How crowded do you think the week of May 5th will be?

[imjen]

This is an awesome board! So glad I stumbled across it.

We're starting to plan our Disney vacation and we were at first planning on going in March or April, but after reading through some posts here it looks like it would be crowded then because of Spring Break. So then I was thinking it would be fun to be there for the 50th anniversary kick-off but do you think that week will be super busy? We might be able to swing the next week but wouldn't be able to do the 2nd half of May since my oldest is in Kindergarten and I don't want her missing out on the fun stuff they do the last week of school. Or, we could probably go in June.

What do you think will be less crowded, March/April, beginning of May during the 50th ann. kick-off, or beginning of June? And would waiting for the 50th anniversary celebration be worth the extra crowds?

Also, is it rainy during March/April?

Thanks!

p.s. I have been to Disney many times before when growing up (since my grandparents live in Huntington Beach, but we haven't been for a few years & haven't been to DCA--& we'll be taking a 6 yr old, 4 yr old, and 10-11 mo. old)

 

[iceskatejen]

It's really hard to say. The 5th will for sure be crowded. I expect the local AP holders (at least those for whom the 5th isn't a blockout day) to descend on the park in droves. I will likely be there myself. Before/after, it depends on how many people are coming from out of town.

March/April can still have rain, particularly in March. We've had a lot of early season rain (not typical for us), so I don't know if there's some sort of El Nino thing going on (the weather people haven't mentioned an El Nino, so I don't think so), but it's just been a lot of rain so far.

If you can go the first week of June, that might be the least crowded. I went the second week this year and it was pretty crowded, but many schools were let out at the end of the previous week.

 

[imjen]

Thanks! Do you think February would be a better choice? How crowded is it then? Or do you think it would be worth the extra crowds to wait for the 50th ann. stuff? When is Cal. Spring Break & do you know if the Spring Break seaeson starts as early as the 1st week in March? Is there any "can't miss" stuff after May 5th that's gonna happen? Sorry for all the questions, but thanks again!!

 

[disney-super-mom]

If you want to avoid crowds, Feburary is a much better time to go. I would try to avoid Valentines Day though because it can get a little more crowded, especially if it falls on a weekend. I've gone in Feburary and the lines were practically nill, so we got to get a lot of rides, shows, and just plain fun stuff in on that trip.

If you go in March, go the first week. From the second week of March through the month of April there will be heavy spring breakers. We went mid-March last year with our then 4 year old and 9 month old, and it was sooooooo crowded that we ended up standing in line all day and we only got to ride maybe 3 rides each day. and that was using Fastpass. If it had just been me and my husband, it wouldn't have been so bad, but standing in line all day and fighting the crowds is no fun for kids, or with kids for that matter.

If you go in May, try to go the first week. Schools should still be in session the first week, so you shouldn't have to deal with summer break crowds. Of course May 5th is the big 50th kick-off celebration, so it still may be crowded even a few days before May 5th.

So to break this long response down (gosh, I didn't realize this was so long)

February: low crowds, will be able to ride lots of rides, a few rides my be closed for tune-ups.

March-April: first week of March will have low crowds, then the spring breakers come. A few rides may be closed. In my opinion not a good time to visit except maybe the first week of March.

May-June: First week of May is questionable this year on crowds because of the 50th celebration. But I'm guessing from about the 3rd of May and all through the summer, there's going to be heavy crowds due to not only the 50th celebration but also summer breakers. Summer break season usually starts mid-May and runs through labor day weekend in September, so that's a double-whammy for crowds this year (50th & summer breakers).

I hope this helps. Good luck!

 

[imjen]

I really appreciate your help! I've heard a lot of hype about the 50th ann. celebration but is there any info. on what they will actually be doing? Just wondering if it would be worth the extra crowds to go during that time.

 

[disney-super-mom]

This is only my opinion, and I could be wrong, but I think May 5th, 6th and 7th are going to be VERY CROWDED. It's not just the start of the 50th but it also a Fri, Sat & Sun.

With the kickoff of the 50th anniversary comes the following:

Disney's Parade of Dreams (biggest cast ever in a parade at DL)
Remember Dreams Come True fireworks display
Opening of the new Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters ride
Re-opening of the newly revamped Space Mountain
Several parties at DCA featuring Mickey, Minnie, the Muppets, Lilo & Stitch, characters from Monsters Inc., and others (although I'm not sure if the parties go on everyday or just on May 5th or what).

To enjoy some of the 50th festivities without it being too overly crowded, maybe you should try going the week of Monday May 8th thru Friday May 13th. The 50th kickoff and weekend crowds should have thinned out a little by then, and most schools, even those that start summer break in May, should still be in session that week. Plus the weather should be great. Don't get me wrong, it'll probably still be crowded, but not CROWDED.



I can't say if it's worth it. It depends on how you look at it. Since you haven't been to DL for so long, and you've never been to DCA, maybe you should try to go when it's quieter and easier to relax and enjoy. On the other hand, you haven't been in a long time and why not go when there's a lot going on. That would be a tough call even for me, but I've always had a more enjoyable experience at DL/DCA when it's less crowded.

Good luck with this.

 

[Judy from Boise]

Remember too that the celebration will last 18 months. We won't be there to see it until the second week of Jan 06.