Walt Disney Global is now over one month into the low season, and crowds have dropped to their lowest degree in 5 years. This wait occasions document covers information for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Plus, what to anticipate in October 2025 and a ‘candy spot’ to begin fascinated by for overdue 2026.
Those low crowds aren’t a brand new construction–neither in the previous few weeks nor in recent times. Except the post-reopening length, the window between when colleges return into consultation from mid-August till early October has been the slowest stretch of the 12 months at Walt Disney Global for a few years operating. This headline is infrequently breaking information or some remarkable tournament–September crowds merely ascertain what we lengthy have recognized and anticipated.
Even previous to then, the parks weren’t in particular packed. It used to be a gradual summer season at Orlando’s theme parks, which used to be additionally now not sudden. Summer season has turn out to be like a protracted shoulder season, with just a few slight spikes into reasonable territory sooner than college is going again into consultation and the actual low season arrives. In spite of the summer season slowdown, August and September controlled to be even much less busy than Might thru July. October is already on a identical trajectory, even though as defined on the finish, we predict that development to opposite quickly.
Sooner than we get going, the standard caveat on crowds: what’s lined in those experiences is wait occasions information that’s pulled from My Disney Enjoy and compiled into graphs. It’s precious for monitoring and evaluating wait occasions throughout days, weeks, months, and years. So much will also be gleaned from posted wait occasions, however they’re now not at all times conclusive of in-park congestion or crowds.
Posted wait occasions are nearly at all times inflated, some strains don’t put up wait occasions, they don’t account for Lightning Lane adjustments, EPCOT fairs, and will’t let us know anything else about congestion for fireworks, parades, and many others. Nonetheless, wait occasions are the one purpose measure of Walt Disney Global crowds. On-the-ground observations will also be helpful, however they’ve shortcomings.
With that background out of the way in which, let’s check out crowd ranges for the remaining month. As at all times, all graphs and wait time stats are courtesy of Thrill-Knowledge.com:
We’ll get started with the per month numbers for Walt Disney Global as a complete, relationship the entire as far back as 2019.
Per thirty days crowd ranges climbed from remaining October thru this March, after which had been on a gentle decline since. That is in line with remaining 12 months, and related to maximum different years. Probably the most notable exchange is that Might used to be busier than June or July, when it was once the shoulder season slowdown. Might remains to be a slower month relative to spring spoil, however then crowds simply saved losing post-Memorial Day.
September used to be the slowest complete month of 2025 to this point, with a 26 minute reasonable wait time and 1/10 crowd degree. The ones numbers are in fact similar with remaining August, so on this case, flat attendance does correspond with flat wait occasions. Previous to that, August used to be the second-slowest month of 2025 with a median wait of 28 mins; July used to be the third-slowest month of 2025, with a median wait time of half-hour. The fourth-slowest complete month of the 12 months used to be June…and so forth and so on.
As famous within the intro, September being the slowest month of 2025 isn’t a surprise. That’s extra noteworthy this is that September 2025 tied remaining September and October for the least-busy months since September 2021! That used to be again sooner than the fiftieth Anniversary, amidst COVID cancellations because of the Delta wave and reinstated masks regulations.
So there’s an asterisk on the ones dates, however I’d additionally contend there’s an asterisk on remaining September and October because of hurricane-induced cancellations. Had the ones hurricanes now not came about, the ones months each would’ve had upper averages than 26 mins.
The hot button is that September 2025 used to be the least busy commonplace month at Walt Disney Global since September 2019. That used to be the “excellent ole days” of Walt Disney Global, and the calm sooner than the typhoon that resulted in a number of consecutive months of colossal crowds proper up till the closure the next spring.
Above is a have a look at weekly wait occasions for the remaining 12 months. (Forget about that remaining bar once more; it’s the present week.)
There have been a pair busier (quite talking) weeks in overdue July and early August because of “remaining hurrah” summer season travelers, however there used to be a pointy drop-off across the time Central Florida colleges went again into consultation. It used to be downhill from there, together with the 2 weeks bookending Exertions Day. Suffice to mention, there’s a explanation why we wrote about this being Some of the Best possible Weeks at Walt Disney Global and referred to as it in your consideration overdue remaining 12 months.
The second one 1/2 of September in fact did see emerging crowd ranges, with reasonable wait occasions of 27-28 mins. That’s nonetheless low within the grand scheme of items (1/10 and a couple of/10 crowds), but it surely used to be sufficient to raise the total reasonable to 26 mins. The month had began out even slower than that.
