May won't be as bad as some are predicting - here's why

[dcibrando]

Based on actual wait times on this forum
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=63

Compared to the "Best Days" chart on this page
http://www.touringplans.com/BestDays.htm

and now that the chart has even been updated... which helps me say I am predicting May to not be as bad as what some are thinking.

What is going on now is not something that will continue throughout May EVEN WITH the celebration because we're still in Spring Break mode for some.

PS are still easy to get. Resorts are still available. Spectromagic only twice a week (for most weeks). Most parents (some will but not most) will not take their kids out of school in May. etc...

I am going May 14-21 and will report on what I experience... the chart lists that week basically being a "3" ... the most I will predict will be a "5" if that because I am using help from many websites including tourguidemike in planning which parks to go to on which days. My first 'get away from crowds' rule is NOT go to EMH parks on those days.

We'll see what happens... but I'm still feeling pretty good about mid-may!

 

[DMRick]

We'll be there May 17-24th (POR) and I'm with you. I think the first week will be very crowded, however. I added another room just yesterday. Once I saw they took away some of the early and late nights, I figured the predictions of a full house bit the dust. It's the end of the school year for a lot of people, and hard to miss finals, graduations, etc. Of course I was also there during the winter break (president's week) and amid all the thoughts of those crowds (we weren't in a park for the actual holiday), we were very pleased with the lack of waiting times. Much less than we thought.

 

[weluvpluto]

For the thread I looked at the wait times were listed for April 15th, UG puts the crowd level at a "4"...
Some of the biggies at MK at about 2:00 :
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad-60 min
Dumbo the Flying Elephant- 55 min.
Mickey's Philharmagic-30 min
Peter Pan's Flight-40 min.
It's a Small World-30 min
Splash Mountain-90 min
Space Mountain-30 min.
UG said best parks Epcot, AK:
Mission Space-35 min
Test Track-70 min
Kali River Rapids- 20 min
Kilimanjaro Safari- 25 min
Aerosmith'sRock'n'Roller Coaster- 35 min
The Hollywood Tower of Terror- 13 min.
Many waits seem higher than a "4" level, a few seem lower...

 

[dcibrando]

April = Spring Break times... higher than May

 

[dcibrando]

something else to look at... PARK HOURS

the week I am going ...parks still close at 9 or even 5pm

later on they go up to 10 and 7

 

[RC Fan]

Hi dcibrando!

Thanks for the optimism! I really don't think it will be as bad as people are projecting either. Naturally I am hoping the projections are off a bit. Either way I am lucky to be going!

 

[dcibrando]

the real proof before the pudding so to speak is in the list WDW park hours. Compare your week with those hours in June and you'll see what I mean

 

[WaltD4Me]

the real proof before the pudding so to speak is in the list WDW park hours.

Very true, I've been watching park hours and for the week I'll be there, they are still showing MK closing at 9pm all week, even on Friday night! I am taking this as a good sign. I know the hours could and probably will change again, but for now I'll take whatever positive crowd prediction indicator I can get!

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Thanks for the optimism! I really don't think it will be as bad as people are projecting either. Naturally I am hoping the projections are off a bit. Either way I am lucky to be going!

I agree. As I said in the other "May" thread, I'll be prepared for the worst - but I don't think families are pushing up their vacations just for Soarin' and Cinderellabration. These "Happiest Homecoming" ads have been playing what ,a month? Most people can't plan vacations so quickly.

I tend to think of the entire period from the middle of February until the end of April to be "Spring Break". Traditional college spring break is in March, and many regular schools take both Feburary AND April vacations. It's also a time to take kids out of school.

I just don't think these crowds will hold until May. Yes, overall attendance does seem to be up - but if the middle of May has Christmas-style crowds I'll eat my "Happiest Homecoming" golden Mickey ears.

Although you wouldn't know it, this "celebration" is about DisneyLAND's 50th birthday - I just don't see a lot of people coming to the HHOE at WDW because of the birthday at another park across the country. MYW is the cause of what increased attendance there is.

