Was the week following Memorial day more crowded this year ?

[HopperFan]

We were there arriving the Wed before Memorial Day and left the Friday after. Thursday and Friday before was fairly empty, even at Friday's Star Wars Weekend and we were in Magic Kingdom for the 24 Hour event. From Sunday of the weekend on we felt like it was very crowded. We used to go this time often about 7-8 years ago and never had it like this.

It was hot, crowded, very long lines and people were very rude. The safari fastpass line had to be queued in a zig zag outside the normal line. The monorail entrance to MK had a huge temporary queue built. So many fastpass lines were so far out the normal they had CM's standing there with flags. (picture below is end of Buzz Lightyear fastpass return line where green flag is).

We will never return that week. That said, we travel there in January, September, March, mid December .... times that are traditionally lower crowd times .... so this crowd level was not acceptable for us. Everybody is different. On the plus side the economy was doing well in Disney World.

 

[bmalonef45]

We were there most of that week arriving on the Sunday before Memorial day and leaving on the DCL Fantasy on June 1st. The parks were busy at times but nothing that wasn't manageable. We found our best successes at MK were closing the park down, they even kept it open an extra hour one night. We were able to ride BTMRR and Splash 5 or six times in a row. Got a little tired of the MSEP it seemed like we saw it 20 times, okay only 5 or 6. We didn't go to HS on the weekend but when we were there it wasn't terrible. We were able to ride what we wanted with a little planning. Had a little trouble with our tickets early on in the trip, long story short we were able to get some "we're sorry FP" for TSM and RRC so we were able to ride them more than once.

I think with WDW its always what you make of it. If you plan decently you'll do fine. One surprise that we had was the weather. We expected hot and it wasn't that bad. Almost every day in the 80s with only one really muggy day and not a ton of rain, just normal spotty FL summer rain.

 

[bmalonef45]

One last thing. DTD was packed almost every evening, probably the most crowded and annoying part of our entire trip.

 

[Missymouse18]

We go every year two days before Memorial Day and usually stay six days after. This year the only noticeably larger crowd we experienced was at DHS. It was super crowded. The other parks were about the same as usual with maybe a little heavier crowd on Friday at MK. I have been at other times of the year twice, once in the middle of June and once in November. June was a nightmare with the crowds and November was absolutely delightful with almost no wait times anywhere. Still, I choose to go Memorial Day and the week following, maybe just because it's the way we have always done it and I am a traditionalist But I will say this: no matter what time of the year it is, I would rather be WDW than any where else!

 

[maryj11]

We were there arriving the Wed before Memorial Day and left the Friday after. Thursday and Friday before was fairly empty, even at Friday's Star Wars Weekend and we were in Magic Kingdom for the 24 Hour event. From Sunday of the weekend on we felt like it was very crowded. We used to go this time often about 7-8 years ago and never had it like this.

It was hot, crowded, very long lines and people were very rude. The safari fastpass line had to be queued in a zig zag outside the normal line. The monorail entrance to MK had a huge temporary queue built. So many fastpass lines were so far out the normal they had CM's standing there with flags. (picture below is end of Buzz Lightyear fastpass return line where green flag is).

We will never return that week. That said, we travel there in January, September, March, mid December .... times that are traditionally lower crowd times .... so this crowd level was not acceptable for us. Everybody is different. On the plus side the economy was doing well in Disney World.

Oh that doesnt sound good

 

[maryj11]

We were there most of that week arriving on the Sunday before Memorial day and leaving on the DCL Fantasy on June 1st. The parks were busy at times but nothing that wasn't manageable. We found our best successes at MK were closing the park down, they even kept it open an extra hour one night. We were able to ride BTMRR and Splash 5 or six times in a row. Got a little tired of the MSEP it seemed like we saw it 20 times, okay only 5 or 6. We didn't go to HS on the weekend but when we were there it wasn't terrible. We were able to ride what we wanted with a little planning. Had a little trouble with our tickets early on in the trip, long story short we were able to get some "we're sorry FP" for TSM and RRC so we were able to ride them more than once.

I think with WDW its always what you make of it. If you plan decently you'll do fine. One surprise that we had was the weather. We expected hot and it wasn't that bad. Almost every day in the 80s with only one really muggy day and not a ton of rain, just normal spotty FL summer rain.

Staying for closing might be a good idea if we dont get to tired

 

[maryj11]

We go every year two days before Memorial Day and usually stay six days after. This year the only noticeably larger crowd we experienced was at DHS. It was super crowded. The other parks were about the same as usual with maybe a little heavier crowd on Friday at MK. I have been at other times of the year twice, once in the middle of June and once in November. June was a nightmare with the crowds and November was absolutely delightful with almost no wait times anywhere. Still, I choose to go Memorial Day and the week following, maybe just because it's the way we have always done it and I am a traditionalist But I will say this: no matter what time of the year it is, I would rather be WDW than any where else!

Wish we could go in November

 

[maryj11]

Anyone else have any experiences with the week ?