Help! WDW Attendance/Crowd Levels

[RachelsMommie]

Hi, all!

I'm planning my 3yo's first trip to WDW for May of 2008.

Quick question. I'm trying to decide between May 11-17 and May 18-24. I'd prefer to go May 18-24 so I'd be home for Mother's day (on the 11th). However, all the resources out there say that crowd levels are high Memorial Day weekend.

Is it bad the week before Memorial Day? We'd be leaving on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Should I push the trip back a week to avoid the crowds?

Thanks!
Kristi

 

[susykt4]

I say do whatever you can do to avoid the crowds! Our family has gone in January and February the past two trips to avoid the crowds, despite not being able to swim or go to the waterparks. Totally worth it!

This is very old information, but DH and I went to Disney for our honeymoon in 1993. The crowds were completely manageable until our last day- which happened to be the first day of Memorial Day weekend. We tried to go to MK one last time, got there before opening and the crowds were ENORMOUS. We didn't even go in, but opted to go to (I think it was called) Discovery Island instead. The difference in crowd levels was HUGE.

 

[magchavez]

I vote for going when the crowds are lower. We went in Sept of 07 and walked on to every ride. We went again in August of this year and what a difference. You get tired of trying to maneuver a stroller through the crowds, the kids get tired of waiting for busses, to get into the parks, to get on rides, to get food, etc. I couldn't believe the lines for the rides in Fantasyland (Peter Pan with an hour wait???). It is a much more pleasant trip when the crowds are lower.

 

[tmclanton]

We are going May 18-24. I have heard that that week is not really crowded. People start showing up on Saturday and the following week is crowded. It is a little more crowded due to some schools getting out early, so I think that that is more of a factor than Memorial Day since you are leaving on Saturday!

Have fun!

 

[Stephres]

Generally the earlier in May the less crowds. The later in May the more likely that schools will be letting out.

 

[twinmom319]

We went last year the week before memorial day weekend and stayed through the weekend. THe crowds were definitely lighter up until Saturday - then Saturday of memorial day weekend through when we left on Tuesday they were noticeably larger.

Still doable, though, with planning and taking breaks. We always got there early and left around 1 for an afternoon break, and we waited in very few lines.

 

[bellastella227]

We went May 12-17 in 2005 and I thought the crowds were great---we hardly had any waits at all except for PPF. That is just a little earlier than you are suggesting.