March and May?

[MzDiz]

We're considering taking our March trip in May. What can you tell me about the crowds then? I know that spring breaks are over by then and the cheerleaders have left, what else should I consider? I want to avoid the summer crowds and I'm thinking May 6-12 would be a decent time.
Thoughts? Opinions?

 

[Chris and Pooh]

We went In May this year and found crowd levels reasonably light with lines no longer than half an hour except for Soarin which always seemed to have long lines. But be aware the Grad nights take place at the weekend around this time so it may be woth while checking first

 

[WDWguru]

We go in May every year and unless you go around Memorial Day, you'll find terrific crowd levels. Don't worry about grad nights - they've never affected our trips one bit. The kids are all from Florida schools and they arrive in buses after the MK closes. They stay in the park overnight and are gone by the time it opens the next day. MK may close a few hours earlier on grad nights, and you may notice some music noise if you're at a monorail resort, but otherwise you wouldn't even know they were happening.

As for March, it depends heavily on when Easter is. It's a big spring break time and will be moderately to severely crowded during that time. I can almost guarantee May will be better.

 

[DisneyPhD]

The 1st week in May is my very favorite time to go to WDW (we often head over to Vero Beach too.)

Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot. GREAT weather. Low crowds. Good prices (for rental cars and rooms.)

March is my favorite time to get out of MI and go to FLA though.

Our WDW trips are normally around DH's work schedule and since he teaches college we have to go when he can. This is normally the 1st week in Jan, 1st week of March and 1st week of May.

March is actually rather busy, and the weather can be hit or miss. (on the cold side.)

Grad nights will effect you a little bit. Friday and Saturday night MK closes early at 6 or 7. You have to work around that. It can be a bit of a drag. It does not effect the crowds or levels, nor does it feel over run with crazy teens (less so then March honestly). I personally wouldn't stay at value because of groups, but then again what do I know because I have never stayed at a value and they might be a lot nicer then I imagine them to be. (we are DVC.)

Hands down the best time is the 1st week of May.

 

[btuftee]

Don't go between the second week of March and the end of April... nasty spring break and Easter crowds. By May 1, the grade schools are all back in session, and colleges are not quite letting out yet. As May goes on, more and more colleges are finished, and by the end of May, grade schools start letting out (plus you've got Memorial Day). I'd recommend the first week of May, 2007. Easter is on April 8, 2007, so you'll be plenty far from the Easter crowds. We were originally planning to go this past May, before we bumped our trip to October and MNSSHP.

 

[MzDiz]

I do love going south in March. We've taken one Disney trip and three other trips down south during March, it's especially sweet when we leave during a snow storm.
I'm leaning toward May though. I like the idea of a little warmer weather. maybe get some use out of those fancy pools WDW has. Flower and Garden Festival, huh? Sounds good to me. But... I have to wait two additional months.... BUT, I'd have more money to spend!
Thanks for all the input. Looks like I have to change my ticker!

 

[DisneyPhD]

I do love going south in March. We've taken one Disney trip and three other trips down south during March, it's especially sweet when we leave during a snow storm.
I'm leaning toward May though. I like the idea of a little warmer weather. maybe get some use out of those fancy pools WDW has. Flower and Garden Festival, huh? Sounds good to me. But... I have to wait two additional months.... BUT, I'd have more money to spend!
Thanks for all the input. Looks like I have to change my ticker!

I REALLY know just what you mean. As I said before my favorite time to escape MI is March. You are mid winter. Enough that you just can't take it anymore.

Jan is just a touch too early, like we just haven't suffered enough to really appreciate it. March is just the time to escape.

However May really is nice. And when you come home it is nice at home too. You don't need to bring your winter coat with you on the airplane. Most of your summer stuff if out anyway, or at least you can find summer clothes to wear.

This year we are going in Jan and May (DCL in May with family, 1st time for us..) I am dreaming about a march trip too, after all your AP will still be good. However my oldest starts K this year and I think 3 times in one year is a bit to pull her out of school.

So we keep dreaming about a quick DH and I only get a way for 3 or 4 nights. Who knows if it will happen, but what a dream!

Let's hope for a mild winter this year.

Seriously, everyone should see the F&G festival once. The thing is once you see it once, you want to go back.

Oh, airfare is normally better in May then March coming from DTW. (spirit.)

 

[MzDiz]

Jan is just a touch too early, like we just haven't suffered enough to really appreciate it. March is just the time to escape.

I hear ya there! I still have my warm fuzzie left over in January from Christmas, and early March is just about the time I think I might go on a killing spree from lack of sun. Looks like May is it though, I'll have to keep my homocidal tendancies in check for a couple months.

 

[PinkTink63]

We're considering taking our March trip in May. What can you tell me about the crowds then? I know that spring breaks are over by then and the cheerleaders have left, what else should I consider? I want to avoid the summer crowds and I'm thinking May 6-12 would be a decent time.
Thoughts? Opinions?

I have to ask... are all those kitties yours? They are so cute!

 

[Boncho]

We have gone in both March and May. Both are great except in May the crowds are lighter and it is warmer. We are planning on May again next year.

 

[MzDiz]

I have to ask... are all those kitties yours? They are so cute!

Yes, they are. I confess to being a cat-a-holic. We actually have two more now that aren't in the picture. My kids call me the crazy cat lady, but I just can't turn away a stray.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I hear ya there! I still have my warm fuzzie left over in January from Christmas, and early March is just about the time I think I might go on a killing spree from lack of sun. Looks like May is it though, I'll have to keep my homocidal tendancies in check for a couple months.

I have found just the promise of Disney can work wonders to ward off homosidal killing sprees due to lack of sunshine (that and a daily dose of the planing DVD.)

You are from MI too aren't you! You know JUST what I am talking about.