Category — 3. Autumn at Walt Disney World
The 2016 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival
DISNEY WORLD’S 2016 INTERNATIONAL FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL AT EPCOT
Every year from late September through mid-November, Walt Disney World presents the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
In 2016, the Festival will run from September 14th through November 14th.
There are two components to the festival, one available to all Epcot visitors, and another made up of a bunch of events which have limited capacity and require reservations.
Neither has an extra ticket admission cost–you get to participate by virtue of your theme park ticket–but there are cash costs for the food, wine, and for entry to some special shows and events. [Read more →]
February 16, 2016 No Comments
“Fall Breaks” and Autumn 2015 Crowds at Walt Disney World
FALL BREAK CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD?
One of the things you’ll see now and then on the web is the claim that “fall breaks from school create big crowds at Walt Disney World.”
“Fall breaks” are multi-day school holidays before Thanksgiving, and, if material, would have an effect on Disney World—because Disney World is most crowded when it’s easy for kids to go.
If you check the facts, though, you’ll find that fall breaks are both uncommon and scattered across October and early November—other than Jersey Week and the weeks before and including Columbus Day.
Outside of those three weeks, you are much more likely to run into trouble in the fall by choosing to go to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot on a bad day—
- Epcot on a day when it’s open late for Food and Wine,
- The Magic Kingdom on a day when Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is not showing, and evening hours and entertainment offerings are thus more extensive.
See the chart, which shows the weighted percent of US school kids in my database with more than a three-day weekend in 2015 in October and in November before Thanksgiving week.
In it, weekends are in black, and Columbus Day is in red. (The mid-week Veteran’s Day has no impact on breaks in 2015.) Everything else is blue.
The first conclusion you can draw is that the only time when more than 5% of kids are having more than a three day weekend is just before and then over the week that includes Columbus Day.
These are already known to be moderate crowd weeks—from the Columbus Day holiday and Canadian Thanksgiving—so as a “fall break” there’s no real news here.
Note also that no kids in my database of the 2105-2106 school year calendars of more than 12.4 million kids have a break weekend that extends to Veterans Day. This holiday is celebrated on its actual date—November 11–although if it occurs over the weekend, days off will be on Friday or Monday. So more than half of years, it does not lead to a three day weekend, as it does not in 2015. Since it is a Wednesday in 2015, breaks are not built around it at all.
Moreover, even if it does lead to a three-day weekend, most private, non-unionized employers don’t have it as a holiday, so it’s not a particularly great time for parents to go to Walt Disney World.
Second, beyond those, there’s not a lot of material fall breaks. Yes, you can see them every week shown, but not much–at most around 5% of kids during Jersey Week. and more typically much less. There’s just not enough here to materially affect your choices as to when to go to Walt Disney World, other than Jersey Week and the weeks before and including Columbus Day.
Note: none of this is about Thanksgiving week, which is quite crowded and a lousy time to go!
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June 7, 2015 4 Comments
October 2015 at Walt Disney World
OVERVIEW: OCTOBER 2015 AT DISNEY WORLD
This page reviews October 2015 Walt Disney World crowds, prices, deals and discounts, weather, and operating hours; adds a few other notes; and ends with week by week summaries.
Later October has some of the best times of the year to visit Disney World, with nice weather, low crowds, low prices, and fun special events.
The first half of the month is OK, but not so good, as the first week is still in the peak of the hurricane season, and the second week sees extra crowds and higher prices from Columbus Day.
OCTOBER 2015 CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
October is one of the least crowded months at Walt Disney World–though it gets more crowded every year with kids on fall breaks, especially the week of Columbus Day.
On a crowd scale of 1-11, the week beginning 9/26 has a crowd rating of 4/low-plus, the week beginning 10/3 5/moderate-minus, the week beginning 10/10 6/moderate, the week beginning 10/17 3/low and the week beginning 10/24 3/low.
However, because of the Halloween Party and the Food and Wine Festival, you can face higher much waits if you go to the parks on the wrong days. See this for how to avoid these crowds.
See this for more on 2015 crowds at Disney World.
OCTOBER 2015 PRICES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
October 2015 prices begin 10% higher than the lowest of the year at the values, 8% higher at the moderates, and 12% higher at the deluxes.
Other than a bump over Columbus Day weekend, value and moderate prices stay this level all month. Deluxe prices see the same Columbus Day weekend bump, then drop a bit on 10/18 to 10% higher than the lowest of the year.
See this for more on 2015 resort hotel prices at Walt Disney World.
OCTOBER 2015 DEALS AND DISCOUNTS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Deals are available for October 2015. Details are here.
OCTOBER 2015 WEATHER AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Early October sees the end of the peak of the hurricane season. The second half of the month sees weather about as good as Orlando gets.
Click the image, or go to Weather and When to Go to Disney World, for more on temperatures.
