FD for Memorial Day weekend??

[RainK]

I thought Memorial Day weekend was a busy time at Disney.... Can someone enlighten me on why they are offering FD starting the Friday of Memorial Day weekend? I was really hoping for the week before but just booked another wk instead to take advantage of FD.

BUT, I am curious to why they would offer FD when it's a "peak time"? Am I just not thinking it thru enough?

 

[csjordan]

I thought that was sort of strange, as well. No discounts during most of March, April, and May, but then offering FD Memorial. I'm hoping for a discount 4/14-4/21...fat chance, probably, but keeping my fingers crossed anyway!

 

[Brian Noble]

For whatever reason, it is surprisingly un-busy that weekend. I did it a few years ago. I think perhaps it is just not a big "travel" holiday.

 

[chatty]

We were just there a few months back for Memorial Day and Star Wars Weekend. It was so packed I told my husband Never Again.. I don't get the discounts during this time either?
Chatty

 

[cab0ad]

I don't get it either. I wanted to go the week earlier but changed to that week to get free dining. I'd prefer not go over Memorial Day! I hope they give a discount for earlier that month so I can change my dates! If not, I'll make myself feel better knowing I saved $1500 with free dining! Free dining is the best deal available for my family of 4 with 3 adults and a child eating on the dining plan! Room discount wouldn't be as good since we only do value or moderate rooms. We'd need a buy 4 get 3 free to make the savings better for us...Still not sure that free dining wouldn't be better than the 4/3 deal too. Oh well! Memorial Day here we come!

 

[catne]

I think the parks are packed...but not the resorts...that's why they're offering the free dining then. We'd love to get free dining before then since we prefer going the 3rd week of May when crowds are still quite manageable.

We've been there several times that week leading up to Memorial Day, generally leaving on the holiday weekend - crowds were definitely reasonable before the holiday weekend. The resorts were 1/2 empty,even on Sunday of Memorial weekend. May 2009 we went for Memorial week, arriving on Saturday of the holiday weekend. Again, the resort was not 1/2 full. But the crowd difference was dramatic: the parks were packed. I think the crowds are locals, so they're not staying at the hotels, just enjoying the parks. I know during Memorial week, we saw many, many Florida school groups...there would be hundreds of kids in the same "So-and-So Middle School graduate" or "---High School Marching Band" I know a lot of the Florida schools don't get out until first week of June, so Memorial week is obviously a popular week for end-of-school-year field trips.

 

[emmabelle]

I couldn't figure out those dates either.




We were at Disney on Memorial Day in '05 and it was a zoo, but with that said, I still booked 5/29 to 6/2.

 

[MickeyEars]

We go this time every year so I was thrilled beyond believe when Disney released free dining. We have been going every year for over 20 years and I have never gotten free dining. I think the most I have ever saved was like $365 with 35% off (Pop Century) so free dining is saving us $1655. That's unbelievable!! We're staying at Port Orleans Riverside for the first time also. Lots to celebrate with this trip!!

This past Memorial Day was packed and extremely hot but I couldn't pass up free dining for 4 adults. We'll be there May 27-June 5!!

Carla

 

[Disneylvr]

I don't know why they are doing it but I am sure glad that they are! We canceled our March dates and are now going May 27-June 5th with free dining. A few years ago we went during Memorial Day and yes it was very crowded but no worse than spring break, when we have been going the last 2 years.

 

[mischief32]

Well, we are going to brave this time frame also. I would like to go earlier in the month as usual but can not afford it without free dining. WE might just spend the morning at the resort and go later in the day to the park and use EMH. WE will make the best of it....

 

[Disney Fool]

I just booked for 5/27 to 6/2--and I checked airfare also, thinking that it would be terribly expensive for a holiday weekend. WRONG. Surprisingly, the airfare is not bad at all from Massachusetts to Orlando. Around $230 rd trip on Delta. Have people stopped traveling during this time?

 

[csjordan]

Not sure what's going on. I found roundtrip airfare from Raleigh, NC to Orlando for $123 on Delta. I will book on Southwest, however, as I have a Rapid Rewards roundtrip ticket. I wonder when Disney will have the schedule out for this time period? I'm guessing some time in November.