Having a look on the day-to-day information for the remaining 12 months, it will have to be relatively simple to identify two lulls round mid-June and the Independence Day vacation weekend, plus spikes in each overdue June and overdue July thru early August. Publish summer season, August tenth used to be the day with the large drop-off.
Since then, the dailies had been up and down, with spikes over the weekends–particularly on Saturdays–while weekdays had been persistently low. That is in fact an odd dynamic. For many of the previous few years, weekends have had decrease wait occasions (however steadily now not decrease “seems like” crowds or attendance).
Saturday, September 20, 2025 ended up being the busiest day of the remaining a number of months, with a 35 minute reasonable and 5/10 crowd degree.
Chances are you’ll understand from the above graphs that crowds grew over the process overdue September and feature fallen off a cliff over the process the remaining week. The precise turning level is September 28, 2025.
The explanation why weekends have been busier in September used to be the multi-month Florida resident price tag deal winding down. Those “use it or lose it” tickets expired on September 27, 2025. Locals have a tendency to paintings on weekdays, so the remaining couple weekends of validity have a tendency to spike because of this.
This additionally explains why crowd ranges fell off a cliff on Sunday, September twenty eighth. Previous to that, each Saturdays and Sundays were increased. It’s no accident that the primary weekend day after the price tag deal expired mirrored a go back to the standard weekend dynamic. It’ll be attention-grabbing to look whether or not that development holds, as there’s a brand new price tag deal beginning October 5, 2025–albeit now not as excellent of 1.
For park by way of park research, we’ll get started with Magic Kingdom.
Magic Kingdom has already began its “porcupine trend” of crowds for Birthday party Season, with complete running days being noticeably busier than days of Mickey’s Now not So Horrifying Halloween Birthday party. That is mirrored within the wait time information, and it’s much more obvious from the in-park revel in.
At the days when the park closes at 6 pm Mickey’s Now not So Horrifying Halloween Birthday party, it’s been not anything however 1/10 days at Magic Kingdom. There were numerous days with ~16 minute averages, which is an incredible revel in. September 30, 2025 has been the slowest of the 12 months to this point at Magic Kingdom, with a 14 minute reasonable wait.
As an added bonus, these types of party-shortened days going ahead have had their park opening time moved ahead to eight am. This additionally implies that Early Access begins at 7:30 am, which is massive. Glance no additional than our new box checking out: Magic Kingdom’s Further Early Access is a Will have to-Do for Low Waits at Disney Global’s Largest Rides!
The turn aspect has additionally been correct in relation to congestion on non-party nights, which is now not measured by way of the above graph (once more, it’s solely experience wait occasions). I will talk to this from non-public revel in, as there’s been a noticeable uptick for Starlight and Fortunately Ever After, which is sensible for the reason that there are fewer nights every week to revel in each.
We think this to worsen all through and past. Up to now, non-party dates haven’t been that unhealthy at Magic Kingdom. They’ll be deeper into Birthday party Season, particularly because the weekly collection of occasions will increase and round top weeks.
That is one thing we’ve mentioned at period, maximum particularly in Best possible & Worst 2025 Crowd Days at Magic Kingdom. Suffice to mention, the ones predictions have confirmed true to this point and all of Magic Kingdom’s slowest days of the 12 months have come because the get started of August.
Right here’s a have a look at Magic Kingdom enchantment by way of enchantment averages for September 2025.
Not anything broke an hour. TRON Lightcycle Run used to be the top at 52 mins (a experience I looped as a walk-on thrice within the above rope drop document), adopted by way of Seven Dwarfs Mine Teach at 45 mins and Peter Pan’s Flight at 41 mins. Jungle Cruise, Tiana’s Bayou Journey, and the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh have been all below 40 mins. Not anything else used to be above half-hour.
As at all times, all of those numbers are averages, which nonetheless implies that hour-plus waits are imaginable for the headliners at top occasions. They’re simply offset by way of 5-10 minute waits for decrease profile points of interest, or fashionable rides firstly of the morning and finish of night. I additionally noticed 70+ minute waits for Seven Dwarfs Mine Teach all over the similar span.
Animal Kingdom has been everywhere since low season began, however is in most cases trending down. The low used to be 11 mins on September third and thirtieth, with highs of 36 mins on September thirteenth and 34 mins on September twenty first. That’s an over three-fold build up, and with out materially other park hours like MK!
Warding off weekends used to be key, however that used to be against the tail finish of the price tag deal. With that now over, we will be able to’t assist however wonder if DAK information will fall additional. It additionally doesn’t assist that extra of Dinoland is at the back of partitions and Zootopia: Higher Zoogether more than likely received’t be offering that a lot of a spice up. Farewell visits to DINOSAUR may, however that’s been any such lengthy good-bye that possibly it received’t.
