*** Official September 2024 Thread ***

Newsies

Headlines don't sell papes.
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Oct 25, 2013
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Do you remember...

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... If so, welcome to THE OFFICIAL SEPTEMBER 2024 THREAD!

party:

If you're traveling to Walt Disney World Resort this September, you've come to the right thread. Here, you can talk to other September travelers and add yourself to our roll call. You'll also find information as it arises for special events, refurbishments & closures, and more.

Feel free to DM me @Newsies if anything in this post looks out of date or incorrect. Roll Call details will be at the bottom of this post!


Overview

If you've never been to WDW in September, be prepared for the heat! It's still summer, and it'll be hot, with an average high of 89°F and an average low of just 74°F. Summer storms will still impact your afternoon plans, and we'll be smack dab in the middle of high hurricane season -- so prepare for outdoor attractions, including the Skyliner & boat transportation, to see some downtime in your day-to-day park touring. Bring your sunscreen and your ponchos (and a portable phone charger... you never know how long you'll be stuck sitting in the Impressions de France lobby waiting out a storm!)

In spite of all the heat and rain, September has been a tried-and-true DIS Favorite time to visit Walt Disney World Resort for years. Kids are back in school for those precious first few weeks, which (historically) lends itself to lower crowds, especially at the beginning of the month. Fall events -- like Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival -- are just getting started to add some core memories and new experiences to your trip. Tiana's Bayou Adventure will be open and ready for us! And of course: pricing for certain weeks is among the lowest of the year, with several room and package discounts active to help Disney fill some rooms. And who knows what else will be in store for us this year?


Changes to Genie+
Just want to quickly highlight a couple of changes that are coming to Disney's Genie+ service effective July 24. By the time September rolls around, the Genie+ branding will be retired and Lightning Lane service will become "Lightning Lane Single Pass" and "Lightning Lane Multi Pass." Lightning Lane Single Pass will operate similarly to how Individual Lightning Lane operates today, with the ability to purchase up to 2 Individual Lightning Lane selections for Tron and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind per day. Lightning Lane Multi Pass will encompass the majority of attractions currently covered by Lightning Lane service today, with an updated booking experience that will allow you to pre-select up to 3 per day, with the opportunity to book more throughout your day as you redeem these selections.

In a major update from the current Genie+ service, Lightning Lane Single Pass selections and Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections will be available to purchase and select in advance. Guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels will be able to purchase/book their selections up to 7 days in advance for up to 14 days into their vacation. All other guests will be able to purchase/book their selections up to 3 days in advance.

If you have more questions on this service, I encourage you to check out this thread:
Plan Ahead with Lightning Lane Entry at Walt Disney World Starting July 24. Post #1 is great at detailing what we know so far. I'll keep this part of the thread updated as more information becomes available on these changes.

Special Events

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

This hard ticket event is a must-do if you're traveling to the Parks in September! This after-hours Magic Kingdom party includes trick-or-treating, special character meet & greets, special fireworks & parades, and lower-than-normal wait times for your favorite attractions. For an additional cost, you can also purchase party-exclusive merchandise and snacks throughout the Park. Some highlights include...
  • Get ready to strike a scary pose! Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will greet during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in their brand-new neon spiderweb attire.
  • Be on the lookout for sinister sights! Spot more Disney villains across the park than ever before.
  • Journey over to Fairytale Garden to meet Mirabel and her special visitor Bruno Madrigal, making his first ever appearance at the party.
  • Try some spooky, party-exclusive snacks. Read more here: Disney Eats: Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Foodie Guide 2024

Admission to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which takes place from 7 PM-12 AM, is not covered in the cost of your park admission and requires a separate ticket. Tickets go on sale for guests with existing hotel reservations on May 8, all other guests can purchase tickets starting May 15.

September party dates: 2, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29
This party can and does sell out quickly, so don't forget to buy your tickets as soon as you know your dates!

For more discussion on MNSSHP, I'd love to refer you all to the official MNSSHP thread for more information. @monique5 does a great job with these threads every year, so if you have any questions or comments specifically for MNSSHP, you may have better luck getting answers and starting a discussion over here: "Official" 2024 Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party




2024 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
08/29-11/23


Yet another must-do for September travelers! If you have plans to visit Epcot this Fall, Disney invites you to embark on a culinary exploration across the globe with outdoor kitchens serving small plates, live music from your favorite music artists, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more.

Foodies can look forward to sampling dishes from all around the world at the
Global Marketplaces. At these stands, you'll find cuisine from all around the globe, crafted in artistic and inventive ways, as well as beverage pairings to compliment them. You can view all of the Global Marketplace menus here.

Get ready to sing along to your favorite songs from popular artists during the
Eat to the Beat Concert Series! On select nights, you're invited to the American Gardens Theatre to enjoy live music and entertainment. These concerts are included in the cost of your park admission, but seating is limited -- you may wish to book an Eat to the Beat Dining Package for guaranteed seating if you're set on seeing your favorite artists. Reservations become available on July 7 and can be booked online or through the Walt Disney World app.

