Help me understand... May Crowds

[Capo]

Hey All,

So we're trying to plan our 2014 WDW trip and have some questions about the first 3 weeks or so of May. How are crowd levels at this time? What about weather? Does disney historically run specials during this time frame?

In particular, I'm confused why all of May is listed as regular season as opposed to something lower. Spring break is over and school still isn't out. I get the last week of May is Memorial Day, but I'm not getting the first few weeks.

What makes this regular season? Is it crowds or just because it's in between spring break and summer?

Thanks!

 

[bc7ate9]

There are Star Wars weekends at Hollywood Studios and the Flower and Garden festival at Epcot to take into account. Mother's Day and end of the school year events probably contribute as well.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We have found the first week of May to be very manageable. The closer you get to SWW, the more the crowds build as you get into the summer season for Southern states.

If you plan to go in May and have flexibility, I would go the first week. The flowers are beautiful, and the weather is hot but not oppressively humid. The crowds are moderate, not low, but manageable even for a crowd hater like me.

 

[TXDad811]

I've been the first week in May and the last week of May. Crowds were not too bad the first week of May. The crowds the last week of May (which was Memorial Day weekend) were awful.

 

[GovieMom]

Spring semesters at many colleges/universities are normally over by end of April to mid-May. I'm sure that would account for a lot of the visitors (like our family) at that time. We found the crowd level to be moderate, but the heat factor (intense sun and mid-90s temps) to be horrible.

 

[Capo]

Thanks all.

On the heat question, how does it compare to September? That was our last trip and should give a good comparison.

Regarding crowd levels, what would you say are average wait times for the major attractions? Just trying to get a ballpark idea.

 

[ucfknight]

May is when it usually starts to get really hot. The beginning of May will be mid-80s for the high with 60 for the low. By the end of May, it will be 90 for the high and 70 for the low.

You didn't say what part of September you went previously. For comparison, the end of May will be about as hot as the end of September, but slightly cooler than the beginning of September.

 

[katt789]

I don't think they're that bad, but I'd say it's a "moderate" time to go.
Most universities and colleges are out around then, so anyone that age who wants to go to Disney is headed to the parks.
Star Wars weekends help pull people in around May, they'll come for the event and stick around to see everything else.

Having gone in May and the last week of April (and we have a trip booked for the first week of may this year) we really enjoy it. The weather is great, not scorching, not too much rain. And the crowds are good, I don't think we waited over 20mins for anything minus say, TSMM if not done at rope drop.

I like going in May!

 

[Jfsag123]

We went the third week of May last year and, for the most part, it was great. We did not wait in a line over 20 minutes for anything except character meets. I did maximize the FP- system, but a lot of times we ended up not even needing the FP because stand-by was so short. However, we definitely noticed an increase in crowds and heat between the beginning and end of the week, as it headed into Memorial Day weekend. Still, in my opinion, a great time to go.