First Trip - Opinions on Dates

[f15robyn]

Hi DL posters,

My husband and I are considering a trip to DL this year. We're just back from WDW (his second trip, my sixth). Neither of us has ever been to DL.

Between work and other committments, finding dates is tough. Plus, although I'd like to go at a time when the crowds are lower, I don't want to go at a time when lots of the attractions are closed for refurb (or not offered due to low crowds - I read that the DL fireworks are only certain nights of the week - hard to grasp after watching "Wishes" at MK so many times on our last trip).

We're from Vermont and are hoping to start a family later this year too, so not only will this be our first trip, but it will likely be quite a few years before we'd get a chance to go back.

Phew.

Having given you all of that background, do people have opinions, positive or negative, about the last week of May? We're looking at flying in on Tuesday, May 26 (the day after Memorial Day) and flying out on Saturday, May 30 (9pm red eye flight). We're becoming Disney geeks, so we liked the idea of 3 full days, plus whatever we can fit in on arrival and departure day.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

 

[pixiewings71]

I would suggest a 4 day visit to the parks, it really is worth it. We are headed that way in May as well, we will be leaving the day you get in. This is our first visit over Mem. Day weekend so we aren't too sure of crowds. Of course we are blacked out over the weekend so we will do something else on Sunday and spend Monday and part of Tuesday in the parks before we have to head for home. We have APs tho so we can do trips pretty much whenever we want. It will likely bit a tad crowded but not as if you were there in July or August.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

Hi DL posters,

My husband and I are considering a trip to DL this year. We're just back from WDW (his second trip, my sixth). Neither of us has ever been to DL.

Between work and other committments, finding dates is tough. Plus, although I'd like to go at a time when the crowds are lower, I don't want to go at a time when lots of the attractions are closed for refurb (or not offered due to low crowds - I read that the DL fireworks are only certain nights of the week - hard to grasp after watching "Wishes" at MK so many times on our last trip).

We're from Vermont and are hoping to start a family later this year too, so not only will this be our first trip, but it will likely be quite a few years before we'd get a chance to go back.

Phew.

Having given you all of that background, do people have opinions, positive or negative, about the last week of May? We're looking at flying in on Tuesday, May 26 (the day after Memorial Day) and flying out on Saturday, May 30 (9pm red eye flight). We're becoming Disney geeks, so we liked the idea of 3 full days, plus whatever we can fit in on arrival and departure day.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

FWIW, here's the calendar from May '08:
www.laughingplace.com/Guide-Cal-dlr2-200805.asp

The Remember...Dreams Come True fireworks and Electrical Parade should be showing on Friday, May 29 (and Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31). There's the possibility that Fantasmic may not be showing at that time, as the rumor mill says that Fantasmic may be getting refurbed after Spring Break until mid-June (to replace the Dragon and add Flotsam and Jetsam -- the two eels from Little Mermaid), but those rumors may not be confirmed until some time in March or April.

During the summer months (mid-June to late-August), the fireworks and the Electrical Parade should be showing every night, and Fantasmic should be showing twice nightly.

I highly recommend the HydroGuy Tips Compilation sticky:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

HTH

 

[PinkBudgie]

We went last year at the end of July. I didn't think the crowds were bad. It was much worse on Jan. 2. I've never seen it that crowded before. Of course, how crowded it feels to someone is personal, but with good use of FPs we didn't feel like we were waiting in very long lines. Plus in the summer nothing is down being refurbished.

I bet he end of May would be nice. Hopefully most things would up and ready and if you miss Memorial Day, even better. I don't know when Grad nights are though. Not sure if any start in May or if they are all in June.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

We went last year at the end of July. I didn't think the crowds were bad. It was much worse on Jan. 2. I've never seen it that crowded before. Of course, how crowded it feels to someone is personal, but with good use of FPs we didn't feel like we were waiting in very long lines. Plus in the summer nothing is down being refurbished.

I bet he end of May would be nice. Hopefully most things would up and ready and if you miss Memorial Day, even better. I don't know when Grad nights are though. Not sure if any start in May or if they are all in June.

Here are the Grad Nites for 2009:

Thursday, May 14
Thursday, May 21
Thursday, May 28
Thursday, June 4
Wednesday, June 10
Thursday, June 11
Thursday, June 18

The Grad Nites in May should not be a problem. In May DL stays open until 9:00pm, and the Grad Nites in May start at 9:00pm, so there shouldn't be any change to DL's hours.

 

[f15robyn]

Thank you all so much!! This info has been extremely helpful.

I had looked at the 2008 May calendar at Laughing place, so that's how I knew that I'd likely have to miss either the Electrical Parade or some fireworks if I only had a Friday night in May.

So, I think we'll extend to Sunday so that we have both Friday night and Saturday night to see parades and fireworks (even if the parks are more crowded on the weekend).

Thanks also for the list of grad nights. I'm now thinking that Thursday the 28th will be our first full day (we're thinking of still flying in on Tuesday, but spending that night at the Queen Mary ) . But we will have had Wednesday afternoon/evening too. And by 9pm, I'll likely be ready for a break.

In a way I'll be sad if I miss F!, as I understand it's a different experience than at DHS. But, we saw F! for the first time ever in Jan after it had been reduced to 2 times per week. Arriving 70 minutes early, even with the dinner package, for a 30 minute show that was nice but didn't top my list of "best things ever" , has us kind of turned off on F! right now.

Thanks again (and yes, I'm reading many, many of Hydro Guys tips and threads ).

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks again (and yes, I'm reading many, many of Hydro Guys tips and threads ).

Yeah, I really like his posts too!

I would add here that while May is still not into high season yet, I think it is the best off-season month to go. The refurb work is usually mostly complete by then in preparation for summer. And the better weather is coming on strong - but not yet very hot.

Having the extra Sunday will be a good insurance policy since you are not likely to be back soon if ever.

Have a great trip.

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

I went last may I went to the park memorial day and my last day was friday night.
Great time to go memorial day they have a full entertainment and then friday it starts again for the weekend.

They did close early I think wed or thur for grad night but that was ok I had a 5 day pass so I could do everything and not rush anything.

I did the fantasmic seating I loved it it is pricey but it beats waiting around all night to have a good spot to see the show.

The crowds were good got busy fri night though I think it is a great time to go I enjoyed it so much I booked the same dates for this year.

I went 3 times last year march, may and oct, march was ok but cheerleaders everywhere and oct was good but was crowded more for halloween.

Just plan a trip anytime is a great time but allow you some days to really enjoy it 4 days is enough but I like going 5 days.