Visiting Walt Disney World in September 2024
Walt Disney World in September offers a more relaxed and enjoyable experience with lighter crowds and some exciting events. The month features two major events: Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. While it may not be the ideal weather with hot and rainy conditions, this leads to September being one of the least crowded months of the year. Additionally, the start of the new school year keeps the numbers down. However, if weather and school schedules are not a concern for you, September can be a wonderful time to explore the magic of Walt Disney World.
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Planning a Disney World vacation in 2024? Be sure to check out our guide to all that the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer this year including the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the return of the Disney Dining Plan, and more!
September At-a-Glance
- Don’t forget to pack your sunscreen and to drink lots of water! Temperatures in September are still quite warm! And while Disney offers many ways to cool off, you will definitely want to be prepared with sunscreen and water.
- Be prepared for rain. As September can be very hot and humid, rain happens. Ponchos are a great thing to keep handy for afternoon showers!
- Mornings are a great time to visit the pools. Due to the hotter temperatures, the pools can get quite busy during the heat of the day as well as in the evenings when guests return from a day in the parks. Consider visiting in the mornings when they will be less busy.
- Major refurbishments are not typically common in September. Disney tends to schedule their refurbishments during less busy months (such as January or February), but that doesn’t mean closures can’t or won’t happen in September.
- After Labor Day, crowds in September lighten quite a bit. Many schools are back in session and not many want to miss the first weeks of school. So if that isn’t an issue for you, this could be a great time to visit the parks!
- The Food and Wine Festival is quite popular with locals. Consider visiting Epcot on weekdays if you’re trying to avoid the crowds.
September Events
Halloween arrives early at the Disney World Resort! Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will take place on select nights beginning August 9 through Halloween. The very popular ticketed event lasts from 7:00 PM to midnight and features trick-or-treating, a special Halloween parade, fireworks, specialty menu items, not-so-scary entertainment, your favorite characters dressed in their Halloween attire, and so much more.
Another festival to be aware of is Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival which takes place from August 29 through November 23. This is a highly anticipated event at the park, featuring a wide variety of food and beverage booths to satisfy the most discerning palates. In addition to dining options, attendees can take part in scavenger hunts, enjoy live music, participate in the Wine and Dine Half Marathon, and explore exclusive festival merchandise.
ESPN Wide World of Sports typically hosts several athletic events each month. These events don’t usually have a major impact on crowds in the parks, but they can affect resort availability and crowds at Disney’s value resorts. There are currently no events scheduled for the month of August, but this could change as some event dates have yet to be announced.
September Refurbishments & Closures
*We’ve included all current refurbishments here on this list… even ones that may be open in time for September 2024. (Please note that this list could change at a moment’s notice.)
Magic Kingdom
- Tron Lightcycle Power Run is now open!
- Splash Mountain closed permanently on January 23, 2023, to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The newly rethemed attraction is scheduled to open on June 28, 2024!
- Country Bear Musical Jamboree closed on January 27, 2024. An updated brand-new show will debut this summer.
EPCOT
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is now open!
- Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is now open!
- CommuniCore Hall & Plaza will be opening on June 10, 2024.
- Test Track will be closing on June 17, 2024, for a multi-month refurbishment. A reopening date has not yet been announced but will likely be sometime in 2025.
Hollywood Studios
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid is permanently closed, and will be replaced with a fully reimagined production called “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure.” The new show is expected to debut in Fall 2024.
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith will close on January 8, 2024, for a multi-month refurbishment. It is currently scheduled to reopen on July 27, 2024.
- Jedi Training Academy: Trials of the Temple has permanently ended.
Animal Kingdom
- It’s Tough to Be a Bug will be closing at some point to make way for a Zootopia Tree of Life Show. No dates have been announced.
- Primeval Whirl is permanently closed
- It is anticipated that Dino-Rama, as a whole, will likely close at some point to make way for a major expansion. Disney has shared plans for potential replacements, such as a Moana Mini-Land, which includes detailed concept art. Additionally, there is the possibility of a Zootopia Expansion beyond Dino-Rama. Although these proposals are promising, it should be noted that they have not yet been approved or funded by Disney. Therefore, the fate of Dino-Rama remains uncertain, but it is evident that its days are limited.
Other
- Blizzard Beach closed on March 17, 2024, for winter refurbishment. No opening date has been announced.
September Weather
Overall, the weather in Orlando is quite hot in September. The average high is 90 degrees and the low is typically around 72 degrees. It is technically Orlando’s rainy season as well. In fact, September is often considered to be the wettest month of the year. That being said, most rain in September will come in short “spurts” rather than be an all-day thing. Brief afternoon downpours are very typical!
One other thing to keep in mind is hurricane season. While it is rare that Disney World needs to close due to hurricane-related weather, it HAS happened in the past. Since 1985, the Walt Disney World parks have had to close nine times due to hurricanes. We’ve seen two closures in August, six in September, and one in October. Closures are typically only a day or two, but it is certainly something to be aware of when planning your September vacation.
September Disney World Crowd Calendar
Crowd calendars are very popular, but they can also be a bit unpredictable. It’s best not to completely rely on them when making your Disney World vacation plans.
While crowd calendars can be a big help in knowing what to expect, keep in mind, they are predictions at best. When designing our calendars, we take a look at events, school calendars, ticket prices, park hours, holidays, and typical monthly patterns. Unfortunately, our crowd calendars cannot predict other things such as weather, travel advisories, pandemics, or last-minute openings or closings of shows and attractions.
On top of that, many are choosing to travel differently these days. Quiet months have become popular due to runDisney events as well as other Disney events and promotions, while busier seasons have seen a downward trend in the last couple of years.
September tends to be one of the lightest months of the year in terms of crowds. This is due to several factors including the start of a new school year as well as the weather. Weekends at Epcot will be busier than normal with locals due to the Food and Wine Festival, and the Magic Kingdom will undoubtedly see some crowds in relation to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
Labor Day weekend is really the only “holiday” during the month of September. And while you may see a slight uptick in crowds, it’s typically not a huge draw in terms of crowds due to most families not wanting to pull their kids out of school during their first weeks back.
Ready To Start Planning Your Visit To Walt Disney World In September?
Here are some resources to help you get started!
Walt Disney World Resorts:
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Disney Value Resort Hotels
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Disney Moderate Resort Hotels
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Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels
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Disney Deluxe Villas
Walt Disney World Dining:
Walt Disney World Attraction Guides:
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Attraction Guide for Magic Kingdom
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Attraction Guide for Epcot
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Attraction Guide for Hollywood Studios
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Attraction Guide for Animal Kingdom
There’s nothing better than knowing what to expect on your Disney World vacation. Our monthly guides can help you visit with a plan!
January | February
March | April
May | June
July | August
September (you are here) | October
November | December
Planning your first Walt Disney World vacation? Be sure to visit my step-by-step guide to start planning!
