How busy is DLR the week before Memorial Day?

[jheltz27]

We'll be at VGC checking in on the Monday before Memorial Day checking out on that Friday. So we're not really going to be there that weekend (pushed up trip 1 day due to DVC Villa availability anyway). I've only been to DLR once but WDW tons of times. Can anyone tell me how busy this week will be? Are there any days we should avoid?

Thanks!

 

[skiingfast]

It won't be very busy at all. Hours will be short and there is likely to be no fireworks, Fantasmic and possibly World of Color not playing during your visit.

I would suggest sliding the trip forward a day or two, even if if it means staying offsite and switching hotels, so you get at least a Sunday or also a Saturday too to see those night shows.

Weekends will have longer hours, fuller entertainment and be busy.


It's not known when Carsland will be open but possible it will be open and crowds will be present during your visit. We just have to wait and see on this.

 

[bumbershoot]

Sounds like it has changed in the last couple years. When we went in '08 and '09, the week leading UP to Memorial Day got busier and busier, then everyone went home on the Monday holiday. Since that's when we were starting our trips, due to it being DS's birthday around then, we were glad to see everyone go.

 

[jheltz27]

I would suggest sliding the trip forward a day or two, even if if it means staying offsite and switching hotels, so you get at least a Sunday or also a Saturday too to see those night shows.

Yeah I wish that was an option but we have a family wedding in San Jose that weekend so it's not really possible. I'm starting to see the downside of going "off-season". I looked at the historical hours and fireworks & such during that week and it does look like we'll miss it. Appears that we'll be able to see WOC though. We may stay over Friday night but just not sure yet.

 

[skiingfast]

Yeah I wish that was an option but we have a family wedding in San Jose that weekend so it's not really possible. I'm starting to see the downside of going "off-season". I looked at the historical hours and fireworks & such during that week and it does look like we'll miss it. Appears that we'll be able to see WOC though. We may stay over Friday night but just not sure yet.

If it were me I'd make an effort to be there the Friday you are planning to check out, if just for the Fireworks because they are so much better than Wishes. It's also easy to see the fireworks plus on of the other shows. Consider just grabbing a room for a night even if it's offsite in an incovinient location. Might try pricelining a 4 star in the area for $45-$75 and see if you can get a convention hotel like Marriot of Embassy Suites, and then take ART(the local shuttle) to the parks that day.

 

[RangerPooh]

Keep in mind that the hours might be shorter for Grad Nights. We have gone that week a few times and have meet grad nights and higher crowds the closer it got to the weekend. Possibly irrelivant, but when I attended Grad Night that week back in 97' the park (no DCA then) closed at like 8pm (maybe 7) so that we could enter between 9-10 pm.

 

[jheltz27]

If it were me I'd make an effort to be there the Friday you are planning to check out, if just for the Fireworks because they are so much better than Wishes. It's also easy to see the fireworks plus on of the other shows. Consider just grabbing a room for a night even if it's offsite in an incovinient location. Might try pricelining a 4 star in the area for $45-$75 and see if you can get a convention hotel like Marriot of Embassy Suites, and then take ART(the local shuttle) to the parks that day.

I think that option is looking very promising. We'll be driving down from San Jose the Monday and between the +/- 5 hour drive, dropping off the car & checking in I think that day will be shot in the parks. So we're looking to have a full day in the Parks that Friday and staying to see the fireworks. We'll get a room near the airport and fly out that next morning. I need to research the ART a bit more - will we be able to take that with our luggage to the last night at a hotel near LAX? Or do I need to look into other options?

 

[Brady's Mom]

You'll need to look into other options. The ART is local to the hotels and areas w/in a smallish area. I think ART goes to Garden Grove and that's about it.

You might consider Super Shuttle or the Disney Express Bus. Those both go to LAX.

 

[skiingfast]

Possibly irrelivant, but when I attended Grad Night that week back in 97' the park (no DCA then) closed at like 8pm (maybe 7) so that we could enter between 9-10 pm.

Grad Nights, which are planned for the OP visit have changed. They don't start until 11pm. So this would only effect the hours on Friday. The grads do recieve a park hopper to use during the day's regular hours. So attendance will be greater during the day, particularily in the evening. When the grads are spread over both parks, their numbers won't seem significant. They also get a private showing of F! and will impact the normal showing less on Friday.

I think that option is looking very promising. We'll be driving down from San Jose the Monday and between the +/- 5 hour drive, dropping off the car & checking in I think that day will be shot in the parks. So we're looking to have a full day in the Parks that Friday and staying to see the fireworks. We'll get a room near the airport and fly out that next morning. I need to research the ART a bit more - will we be able to take that with our luggage to the last night at a hotel near LAX? Or do I need to look into other options?

You'll need to look into other options. The ART is local to the hotels and areas w/in a smallish area. I think ART goes to Garden Grove and that's about it.

You might consider Super Shuttle or the Disney Resort Express Bus. Those both go to LAX.

ART=Anaheim Resort Transit. It goes from local hotels to the Convention Center and Parks.

You likely will be able to return your rental in the resort area, though you might compare the costs to returning it at LAX and using a shuttle to the resort.