Dealing with MLK crowds

[MomofKatie]

*My idea of crowds may differ from yours, as we are long time Thanksgiving visitors to WDW.

IMO, this is a key factor in how "crowded-ness" is perceived. If Family A usually goes during Spring Break or summer, the parks would seem very light to them. Family B, however, has always gone during the slowest weeks of the year. To them, MLK weekend would probably seem uncomfortably crowded. It's all based on individual perception and personal experience.

Almost any time of year, there are folks who say, "Wow, the parks were crowded- it was awful!" and others who say, "Gee! We had a great time- the parks were'nt crowded at all!". I've seen threads asking about one particular day, and 2 different posters could have had 2 entirely different perceptions of just how crowded the same park was on that day.

 

[Starr W.]

IMO, this is a key factor in how "crowded-ness" is perceived. If Family A usually goes during Spring Break or summer, the parks would seem very light to them. Family B, however, has always gone during the slowest weeks of the year. To them, MLK weekend would probably seem uncomfortably crowded. It's all based on individual perception and personal experience.

Almost any time of year, there are folks who say, "Wow, the parks were crowded- it was awful!" and others who say, "Gee! We had a great time- the parks were'nt crowded at all!". I've seen threads asking about one particular day, and 2 different posters could have had 2 entirely different perceptions of just how crowded the same park was on that day.

Also what time you get to the parks colors your view of "crowdedness" and the days you go to park A or B.

We used TGM for the first time Thanksgiving, we pretty much were going to the right parks on the right days, but we changed a few things around according to his reccomendations. Very please and rode all of our favorites multiple times and didn't miss anything we really wanted to do.

 

[MomofKatie]

You are so right, Starr W.- we almost always hit the parks at rope drop. Even on days with a higher crowd level rating, we can do and see what we want with little to no waits by getting there early. I'm sure there are people who got to the same park we were at on any given day that might have thought it was awful. The big difference was that we were done with all the big headliners and slow-loading attractions before lunch, and they were just getting through the gate at that time.

 

[Starr W.]

You are so right, Starr W.- we almost always hit the parks at rope drop. Even on days with a higher crowd level rating, we can do and see what we want with little to no waits by getting there early. I'm sure there are people who got to the same park we were at on any given day that might have thought it was awful. The big difference was that we were done with all the big headliners and slow-loading attractions before lunch, and they were just getting through the gate at that time.

We are definately RD converts now!

 

[MaxsDad]

When I looked at our school calendar last year I tried to talk DH into going at this time--Fairfax county schools are also off the following Mon. & Tues. (26/27) for teacher workdays . We could have gone for a longer trip and they only would have missed 3 days of school! We already had the Dec. trip paid for and set though, so no dice . Maybe for the next inauguration .

This is exactly what we did. I originally planned to just take DD out on Friday for a long weekend using the teacher workdays but then when we realized that she only had three days of school that week we just decided to take her out for all three days, so we will be arriving on MLK day and leaving on Tues the 27th, so we are also hoping the crowds will be low this week.
I really would like to have seen them schedule the teacher work days during the same week as MLK and inauguration and give the kids the whole week off.

 

[aurorafan]

This is exactly what we did. I originally planned to just take DD out on Friday for a long weekend using the teacher workdays but then when we realized that she only had three days of school that week we just decided to take her out for all three days, so we will be arriving on MLK day and leaving on Tues the 27th, so we are also hoping the crowds will be low this week.
I really would like to have seen them schedule the teacher work days during the same week as MLK and inauguration and give the kids the whole week off.

That would have made so much more sense! Same number of days total, but in an easier to manage schedule. I think it's more disruptive to be off for a long weekend, back for 3 days then off for another long weekend then to just be off for a week total. I hate Jan. anyway--between weather, MLK day, teacher workdays and someone always getting sick, I'm lucky if they go to school for 2 full weeks the whole month .

 

[ajsrph]

We are going 1/18 (Sunday) thru 1/25 (Sunday), and too are hoping that a lot of people will leave after MLK weekend. Our schools are out for MLK Day and also 1/23 for a teacher workday, so the boys will only miss 3 days of school.

