Anyone use the Wonderful Weeks of Disney for planning?

[L8blumr2]

I discovered these Wonderful Weeks of Disney (lighter crowds) on the WDW website just before our Aug07 trip. They were right on with our week being one of them since the Florida schools had just gone back and we enjoyed some lighter crowds.

Now DH wants to take a spring trip (just the two of us! ) and I'm trying to pick a week. WDW claims that April 5-12 is a Wonderful Week, but there are none in May (even though from what I read May is lighter). I'm concerned that the April week is too close to spring break. Also the April week is higher points.

Any thoughts?

 

[kimberh]

We went May 20-24 this year, I was going to say we did not use one fast pass, but we did use fast pass for Soaring. It was a wonderful time to go. The crowds were good, the weather was the best I have ever experienced. There was not even a wait for RnR coaster, it was a walk on, at different times of the day. ToT was the same way. The restaurants were full, but that was probably due to the DDP.

We are going in 2008 the first week of May. I would think the crowd will be less or maybe the same. I have been to Disney when Spring Break is over, it is a nice time to go.

 

[Mom2m&k]

We went in May this year and it was wonderful! It was the 9-14 I think? The crowds were great I don't think we waited more then 15min for anything and only used fast pass once! The weather was also really nice...hot but not too hot!!

 

[MrShiny]

Keep in mind that Easter is very early next year (March 23), so there will be a lot of schools on break in March instead of April.

 

[n2mm]

We used this guide to choose our Aug. 15-24 trip (just returned) and did not fine it was accurate at all. We go to WDW early May, late October, and late January, and this August trip was the most busiest time I've ever gone (nope, never gone during Christmas/Easter). I found the waits long for most attractions. We also had planned to do a split stay with resort and DVC, and there were no incentives for our Aug. 15-19 portion of our trip. No free dining, no 40% discount, (all promotions offered at the end of August, but not my dates), only a small AP rate saving about $15 a night for the value resorts. I gambled and thought, wow, this is a slow time, and the website says it's when the BEST rates are offered. I ended up booking OKW (but was hoping to save my points for a future trip). So I have no faith in the WWOD guide and will not choose my trips based on these dates again. It was one of those live and learn moments for me.

 

[CarolMN]

I may be a bit of a cynic, but IMHO, the "Wonderful Weeks of Disney" are just those weeks that fill up more slowly (for the on site resorts). I don't think they are all that great a predictor of how busy the parks will be. That mostly depends on how many off site & local guests are expected.

 

[bapvoeller]

We went the last week of May of last year which happened to be a "Wonderful week". IMO the crowds were fairly heavy. I wouldn't say that these weeks mean a light crowd.

 

[Mischa]

Where is this website about the wonderful weeks?

Thanks!

 

[kristytru]

bump

 

[edk35]

We used this guide to choose our Aug. 15-24 trip (just returned) and did not fine it was accurate at all. We go to WDW early May, late October, and late January, and this August trip was the most busiest time I've ever gone (nope, never gone during Christmas/Easter). I found the waits long for most attractions. We also had planned to do a split stay with resort and DVC, and there were no incentives for our Aug. 15-19 portion of our trip. No free dining, no 40% discount, (all promotions offered at the end of August, but not my dates), only a small AP rate saving about $15 a night for the value resorts. I gambled and thought, wow, this is a slow time, and the website says it's when the BEST rates are offered. I ended up booking OKW (but was hoping to save my points for a future trip). So I have no faith in the WWOD guide and will not choose my trips based on these dates again. It was one of those live and learn moments for me.

We had a similiar vacation. We arrived AUg. 15th to SSR for 5 nights then move over to BWV for 3 nights..departing on the evening of the 23rd instead of the 24th. We didn't think the crowds were all that bad...we too go late Jan and Thanksgiving week.....so we would try AUG again...but I think the close to the end of Aug. would be better but of course we start back to school that week in MD. We found the fast passes were the way to go....it was not Thanksgiving week crowded......

 

[CarolMN]

Where is this website about the wonderful weeks?

Thanks!

It's on the official WDW website:

Discover the Wonderful Weeks of Disney

 

[dwelty]

One of the Wonderful weeks is March 30-April 5th (The week after Easter week) I think it is a bunch of bunk that the crowds will be light this week. I do not trust these dates at all.

 

[jpolak]

I may be a bit of a cynic, but IMHO, the "Wonderful Weeks of Disney" are just those weeks that fill up more slowly (for the on site resorts). I don't think they are all that great a predictor of how busy the parks will be. That mostly depends on how many off site & local guests are expected.

Good point.

 

[eporter66]

Our vacations have mostly been in the fall (October) for a variety of reasons, but mainly for the Food & Wine Festival, and the PGA Golf Tournament.

My wife has gone in January twice, once to run the 1/2 marathon and another for a quick getaway.

We also have done a May vacation -

All the times we have gone have been great. We have always done well with the crowds, wait time for rides, dining. Funny thing, we may not hit the biggest restaurants, but we seem to get in almost anywhere we go, without reservations. We still make reservations for the character dining, but that is it.

After this year, we are going to go in December to see WDW decorated. Really looking forward to the Christmas spirit at WDW. We hear that going between Thanksgiving and Christmas is also a great time. It is supposed to be a popular time for DVC, but not so much for the parks. Just hoping to get a reservation!

 

[anabelle]

I don't know if these weeks apply to DVC. I had a hard time finding a room in late October during a wonderful week. I am hoping for small crowds, but I am prepared if it is busy after all. It will be the last week for MNSSHP and Food and Wine will be going on as well.

It looks like a nice tool anyway. Thanks for the link

 

[NJOGRE]

never seen this before but our next trip is booked for Jan 13th - Jan 19th which is 1 of the weeks so I guess we will ahve to see if it is true or not

 

[barndweller]

NJOGRE
Our only trip to WDW was that week in 2006. We stayed at BWV on an exchange. We practically had the place to ourselves. We had ADR for 3 nights & really didn't need them. There was no problem getting seated at any place we ate. The only ride with a line was Soarin & since we had already riden several times here in Ca. we didn't wait or bother with it until another day when the line was short. The weather was great and there was no one at the pool. However, all the Xmas decor was gone.