May vs. October?

[junebugTN]

Hi!

I hope I'm posting this in the right spot...

My family has only ever been to Disney in October or November, and I'm a little worried about May crowds. We're planning to head down there 5/16-5/23, and from the pictures I've seen, it looks WAY more packed than when we've been there in the fall.

Could anyone who has been there during both times give me an idea of the difference in crowds between May and October? I have a TGM subscription, so I have a good idea of where to be, but I don't know how much of a range those blue heads cover. I'd love to get a feel for what to expect crowd-wise.

Many thanks for the help!
June

 

[MarriedToAPrince]

I have been in May and yes it is more crowded then say September but we just made use of the fastpasses and enjoyed it still.

 

[junebugTN]

I appreciate your answer, MarriedToAPrince...thanks for taking the time to help me with my trip plans!

June

 

[vickiemariko]

I went to WDW last October and I was actually surprised at the crowd levels. I think the food and wine festival and the MNSSHP were drawing in more people. It is also a time that a lot of schools have what is now called "fall break". It was manageable and the weather was great, if I could go back in October I would.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Go in May.... we will be there in Oct and I am trying to keep the crowds down!! Just kidding.

I would think that early May would have to be less crowded because school is still in. Oct has been busy because of Fall Break, and that's also why we are going at that time. We went In Sept for our last trip and it was WONDERFUL, except for the heat but the crowds were gone.

 

[junebugTN]

Vickiemariko and wdwmom0f3, thanks for this info. This has me feeling much better. I guess once I made my ADRs and ran out of things to plan for, I started worrying instead.

Wdwmom0f3, you cracked me up…trying to keep the crowds down…

Thanks for the help, as well as the chuckle!
June

 

[puffkin]

We have been down in October the past 2 years and it has been PACKED. Not that much different than our June trips, except that the weather is nicer.

We are going down in May for the first time this year, and I am expecting the crowds to be similar to October. They can't be much worse!

Except for a few random weeks here or there, Disney really doesn't seem to have a slow time anymore!

 

[DISNEYNV]

Yeah, I'm with the pp. There really isn't a slow time at Disney anymore! I think it just all depends on when you want to go. May has the flower and garden and October the food and wine/Halloween. Take your pic. The crowds will most likely be about the same at each time. We liked both times, but are going in May this year.

 

[3boymthr]

Many schools and colleges let out mid-May which makes it more crowded than October. The first week or so of May most schools are still in so it's not quite as crowded as later in May.

 

[junebugTN]

Many thanks to everyone for your replies. This is such a huge help. Since we'd only been on fall break and Thanksgiving, we were really afraid the crowds would be so much worse. It sounds like we'll be able to manage just fine.

June

 

[moxiecola]

We have been in both May & October more than once. We have always kept it to the first 2 weeks of either month. I found the crowd levels exactly the same. I agree with the person who said there are no longer any low crowd level times of the year.