September Eat to the Beat Artist Schedule:

Aug. 30-31 – The Fray
Sept. 1-2 – Sugar Ray
Sept. 6-7 – Hoobastank
Sept. 8-9 – Yellowcard
Sept. 13-14 – Tiffany
Sept. 15-16 – MercyMe
Sept. 20-21 – Sheila E.
Sept. 22-23 – The Wanted
Sept. 27 – Luis Figueroa
Sept. 28-29 – Mau Y Ricky
Sept. 30 – Jesse & Joy

Oct. 4-5 – Aloe Blacc



Complete
Emile's Fromage Montage, a fun food stroll throughout Epcot where you can be rewarded for... eating cheese! Purchase 5 cheesey dishes throughout Epcot to receive a specialty unique item. Don't forget to have your passport stamped!

Take home the memory of your time at the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival with
specialty merchandise featuring Figment, Remy, and Mickey Mouse.

NEW THIS YEAR:
CommuniCore Hall will open on June 10th, and add a new element of fun to the Food & Wine Festival. We don't know what exactly will be hosted here, but hopefully, this will include some events from years past, such as culinary demonstrations from your favorite chefs.

Stay tuned for even more special events & menus as they're announced!

For more planning & discussion about the 2024 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, please visit @crazy4wdw's epic and comprehensive thread here!



Closures, Refurbishments, and More
THIS SECTION LAST UPDATED 07/11
Major Park Closures:
  • Blizzard Beach Water Park closed for the season on March 16, 2024, with a TBA re-opening date.​
Attraction Refurbishments & Closures:
  • Jungle Cruise is closed for refurbishment, with no reopening date announced yet. Calendars on the Walt Disney World website suggest it will reopen on October 18.
  • Voyage of the Little Mermaid at Hollywood Studios is closed through Summer 2024, with no reopening date announced yet.
  • Test Track closed June 17th as part of a re-imagining for the ride. No reopening date is announced yet.
Hotel Refurbishments & Closures:
  • Port Orleans - French Quarter will be under refurbishment from May 2024 until November 2024, with several rooms being unavailable to guests. You may notice construction during this time, but most amenities will remain open.​
  • Disney's Polynesian Village Resort is constructing a new tower for their DVC property. While this isn't currently impacting hotel operations, you may notice construction between the longhouses and the Grand Floridian Wedding Pavilion. If you're staying in the Aotearoa, Fiji, or Tuvalu longhouses, you may notice this construction more than others.​
  • Disney's Grand Floridian Resort remains under construction through a multi-year reimagining process. While 1900 Park Fare is opening in April 2024, the Grand Floridian Tea Room remains closed with no reopening date announced. At this time, it's possible you may notice construction in the lobby areas of the resort, though most amenities (other than the Tea Room) are expected to remain open for now.​
  • BoardWalk Inn remains under construction through a multi-year reimagining process. Neither the Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers or Blue Ribbon Corn Dog stand appear to be opening any time soon, and the Villas are still under construction, so construction will be noticeable to guests for the foreseeable future.​

Roll Call
Let us know when you'll be traveling to WDW and I'll add you to the list below! (Some names/dates stolen from this thread, just let me know if you want me to remove!)
  • 08/28-09/06: momof2halls
  • 08/30-09/08: KT0191
  • 08/30-09/08: ktink
  • 08/30-09/09: tracylynnhare
  • 08/31-09/07: LadybugsMum
  • 08/31-09/16: primalJ
  • 08/31-09/08: pskelly
  • 09/01-09/10: bklynblue
  • 09/01-09/07: dawnnikol
  • 09/01-09/05: princessophiali
  • 09/01-09/07: RLGNC
  • 09/01-09/07: TrulyMadlyDisney​
  • 09/02-09/08: Lillian Gracey​
  • 09/02-09/08: SamanthaH​
  • 09/03-09/05: nhpooh​
  • 09/04-09/08: Vulcan Muppet​
  • 09/06-09/09: Elizakapeka
  • 09/06-09/13: krauh​
  • 09/06-09/15: MKay​
  • 09/07-09/15: katyjeka​
  • 09/07: krystenabelle​
  • 09/07-09/15: old feller​
  • 09/08-09/14: adizzle819​
  • 09/08-09/14: momjeeps​
  • 09/08-09/14: Newsies​
  • 09/08-09/16: Steph H​
  • 09/09-09/18: hsmamainva​
  • 09/09-09/14: ThreeKMom​
  • 09/10-09/17: #1Disfann​
  • 09/14-09/21: danasunder​
  • 09/14-09/21: Earningmywings​
  • 09/14-09/19: straightpast​
  • 09/15-09/20: peabody58​
  • 09/18-09/29: Coraprincess3​
  • 09/18-09/23: kylenne​
  • 09/18-09/23: Mle8308​
  • 09/19-09/28: kanerf​
  • 09/19-09/28: Karlk​
  • 09/20-09/27: pigletgirl​
  • 09/21-09/28: MamaJessie​
  • 09/21-09/29: PrincessGidget​
  • 09/22-10/03: TCRAIG​
  • 09/22-09/25: ytsemaddy​
  • 09/24-10/02: becks59​
  • 09/24-10/01: CaroM8​
  • 09/25-10/03: JimT​
  • 09/26-10/11: AJ1983​
  • 09/27-10/04: KNovacovschi​
  • 09/28-10/03: Coconuts​
  • 09/28-10/05: dingyi6288​
  • 09/28-10/05: Karalee402​
  • 09/28-10/01: VAtink​
 
