Ascension day - how busy?

[HFJohnson]

We're thinking of booking for May half term next year as it seems to be the quietest of the UK school holidays (we're used to going in term time!) however the French Ascension weekend starts on the Thursday. We would be arriving on the Sunday and if we were to make use of the 2 nights free offer we would be leaving Thursday evening. Does anyone have an idea of how busy it might be on the Thursday? If it's going to be heaving we might plan to do EMH and then go elsewhere for the day like Val d'Europe or something.

Thanks

 

[jothp]

It will be absolutely manic. We were there for ascension day in 2011. I did a trip report called four princesses and a pirate and from what I can remember we had to queue about 15-20 minutes for the carousel even during EMH. We did however have a great day without too many queues. We made sure we were at the studios for opening and did a few rides before spending the rest of the day doing all the shows etc and then doing a bit of shopping. I know you are planning to leave Thursday evening but in case you change your mind be aware that the Friday will be the same because people will take a long weekend. We spent the Friday in the main park and queues for Pirates during the afternoon were over 45 minutes and BTM was 2 hours. From speaking to people who were there at the same time that is how the main park was on Thursday.

Hope that helps. Jo

 

[Vala]

*nods nods*

The only day I have personally seen worse was Bastille Day.

 

[kizzabel]

What date is Ascension day? We are looking at 5 days starting either Monday May 12th or 19th and if we can miss the busier week all the better thanks & sorry to hijack x

 

[addverbaan]

What date is Ascension day? We are looking at 5 days starting either Monday May 12th or 19th and if we can miss the busier week all the better thanks & sorry to hijack x

Its the 29th of May so you should be fine either way

 

[kizzabel]

Its the 29th of May so you should be fine either way

Ooh my Dad's birthday! Thanks addverbaan

 

[HFJohnson]

Thanks for the replies, I just want to be prepared for the worst! We definitely won't be there after the Thursday so hopefully that will be the only really busy day. Ideally I'd go for three nights and leave on the Wednesday but as an extra night doesn't cost any more we might aswell stay until the Thursday and maybe catch an earlier train home.

 

[jothp]

We were there Mon-Fri and found the beginning of the week fine, it was only the Thursday and Friday that were busy.

 

[HFJohnson]

We were there Mon-Fri and found the beginning of the week fine, it was only the Thursday and Friday that were busy.

Was that during the UK half term? I know Ascension day doesn't always coincide with it.

 

[jothp]

Yes it was uk school half term. If you want to see what crowds and waits were like find my old trip reports we went during may half term in 2010, 2011 and 2012. All the trip reports are on the trip reports board. The trip with ascension day in it was in 2011.