May 2011 Code Watch

[bas71873]

OK. Got some scoop on the first week of May, 2011. A girlfriend of mine is a high school marketing teacher here in Virginia. We had dinner Tuesday night and got to chatting about Disney and she mentioned that the National Marketing "thing"....I don't remember if she said conference, competition, championships or what (but I think competition) is being held in Orlando the first week of May 2011 (last year was in Kentucky and the year before she got to go to Disneyland).

Anywho, that's a LOT of high school kids coming in from all over the country and they DO get theme park time. She said more than likely they will get a day at MK, a day at DHS and a day at Universal. She is NOT sure where the VA kids are staying yet, but she said it is possible they could be on site at a value resort?

Plus, I know I read somewhere that that grad nights things is at least the first weekend in May, might even be the first two?

Hope that helps some!

 

[DisneyWitch]

I specifically chose dates that were between large events as much as possible. However, to accommodate my Star Wars freak of a boyfriend (it will be our 7th anniversary), we wanted to be there for the opening of Star Tours 2 on 5/17. I'm not as much of a Star Wars fan as ol' Wookiepants (his nickname)...but I'm sure it will be awesome. We'll be there from 5/16 until 5/25. We'll have Lime Green Mickey Heads attached to our bags and on our door/window at POP, so don't be shy and say hello!

Unfortunately, my dates are smack dab in the blackout area. At least for the time being...one can always hope! Either way, I budgeted for rack rates - so if we get any discounts, I'm sure Wookiepants will spend it all at Tattoine Traders.

On www.wdwinfo.com (I hope I can link that here), I found the dates for Grad Nights.

Grad Nites - April 23, 24, 30, May 1 2010 - Magic Kingdom

The only special events I've found in May thus far are the Grad Nights (only on May 1), Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival (through May 15), Star Wars Weekends (start on May 21) and I believe I read somewhere that Gay Days begin on May 28th to be ready for the first week of June - I could be off by a few days.

Mid May looks to be all about Star Wars, which is what he...er...we wanted.

 

[crazy4cloth]

We are planning for May 8th 2011!

 

[crazy4cloth]

Question. What if you reserve a room and then a few weeks later they come out with a code or some deal. Can you apply it to the reservations you already did???

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Anywho, that's a LOT of high school kids coming in from all over the country and they DO get theme park time. She said more than likely they will get a day at MK, a day at DHS and a day at Universal.

Hmmm... I wonder just how BIG a group this will be... here's hoping for not too big...

Thanks for sharing this btw!

 

[lovesdumbo]

OK. Got some scoop on the first week of May, 2011. A girlfriend of mine is a high school marketing teacher here in Virginia. We had dinner Tuesday night and got to chatting about Disney and she mentioned that the National Marketing "thing"....I don't remember if she said conference, competition, championships or what (but I think competition) is being held in Orlando the first week of May 2011 (last year was in Kentucky and the year before she got to go to Disneyland).

Anywho, that's a LOT of high school kids coming in from all over the country and they DO get theme park time. She said more than likely they will get a day at MK, a day at DHS and a day at Universal. She is NOT sure where the VA kids are staying yet, but she said it is possible they could be on site at a value resort?

Plus, I know I read somewhere that that grad nights things is at least the first weekend in May, might even be the first two?

Hope that helps some!

Found this for April 30 to May 3rd 2011.
http://www.deca.org/events/10/

This still doesn't explain why there are no discounts the rest of the month and yet free DDP for Memorial Day. I still haven't given up hope of a May discount.

 

[Ava]

On www.wdwinfo.com (I hope I can link that here), I found the dates for Grad Nights.

Grad Nites - April 23, 24, 30, May 1 2010 - Magic Kingdom

Those are the dates for 2010; I'm guessing they may be shifted out a week for 2011 since Easter is on April 24, 2011.

We're planning for May 7-13. I don't want to wait too long in hopes of a PIN, so I'm just going to book at rack rate & then see what happens. We're not planning on DDP, just room-only, so I have hope!

Regarding the free DDP for Memorial Day week, someone on another thread pointed out that A LOT of local school groups do their end-of-the-year trips to WDW during that week. So the parks may be crowded, but the resorts & restaurants are not. Disney is offering free DDP as a way to fill those empty hotel rooms & TS restaurants.

I've also come to the conclusion that there is virtually no time at WDW where there is not some type of convention, competition, group, etc going on there. Some are bigger (& more notorious) than others, but I feel like every time I've been I've seen some type of groups there. On our last trip, we were there at the beginning of April & there was some kind of cheerleading or dance thing going on. The only time the kids were annoying was in the pools late at night (we were at ASMusic) - after the lifeguards went off-duty, they'd start practicing their stunts in the pool. We didn't really see them in the parks at all.

