Martin Luther King Day 2005

[alisonbestford]

Hi there,
I'm looking to plan a trip to WDW for Jan 2005, from the UK, and noticed that Martin Luther King Day is celebrated.
I don't wish to seem ignorant but, what is this? Will it have an effect on hotel prices and park crowds etc?
The dates I was planning were either the 8th or 15th Jan for 14 nights. If this is a big holiday would I be better leaving our trip until the 22nd?
We were hoping to stay at one of the WDW hotels - would going later affect the rates?
HELP!!
Sorry for bombarding you all with so many questions but I want to get it right as this is a special holiday for us.
Alison

 

[msmouse]

Let me see if I can do this justice. Martin Luther King Jr. was a great religious and civil rights leader who was assasinated. His birthday is celebrated on Monday in January which makes it a three day holiday. Most public schools are out. As far as the impact on crowds, it does impact the crowds at WDW for that weekend. We have been there at that time before and it does get quite crowded. But, the crowds immediately die down right after that Monday. You will notice the crowds start filtering in on that Friday. Sat. is wild at MK. By Tuesday, it is a ghost town.

It does not effect the rates.

 

[alisonbestford]

Thank you
Part of me would really love to be around to experience the holiday atmosphere but the other is saying 'wait until the 22nd before travelling'.
I think I'm just panicking about not being able to get a WDW hotel room for the weekend - I want to leave booking until nearer the time to see whether I can access any discounted rates
Alison

 

[AimeeM]

alisonbestford-
There is no 'holiday atmosphere' for MLK day at Disney. We went over this weekend this year, and all I have to say is NEVER AGAIN. Our school made it a 4 day weekend, so I thought it would be a good time as the kids would miss 2 days less of school. I thought it was more crowded over Martin Luther King weekend this year than when we went over Thanksgiving in 02. I thought the crowds were just horrible. I knew the weekend would be crazy and crowded, and we avoided MK on the weekend. But I found it very crowded until Wednesday this year!!! I kept thinking, on Monday, it will thin out and everyone will go home... NOPE.. We saved MK until Tuesday and it was super crowded there that day too because I read all the locals come in to see Spectromagic that night too. It was finally less crowded on Wednseday. If I were you, Id wait until the 22nd and have NO crowds. And possibly better weather. We go ever January, and have hit some cold times the past few years, so we are going to go Jan 28th-Feb 2nd. January is a great time to go. We have gone the past 6 Januarys!!!

 

[alisonbestford]

Thanks for that AimeeM
22nd it is then
We may well see you in the parks
Alison