In the event you zoom out and have a look at weekly or per month information, Animal Kingdom has observed a pointy drop-off since summer season ended. The remaining a number of weeks had been the slowest since September 2021–now not tied with remaining 12 months all over the typhoon scares. Seasonality will toughen this in the following few months, however the offseason subsequent 12 months is most likely going to be tough with out DINOSAUR.
Right here’s enchantment information for Animal Kingdom.
It’s uncommon to look each Avatar points of interest underneath an hour, however that used to be precisely the case with September’s averages. Flight of Passage used to be 48 mins and Na’vi River Adventure used to be 42 mins. The 1/3 maximum “fashionable” enchantment used to be the Mickey & Minnie meet & greet, which is extra a capability factor than anything else. The whole thing else used to be below half-hour, with DINOSAUR most effective at 16 mins.
Our Animal Kingdom Afternoon Arrival Technique is as soon as once more the perfect manner for this park. We much more strongly counsel that manner beginning in November, as Animal Kingdom might be open after darkish once more this vacation season. Simply you should definitely arrive in time to catch the remaining performances of Merry Menagerie.
Early Access or rope drop additionally paintings truly neatly. See Animal Kingdom Park Opening & Early Access Journey Technique (or, “How I Did Each and every Journey at DAK Sooner than 10:30am.”) Even supposing you don’t wish to deal with DAK like a half-day park–and also you shouldn’t–knocking out the headliners early opens up a leisurely day with the opportunity of two desk provider foods, wandering, snacking, and many others.
It’s really easy to overcome the crowds at Animal Kingdom that Lightning Lane Multi-Cross is a waste of cash until you’re arriving after 9:30 am and leaving sooner than 3 pm…which is strictly what most of the people are doing. (Don’t be like everybody else!)
Crowds at EPCOT are at the upswing, and in a giant manner!
The second one 1/2 of the month at EPCOT wasn’t simply busy by way of September requirements, it used to be packed–length. Sunday, September twenty first had a median wait time of 45 mins for a ten/10 (!!!) crowd degree. That makes it the busiest day of 2025 because the week after New Yr’s, which is remarkable.
That wasn’t even the one busy date in September. There have been 5 (5) dates with 9/10 crowd ranges and a couple of extra 8/10 dates. All have been Fridays thru Mondays, maximum have been Saturdays or Sundays (once more, reflective of the price tag deal finishing).
Total, EPCOT averaged a 7/10 crowd degree for the whole thing of the month as opposed to 1/10 for Walt Disney Global as a complete. It’s roughly outstanding that September 2025 used to be (tied for) the slowest month since September 2021 regardless of this sturdy appearing from EPCOT. It displays simply how a lot the opposite parks underperformed.
You’ll additionally understand that EPCOT is again to underperforming because the price tag deal ended. The level to which reductions is propping up crowds is truly interesting. It means that possibly extra worth will increase subsequent week are now not the best concept…however what do I do know?!
EPCOT is at all times a wildcard, however I’ll admit that this one stuck me by way of marvel. We at all times indicate that EPCOT is the locals’ park, and Floridians are much more likely to consult with for fairs. For the reason that, the apparently glaring reason behind that is that the 2025 EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant is now underway.
In taking a look on the information, you may well be vulnerable to consider that is the reason for upper crowd ranges on weekends. I’m now not so positive about that. Meals & Wine unquestionably spikes weekend attendance–it at all times does. However usually, that doesn’t translate to raised posted wait occasions or crowd ranges. It’s like a mirage within the information. Locals wait in line for meals cubicles, now not rides. However for the previous few weeks, enchantment wait occasions also are up considerably.
We weren’t within the parks on any of those dates, so I will’t talk to what “seems like” crowds have been like, however my bet is now not excellent! In truth, till I regarded on the information, this wasn’t even on my radar. We didn’t listen any reader feedback or court cases. This has me truly curious–somebody visiting EPCOT on a Friday thru Monday from September twelfth thru twenty seventh? What used to be your revel in?!
Above is a have a look at enchantment wait occasions for EPCOT in September.
The number 1 enchantment in all of Walt Disney Global ended up being Check Observe 3.0, with an excellent 75 mins. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind used to be 64 mins, with Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Journey at 49 and 48 mins, respectively.