Time will tell - but I know I'll have fun anyway. Will just have to make sure I get up for morning EMH whenever possible so I make sure I get to see everything I want. With FP, however, I don't think there will be a problem.

N.E.D.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I've been watching park hours and for the week I'll be there, they are still showing MK closing at 9pm all week, even on Friday night!

Well, I spoke too soon!!! Just this morning MK showed as closing every night at 9pm May 10th thru the 13th, but I just looked again for the heck of it and they have added a Spectro parade on Tuesday May 10th so they will be open til 10pm that night and Friday is now open til 10pm too. Unbelievable!

I don't think any of us May travelers are going to know a darn thing about crowds until we get there and just see for ourselves!

 

[kellyandkids]

Wonder what Disney uses for their decision making process in extending the park hours? It couldn't be the historical data since it doesn't exactly fit here. Is it the hotel occupancy rates (or are "they" reading the Disboards)?LOL!

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

the real proof before the pudding so to speak is in the list WDW park hours. Compare your week with those hours in June and you'll see what I mean

True- However check those park hours, and keep checking. They added to the last week of April, just about a 1 1/2 weeks ago. May can most certainly change at this point.

I hope your right, and everyone going does have a less crowded than anticipated time, but why the debate about who can predict better?

Good luck, Pixie Dust, and very short lines to everyone going over the next 6 weeks. ME included

 

[luvmk]

Well, I spoke too soon!!! Just this morning MK showed as closing every night at 9pm May 10th thru the 13th, but I just looked again for the heck of it and they have added a Spectro parade on Tuesday May 10th so they will be open til 10pm that night and Friday is now open til 10pm too. Unbelievable!

I don't think any of us May travelers are going to know a darn thing about crowds until we get there and just see for ourselves!

I noticed this too! They also increased the hours on the 14th until 11:00 and added another spectro. That's three spectros added in one week! Well, I guess I will see how it turns out.


Rachel

 

[froggieos1]

This is our first trip to disney. I was hoping crowds would be lower. But even if they are high, we will have a great time I am sure. I keep checking the hours too. What some people are predicting is scaring me a little, but I will wait til May and see what everyone who is going at the beginning of the month says.

Ondy

 

[PratersloveDW]

Well I am hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. No matter what, we'll be in Disney World!

 

[123SA]

If it makes any of you fellow May visitors feel any better about the crowds, Disney didn't add 3 Spectos the week May 8-14, just 2. Originally, Mon May 9th was scheduled to close at 10:00 with Spectro at 9:00 (we planned to go on this day!) and also Sat 14th. Now I see that Mon May 9 closes at 9:00 with no Spectro. Looks like they switched Mon and Tues and added Spectro to Fri May 13, and an extra one one Sat May 14. I'll have to re-work my plans and hope for the best.

 

[MomOfMonkeys]

We are actually looking forward to a mid to late May visit (May 19-23)because of the crowds (and the weather isn't as hot ) We have been in Feb/March/July and to tell you the truth, they were all equally as crowded. The only other time that we have been when it has been nice was between Halloween & Thanksgiving. The off-site hotels had great deals then.

This year is the first year we are going without the men , just the women & kids, and big crowds is not on my agenda. I am just so glad though that they have fast-pass. We can explore the park, pick up passes, and come back for easy wait times for rides.

If you look on their lists, June-August all are 10's, imagine that,

 

[dcibrando]

I noticed they changed the hours on May 14th in MK as well. I'm guessing the weekends are a little more crowded... plus I know there are some conventions and special events that go on during the weekends as well. Mid-week is usually less crowded

 

[ILoveDisney-Angie]

I think that around the 5th it will be busy...afterall, it's the kickoff of the HHOE. After about a week it will slow down in terms of park attendance. And HOPEFULLY, after a week it will be back to the normal May that we were all anticipating when we booked our vacations.

 

[n2mm]

Hours have changed again. May 4th, MGM is closing at 4:00PM.