 

[emmabelle]

I just booked for 5/27 to 6/2--and I checked airfare also, thinking that it would be terribly expensive for a holiday weekend. WRONG. Surprisingly, the airfare is not bad at all from Massachusetts to Orlando. Around $230 rd trip on Delta. Have people stopped traveling during this time?

I'm looking to fly into Miami for a 7 night cruise that departs on 5/22, before the Disney part of the trip. The only carrier that I can find that flys nonstop from Logan to Miami is AA and their flights are pricey. Looks like I'm going to have to wait for Jetblue and fly into FLL instead. I hate trying to find Saturday or Sunday flights.

 

[mickeystoontown]

We go this time every year so I was thrilled beyond believe when Disney released free dining. We have been going every year for over 20 years and I have never gotten free dining. I think the most I have ever saved was like $365 with 35% off (Pop Century) so free dining is saving us $1655. That's unbelievable!! We're staying at Port Orleans Riverside for the first time also. Lots to celebrate with this trip!!

This past Memorial Day was packed and extremely hot but I couldn't pass up free dining for 4 adults. We'll be there May 27-June 5!!

Carla

I'm right there with you Carla. We got to Disney the last week of May and the first week of June every year and have never gotten free dining. I was beyond excited when I found out we'd be saving over $1,300.00!

I remember the crowds being elevated but I don't remember it being super d' duper packed.

I don't know why they are doing it but I am sure glad that they are! We canceled our March dates and are now going May 27-June 5th with free dining. A few years ago we went during Memorial Day and yes it was very crowded but no worse than spring break, when we have been going the last 2 years.

I don't know why they are either but I'm glad that they did!

 

[Disney Fool]

I'm looking to fly into Miami for a 7 night cruise that departs on 5/22, before the Disney part of the trip. The only carrier that I can find that flys nonstop from Logan to Miami is AA and their flights are pricey. Looks like I'm going to have to wait for Jetblue and fly into FLL instead. I hate trying to find Saturday or Sunday flights.

try fly.com =the price I quoted was also for a Sunday night return for someone in my party. I was surprised at the price

 

[Ava]

I think the crowds are locals, so they're not staying at the hotels, just enjoying the parks. I know during Memorial week, we saw many, many Florida school groups...there would be hundreds of kids in the same "So-and-So Middle School graduate" or "---High School Marching Band" I know a lot of the Florida schools don't get out until first week of June, so Memorial week is obviously a popular week for end-of-school-year field trips.

This makes sense, especially regarding the school groups. Not only are local school groups not staying in the hotels, they are not likely to be eating at the TS restaurants either. Offering Free Dining during Memorial Week is a good way for Disney to fill the hotels & restaurants.

We're going May 7-13, so far no discounts for us. I'm hoping they extend the room-only or GC offers, or that I get a PIN - are you listening Disney?

 

[3Leafs]

I was floored big time.. My dh gets 1 weekend off a month and when I seen free dining on that weekend I booked.. Then I realized that it was Memorial Weekend and Star Wars weekend.. This is the first time my dh has come with us since 04 (he is not a big disney fan) I hope this weekend doesn't scare him away for good We are staying at POR from 26th to the 31st. I need to add a room only for on the first night.. I have never stayed at POR so i'm excited.

 

[sassyredhead]

We weren't planning on returning to the World until 2012, but the lure of free dining was irresistable! We've been during Memorial and had a great time, and we've been during Spring Break (with the 4 for 3 promo going on) with huge crowds and had a great time, so I'm not too worried about the crowds.

We'll be staying at CSR May 27-June 5, then moving to Universal to visit HP June 5-8.

 

[emmabelle]

This is the first time my dh has come with us since 04 (he is not a big disney fan)

I have one of those, but it's my teenage daughter, when I told her we were going to Disney for four nights after our 7 night cruise, she wasn't very happy. Well, I'm not happy that I have to go with the three of them on a cruise in order to get them to Disney, but we all do what we have to for the team!

The last two times that we did a cruise followed by Disney, I got sick the last day of the cruise and it totally ruined my Disney experience. I'll be so mad if that happens again, especially since I'm so diligent when I'm on a cruise about the germ factor. lol

 

[3Leafs]

I just can't see why people don't like disney.. Must be lacking a certain Gene when born