Confidently the robust efficiency of Check Observe 3.0 has Disney executives taking observe, appearing that competent experience reimaginings can power numbers. Up to I feel Cosmic Rewind is the easier enchantment, I’m hoping Check Observe continues to overperform; it bodes neatly for the budgets of the inevitable Spaceship Earth and Adventure into Creativeness reimaginings.
In the end, there’s Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
As at all times, that is the park with the absolute best reasonable wait occasions in all of Walt Disney Global, owing to its disproportionate collection of headliners. Disney’s Hollywood Studios didn’t see a lot of a summer season slowdown, most likely because of Little Mermaid ~ A Musical Journey and Disney Villains Unfairly Ever After. A unusually sturdy appearing for Cool Child Summer season may’ve helped, too.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios noticed a September slowdown, however now not as pronounced as the opposite parks. And it’s observed the similar weekend uptick as the opposite parks over weekends. As soon as once more, we’ll indicate that Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the number one park for Lightning Lane Multi-Cross. In the event you’re going to shop for LLMP any place, make it DHS.
Remaining however now not least is the enchantment averages for DHS in September.
Celebrity Wars: Upward push of the Resistance used to be the one enchantment outdoor of EPCOT with a median above an hour. Slinky Canine Sprint fell in need of that mark at 55 mins. Toy Tale Mania had a 43 minute reasonable, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway used to be 38 mins, adopted by way of a number of different points of interest that have been over half-hour.
It’ll be attention-grabbing to look what occurs in October and past with a number of of the ones Celebrity Wars Release Bay posted waits falling off the checklist. That on my own may just artificially spice up the total reasonable by way of a little. One thing to bear in mind once we spoil down information for the vacation season.
Having a look ahead, it’s just about a positive factor that the slowest stretch of the 12 months at Walt Disney Global is within the rearview replicate. September is the most efficient month of the 12 months to consult with from a wait occasions point of view; except for remaining 12 months, October is generally a turning level.
That has now not came about but, however it is going to quickly. We’re nonetheless within the early innings, and generally the beginning of October is in a similar fashion gradual. The actual turning level will have to include the times main as much as the Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day vacation weekend.
As mentioned within the October 2025 Walt Disney Global Crowd Calendar, this vacation at all times catches other folks by way of marvel, but it surely is busy at Walt Disney Global all over the lead-up to that lengthy weekend and the dates thereafter.
Within the intervening time, this previous week and the approaching one is the ‘candy spot’ to consult with after the price tag offers expire. Whilst that is persistently the case, we’d warning in opposition to making plans round that for 2026 at this level since we don’t but know once they’ll finish (some Disneyland fanatics were given burned by way of that this 12 months).
However, making plans for this ‘candy spot’ in 2026 after price tag offers are introduced is a highly intelligent technique! It’s unquestionably one thing to stay for your radar if you happen to’d believe a consult with in early October 2026 however don’t want to guide till subsequent spring.
For reference, the offers which can be maximum impactful on crowds are normally launched between overdue April and early Might. So pencil your plans in now, after which circle again to company issues up subsequent spring if this week-plus window is interesting.
Suffice to mention, mid-October 2025 might be busy. There are a number of days and no less than one week in there that may finally end up being the busiest since April. The larger query mark is what occurs after that. Going by way of previous precedent, there might be a gentle decline after most faculty districts have had their fall breaks, sooner than every other spike within the lead-up to Veterans Day, every other very busy vacation that catches Walt Disney Global guests by way of marvel.
Despite the fact that there’s a brand new price tag deal for October thru December 2025, we’re now not anticipating it to have just about as giant of an affect on crowds over the following 3 months. Even absent that, indicators already level to heavier vacation season crowds. Thankfully, there are a handful of gradual home windows amidst the height weeks–all of which can be flagged in Best possible & Worst Weeks to Discuss with Disney Global in 2025, 2026 & 2027.
Making plans a Walt Disney Global go back and forth? Find out about lodges on our Walt Disney Global Inns Evaluations web page. For the place to devour, learn our Walt Disney Global Eating place Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to shop for, learn our Pointers for Saving Cash on Walt Disney Global Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a novel have a look at suave pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney Global Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most efficient position to begin is our Walt Disney Global Go back and forth Making plans Information for the entirety you want to grasp!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on September being the slowest month since Fall 2021? Predictions for October? In the event you visited EPCOT on a weekend in the second one 1/2 of remaining month, what used to be your revel in? Have you ever accomplished Magic Kingdom all over the day of a MNSSHP night time? Do you compromise or disagree with anything else in our document? Any questions we will be able to assist you to solution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas underneath within the feedback!
