For April - May Travelers

[KevinM]

My SIL has a friend (Eileen, I think her name is)that works at MGM Studios (I'm not sure what area). She was in town last week visiting family and we all went out to dinner. I told her how I thought it was pretty darn crowded in February, which didn't coincide with UG crowd predictions.

Eileen told me that since September/October 2004 she has personally noticed a huge increase in crowds from prior years, and that she has been called into work a lot in the past few months on her days off. When I told her I wanted 1 more trip this year before my AP expires in December, she told me "whatever you do, DO NOT plan an April or May trip".

She said that the company is projecting record breaking crowds in the month leading up to and during the big celebration in May. They are rushing to get everything out of rehab and get Soarin ready. When I asked how bad they think it will be, all she said was "Imagine the 4th of July every day for 8 weeks".

My parents are going down for thier anniversary in April, I told them to get on these boards, make a plan, and stick to it!

 

[Momof6]

I'm so sad to hear this. We intentionally always try to plan to go during times with less crowds. We are there from 4/12 to 4/26. Maybe the beginning of the trip will be less crowded?

Denise

 

[MissMouse21]

We're going down the end of May, during what has been a less-than- crowded time of the year in the past... I guess we'll just have to use FASTPASS more... The lines don't matter so much to me, just as long as I'm there
-Liz

 

[sc9500]

I was there for the "Millenium" , nothing scares me anymore....

 

[SoCalKDG]

They still have tons of rooms left for April at WDW, so don't be worried.

 

[Momof6]

Thanks for the calming words...

Denise

 

[SleepingUgly]

I think that's bit of an exaggeration. I mean, advice is appreciated. But I just don't think it's going to be as bad as some are fearing. This celebration is going on for 18 months, and besides the Disney freaks, how many regular tourists are even aware of it?

I was not aware of it until I came on these boards!

However, I was aware of all the advertising that Disney had been bombarding us with in newspapers and on TV recently, and that's what got us interested. So one doesn't need to know about the Celebration in order to become interested this year.

Also, I don't think the crowds will be as bad as they are over the Fourth. The big thing about the Fourth is that it's a holiday and it's summer, so kids are not in school. I don't believe that many parents would be willing to take their kids out of school in April/May. The crowds may be worse than they were in previous years during the same time, but I'm guessing (and hoping!) that they won't be anywhere near as bad as they are around the Fourth!

To the OP -- Thanks for the heads up, though! This will make us less disgruntled when we get there in May and find longer-than-expected lines!

Linda

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

We are heading down the last week of April.

I have been reading a lot of posts, about that time, but I think it is all speculation, on how CROWDED things will be. Maybe its just wishful thinking on my part, but I'm not ready to panic yet.

I read a post, where someone said they could find NO availability, at the Moderates April 23-30, so I called, and sure enough, there were rooms available.

Thanks for the heads up, but I really HOPE its not the case.

 

[kpk89]

We had no idea when we booked the trip for May 6th -13th that the celebration was kicking off on the 5th! I hope that the OP's relative is exaggerating, though I am bracing myself to face bigger crowds than we might be expecting. It's all good ... it's Disney after all!

 

[lclark0621]

We will never go to a celebration "kick off" again. We went to the 25th & were so dissappointed. You were not aloud on Main Street during the celebration ceremony due to "security reasons", hardly any of the "special stuff" was available (they only knew this was coming for 25 years).

Basically it was a BIG let down.

We are going the last week in April (23-30) & are no afraid of the crowds. I have checked for a few friends who want to join us & had no problem getting rooms for them at the moderate level yesterday!

We will go to DL this fall for the celebration. But like I said, I will never go for the "kick off" again. It was all press stuff! Hardly anything was really for the guests. The only people on Main Street were press, their families & "special guests".

Even when we got to the MK we were shuffled in through a backstage area because guests were not allowed on Main Street!

 

[palmetto]

I'm going down April 30/May 1. If it's bad, I guess we'll have to handle it. We can't change the date of the reason we're going to even be in that part of the state.

 

[danny1649]

You can always manage the crowds at WDW and still have a magical time and do about all you want to.These boards helped me to deal wiyh huge crowds.

 

[DisDarling]

I agree with alot of the posters- most people arent even aware of WHEN the celebration starts, on top of that, there are kids still in school during most of May, I would say that the summer months may be heavier because of it and possibly the first week of May with the kick off. Dont let what anyone says scare you off in going, its Disney, cant get better than that

 

[soccermom5]

i am going april 22 I m staying at por 2 rooms and when I tryed to upgrade to a delux they said they had none aval. maybe this is because i need connecting rooms

 

[Wishing on a star]

Quote:
______________________________________________________
My SIL has a friend (Eileen, I think her name is)that works at ....
______________________________________________________

And, I have a friend, who has a brother, and his wife, who knows somebody, Marlene, I think her name is... and they said...

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!



We will be at MK on the 3rd and 4th... (we WILL be avoiding MK on the 5th!!!!) But, hey, just more Disney 'HYPE'... Another 'celebration...' Yawnnnnn!!!!!!

 

[Violetx3]

If WDW was expecting July 4th level crowds, wouldn't they extend their park hours and add more parades. etc?

Thanks for the post, though. I love to hear "insider" information.

 

[Nik's Mom]

It's all speculation at this point. We'll just have to wait and see. No matter what, at least we'll be at WDW.

 

[pumpkinfish]

I think that the OP rocks with that information!

If we ALL tell our friends this info, maybe the word will spread like wild-fire, and OTHERS will reschedule their trips for another time, and there won't be anyone down there except for us wonderful DIS people!!! What do ya think?!?!?

 

[Stitch Inside]

I think that the OP rocks with that information!

If we ALL tell our friends this info, maybe the word will spread like wild-fire, and OTHERS will reschedule their trips for another time, and there won't be anyone down there except for us wonderful DIS people!!! What do ya think?!?!?

I think we're on to something here. My brother has an illegitimate child from a sister from a previous marriage that knows someone named Mabilene who once worked at Disney who said April through December were going to be more crowded than ever before because of the Celebration, and she said that just because there are plenty of rooms available at the Resorts doesn't mean that people won't still flock there from off-site hotels and camp grounds, and all of the FL people will be driving in each day 'cause they can. I think I'll wait 'til the Celebration is over before I go again.

 

[pumpkinfish]

I think we're on to something here. My brother has an illegitimate child from a sister from a previous marriage that knows someone named Mabilene who once worked at Disney who said April through December were going to be more crowded than ever before because of the Celebration, and she said that just because there are plenty of rooms available at the Resorts doesn't mean that people won't still flock there from off-site hotels and camp grounds, and all of the FL people will be driving in each day 'cause they can. I think I'll wait 'til the Celebration is over before I go again.

I think my friend had told me about that too. Yes...yes you are correct, I think we won't be going now until 2010, just to be on the safe side!