Anyone been to DLR during MLK day?

[BensWife]

DH and I are going to go to DLR in July (adults only trip) and then again in Sept with our kids. With those 2 trips, we decided that we are going to get deluxe annual passes. Well, if we have annual passes, then we have to go lots during that year to get our money's worth, right?? Anyway, my birthday falls on MLK next year and we get an extra day off school. The pass is not blocked out that weekend, so I was thinking about taking a weekend trip in Jan (never been during that time of the year and it's my b-day!!). I am wondering if the park is super busy for that 3 day weekend. I am a teacher and really have to keep it to typical vacations or long weekends. Thanks!

 

[2tinkerbell]

RunDisney has announced a Star Wars 1/2 Marathon for January 15-18th in 2015. I would expect the parks to be crowded. Inaugral races are popular and this one sold out like in 9 minutes.

 

[disneychrista]

Any holiday weekend, when kids have Monday off will be busier.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Very busy. I loved it when we went 3 years ago because it really wasn't that busy, but the parks were still open late. Then they moved the Tinkerbell half-marathon to that weekend, so each of the last two years have been pretty darn busy. With the switch to the Star Wars half this year, I would expect even busier. Schedule doesn't work for us this year, but even if it had, I was thinking of not bothering this year since it now feels as busy as most of the other holiday/peak/weekend times we visit, so we may as well pick a time with fewer chances for refurbishments or weather issues.

 

[coaches24]

In 2011 took DD for her first trip to DL on that weekend. We were in the parks on Fri, Sat, Sun (3 day park hoppers) and drove home on Monday back to Nor Cal. I didn't think it was too bad if I remember right. I remember Sunday being the busiest day (or it felt like it). Mornings weren't bad at all and then lunch time and after it was pretty crowded, but it's always like that in my experience. Its not dead but its much slower than most summer days or bigger holidays.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

In 2011 took DD for her first trip to DL on that weekend. We were in the parks on Fri, Sat, Sun (3 day park hoppers) and drove home on Monday back to Nor Cal. I didn't think it was too bad if I remember right. I remember Sunday being the busiest day (or it felt like it). Mornings weren't bad at all and then lunch time and after it was pretty crowded, but it's always like that in my experience. Its not dead but its much slower than most summer days or bigger holidays.

No disputing that 2011 was probably great. We were there in 2012, and it was very nice. We were also there 2013 and 2014. Crowd patterns have changed since 2012. They have turned MLK weekend into one of the half-marathon weekends, Tinkerbell themed for the last two years and Star Wars themed next year. That has changed the crowd levels a bit. I'm not trying to say it's terrible; I'm just trying to warn people that it's not as much of a relaxed weekend as it used to be.