April or May?

[jjohns]

We just had our first DVC trip (OKW May 13-21) and it was just way too much fun! So, we're now planning our next one (or three).

For the next trip, we're thinking of the same basic time, but maybe a bit earlier, and at WLV (home resort) instead of OKW (only place that had space on short notice).

The kid's birthdays are Apr 23/25 (will be turning 5 and 7), so one possibility is that week in 2002. Anyone been during a birthday time and care to comment on the various pros and cons? One con (as I see it, anyway) is that the 'normal' birthday stuff that goes on at home and school gets tossed out the window for the trip. Is there much 'enhanced' value for the kids having their birthday's at WDW, or does it tend to get lost in the shuffle?

What about relative crowdedness of the parks, in mid-April through to mid-May? Looks like Easter is end-of-March next year, so I'm thinking that things should be relatively quiet in WDW by the 2nd week in April, and will stay that way until Memorial Day... Am I missing something in that calendar?

One last thing - does April have more extended park hours and more fireworks/parades at MK and DS than this past May did? Or less?

Thanks for any/all help...
Jeff

 

[DVCKaren]

We went last week April/first week may this year and honestly, I was disappointed. We are used to going in June...when parks are open late.

Fireworks at MK were only one night. The park also closed at 8pm. EPCOT had Illuminations every night and closed at 9pm. MGM had fantasmic almost every night at about 8pm and closed at 8pm. AK closed at around 6pm.
We also found the weather to be not so good. It was warmer in Chicago than down there during our trip.
As for crowds, they were ok...not too crowded, but it wasn't empty either.