September 2014 Disney World Crowd Calendar, Fastpass+ Booking and Dining Windows and Best Times to Visit Disney World
Updated 8/31/2014
September begins as a pretty hot month, but can cool just a touch as the month goes along. Those who are from cooler or less humid climates may find Orlando to still be really hot. September is the 4th rainiest month and is part of Hurricane season. You may consider travel insurance to guarantee you don’t have a financial loss in the event a hurricane alters travel plans.
September is one of the best months in terms of crowds. You’ll find very few really busy days in September. To attempt to attract crowds Walt Disney World offers Night of Joy, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival with the Eat to the Beat Concert Series. The first Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is typically really busy as well as the one that begins the Food & Wine Party, which usually sells out. Mid-week Halloween Parties are generally the best if you’re vacationing here. It’s my opinion that everyone should experience the Halloween Party at least once. The lower crowds can also lead to Attraction Refurbishments. Be sure to check back during the summer months to see if anything has changed.
September is the preferred month as far as crowds are concerned and is among the best times to visit. Regardless of the times you can still enjoy the parks by going to a green park, arriving at least 45 minutes before rope drop and following one of my TOURING PLANS to get the most out of your day (more plans coming soon!)
I recommend the strategy of arriving early and taking a mid-afternoon break. Go for a swim with the kids and enjoy the pool, then take a nap of an hour or so before returning to a park for evening entertainment and rides.
What will the weather be like during your September trip?
| onth | Avg. High |
Avg. Low |
Mean | Avg. Precip |
Record High |
Record Low |
| Sep | 90°F | 72°F | 81°F | 5.09 in. | 98°F (2009) | 55°F (1981) |
The highest recorded temperature was 103°F in September of 1921.
September is the 4th hottest month and 4th wettest month. It begins as a rainy month and ends relatively quiet, except when there’s a tropical storm in the area.
Dress in light colors and wear comfortable shoes with socks that breathe. Bring a small, handheld fan for each child. Bring a poncho for each person and a stroller cover because there’s often afternoon thunderstorms in the summer.
Should I use Extra Magic Hours privilege?
Avoid the trap of visiting a park on its longest hours day. More people will be there and the wait times can be 30% to 100% higher than other days.
If you are planning to use Extra Magic Hours, use the morning ones, they are a great benefit, if you leave after lunch or parade time. Avoid the parks that offer evening Extra Magic Hours because they have large crowds at night and many rides have long lines (Hollywood Studios and Epcot). The exception would be the Magic Kingdom late at night because most guests won’t stay up from 1am to 3am in the morning. If you choose a Late Extra Magic Hour park, you should plan to sleep in the next day.
What attractions are actually open for Extra Magic Hours at Disney World?
What are the hours for Disney Quest and Cirque du Soleil?
- Disney Quest – 11:30am to 10pm Daily
- Cirque du Soleil – 6:00pm & 9:00pm Tuesday-Saturdays
What attractions will be CLOSED for refurbishment during your September trip?
Do you need to know what activities will take place at your Disney World during your September trip?
Updated at the first of each month!
Special Events at Walt Disney World
- Free Dining Plan – September 1 through 30 (Be sure to plan your Table Service meals in advance!)
- Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party: Magic Kingdom – September 1, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28
- Nights of Joy: Magic Kingdom – September 5 & 6
- Epcot Food and Wine Festival: Epcot – September 19-30
Do you need a great map that includes attractions, restaurants, Fastpass kiosks and characters?
Typical Best Days to Go
| Magic Kingdom: | Tuesday and Friday |
| Epcot: | Monday and Thursday |
| Hollywood Studios: | Sunday, Tuesday and Friday |
| Animal Kingdom: | Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday |
| To read the crowd aspect, follow the DATE at the top! |
| Lowest Crowds |
| Low Crowds / Best Park |
| Moderate Crowds |
| Busy Crowds |
| Insane Crowds / Worst Park |
Click on an image for a full sized view. BE SURE TO PRINT IN LANDSCAPE MODE!
When will you do the 2015 calendars?
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January through April 2015 are already uploaded. Disney releases calendar info 6 months in advance, so May will be added next month etc…
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What do the Mickey Towers at the top of each day stand for?
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I’m adding that as a visual demonstration of crowd levels
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Hi Kenny! I could be wrong but I thought Rick Springfield was Sept 25th, maybe I misread the chart.
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Disney changed that without announcing it.
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Wow! I wouldn’t have caught that and would have been very disappointed! Thank you so much for the quick response and for staying on top of changes for us!! 🙂
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Welcome!
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Kenny, How does it work when there are 2 character paloozas a night? Are they both in the same location so wed just go to one and hang around and wait for the other to start? Or are they the exact same characters as the first one? Thanks in advance!
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Same location and usually very similar or same characters
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