Crowds the last week of May after Memorial day ?

[maryj11]

How bad are the crowds the last week in May ? We were thinking of arriving the day after Memorial day and stay that week. I know Gay days start some where at the end of that week. We would avoid the park that is scheduled for gay day. Just wondered if anyone has had any experience going during this time. I'm guessing it will be pretty hot and humid, but we have gone several times in September and we would be sweating about 10 minutes after leaving our room in the mornings. So we can deal with some hot weather but dont want to fight crowds while being hot Thanks for any information on this week .

 

[ghtx]

Here's easywdw's crowd calendar: http://www.easywdw.com/may13-v7.jpg

I don't think that gay days affects crowds all that much.

 

[Magpie]

Hey, we'll be there the same week!

This is the Gay Days schedule...

Thursday May 30, 2013: Animal Kingdom

Friday May 31, 2013: Hollywood Studios

Saturday June 1, 2013: Magic Kingdom

Sunday June 2, 2013: Epcot

According to Josh over at EasyWDW, he does recommend avoiding AK on Thursday and HS on Friday, because those parks won't deal well with the additional crowds. (And Friday at HS is also a Star Wars Weekend Day!)

However, everything changes come Saturday, when he says, "In fact, they can actually help clear out Magic Kingdom on Saturday and Epcot on Sunday due to all the people who will avoid the Park that Gay Days is visiting solely because there will be a lot of gay people around."

They're both his secondary recommendations on Saturday and Sunday, with the most recommended parks being Epcot on Saturday and AK on Sunday.

Personally, I'm sorry we'll be missing the Gay Days on Saturday and Sunday.

It's also worth keeping in mind that the crowds will likely be heavy-ish (7/8 according to EasyWDW, out of a scale of 10) all week, especially if you're used to travelling during less busy times of the year (like us!). So adjust accordingly.

 

[E-P-C-O-T]

Hey, we'll be there the same week!

This is the Gay Days schedule...

Thursday May 30, 2013: Animal Kingdom

Friday May 31, 2013: Hollywood Studios

Saturday June 1, 2013: Magic Kingdom

Sunday June 2, 2013: Epcot

According to Josh over at EasyWDW, he does recommend avoiding AK on Thursday and HS on Friday, because those parks won't deal well with the additional crowds. (And Friday at HS is also a Star Wars Weekend Day!)

However, everything changes come Saturday, when he says, "In fact, they can actually help clear out Magic Kingdom on Saturday and Epcot on Sunday due to all the people who will avoid the Park that Gay Days is visiting solely because there will be a lot of gay people around."

They're both his secondary recommendations on Saturday and Sunday, with the most recommended parks being Epcot on Saturday and AK on Sunday.

Personally, I'm sorry we'll be missing the Gay Days on Saturday and Sunday.

It's also worth keeping in mind that the crowds will likely be heavy-ish (7/8 according to EasyWDW, out of a scale of 10) all week, especially if you're used to travelling during less busy times of the year (like us!). So adjust accordingly.

We will be going to MK on saturday and Epcot on sunday and expect to have the time of our lives. My mother taught me that love is love and that everyone should do what makes them happy and I will teach DD the same. As a matter of fact, I can't wait, Gay days here we come...

 

[alhurricane]

How bad are the crowds the last week in May ? We were thinking of arriving the day after Memorial day and stay that week. I know Gay days start some where at the end of that week. We would avoid the park that is scheduled for gay day. Just wondered if anyone has had any experience going during this time. I'm guessing it will be pretty hot and humid, but we have gone several times in September and we would be sweating about 10 minutes after leaving our room in the mornings. So we can deal with some hot weather but dont want to fight crowds while being hot Thanks for any information on this week .

We will be there from 5/28-6/4 for our first trip. From all that I read, yes it will be busy, but not near as busy as Memorial Day weekend or later in the summer. Since it's first time, we won't know any better! We are following the advice from easywdw.com to help us beat the crowds as much as possible.

 

[TwinkleKS]

I've been at least three times that exact same week, during gay days. And my mother takes my nephew every year during that week (it is the best week for them because of custody arrangements, school, etc.). It's hot, the crowds are not at their highest, but you do have to wait for rides.

I've always found the gay days part a non issue.

 

[DHSsenior007]

My husband and I went for that week for our honeymoon 2 years ago and it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. We followed my normal WDW strategy- get there at rope drop and stay through post-lunch. Head back to the resort and chill, then go back to the park around dinner. It worked well for us and we still got everything we needed to done. I would second the comments others said above in terms of parks to avoid but we never really had bad crowd issues.

Hope you have a good trip!

 

[maryj11]

Thanks every for your input I'm trying to find the best time to go when DGD is not in school. It is either the last week in May or the 3rd week in August.
Anyone else please feel free to post your opinions or experiences

 

[maryj11]

I've been at least three times that exact same week, during gay days. And my mother takes my nephew every year during that week (it is the best week for them because of custody arrangements, school, etc.). It's hot, the crowds are not at their highest, but you do have to wait for rides.

I've always found the gay days part a non issue.

Hello, about how long were the waits for the rides ?

 

[Magpie]

Hello, about how long were the waits for the rides ?

Check out Josh's new Cheat Sheets...

http://www.easywdw.com/category/cheat-sheets/

Click on the full cheat sheet for the park you want, then scroll down to the bottom. There's predicted wait times for each of the rides, throughout the day. The crowd level you want to look at for the last week of May is 7 - 8.

 

[Bullseye]

Check out Josh's new Cheat Sheets...

http://www.easywdw.com/category/cheat-sheets/

Click on the full cheat sheet for the park you want, then scroll down to the bottom. There's predicted wait times for each of the rides, throughout the day. The crowd level you want to look at for the last week of May is 7 - 8.

Ca-kooo Ca-kooo... oops sorry I jumped the gun didn't I

Right on! Let's go early June Crowd! Party time

 

[Bullseye]

dup post

 

[Magpie]

Ca-kooo Ca-kooo... oops sorry I jumped the gun didn't I

Right on! Let's go early June Crowd! Party time

Let's play follow the leader!

 

[wishinuponastar]

I will be there may 28 to june 3rd.... staying at the poly and can't wait!

 

[Nole95]

We went in 2010 during that week and will be back next month as well that same week (5/26-6/1). Staying at Beach Club.

Crowds were not overly bad. We were at rope drop each day and got everything done we wanted. Took breaks a couple of afternoons before heading back to the parks. Amazing what you can get done when you show up at opening.

 

[maryj11]

Check out Josh's new Cheat Sheets...

http://www.easywdw.com/category/cheat-sheets/

Click on the full cheat sheet for the park you want, then scroll down to the bottom. There's predicted wait times for each of the rides, throughout the day. The crowd level you want to look at for the last week of May is 7 - 8.

Thanks ! I didnt know that Josh had these, I have looked at the crowd calendars but never have seen these That seems like a lot 7-8 !

 

[wdwfann]

We'll be there from May 24th - June 2nd!! We've been the end of May - first of June several times. The crowds don't seem bad to us. We do always hit rope drop, though. CAN'T WAIT!!