May Crowds?

[100%Disney]

We are looking at visiting sometime between 5/16-6/2, not sure of the dates yet, we will plan on at least 10 nights. We may not stay on property this time, what are the crowds like befor, during and after Memorial Day? Thanks

 

[NandP]

We went May 15 - 23, 2002... the crowds very low for the most part. The major rides had lines, about 20mins max, fastpass works good...
Later in the day it was better.. much more empty, we walked right on to Tower of Terror at 5:30...
The parade routes were very crowded on all the days.... Resturants were full but not over busy, make your PS ressies...
Need more details, let me know...
Have fun!!!!

 

[100%Disney]

NandP- Did you stay on-site and was that over Memorial weekend or not? Thanks

 

[DisneyFan79]

We were in Disney the 20th-26th of 2002. Up until the Friday before Memorial Day the parks were very pleasant. The weather was also nice too!! We stayed offsite. When Friday arrived the place got very busy. I think everyone's first destination when arriving was the Magic Kingdom. It was packed. The Animal Kingdom was manageable on that Saturday before Memorial Day. Maybe it was just because that park is so big and spread out. Hope this helps!!

 

[NandP]

Hello 100%... We left the Thursday before Memorial Day... We stayed at the Dolphin, it was not crowded at all... the "Friendships" and Busses always had seats, even room for our stroller....

According to statistics, May is the second lowest crowd level after the second-third weeks of September, that is why we chose it, my sone was still 4yo, so if we went in Sept. we would have had to take him out of his first week of Kindergarten... so we chose May.... Spring Break seems to be different for different areas, here in my area, it is April 17-25, so that's when we will be in WDW this year, we are going to take a chance with the crowds... I saw another thread that was: When is YOUR spring break, and the dates fluctuate, some schools make it before Easter, some after, some aren't even near Easter... so the crowds will be spread out over most of spring...

TTFN...

 

[grinningghost]

We went Memorial Day week a few times and it's BUSY. Especially the Friday, Saturday and Sunday before Memorial Day, and on Memorial Day, it's craziness. It's also very hot, humid and rainy. But the park hours are typically good and long and all parades are running. We used to enjoy that week, but since our DD has been in the higher grades in school, we have to go in summer. (Which is also hot and crowded, but everything is open late so it's worth it for that).

 

[100%Disney]

Our schools get out 4/11-4/22. I am now debating on whether it would be betterto go the first week of June instead.

 

[Tick-Tock]

We have done the World in mid-to-late May, the first two weeks of June, and also late June. We far prefer the May dates as long as we escape by the time the Memorial Day tide rolls in. Last year we stayed until the Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day weekend -- big mistake, particularly for a family with small children focussed on MK. The crowds were such that we couldn't get much done at MK and the parades were unspeakable. This year we are leaving the Thursday before that weekend.

If you decide against May, I would opt for early June. By the third week of June, some schools are out and crowd volume is getting high.

One caveat for May: the park hours are limited.

 

[SuzEm]

and the rest of that week? Do people stick around for the rest of that week or go home on Tuesday? I'm like the poster above, I'm still debating between Mar 16-21 (with some cheerleaders being there along with the usual Spring Break crowd) or opting to go after Memorial Day. Looking at anytime after MemDay up to June 7.

 

[Hayley]

Originally posted by 100%Disney
Our schools get out 4/11-4/22. I am now debating on whether it would be betterto go the first week of June instead.

We've done the first week of June many times and love it - it is so totally different than the second week! I just think there must not be alot of schools out yet and it's not usually starting to get sooooo unbearably hot. Once the 2nd week hits, the crowds really hit the parks.