Getting worried about my stay in May

[Violetx3]

Hi All-

I've spent a lot of time lurking around here and planning my first trip to WDW with my family. After reading all the great comments about the Polynesian, I booked it for Mid-May for a week. Today, I decided that I need to downgrade from concierge to save some money and looked online to discover that all the garden view rooms are booked. (I think I can live with concierge, but now I have new concerns.) If I check other dates in any other month GV is available. I picked May despite the Celebration because my brother went 2 years ago and said it was great-- very few lines and small crowds. Now I am really worried about what I am getting myself into. I am taking my kids out of school for what appears to be a very busy time and that is exactly what I wanted to avoid. I'm just so worried!!

Does anyone know what I could do to feel better? Do booked resorts necessarily mean packed parks? Should I look into rescheduling my non-refundable tickets?

Violet

 

[Bugsmom73]

No, I would look into using Dreams Unlimited. They maybe able to get your ressies changed for you. If not, call everyday.

 

[sarahg311@hotmail.co]

Hey Violet!! I'm from the Suburbs of Chicago too!! I live in Grayslake.....close to Six Flags!! I have been at Disney in May 4 times and honestly gradually it has been getting a lot busier. My Dh says there is ALWAYS some kind of celebration going on at WDW so not too worry. Walt's B-day. The 100 year celebration....been there done that not too busy. I think you'll be fine! I'll be staying at the WL from 5/8 thru 5/14. I hope it dosen't get too packed. Never can tell.

Sarah

 

[Luv2Roam]

I have a feeling this year will be a busy year -- period. I think there was one week that was the slow period I thought would last at least 6 weeks.
C'mon down and enjoy yourself. May will be better than June. And pre-hurricane season!

 

[cstraub]

Violetx3

Have you looked at the POLY on Expedia? Looks like there are a lot of rooms open for the Poly durning May. I would check there if I were you. You could also try Travelocity or Hotels.com for rooms at the Poly. Just because Disney is out does not mean that everyone else is.
Good luck!!!

 

[Stitch Inside]

Hi All-

Today, I decided that I need to downgrade from concierge to save some money and looked online to discover that all the garden view rooms are booked. (I think I can live with concierge, but now I have new concerns.) If I check other dates in any other month GV is available. I picked May despite the Celebration because my brother went 2 years ago and said it was great-- very few lines and small crowds. Now I am really worried about what I am getting myself into. I am taking my kids out of school for what appears to be a very busy time and that is exactly what I wanted to avoid. I'm just so worried!!

Does anyone know what I could do to feel better? Do booked resorts necessarily mean packed parks? Should I look into rescheduling my non-refundable tickets?

Violet

I wouldn't worry. Call to change your reservations, Disney online has not been very reliable lately. We're also hoping that it won't be that busy, and that there are not that many people willing to take their kids out of school at the end of their school year. Until we get there, we won't know. But we're prepared for it to be more crowded than last year. We have more non-park activities planned.

 

[Stitch Inside]

And oh yeah, Welcome to the DIS! (officially)

 

[TaurusSES_Sport]

Hi All-

I've spent a lot of time lurking around here and planning my first trip to WDW with my family. After reading all the great comments about the Polynesian, I booked it for Mid-May for a week. Today, I decided that I need to downgrade from concierge to save some money and looked online to discover that all the garden view rooms are booked. (I think I can live with concierge, but now I have new concerns.) If I check other dates in any other month GV is available. I picked May despite the Celebration because my brother went 2 years ago and said it was great-- very few lines and small crowds. Now I am really worried about what I am getting myself into. I am taking my kids out of school for what appears to be a very busy time and that is exactly what I wanted to avoid. I'm just so worried!!

Does anyone know what I could do to feel better? Do booked resorts necessarily mean packed parks? Should I look into rescheduling my non-refundable tickets?

Violet

What are your dates in may? We have a garden view room and want to upgrade to concierge, but there are not concierge rooms avail... Maybe we could switch some how?

 

[Sammie]

First of all welcome to the forums, and then take a deep breath.

Certainly Disney has done a huge marketing campaign for the Celebration, I mean it's on every few seconds on TV. Love that cute dog commercial.

But May is traditionally a less busy time. This year I think is unusal due to many people have rescheduled vacations that were postponed due to the hurricanes and they are avoiding hurricane season. Bookings are definitely up. As to your question does booked Disney resort mean packed parks, not necessarily. However what is packed to you, might be slight to me.

Sometimes the online system is not up to date on availibility. If your truely want to try for a garden room instead of concierge I would call Disney direct.

The only thing you do need to consider in planning is that in May, Grad Nights are offered on the weekends and the Magic Kingdom will close early to the public on those nights.

What are your dates?

 

[dkrause716]

I don't know how busy May will be but you should definitely call rather than using the website.
Something to think about-- During slow times of the year many things close down early. We really feel that we get more bang for our buck during the busier times. We may go back to the hotel to swim and relax, go to a water park or have a nice lunch somewhere. We love staying in the parks until closing! Especially the MK! After the parade is over things really clear out and then there are Wishes and the Kiss Goodnight... We make use of the Fastpass system too. I really wouldn't worry about it too much. Good luck! Bet you will find the room you want too!

 

[Violetx3]

Thanks for all the words of encouragement! I've gotten a little swept up in this planning! I am not someone who likes to relax on vacation, so I think this trip will be a lot of fun. But, I do get a little nervous because it is a lot of money and I want everything to go smoothly. I'm calling Disney today to see what I can work out.

Violet

 

[Selket]

On the plus side, if May is more crowded than past years then it is likely that the summers will be more crowded too - if crowds are just up overall or up because of the special celebration. And in May it isn't quite as dreadful hot and I think it tends to be less rainy. We went the beginning of May back in 2000 and it didn't seem like the parks were empty by any means but the weather was great and crowds were manageable.

And you don't have to worry about hurricanes!