Quiet September at Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World is turning into a ghost town according to recent crowd tracking data! Late summer and early autumn visits to Disney World are quieter than ever, with wait times hitting lows we haven’t seen in years. And it’s not just the data, it has been very quiet in the parks.

In this post we are looking at the data and in park experiences and asking whether this a sign for UK Disney planners to book their trips for September if looking for a quiet and budget friendly Disney trip.

Why is September So Quiet: Crowd Levels

According to data from Thrill-Data, the period from mid-August through to mid-September shows some of the shortest average ride wait times in years. Looking at the average rolling wait time across all Disney World rides it’s possible to see that the day with the lowest average ride wait time was Friday 12th September 2025, at 23.95 minutes.

The data shows that average rolling wait times have dropped by 9 minutes from an average of 31.75 minutes on 9th August 2025. On 30th September Thrill Data shows that average wait times for the day were just 17 minutes.

But it’s not just the data. Visitors in the parks have been marvelling at the low wait times, finding popular rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion listed as walk-ons in the My Disney Experience App. You know wait times are low when multiple seasoned Disney vloggers are commenting.

Although the parks are quieter, the overall influx of tourists into Florida has increased from last year, with American news outlet CBS sharing some interesting statistics.

A large proportion of these visitors are American, so may be visiting other areas and attractions in Florida. The opening of Epic Universe perhaps having some impact on visitor numbers. Still the fact remains that the Disney parks are quiet this September.

Quiet Parks: Forget Lightning Lanes

Quiet parks mean you can skip the additional cost of buying Lightning Lanes to beat the queues. With wait times running so low, they are not needed. You will be able to experience the rides without them.

The plus of the quiet parks also mean you get the opportunity to take some lovely pictures without as many people in the background. At this time of year you can also take in the festive Halloween and Autumn decorations across the parks.

What does that mean for planning holidays?

If you’re thinking of planning a Disney holiday for 2026 and you’re looking for a quiet time to visit, September could be the month for you. Although this year is quieter than usual, September does tend to be both a quieter and cheaper month to visit.

If you were to book for 2026 now, you would get free the free Disney dining plan with select Walt Disney World resort stays, and the Magic Tickets for September 2026 are cheaper than at other times of the year.

Although September is peak hurricane season, and hurricanes have closed Disney Parks in recent years, September is definitely a month to consider if you are looking to do Disney on a budget.