OCTOBER 2015 SPECIAL EVENTS
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party continues on selected dates throughout October.
The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival continues through the month.
OCTOBER 2015 OPERATING HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Park operating hours vary by the day, and sometimes change without notice. It is rare for hours to be shorter than Disney has publicized, but Disney may lengthen them in response to unanticipated crowds.
The best way to keep up with operating hours is to check Disney’s official calendars, usually available six months in advance.
These calendars can be found by clicking the following links:
WEEK BY WEEK COMMENTS FOR OCTOBER 2015 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD BY ARRIVAL DATE
The week rankings that follow below are from 2015 weeks to visit, ranked in order, and are designed for first-time visitors who do not know whether or not they will return.
Click the image for a calendar view of 2015 weeks (when open, keep clicking to enlarge.)
- 9/26/2015 Low prices at values, moderate prices at deluxes and moderates. Low-plus crowds. Crowd ranking=4. Week ranking=25. Use the FastPass+ Lower Crowd Itinerary
- 10/3/2015 Low prices at values, moderate prices at deluxes and moderates. Moderate-minus crowds. Crowd ranking=5. Week ranking=26. Use the FastPass+ Lower Crowd Itinerary, but swap First Sunday and Wednesday in both the itinerary and its To-Do List
- 10/10/2015 Moderate prices. Moderate crowds. Crowd ranking=6. Week ranking=17. Use the FastPass+ Lower Crowd Itinerary, but swap First Sunday and Wednesday in both the itinerary and its To-Do List
- 10/17/2015 Low prices in values and deluxes, moderate prices in moderates. Low crowds. Crowd ranking=3. Week ranking=5. Recommended week. Use the FastPass+ Lower Crowd Itinerary,but swap First Sunday and Wednesday in both the itinerary and its To-Do List
- 10/24/2015 Low prices in values and deluxes, moderate prices in moderates. Low crowds. Crowd ranking=3. Recommended week. Week ranking=6. Use the FastPass+ Lower Crowd Itinerary, but swap a. First Sunday and Wednesday, and b. Friday and Second Saturday, in both the itinerary and its To-Do List
MORE ON WHEN TO GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD
- For when to go to Walt Disney World, see this
- For the best and worst times to visit, see this
- For forecasting crowds at Walt Disney World, see this
- For the 2015 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For the 2016 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For seasonal pricing at Walt Disney World, see this
- For 2015 price seasons, see this
- For projected 2016 price seasons, see this
- For weather at Walt Disney World, see this
Want a second opinion? Then check out my book lol.
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March 15, 2015 68 Comments
September 2015 at Walt Disney World
OVERVIEW: SEPTEMBER 2015 AT DISNEY WORLD
This page reviews September 2015 Walt Disney World crowds, prices, deals and discounts, weather, and operating hours; adds a few other notes; and ends with week by week summaries.
September combines low crowds with low prices, and typically also has a great room rate and free dining deals as well.
This makes it a great month for returning visitors.
But it has lousy weather, combining continuing summer heat and humidity with the peak of the hurricane season, making me not so keen on the month for first time visitors who may never return.
SEPTEMBER 2015 CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
September is one of the least crowded months of the year.
However, effects of the Halloween Party and Food and Wine can make certain days quite crowded at certain parks. See this for how to avoid them.
On a crowd scale of 1-11, the week beginning 8/29 has a crowd rating of 3/low, the week beginning 9/5 2/lower, the weeks beginning 9/12 and 9/19 1/lowest, and the week beginning 9/26 4/low-plus.
See this for more on 2015 crowds at Disney World.
SEPTEMBER 2015 PRICES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
September 2015 prices begin among the lowest of the year. On September 11 they go up to 10% higher than the lowest of the year at the values and 8% higher at the moderates. On September 25, deluxe prices go to 12% higher than the lowest of the year.
See this for more on 2015 resort hotel prices at Walt Disney World.
SEPTEMBER 2015 DEALS AND DISCOUNTS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Deals are available for September 2015. Details are here.
SEPTEMBER 2015 WEATHER AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
September weather is hot and humid, with afternoon storms common.
The hurricane season officially begins June 1, but hurricanes a rarely a threat until mid-August. The peak of the hurricane season begins then. Hurricanes rarely have an impact on a Disney World vacation, but mid-August begins the period when such an impact is most likely. All of September is in this period.
Click the image, or go to Weather and When to Go to Disney World, for more on temperatures.
SEPTEMBER 2015 SPECIAL EVENTS
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party kicks off September 15.
The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival begins September 25.
SEPTEMBER 2015 OPERATING HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Park operating hours vary by the day, and sometimes change without notice. It is rare for hours to be shorter than Disney has publicized, but Disney may lengthen them in response to unanticipated crowds.
The best way to keep up with operating hours is to check Disney’s official calendars, usually available six months in advance.