 

[crazy4cloth]

Says grad nights are April 15, 30, May 6 & 7 2011.

 

[DisneyWitch]

Those are the dates for 2010; I'm guessing they may be shifted out a week for 2011 since Easter is on April 24, 2011.

OMG I am so embarrassed! I was trying to help and I gave the wrong information & dates. I am so sorry!

Many apologies if I confused anyone - I really was trying to help. I'm gonna go back to lurking...it's safer that way!

Again, I'm sorry if I caused any problems.

 

[crazy4cloth]

OMG I am so embarrassed! I was trying to help and I gave the wrong information & dates. I am so sorry!

Many apologies if I confused anyone - I really was trying to help. I'm gonna go back to lurking...it's safer that way!

Again, I'm sorry if I caused any problems.

No need to go back to lurking Simple mistake. No biggie.

 

[bas71873]

Hmmm... I wonder just how BIG a group this will be... here's hoping for not too big...

Thanks for sharing this btw!

I don't know. I will ask her and see if she can give me what the last 2 years have been like with regard to numbers!

 

[girlpenguin]

Crazycloth - yes, you can do that. I know when we went in September 2009, we booked our trip before the free dining offer came out. Then, as soon as FD came out, I called and asked to have it applied to our ressie. They charged us another $200 deposit, but the money applied to our balance so it wasn't a problem.

I do know that many of the offers have limited quantities or limits per room type, so you do run the risk of not being able to keep your exact room or resort type if the # of discount spots they have available for your room type are already filled up by the time you call. But I think if you call early you should be ok.

 

[mtblujeans]

We've decided to go May 17, 2011. What's with only a couple of days of May for free dining?? Whether there is a discount available makes a difference as to whether we stay on-site or not.

I want to stay off-site and use the hotel shuttle...the rest of the family wants to stay on-site. This trip is going to be a to plan!

 

[Alli76]

We're planning for May 7-13. I don't want to wait too long in hopes of a PIN, so I'm just going to book at rack rate & then see what happens. We're not planning on DDP, just room-only, so I have hope!

We're going those exact same dates!!! I knew about the grad night events for 2011 - but since we aren't doing any parks until the 8th I was hoping it would be OK... Fingers crossed!!!

 

[n2mm]

DVC member so my room was booked in June 2010. I'm staying at BWV May 1-13, though I might shift it a little to May 2-14, only because I don't want to arrive on Sunday May 1 since I'm sure the airports will be packed with folks traveling home since it's the weekend after Easter.

 

[pixiegirl14]

Looking at going the first week of may.Does anyone know if grad nites affect all parks or just mk?

 

[starwarsdisney]

We have offically booked in September too. We are going to cut our May trip down by 2 days and then take a short 5 day trip in September (Free Dining). Hopefully we can catch a MNSSHP while we are there. Still hopeful of some type of May discount.

New May dates: Friday May 13th - Saturday May 21st 2011
September dates: Wednesday September 21st - Sunday September 25th 2011

 

[Ava]

We're going those exact same dates!!! I knew about the grad night events for 2011 - but since we aren't doing any parks until the 8th I was hoping it would be OK... Fingers crossed!!!

Cool!! I still haven't actually called & booked the rooms yet - I need to get on it! We're not planning on doing any parks until the 8th either, so I'm not worried about our arrival day being a Grad Night.

Looking at going the first week of may.Does anyone know if grad nites affect all parks or just mk?

Grad Nights were held at MK this year, but have been at DHS in previous years. The park they are in is still open to the public during the day; it just closes early for the Grad Night party that night.

 

[ammeador2]

it's a long shot but I am hoping for a good deal for the end of may would liek to go may 27-june 3 or 4. I know that free dining is going on, but in the past we have always bought the dining plan on our own..so I am really really hoping for a pin code or a a discount..we will see..

 

[padawans]

it's a long shot but I am hoping for a good deal for the end of may would liek to go may 27-june 3 or 4. I know that free dining is going on, but in the past we have always bought the dining plan on our own..so I am really really hoping for a pin code or a a discount..we will see..

Why is it a longshot. They have been offering discounts every month for the last few years. They usually don't come out with spring discounts until at least January. I just don't understand why people are so down about discounts not being released in August when they never have been in the past. I know they released Fd for August and Sept next year, but I heard that is because they are not offering bounceback offers for people that are going this august and september like they normallly do. As far and free dining on memorial day who knows maybe its just a test to see how people respond to it. As far as I know this is the first time they have offered FD in January and February. I am sure there will be discounts.