 

[Disney Spaz]

I teach in a county right above DC and our school system just agreed to close schools on Jan 20th to aviod adding to the congestion of the roads that day. Luckily for my family we had already planned to be in WDW that week. The way my family figures it if we are going to be stuck in a throng of people it might as well be in our favorite place on earth, Disney World

 

[Starr W.]

That would have made so much more sense! Same number of days total, but in an easier to manage schedule. I think it's more disruptive to be off for a long weekend, back for 3 days then off for another long weekend then to just be off for a week total. I hate Jan. anyway--between weather, MLK day, teacher workdays and someone always getting sick, I'm lucky if they go to school for 2 full weeks the whole month .

Our new super did this with our MLK day and teacher work day combined them to make a 4 day weekend. Everyone seems happy that the teacher work day now has a fixed date, not bouncing around all over the place.

In 2007 the kids came back from Xmas to a 3 day week, then one full week, then MLK off and that Friday off for the work day(yet another 3 day week).

The following week was a 3 day week due to 2 snow days. So January 2007 was a big mess.

 

[BamaTigger]

When we booked our MKL holiday trip, the GF, CR and WL were TOTALLY BOOKED. So we lucked out and got a room at the Poly, so I am pretty sure it will be crowded. But, we always have to go on Holidays and the 3 day holiday weekends, (Labor Day, Memorial Day, MLK and any other Holiday that may fall on a weekend) so we are used to the crowds. Christmas last year was AWFULLY crowded and the 4th this year was extremely crowded, but we just manage around it.

We always have our first day at the MK and make the earliest ADR at the CP for breakfast, so we get in before rope drop and that helps alot. We kinda have Main Street to ourselves for a bit and then we eat and grab FP for the important rides and just kinda let the day take us whereever. We dont have kids, so we dont have to do alot of the kid stuff and we try to escape the madness when the crowds hit.

Just make ADR's and if you do counter service meals, eat before or after the lunch/dinner time and that will help.

Take advantage of EMH too...that is always great when you can get in early or stay late!

But most importantly, just HAVE A GREAT TIME and dont let the crowds stress you!! Just enjoy yourself! A crowded day at WDW is better than a great day at home!

 

[Starr W.]

When we booked our MKL holiday trip, the GF, CR and WL were TOTALLY BOOKED. So we lucked out and got a room at the Poly, so I am pretty sure it will be crowded. But, we always have to go on Holidays and the 3 day holiday weekends, (Labor Day, Memorial Day, MLK and any other Holiday that may fall on a weekend) so we are used to the crowds. Christmas last year was AWFULLY crowded and the 4th this year was extremely crowded, but we just manage around it.

We always have our first day at the MK and make the earliest ADR at the CP for breakfast, so we get in before rope drop and that helps alot. We kinda have Main Street to ourselves for a bit and then we eat and grab FP for the important rides and just kinda let the day take us whereever. We dont have kids, so we dont have to do alot of the kid stuff and we try to escape the madness when the crowds hit.

Just make ADR's and if you do counter service meals, eat before or after the lunch/dinner time and that will help.

Take advantage of EMH too...that is always great when you can get in early or stay late!

But most importantly, just HAVE A GREAT TIME and dont let the crowds stress you!! Just enjoy yourself! A crowded day at WDW is better than a great day at home!

Don't know when you booked, but from the DVC side of things I called at the 7 month mark(beginning of non-home resort booking). Had my choice of 2br villas at all the resorts, only thing I couldn't nab was Concierge level at AKV(but they have only 5 2br lock-off units).

So we went with a BW view at BWV.

I just made my ADR's a week ago Thursday(no character meals) and got everything I wanted including the times.

 

[BamaTigger]

Don't know when you booked, but from the DVC side of things I called at the 7 month mark(beginning of non-home resort booking). Had my choice of 2br villas at all the resorts, only thing I couldn't nab was Concierge level at AKV(but they have only 5 2br lock-off units).

So we went with a BW view at BWV.

I just made my ADR's a week ago Thursday(no character meals) and got everything I wanted including the times.

We booked late, around the first of November. We had no problems with ADR's though--got Narcoossee's, CP, and Tusker House. Those werent full yet.