Well, it’s been an exciting week in Disney World.
EPCOT
The EPCOT Food & Wine Festival has officially kicked off, and we were there LIVE, eating all the things (like ALL the things), checking out the cheese crawl (who doesn’t love a good cheese crawl), and watching the first Eat to the Beat concert of the festival. It’s been FUN! However, a different kind of fun is coming to Disney World, and that’s a long holiday weekend. However, we want to warn you about something that could potentially affect that fun: crowds!
This weekend is Labor Day weekend, and in the past, this weekend has brought huge crowds to Disney World. It’s a long weekend for a lot of folks, so not only do you have people traveling to Disney World to spend some time in the parks, but it’s also a good opportunity for locals to visit the parks, too. So, if you’re coming to Disney World this weekend, you’ve been warned.
Labor Day 2022
So, what can you do to deal with the crowds? Well, keep your expectations low and have a plan for your priority rides, restaurants, and experiences. If you plan on dining at quick-service locations, use Mobile Order at those locations that have it. Pro tip: put your order in earlier than normal so your meal or snack will be ready when you’re ready for it. Many shops also have Mobile Checkout, which could speed up your shopping process.
Mobile Checkout at Creations Shop in EPCOT
For rides, consider purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass to skip the long standby lines. You might also want to consider purchasing Lightning Lane Single Passes for those rides that offer it if they’re a priority. You can even take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry if you’re staying at a participating hotel or rope drop if you’re not.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Lightning Lane sign
According to ABC News, the TSA is anticipating that a whopping 17 million people will be screened at airports from August 29th through September 4th, up 8.4 percent from last year. We can imagine a lot of those folks will be headed to Orlando International Airport, so you’ll want to prepare for crowds there, too, if you’re flying this weekend.
Orlando International Airport
You might also want to use TSA PreCheck if you have it or take advantage of Orlando International Airport’s FREE MCO Reserve, which lets you skip the long lines at security to reserve a specific time to go through a shorter line.
©Orlando International Airport
If you’re driving to Disney World, the worst travel time on August 30th is from 2PM to 6PM. The busiest time on the rodes on September 2nd will be from 11AM to 8PM. However, the good news is that AAA said that drivers will be paying less for gas this year. This time last year, the average price was $3.81 per gallon. This year, it’s expected to be around $3.50 per gallon.
Driving to Disney World
So remember to bring a lot of patience with you if you’re traveling to Disney World!
Stay tuned to DFB for more.
2 NEW Perks For Your 2025 Disney World Hotel Stay
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Will you be heading to Disney World this weekend? Why or why not? Share with us in the comments!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
I think the week of September 8th is going to be busy as well! Was going to come down from Palm Coast for the week and hardly any hotel reservations were left. I’ll wait! The advantage of living 1 and 1/2 hours away.