How are crowds now?

[brymolmom]

I'm considering a big family trip either next year or the year after and this time of year is a possibility. Is anyone just back or still there who can tell me how crowd levels are right now?

How about weather?

THanks!

 

[dizcrazee]

I'm at WDW now and the crowd level is quite reasonable. We haven't waited more than about 15 minutes for anything. Of course, we tour from opening until about 1:00 and then again from about 5:00 to closing, and we avoid the thickest crowds. We also use Fastpass at every opportunity. By the time we leave at 1:00, we see big lines at everything we breezed through earlier!

In the evenings, we don't try to do the big crowd-drawing attractions. I definitely recommend the afternoon breaks. Every afternoon when we return refreshed we see all these hot, miserable, red-in-the-face people leaving the parks. We just stroll in and start having fun again. In the evenings, we do low-draw attractions, eat, shop, and watch the evening entertainment (parade/show/fireworks). We are having a ball!

Edit: The weather is hot, but not too humid, and we are managing it just fine by getting out of the parks in the hottest part of the day. The evenings are quite pleasant.

 

[mhingher]

We just came back from a 7 day trip, 5/13-5/20. The weather was perfect - best we ever had in WDW! Mid 80's most of the week, and the last 2 days it warmed up into the low 90's. BUt there was a nice breeze all week so it didn't feel as warm. It rained one day, but it cleared up by 3pm or so.

Crowd levels were very manageable. Most were 30 minutes or under. Once in a while they were more and we just used fast pass. This was the 1st time we went in May and it was definitely the best as far as crowds and weather!

 

[lrauers]

We were there 5/16/-5/22. I think this is a really good time of year to go...it's after the spring break crowds but before Memorial Day and schools letting out. As the others posted, we got on most rides with very little waiting, except Soarin", which we could never hit at the right time, either for standby or fastpass. The longest wait we had was for the safari at AK, about 30 minutes. I strongly recommend that you get to the parks around the time they open, and be sure to make advance dining reservations.

 

[rajay320]

We were there 5/1-5/6 and again 5/17-5/21 and the crowds were not bad at all. We always get to the parks right at opening and do the popular attractions first Then we leave around lunch time and head back in the evening. We never waited more than 10 or 15 minutes for anything.
The weather was nice on most days, but several days it was extremely HOT!
Both were really great trips though!

 

[lcznc]

My DH and I just got back and we found the crowds to be very managable. Like the previous posters mentioned, I would highly recommend arriving to the parks at opening and taking a mid-afternoon break. We waited no longer than 15-20 minutes on the major attractions using this technique as well as utilizing fastpass. The weather the first few days was delightful though by the time we left (yesterday) it was HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOtter than I normally like it . ADR's were a must but I think that is the norm these days and not dependent on time of year or season. Hope this helps-we loved May and would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[DisneyBaby2004]

Just back from 5/19 to 5/22. If you have gone in the past years it May - it wasn't like that - AT ALL! It was very crowded. It was unbelieveable. It was difficult walking through at some points. Like others have said arriving early - makes a great difference. From 9am-11am you can get alot done. From noon then until the early evening - forget about it. I spent those hours gathering fastpasses for later use. After 7pm or so it was better - not great just better than the afternoon. Example: AK - Kali: 10min wait @10am vs 70min wait @ 2pm
We rode everything that we wanted to - but I just hate being in crowds with heat. It was HOT!!! You really have to have a plan when you go. And all it needs to be is arrive early and use FP.
JMO

 

[brivers222]

May 7th - May 19th...

Echoing above statements... ABSOLUTELY AWESOME.... Rained in the early morning on May 9th and then for about 1 hour on May 11th and then all day on May 16th.

Crowds were busiest on May 19th (first day of Star Wars Weekends) but most of the people were in line to meet characters so the rides were about 10-15 min waits... YAY for TOT and ARnRC!

 

[disneyluv4]

How was the weather in the evenings after dark? We are just planning on shorts and shirts, didn't think I would need a light jacket or sweatshirt, but some in our party was wondering. Thanks!

 

[brivers222]

^^ I was fine at night after dark (coming from Michigan where it is still only 65 in daylight and 37 currently at 11:30pm)

HOWEVER... the females in my group were frantically buying sweat shirts and pants as it did get a tad chilly when the sun went down ... don't always believe Uncle Kracker... It is not hotter when the sun goes down

 

[disneyluv4]

Thanks!!

 

[cvjw]

Were there alot of school groups there? We were at Seaworld 5/19 for a one-day trip and there were school groups everywhere! The park would have been practically deserted if the kids weren't there. I was just wondering if the groups were at Disney also, or just at Seaworld, as we are planning a trip to Disney during May of next year.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

If is funny to read other people's perception of how crowded the parks are???

We leave in 5 days and so I know that crowds will increase over the Holiday weekend, but we are ready!!

We do plan to get to the parks at opening........

My friend I met on the DIS is just back this week. I will have to check with her and see what she thought about crowds...

We stayed at AKL last year the week before Mem day and we had a blast. We also did Sea World during the week and had no problem doing everything that we wanted. We did get there at opening too.

Can't wait!!!

 

[LilyWDW]

What about in around a week from today? Due to my DC's graduation from college, we will be unable to go until after May 20th next year. However, I do not wish the trip to coincide with the Memorial Day Weekend on the 28th. Has anyone done the first week in June as their trip? I know about Gay Days, but I believe it will be easy to work around crowd levels associated with those.

Thanks!

 

[Poohbear123]

Just back from 5/19 to 5/22. If you have gone in the past years it May - it wasn't like that - AT ALL! It was very crowded. It was unbelieveable. It was difficult walking through at some points. Like others have said arriving early - makes a great difference. From 9am-11am you can get alot done. From noon then until the early evening - forget about it. I spent those hours gathering fastpasses for later use. After 7pm or so it was better - not great just better than the afternoon. Example: AK - Kali: 10min wait @10am vs 70min wait @ 2pm
We rode everything that we wanted to - but I just hate being in crowds with heat. It was HOT!!! You really have to have a plan when you go. And all it needs to be is arrive early and use FP.
JMO

Never again for me either, not during this time in May. Will go in Beginning of May like I have the past 2 years, everthing is much quieter than.