Walt Disney Global is now over one month into the low season, and crowds have dropped to their lowest degree in 5 years. This wait occasions document covers information for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Plus, what to anticipate in October 2025 and a ‘candy spot’ to begin fascinated by for overdue 2026.
Those low crowds aren’t a brand new construction–neither in the previous few weeks nor in recent times. Except the post-reopening length, the window between when colleges return into consultation from mid-August till early October has been the slowest stretch of the 12 months at Walt Disney Global for a few years operating. This headline is infrequently breaking information or some remarkable tournament–September crowds merely ascertain what we lengthy have recognized and anticipated.
Even previous to then, the parks weren’t in particular packed. It used to be a gradual summer season at Orlando’s theme parks, which used to be additionally now not sudden. Summer season has turn out to be like a protracted shoulder season, with just a few slight spikes into reasonable territory sooner than college is going again into consultation and the actual low season arrives. In spite of the summer season slowdown, August and September controlled to be even much less busy than Might thru July. October is already on a identical trajectory, even though as defined on the finish, we predict that development to opposite quickly.
Sooner than we get going, the standard caveat on crowds: what’s lined in those experiences is wait occasions information that’s pulled from My Disney Enjoy and compiled into graphs. It’s precious for monitoring and evaluating wait occasions throughout days, weeks, months, and years. So much will also be gleaned from posted wait occasions, however they’re now not at all times conclusive of in-park congestion or crowds.
Posted wait occasions are nearly at all times inflated, some strains don’t put up wait occasions, they don’t account for Lightning Lane adjustments, EPCOT fairs, and will’t let us know anything else about congestion for fireworks, parades, and many others. Nonetheless, wait occasions are the one purpose measure of Walt Disney Global crowds. On-the-ground observations will also be helpful, however they’ve shortcomings.
With that background out of the way in which, let’s check out crowd ranges for the remaining month. As at all times, all graphs and wait time stats are courtesy of Thrill-Knowledge.com:
We’ll get started with the per month numbers for Walt Disney Global as a complete, relationship the entire as far back as 2019.
Per thirty days crowd ranges climbed from remaining October thru this March, after which had been on a gentle decline since. That is in line with remaining 12 months, and related to maximum different years. Probably the most notable exchange is that Might used to be busier than June or July, when it was once the shoulder season slowdown. Might remains to be a slower month relative to spring spoil, however then crowds simply saved losing post-Memorial Day.
September used to be the slowest complete month of 2025 to this point, with a 26 minute reasonable wait time and 1/10 crowd degree. The ones numbers are in fact similar with remaining August, so on this case, flat attendance does correspond with flat wait occasions. Previous to that, August used to be the second-slowest month of 2025 with a median wait of 28 mins; July used to be the third-slowest month of 2025, with a median wait time of half-hour. The fourth-slowest complete month of the 12 months used to be June…and so forth and so on.
As famous within the intro, September being the slowest month of 2025 isn’t a surprise. That’s extra noteworthy this is that September 2025 tied remaining September and October for the least-busy months since September 2021! That used to be again sooner than the fiftieth Anniversary, amidst COVID cancellations because of the Delta wave and reinstated masks regulations.
So there’s an asterisk on the ones dates, however I’d additionally contend there’s an asterisk on remaining September and October because of hurricane-induced cancellations. Had the ones hurricanes now not came about, the ones months each would’ve had upper averages than 26 mins.
The hot button is that September 2025 used to be the least busy commonplace month at Walt Disney Global since September 2019. That used to be the “excellent ole days” of Walt Disney Global, and the calm sooner than the typhoon that resulted in a number of consecutive months of colossal crowds proper up till the closure the next spring.
Above is a have a look at weekly wait occasions for the remaining 12 months. (Forget about that remaining bar once more; it’s the present week.)
There have been a pair busier (quite talking) weeks in overdue July and early August because of “remaining hurrah” summer season travelers, however there used to be a pointy drop-off across the time Central Florida colleges went again into consultation. It used to be downhill from there, together with the 2 weeks bookending Exertions Day. Suffice to mention, there’s a explanation why we wrote about this being Some of the Best possible Weeks at Walt Disney Global and referred to as it in your consideration overdue remaining 12 months.
The second one 1/2 of September in fact did see emerging crowd ranges, with reasonable wait occasions of 27-28 mins. That’s nonetheless low within the grand scheme of items (1/10 and a couple of/10 crowds), but it surely used to be sufficient to raise the total reasonable to 26 mins. The month had began out even slower than that.
