Memorial Day Weekend speculation report. (Get ready to rummmbllllllllllle!)

[ELLH]

An article just posted on *another site I cannot link here* suggests there will be some headaches to expect with this year's Memorial Day weekend crowds. It shouldn't really be a surprise this particular weekend is going to busy with guests but the article puts in to perspective just how severe it could get. I don't want to spread fear or anything of that nature, lol. But I do think it's worth considering so I wanted to share some notable quotes from the article:

Just a few weeks ago, travel club AAA reported that by their estimates that 2017 will be a record year for Florida tourism

First of all, if you are planning on checking out Pandora - The World of Avatar at any point during its opening weekend, you'll want to get to Disney's Animal Kingdom as early as possible, at least an hour or two before the park opens to ensure you are able to get into this new land first thing in the morning. Alternatively, if you are staying on-site, you could also wait until the evening to check out this new land, as Disney's Animal Kingdom will be having Extra Magic Hours every night with just the Pandora attractions open.

If you are more interested in going to the Magic Kingdom, you probably don't have to worry too much about getting to the park before it opens, but you'll definitely want to make sure that if you want to spend your evening here (and see the Happily Ever After nighttime spectacular) you'll want to be in the park before 10:00 AM, which is when, in our experience, phase closures begin to happen during the holiday season (and could potentially happen over Memorial Day if things get too busy).

As the husband of a woman who insists my family wake up early and be at the parks at rope drop, I may actually have to side with her this year instead of siding with my 6yo DD who just wants more sleep.

Hope this helps.

 

[mercydisney]

My girls and I were planning on leaving at 6AM to be at the park by 7AM. I guess we will leave by 5AM.

 

[ELLH]

Yea. We arrive on the 26th and the grand opening for Pandora is the 27th. We'd planned to be there in the morning to attend the opening but I think we're going to make that an MK day instead now and just visit Pandora at night. I'm hopeful we will get to see the dragon, assuming they fly it, being that it's the grand opening day. We missed it when Fantasyland opened.

 

[Airb330]

We've went to a few memorial days. We always decide at relatively last minute (in DVC terms). We've always gotten a good room, this year we're at the poly and booked in December. The parks have always been less crowded than we imagined. I do think this year could be a little different, hence we're doing the pool on Saturday and skipping the parks.

Overall Memorial Day in the past has been less busy than other 3-day weekends.

 

[mom2rtk]

We've went to a few memorial days. We always decide at relatively last minute (in DVC terms). We've always gotten a good room, this year we're at the poly and booked in December. The parks have always been less crowded than we imagined. I do think this year could be a little different, hence we're doing the pool on Saturday and skipping the parks.

Overall Memorial Day in the past has been less busy than other 3-day weekends.

Perhaps because lots of kids re still in school?

 

[Accident]

It's also the weekend that lots of disers who know every secret on this forum start to show up

 

[ELLH]

I think we all know there really is no "good time" to go anymore. Not that Memorial Day weekend ever was. But this year the signs are pointing toward additional crowds and the person who wrote the article I referenced may not be far off from his/her predictions regarding closing to capacity which is why I wanted to bring it up here. Maybe some folks can use this information for their trip planning.

For my family, this MD trip may very well be more of a "swimming at the hotel" trip and we'll rely on our October trip to really enjoy the parks.

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

just so you know, AK added more attractions for Evening EMH on opening weekend only.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...ms-evening-extra-magic-hours-next-weekend.htm

 

[Hatwriter456]

I hope everyone comes this summer and next summer when my family goes it will be slow in comparison .

 

[HydroGuy]

Yea. We arrive on the 26th and the grand opening for Pandora is the 27th. We'd planned to be there in the morning to attend the opening but I think we're going to make that an MK day instead now and just visit Pandora at night. I'm hopeful we will get to see the dragon, assuming they fly it, being that it's the grand opening day. We missed it when Fantasyland opened.

That is new one for me. A dragon at AK or MK or other?

 

[Stephiehun]

We arrive that Tuesday and my hope is that AK is packed and we can enjoy the other parks.

 

[katt789]

I knew crowds would be an issue, but the bestie & I have birthdays May 28 & 30th and wanted to be IN Disney ON our birthdays, so we booked the 27-5th.
28th we'll be at MK, and 29th we're not going to the parks at all. Hoping to utilize those pm emh for Pandora, and we have fp's on our DAK day

 

[anniemae]

I don't think its any big surprise. I think being a 3 day weekend will draw crowds anyway. Plus, Pandora will draw many people. Many locals will go check it out too. Also, schools are out next week for many southern schools.

 

[ELLH]

That is new one for me. A dragon at AK or MK or other?

It was over new Fantasyland the night it opened up. We happened to be at MK for the grand opening but didn't go back at night and I have regretted it ever since. Seriously.

Here's a thread discussing it:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/firebreathing-dragon-flying-over-new-fantasyland.3123970/

Here's a few links I came up with via Google:
http://foodiefindersnyc.blogspot.com/2015/07/wdw-what-happened-to-that-new.html

This might be one of the most awesome things I've ever (not) seen.

Some/I believe Disney will only fly this during these very grand events. If there were a reason to have this fly again, the grand opening of Pandora would be a good one, IMHO. And the fact the Dragon appears in the signage for AK... just seems 'right' to me.

Which is why I told my wife we have to go back to Pandora the night of the grand opening. I have no idea if they'll fly this bad boy that night but I'm not going to risk the opportunity to see it in case they do. We'll be taking our 6yo DD and I can only imagine how excited we both will be if the dragon goes flying overheard. Of course, maybe I'm being unrealistic. But a fellow can hope, can't he?

 

[abnihon]

I'm planning to do AK on the 29th and 30th but only in the evenings.
Definitely hope it doesn't reach capacity!

 

[AngiTN]

I'm going to disagree and say that I don't believe any of the parks will close to capacity over Memorial Weekend
Not saying they won't be crowded, they will be
Just not going to reach any closure more than the lowest level, for walk up, 1 day ticket buyers only.

 

[anniemae]

I'm going to disagree and say that I don't believe any of the parks will close to capacity over Memorial Weekend
Not saying they won't be crowded, they will be
Just not going to reach any closure more than the lowest level, for walk up, 1 day ticket buyers only.

I wonder if the other parks will be less crowded.

 

[AngiTN]

I wonder if the other parks will be less crowded.

Maybe. But I don't think so by any significant amount.
MK will be because it's MK
It's the end of F&G for Epcot so it will draw for that to some degree
HS is always at the bottom of the list, unless there is a Star Wars event going on (and there isn't that I am aware of)

 

[ELLH]

I don't personally believe there will be closures. But the stars are aligning for it to be a very busy weekend. Those who don't typically like rope drop may want to reconsider this time around. I've gotten more accustomed to rope drop, leave in the afternoon for a bit, return and stay late.

 

[soniam]

We won't be at WDW, but we will be at Universal and battling the crowds at Volcano Bay. I think the whole town is going to be packed for the weekend.