but there may be more spores in the air in the wetter months. If you’re sensitive to mold, choose a month with low rain averages like October, November, December, January, and February.
If you’re riding a mobility scooter or wheelchair, consider that it can be more difficult in the rain. Keeping your wheelchair dry can be a challenge, and the electronics of an ECV need to stay dry. Steering an ECV while holding an umbrella can be difficult. If you choose to use a rain coat instead of an umbrella, your feet will most likely get wet, and your face can get pelted with rain. It’s kind of miserable according to my wife! If you have the option, though there’s no guarantee, I’d recommend visiting Disney in a dryer season.
Recommended websites and references:
touringplans.com – detailed day by day crowd calendars (paid service) with various park touring plans.
easywdw.com – Free detailed crowd calendars with best and worst parks each day, and other details and recommendations.
wdwprepschool.com – Excellent planning site with some great information.
www.disneyworld.com – Disney’s official website.
Mousesavers.com – Great information on how to save money at Disney World, including resort pricing calendars.
www.accuweather.com – Weather averages for each month and each day of the month.
Weather.com – Good site for weather averages and you can get a 10 day projected forecast.
Do you have more tips or thoughts on this topic?
Please feel free to post them in a comment below. We’d love your input.
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