Having a look on the day-to-day information for the remaining 12 months, it will have to be relatively simple to identify two lulls round mid-June and the Independence Day vacation weekend, plus spikes in each overdue June and overdue July thru early August. Publish summer season, August tenth used to be the day with the large drop-off.
Since then, the dailies had been up and down, with spikes over the weekends–particularly on Saturdays–while weekdays had been persistently low. That is in fact an odd dynamic. For many of the previous few years, weekends have had decrease wait occasions (however steadily now not decrease “seems like” crowds or attendance).
Saturday, September 20, 2025 ended up being the busiest day of the remaining a number of months, with a 35 minute reasonable and 5/10 crowd degree.
Chances are you’ll understand from the above graphs that crowds grew over the process overdue September and feature fallen off a cliff over the process the remaining week. The precise turning level is September 28, 2025.
The explanation why weekends have been busier in September used to be the multi-month Florida resident price tag deal winding down. Those “use it or lose it” tickets expired on September 27, 2025. Locals have a tendency to paintings on weekdays, so the remaining couple weekends of validity have a tendency to spike because of this.
This additionally explains why crowd ranges fell off a cliff on Sunday, September twenty eighth. Previous to that, each Saturdays and Sundays were increased. It’s no accident that the primary weekend day after the price tag deal expired mirrored a go back to the standard weekend dynamic. It’ll be attention-grabbing to look whether or not that development holds, as there’s a brand new price tag deal beginning October 5, 2025–albeit now not as excellent of 1.
For park by way of park research, we’ll get started with Magic Kingdom.
Magic Kingdom has already began its “porcupine trend” of crowds for Birthday party Season, with complete running days being noticeably busier than days of Mickey’s Now not So Horrifying Halloween Birthday party. That is mirrored within the wait time information, and it’s much more obvious from the in-park revel in.
At the days when the park closes at 6 pm Mickey’s Now not So Horrifying Halloween Birthday party, it’s been not anything however 1/10 days at Magic Kingdom. There were numerous days with ~16 minute averages, which is an incredible revel in. September 30, 2025 has been the slowest of the 12 months to this point at Magic Kingdom, with a 14 minute reasonable wait.
As an added bonus, these types of party-shortened days going ahead have had their park opening time moved ahead to eight am. This additionally implies that Early Access begins at 7:30 am, which is massive. Glance no additional than our new box checking out: Magic Kingdom’s Further Early Access is a Will have to-Do for Low Waits at Disney Global’s Largest Rides!
The turn aspect has additionally been correct in relation to congestion on non-party nights, which is now not measured by way of the above graph (once more, it’s solely experience wait occasions). I will talk to this from non-public revel in, as there’s been a noticeable uptick for Starlight and Fortunately Ever After, which is sensible for the reason that there are fewer nights every week to revel in each.
We think this to worsen all through and past. Up to now, non-party dates haven’t been that unhealthy at Magic Kingdom. They’ll be deeper into Birthday party Season, particularly because the weekly collection of occasions will increase and round top weeks.
That is one thing we’ve mentioned at period, maximum particularly in Best possible & Worst 2025 Crowd Days at Magic Kingdom. Suffice to mention, the ones predictions have confirmed true to this point and all of Magic Kingdom’s slowest days of the 12 months have come because the get started of August.
Right here’s a have a look at Magic Kingdom enchantment by way of enchantment averages for September 2025.
Not anything broke an hour. TRON Lightcycle Run used to be the top at 52 mins (a experience I looped as a walk-on thrice within the above rope drop document), adopted by way of Seven Dwarfs Mine Teach at 45 mins and Peter Pan’s Flight at 41 mins. Jungle Cruise, Tiana’s Bayou Journey, and the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh have been all below 40 mins. Not anything else used to be above half-hour.
As at all times, all of those numbers are averages, which nonetheless implies that hour-plus waits are imaginable for the headliners at top occasions. They’re simply offset by way of 5-10 minute waits for decrease profile points of interest, or fashionable rides firstly of the morning and finish of night. I additionally noticed 70+ minute waits for Seven Dwarfs Mine Teach all over the similar span.
Animal Kingdom has been everywhere since low season began, however is in most cases trending down. The low used to be 11 mins on September third and thirtieth, with highs of 36 mins on September thirteenth and 34 mins on September twenty first. That’s an over three-fold build up, and with out materially other park hours like MK!
Warding off weekends used to be key, however that used to be against the tail finish of the price tag deal. With that now over, we will be able to’t assist however wonder if DAK information will fall additional. It additionally doesn’t assist that extra of Dinoland is at the back of partitions and Zootopia: Higher Zoogether more than likely received’t be offering that a lot of a spice up. Farewell visits to DINOSAUR may, however that’s been any such lengthy good-bye that possibly it received’t.
