So you are planning a vacation to Disney World in September 2016?
September is a wonderful time to visit Walt Disney World!

Weather

The weather in Disney World during September is warm and mildly rainy. The average high is about 90 degrees, the average low is about 72 degrees and the average rainfall is about 5.09 inches. You can expect a little rain during your vacation, so be sure to bring your poncho!

Crowds

The crowds in September drop dramatically as kids head back to school. This month has the lowest crowd levels of the year.

September 1 – September 3
Average Crowd Level 2.7 out of 10
September 4 – September 10
Average Crowd Level 2.7 out of 10
September 11 – September 17
Average Crowd Level 2.6 out of 10
September 18 – September 24
Average Crowd Level 3.4 out of 10
September 25 – September 30
Average Crowd Level 3.0 out of 10

Park Hours

Magic Kingdom
Open most days from 9am – 9pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)
Epcot
Open most days from 9am – 9pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)
Hollywood Studios
Open most days from 9am – 8pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)
Animal Kingdom
Open most days from 9am – 5pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)

For specific hours on each day during September, please click this link. Remember that park hours are subject to change and are often adjusted two weeks prior.

Events

On September 9 and 10 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, soak up the spirited sounds of a contemporary music festival featuring performances by Christian superstars in rock, pop and gospel during the Night of Joy.

On select nights beginning in September, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is held at Magic Kingdom. This party is a lively, light-hearted, family friendly event. There are special parades, exciting dance parties, stunning fireworks and tons of trick-or-treating stations filled with candy for everyone! Adults and children alike really get into the spirit of the event by dressing in costume, trick-or-treating and dancing the night away with all of the characters. For more information, please click here.

Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival will begin on September 14. No details for the 2016 event have been released yet, but last year’s festival featured 270 chefs and included more than 25 food and beverage marketplaces scattered around World Showcase, signature dining experiences, food and beverage demonstrations and music concerts. Check back often for more updates about this fabulous celebration. In the meantime for some fun facts about the Food and Wine Festival, please click here.

Refurbishments

Periodically throughout the year, Disney closes attractions for refurbishments and enhancements. Here are the currently scheduled closures during September (subject to change without notice):

Magic Kingdom
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: August 8 – November 19, 2016
“it’s a small world”: August 22 – September 15, 2016
Swiss Family Treehouse: July 7 – September 24, 2016

Epcot
No Scheduled Refurbishments At This Time

Hollywood Studios
Pizza Planet: January 11 – November 2016
Star Wars Land: Opening in 2018
Toy Story Land: Opening in 2018

Animal Kingdom
Pandora – The World of AVATAR: Opening in 2017

Water Parks
No Scheduled Refurbishments At This Time

Disney Springs
Fulton’s Crab House: May 1 – December 31, 2016

Resort Hotels
Boardwalk Inn: Flying Fish Café February 1, 2016 – September 30, 2016
Walt Disney World Dolphin: Guest Room Refurbishments To Be Completed In 2017
Wilderness Lodge: Hidden Springs Quiet Pool, Resort Beach, Playground and Fire Pit To Be Completed In 2017

Planning Tips

If you are traveling to Disney World in September 2016, your planning is probably well under way at this point. Here’s a checklist to make sure you are on track:

• Make sure you have created your My Disney Experience account. If you haven’t, click here to sign up now.
• If you haven’t already made your dining reservations, be sure to make them now by clicking here.
• If you are staying on site, be sure to customize your MagicBand on your My Disney Experience account by picking the color and adding your name. And if you really want to make your MagicBand special, personalize it with your own custom designed MagicBand Skin from Magic YOUR Band. Click here to get started!
• Now is a great time to research what attractions you and your family would like to see at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Because Walt Disney World is so large, it is very difficult to see everything during one trip, so be sure to get everyone’s top priorities. This is also a great time to begin looking at menus for counter service restaurants so that you have an idea of which locations serve foods that your entire family will enjoy.
• Whether you are staying on site or off-property, be sure to purchase your admission tickets and link them to your My Disney Experience account.
• Once your tickets are linked and at exactly 60 days in advance of your check in date (midnight EST time) if you are staying on site or 30 days in advance for all other guests, login to your My Disney Experience account and book your Fastpass+ reservations.
• If you are staying on site, be sure to check in online at 60 days out from your arrival date.
• Double check your flight times and if you will be using Disney’s Magical Express for your airport transportation make your reservation at least 60 days in advance by clicking here.
• It’s never too early to start creating a packing list so that you don’t forget anything.
• Need more help planning? Please check out my new book 501 Ways to Make the Most of Your Walt Disney World Vacation, for hundreds of insider tips and secrets for having the most magical Disney World vacation possible!

Special Offers

If you haven’t already made your September 2016 reservations, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save money:

• View the latest Disney World discounts currently available!
• Guarantee the best vacation price by clicking here for more information!

Join The Fun

Disney Vacation Planner Jennifer Hardy and I have teamed up to create a new Facebook Group called Next Disney Vacation! It is the perfect place to talk about your next Disney vacation, ask your questions, get them answered, and share the magic. Everyday you’ll find posts, photos, trivia, tips, and more that we find all throughout the Disney Universe. If you’re counting the days until your next Disney vacation or just dreaming of one, we would love to have you join in the fun! Please click here to be a part of our group!