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Waiting anxiously for the Halloween party dates to be revealed so we can plan which days to go to MK... Because if I understand correctly there are no fireworks at MK on the days when there is a Halloween party? Or if there are fireworks, you'd need the special event ticket to be there... right?
 
Waiting anxiously for the Halloween party dates to be revealed so we can plan which days to go to MK... Because if I understand correctly there are no fireworks at MK on the days when there is a Halloween party? Or if there are fireworks, you'd need the special event ticket to be there... right?

What PP said. Also it's not Happily Ever After, but a special Halloween fireworks show.

We're waiting for dates also because we do plan on going one night, but we also want to plan our other park days around it. On a shortish trip especially doing MK on a party day is going to be great for getting stuff done.
 
I am SO excited to join this thread! Our dates are 9/28 - 10/5. Definitely planning to do the Halloween party one night, but like many of you, until those dates are released, I feel like I can't plan much as far as park days. I think we'll do either 5/6 days in the parks. And the best part - we've rented DVC points for the first time and are staying at what has been my DREAM resort since I was a kid - The Boardwalk! 😍 So excited and happy to plan with you all!
 
I am SO excited to join this thread! Our dates are 9/28 - 10/5. Definitely planning to do the Halloween party one night, but like many of you, until those dates are released, I feel like I can't plan much as far as park days. I think we'll do either 5/6 days in the parks. And the best part - we've rented DVC points for the first time and are staying at what has been my DREAM resort since I was a kid - The Boardwalk! 😍 So excited and happy to plan with you all!

Omg I am so excited for you! It's always so fun to finally stay at a childhood dream resort. I know some people warn to temper expectations for that sort of thing, but both of my childhood dream resorts (Poly and GF) blew me away. I hope you love BWI! I also hope for small miracles and Cake Bake Shop will be open for you!

We actually nearly stayed at BWI for pre-cruise, since it is new to us (the clown pool always kept me away lol!), but we figured at that point we might as well just stay at GF since it wasn't much more, and my partner couldn't make it for my first stay there when I turned 40 during the panini. We have 5 nights there, then a 4 night Halloween cruise on the Wish (our first cruise with Disney and partner's first ever cruise!), and as a special treat for debarkation day, 1 night at Poly CL before we fly back home. My partner thinks we are staying garden view but I secretly bumped us up to TPV as a late birthday gift for her. (She never looks at her app so she'll have no idea)
 
What PP said. Also it's not Happily Ever After, but a special Halloween fireworks show.

We're waiting for dates also because we do plan on going one night, but we also want to plan our other park days around it. On a shortish trip especially doing MK on a party day is going to be great for getting stuff done.

Are MK crowds usually lower on party days?
 
Are MK crowds usually lower on party days?
Extremely low. Most people see that the park is closing early and avoid it thinking they won't get their money's worth, so it's a ghost town all day. It only starts picking up around 4pm when party guests are allowed to come in with just a party ticket. Conversely non party days are more crowded because those are the only days when the park is open late to nonparty guests and you can see the regular fireworks.

Having hoppers is key because you can just leave and go to another park if you don't want to head back to your resort.
 
Extremely low. Most people see that the park is closing early and avoid it thinking they won't get their money's worth, so it's a ghost town all day. It only starts picking up around 4pm when party guests are allowed to come in with just a party ticket. Conversely non party days are more crowded because those are the only days when the park is open late to nonparty guests and you can see the regular fireworks.

Having hoppers is key because you can just leave and go to another park if you don't want to head back to your resort.

Thank you so much for that info! Yes we have hoppers and was just thinking exactly what you said. We don't mind going on a party day (especially if the crowds are low!!) to leave early and go see the night show at HS or Epcot. Maybe even go see the MK fireworks on our AK day since it closes early anyway...

Thanks again!! :)
 
I am SO excited to join this thread! Our dates are 9/28 - 10/5. Definitely planning to do the Halloween party one night, but like many of you, until those dates are released, I feel like I can't plan much as far as park days. I think we'll do either 5/6 days in the parks. And the best part - we've rented DVC points for the first time and are staying at what has been my DREAM resort since I was a kid - The Boardwalk! 😍 So excited and happy to plan with you all!

Welcome aboard! What a great trip -- just added you to the roll call!
 













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