Crowd level and other help :)

[LuvinDisney83]

Hi Everyone,
I'm hoping for a little help, if you are able to give it I'm trying to plan a Disney Vacation for my boyfriend, his 2 children (girl 11yrs, boy 5 at the time i'm planning) and me. I love Disney and everything about it, my boyfriend on the other hand has not been since he was very young and remembers nothing about it, besides the fact it is VERY different since he was last there. He isn't a big fan of crowds or theme parks, but i'm hoping to change his mind with a wonderful trip to Disney World. I think he would love it and love to experience everything Disney has to offer with his little ones. I brought the idea up to him this past weekend, and he is not totally opposed to it! Yay! He wants me to do some research tho, and he doesn't want to make any definite plans until after the first of the year. So here's my question, what are the crowds like the first week after Memorial day week (June 5-12, 2010)? I've been in mid May and the crowds were almost non existent, then the last week in June they were pretty heavy. Also, I've only stayed at POP and was interested in staying in a Moderate resort, probably POR or POFQ. Which would you reccomend and why? I appreciate any help!! Thank you in advance!

 

[LuvinDisney83]

Bump

 

[vicki_c]

As June goes on, it gets more crowded each week, as more and more schools let out. We have been the last 2 years the week after you're planning and it's pretty crowded. And this past year it was wickedly hot - terrible, really. The year before, bad, but not SO bad. So I'd also consider how well your group does in the heat/humidity.

We prefer to go in the winter but that's not always possible for everyone, including us, but you can pick times when the weather is cooler and crowds are a lot lower. We like best late January/early February, if you can swing it.

And we like POFQ much better than POR - we liked the theming better, and it's nice because it's more compact than POR.

 

[2Tiggies]

Hooray! You're going to do it!

Your boyfriend has a good suggestion when he says to research (whether he knows it or not, this is a basic survival tactic for WDW). Find out as much as you can and ask any questions you need to on here.

Regarding crowds, this is a bit of a touch and go area. What one person deems to be crazy the next person reports as quiet. It is all so relative and depends on the person, which park you are at on which day and at what time of what season, when you usually visit (i.e. what you compare to when deciding on how crowded you percieve it to be.... the list goes on). I would invest in a good guide book. I personally love Easter time. It is really busy but the plus with busy times is lots of atmosphere, longer park hours, extra parades..... But that is us and not everyone's preference. Having said that, with some clever planning it is possible to avoid the worst of the crowds and experience the best bits. It is all about being prepared to sacrifice on the odd morning to sleep in or early night and knowing when to call time out and retreat for a break. I am harping on crowds a bit as you mentioned that your boyfriend doesn't like crowded situations. The reality is that Disney is never really "Quiet". You may get quiet for Disney, but it won't be empty. The idea is to work with the crowds when you have to, know where they tend to be and when so that you can be where they are not at any given (most given) time. Guide books are great for this. I can recommend my favourite, but I don't know if I am allowed to recommend stuff on this site - maybe a Moderator will come and rescue me. The week you are looking at in June seems as good a time as any - but again, that is personal opinion and you will find many varying viewpoints on this.

As far as accommodations, Port Orleans is lovely. French Quarter is smaller and therefore fewer people but the Riverside has its advantages too.

Happy planning. I hope lots of people reply to your post and give you heaps of information!

 

[LuvinDisney83]

Thanks Vicki C and 2Tiggies! Any help is much appreciated! It seems like everytime I plan a trip it is totally different from the previous trip and it feels like I loose all planning skills

I just want to hopefully create a perfect trip in hopes of having a DFTW! We've discussed marriage and it's always been my dream since I first went at 8 years old to have a Disney wedding. At almost 26 i'm finally with a man I want to marry and now just to convince him on where the locale will be plus his kids are at such a great age and they are both Disney nuts as well and they've never seen the "Mickey's house"

 

[vicki_c]

If it were me and I was trying to plan the best trip -- for the reasons you posted -- I wouldn't go in June. But that's based on what my family enjoys/doesn't enjoy - we don't like it hot, and we prefer less crowded to more crowded (although we have gone over Christmas as well).

If you guys are hot weather lovers, then it will probably be fine in June.

 

[LuvinDisney83]

Hot weather is actually probably preferred. The kids and I are VERY cold natured, and my bf handles the heat pretty well (He does triathalons in July and August, crazy man!) I wish we could go beginning of May, but I know the kids mother would NEVER let them go out of school for a trip with their dad and me. I loved the weather and the quite low crowds in May!

 

[laceemouse]

I agree, I would not want to start any problems by trying to get everyone to agree to take them out of school.
Your best summer week are as early in June as possible or as late in August as possible. I think June is usually not as hot and humid and not hurricane season yet, though last June was record highs (global warming?)
Is there any other time when they have a school break, say a fall of winter break at an off time? If not, the only other times besides summer are Christmas and Spring Break. Both can be done with good planning, but both can be very crowded.
Good luck planning a magical trip for them

 

[LuvinDisney83]

I was originally thinking May30-June 5th, but allears reccomended to not go the weekend/week of Memorial day. Would you all agree that week would be a bad idea?

 

[judomom2]

we went last memorial day weekend and I didn't think it was that bad I think it was much hotter when we went back in sept. Crowds were very manageable especially when using fast passes we are planning to go back again next year at the same time.

 

[Guest-expert]

the last week of may/first week of June are beautiful. We went this year, and the crowds were managable.

I suggest getting away from the Value resorts if you want to make him feel more comfortable. We love every Moderate we've ever stayed at (as a matter of fact we are doing PORiverside this weekend.) the crowds there are negligable...and the facilities are top notch.