In the event you zoom out and have a look at weekly or per month information, Animal Kingdom has observed a pointy drop-off since summer season ended. The remaining a number of weeks had been the slowest since September 2021–now not tied with remaining 12 months all over the typhoon scares. Seasonality will toughen this in the following few months, however the offseason subsequent 12 months is most likely going to be tough with out DINOSAUR.
Right here’s enchantment information for Animal Kingdom.
It’s uncommon to look each Avatar points of interest underneath an hour, however that used to be precisely the case with September’s averages. Flight of Passage used to be 48 mins and Na’vi River Adventure used to be 42 mins. The 1/3 maximum “fashionable” enchantment used to be the Mickey & Minnie meet & greet, which is extra a capability factor than anything else. The whole thing else used to be below half-hour, with DINOSAUR most effective at 16 mins.
Our Animal Kingdom Afternoon Arrival Technique is as soon as once more the perfect manner for this park. We much more strongly counsel that manner beginning in November, as Animal Kingdom might be open after darkish once more this vacation season. Simply you should definitely arrive in time to catch the remaining performances of Merry Menagerie.
Early Access or rope drop additionally paintings truly neatly. See Animal Kingdom Park Opening & Early Access Journey Technique (or, “How I Did Each and every Journey at DAK Sooner than 10:30am.”) Even supposing you don’t wish to deal with DAK like a half-day park–and also you shouldn’t–knocking out the headliners early opens up a leisurely day with the opportunity of two desk provider foods, wandering, snacking, and many others.
It’s really easy to overcome the crowds at Animal Kingdom that Lightning Lane Multi-Cross is a waste of cash until you’re arriving after 9:30 am and leaving sooner than 3 pm…which is strictly what most of the people are doing. (Don’t be like everybody else!)
Crowds at EPCOT are at the upswing, and in a giant manner!
The second one 1/2 of the month at EPCOT wasn’t simply busy by way of September requirements, it used to be packed–length. Sunday, September twenty first had a median wait time of 45 mins for a ten/10 (!!!) crowd degree. That makes it the busiest day of 2025 because the week after New Yr’s, which is remarkable.
That wasn’t even the one busy date in September. There have been 5 (5) dates with 9/10 crowd ranges and a couple of extra 8/10 dates. All have been Fridays thru Mondays, maximum have been Saturdays or Sundays (once more, reflective of the price tag deal finishing).
Total, EPCOT averaged a 7/10 crowd degree for the whole thing of the month as opposed to 1/10 for Walt Disney Global as a complete. It’s roughly outstanding that September 2025 used to be (tied for) the slowest month since September 2021 regardless of this sturdy appearing from EPCOT. It displays simply how a lot the opposite parks underperformed.
You’ll additionally understand that EPCOT is again to underperforming because the price tag deal ended. The level to which reductions is propping up crowds is truly interesting. It means that possibly extra worth will increase subsequent week are now not the best concept…however what do I do know?!
EPCOT is at all times a wildcard, however I’ll admit that this one stuck me by way of marvel. We at all times indicate that EPCOT is the locals’ park, and Floridians are much more likely to consult with for fairs. For the reason that, the apparently glaring reason behind that is that the 2025 EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant is now underway.
In taking a look on the information, you may well be vulnerable to consider that is the reason for upper crowd ranges on weekends. I’m now not so positive about that. Meals & Wine unquestionably spikes weekend attendance–it at all times does. However usually, that doesn’t translate to raised posted wait occasions or crowd ranges. It’s like a mirage within the information. Locals wait in line for meals cubicles, now not rides. However for the previous few weeks, enchantment wait occasions also are up considerably.
We weren’t within the parks on any of those dates, so I will’t talk to what “seems like” crowds have been like, however my bet is now not excellent! In truth, till I regarded on the information, this wasn’t even on my radar. We didn’t listen any reader feedback or court cases. This has me truly curious–somebody visiting EPCOT on a Friday thru Monday from September twelfth thru twenty seventh? What used to be your revel in?!
Above is a have a look at enchantment wait occasions for EPCOT in September.
The number 1 enchantment in all of Walt Disney Global ended up being Check Observe 3.0, with an excellent 75 mins. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind used to be 64 mins, with Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Journey at 49 and 48 mins, respectively.