These calendars can be found by clicking the following links:
WEEK BY WEEK COMMENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2015 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD BY ARRIVAL DATE
The week rankings that follow below are from 2015 weeks to visit, ranked in order, and are designed for first-time visitors who do not know whether or not they will return.
Click the image for a calendar view of 2015 weeks (when open, keep clicking to enlarge.)
- 8/29/2015 Low prices. Low crowds. Crowd ranking=3. Week ranking=23. Use the FastPass+ Lower Crowd Itinerary
- 9/5/2015 Low prices. Lower crowds. Crowd ranking=2. Week ranking=22. Use the FastPass+ Lower Crowd Itinerary, but do what is written for the evening of Second Saturday on Wednesday the 9th
- 9/12/2015 Low prices in values and deluxes, moderate pries in moderates. Lowest crowds. Crowd ranking=1. Week ranking=21. Use the FastPass+ Lower Crowd Itinerary
- 9/19/2015 Low prices in values and deluxes, moderate prices in moderates. Lowest crowds. Crowd ranking=1. Week ranking=20. Use the FastPass+ Lower Crowd Itinerary
- 9/26/2015 Low prices at values, moderate prices at deluxes and moderates. Low-plus crowds. Crowd ranking=4. Week ranking=25. Use the FastPass+ Lower Crowd Itinerary for planning, but double-check in mid-March
MORE ON WHEN TO GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD
- For when to go to Walt Disney World, see this
- For the best and worst times to visit, see this
- For forecasting crowds at Walt Disney World, see this
- For the 2015 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For the 2016 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For seasonal pricing at Walt Disney World, see this
- For 2015 price seasons, see this
- For projected 2016 price seasons, see this
- For weather at Walt Disney World, see this
Want a second opinion? Then check out my book lol.
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Google+ or Twitter or Pinterest!!
February 9, 2015 9 Comments
The 2015 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival
DISNEY WORLD’S 2015 INTERNATIONAL FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL AT EPCOT
Every year from late September through mid-November, Walt Disney World presents the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
For 2015, the dates will be September 25th through November 16th–ending a few days later than past years.
There are two components to the festival, one available to all Epcot visitors, and another made up of a bunch of events which have limited capacity and require reservations.
Neither has an extra ticket admission cost–you get to participate by virtue of your theme park ticket–but there are cash costs for the food, wine, and for entry to some special shows and events. [Read more →]
February 8, 2015 15 Comments
“Fall Breaks” and Autumn 2014 Crowds at Walt Disney World
FALL BREAK CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD?
One of the things you’ll see now and then on blogs and discussion boards is the claim that “fall breaks from school crowd Walt Disney World.”
“Fall breaks” are multi-day school holidays before Thanksgiving, and, if material, would have an effect on Disney World—because Disney World is most crowded when it’s easy for kids to go.
If you check the facts, though, you’ll find that fall breaks are both uncommon and scattered across October and early November—other than Jersey Week and the Columbus Day weekend.
Outside of those two weeks, you are much more likely to run into trouble in the fall by choosing to go to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot on a bad day—
- Epcot on a day when it’s open late for Food and Wine,
- The Magic Kingdom on a day when Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is not showing, and evening hours and entertainment offerings are thus more extensive.
See the chart, which shows the weighted percent of US school kids in my database with more than a three-day weekend in later September, all of October, and in November before Thanksgiving week.
(For how the database is built, see this.)
In it, weekends are in black, and the two holidays in color—Columbus Day in red, and Veteran’s Day in orange. Everything else is blue.
The first conclusion you can draw is that the only time when even 9% of kids are having more than a three day weekends is over the Columbus Day holiday weekend, and that next to no kids have the full weeks before or after off (the much lower percentages on Wednesdays is the giveaway to that).
This is already known to be a moderate crowd week—from the Columbus Day holiday and Canadian Thanksgiving—so as a “fall break” there’s no real news here.
Note also that hardly any kids have a break weekend that includes Veterans Day. This holiday is celebrated on its actual date—November 11–although if it occurs over the weekend, days off will be on Friday or Monday. So more than half of years, it does not lead to a three day weekend, as it does not in 2014.
Moreover, even if it does, most private, non-unionized employers don’t have it as a holiday, so it’s not a particularly great time for parents to go to Walt Disney World. In 2014, some Jersey Week families may stretch their stay to Tuesday, but, since few parents have it off, they are just as likely–perhaps more likely, given the tradition–to take extra time off the week before.
Second, beyond those, there’s not a lot of material fall breaks. Yes, you can see them every week shown, especially at the end of September and the first week of October, but not much—at most around 7% of kids, and more typically much less. There’s just not enough here to materially affect your choices as to when to go to Walt Disney World, other than Jersey Week and Columbus Day week.
Note: none of this is about Thanksgiving week, which is quite crowded and a lousy time to go!
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July 30, 2014 No Comments