Confidently the robust efficiency of Check Observe 3.0 has Disney executives taking observe, appearing that competent experience reimaginings can power numbers. Up to I feel Cosmic Rewind is the easier enchantment, I’m hoping Check Observe continues to overperform; it bodes neatly for the budgets of the inevitable Spaceship Earth and Adventure into Creativeness reimaginings.
In the end, there’s Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
As at all times, that is the park with the absolute best reasonable wait occasions in all of Walt Disney Global, owing to its disproportionate collection of headliners. Disney’s Hollywood Studios didn’t see a lot of a summer season slowdown, most likely because of Little Mermaid ~ A Musical Journey and Disney Villains Unfairly Ever After. A unusually sturdy appearing for Cool Child Summer season may’ve helped, too.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios noticed a September slowdown, however now not as pronounced as the opposite parks. And it’s observed the similar weekend uptick as the opposite parks over weekends. As soon as once more, we’ll indicate that Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the number one park for Lightning Lane Multi-Cross. In the event you’re going to shop for LLMP any place, make it DHS.
Remaining however now not least is the enchantment averages for DHS in September.
Celebrity Wars: Upward push of the Resistance used to be the one enchantment outdoor of EPCOT with a median above an hour. Slinky Canine Sprint fell in need of that mark at 55 mins. Toy Tale Mania had a 43 minute reasonable, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway used to be 38 mins, adopted by way of a number of different points of interest that have been over half-hour.
It’ll be attention-grabbing to look what occurs in October and past with a number of of the ones Celebrity Wars Release Bay posted waits falling off the checklist. That on my own may just artificially spice up the total reasonable by way of a little. One thing to bear in mind once we spoil down information for the vacation season.
Having a look ahead, it’s just about a positive factor that the slowest stretch of the 12 months at Walt Disney Global is within the rearview replicate. September is the most efficient month of the 12 months to consult with from a wait occasions point of view; except for remaining 12 months, October is generally a turning level.
That has now not came about but, however it is going to quickly. We’re nonetheless within the early innings, and generally the beginning of October is in a similar fashion gradual. The actual turning level will have to include the times main as much as the Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day vacation weekend.
As mentioned within the October 2025 Walt Disney Global Crowd Calendar, this vacation at all times catches other folks by way of marvel, but it surely is busy at Walt Disney Global all over the lead-up to that lengthy weekend and the dates thereafter.
Within the intervening time, this previous week and the approaching one is the ‘candy spot’ to consult with after the price tag offers expire. Whilst that is persistently the case, we’d warning in opposition to making plans round that for 2026 at this level since we don’t but know once they’ll finish (some Disneyland fanatics were given burned by way of that this 12 months).
However, making plans for this ‘candy spot’ in 2026 after price tag offers are introduced is a highly intelligent technique! It’s unquestionably one thing to stay for your radar if you happen to’d believe a consult with in early October 2026 however don’t want to guide till subsequent spring.
For reference, the offers which can be maximum impactful on crowds are normally launched between overdue April and early Might. So pencil your plans in now, after which circle again to company issues up subsequent spring if this week-plus window is interesting.
Suffice to mention, mid-October 2025 might be busy. There are a number of days and no less than one week in there that may finally end up being the busiest since April. The larger query mark is what occurs after that. Going by way of previous precedent, there might be a gentle decline after most faculty districts have had their fall breaks, sooner than every other spike within the lead-up to Veterans Day, every other very busy vacation that catches Walt Disney Global guests by way of marvel.
Despite the fact that there’s a brand new price tag deal for October thru December 2025, we’re now not anticipating it to have just about as giant of an affect on crowds over the following 3 months. Even absent that, indicators already level to heavier vacation season crowds. Thankfully, there are a handful of gradual home windows amidst the height weeks–all of which can be flagged in Best possible & Worst Weeks to Discuss with Disney Global in 2025, 2026 & 2027.
Making plans a Walt Disney Global go back and forth? Find out about lodges on our Walt Disney Global Inns Evaluations web page. For the place to devour, learn our Walt Disney Global Eating place Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to shop for, learn our Pointers for Saving Cash on Walt Disney Global Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a novel have a look at suave pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney Global Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most efficient position to begin is our Walt Disney Global Go back and forth Making plans Information for the entirety you want to grasp!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on September being the slowest month since Fall 2021? Predictions for October? In the event you visited EPCOT on a weekend in the second one 1/2 of remaining month, what used to be your revel in? Have you ever accomplished Magic Kingdom all over the day of a MNSSHP night time? Do you compromise or disagree with anything else in our document? Any questions we will be able to assist you to solution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas underneath within the feedback!
