MK on a Saturday in May?

[queenmo]

How crazy am I to be considering MK on a Saturday? (first week in May) It will be our first day after travel and I know we will be excited to get to the Parks and we REALLY want to start off at MK.

By the way, this is both DH's and my first trip since we were kids, and we are bringing our DS (4) for his first time! We are so excited and this website has been a huge help in planning! Thanks!

 

[padkasper]

The first week of May is a great time to go! It's really not that crowded at all. You should be fine at the MK on a Sat. Use fastpass, and if the lines are a little long on some rides try to go back for a couple hours during the week to hit what you've skipped. Don't stress, just enjoy!
-Pam

 

[Colexi's Mom]

We went to MK in May a couple of years ago. I think it was Mother's Day weekend. We'll never go again. If you can get in early and get out, then I'd do it. This was before fast pass though. They were having some special for Florida residents, and I have never seen so many people in my life. The carry out restaurants had pretty much ran out of food and this was around 9:00. It was the only night on our trip that it was opened late enough for the FIS and the parade. But for us, never again. I've learned my lesson!!

 

[Took]

I don't think I'd risk sabotaging my WDW experience by spending an entire Saturday at MK. Too many people! However, the idea of going for an hour or two FIRST thing (especially if you are eligible for EMH might not be too bad. Certainly, FastPass helps at MK but I don't think even FP can overcome Saturday crowds in May and summer.

Have a good trip. Maybe we'll see you there! Wear your lime green ribbons.

Took

 

[TDC Nala]

Are you talking about May 3 or May 10? May 3 is a Grad Night. The MK will close early. I don't know what to say about how the crowds will be since the hours will be so different.

If you're going May 10, so am I, and I sure won't be in the MK on that day. I've given up on the MK on Saturdays at all, but then I am a frequent visitor and it doesn't matter much to me if I do it another day. Besides, May 9 is also a Grad Night and I think the park may be full of people who didn't get to stay very long on Friday night.

My suggestion would be that if you want to see SpectroMagic and fireworks, and Saturday is the only night you can see them, go in just for that and leave right afterward. Then, especially with the little kid, come back Sunday morning for early entry (assuming you're staying onsite) and you'll be able to do all the Fantasyland stuff that will be mobbed on Saturday.

However, there's a lot of talk out there about attendance being down this year, and this is past the Spring Break times, so what has gone on in past years might not apply.

WDW has also made a practice of issuing Fastpass for only the most popular attractions, and not all attractions that have it, on days when they assume that the attendance will be down.

 

[padkasper]

WOW! We've been going in May(specifically the first week) since '97 and have never experienced any crazy crowds! It's always been just delightful. IMHO I think May is an excellent time to go to WDW.
-Pam

 

[queenmo]

Thanks Everyone! Okay I am sufficiently scared enough to skip it and go on Sunday (5/4). We'll spend Saturday at the resort/pool (off site) and maybe Downtown Disney.

This is probably a dumb ?, but what exactly IS Grad night?

 

[Terk-1]

You should be ok. You may see it a little crowded , but not packed like during busier times of the year. Also, check the Spectro parade schedule to see when (if) it is playing. Typically, during slower times, it is only shown on Saturdays. If this is the case, plan grabbing a seat EARLY. You won't believe how fast the curbs fill up! A great place to watch both the parade & fireworks is on the balcony of the train station. This is on Main Street and faces the castle. Also, if you are there early enough, you can nab one of the few chairs that are up there.

 

[mom_rules]

We discovered that our only problem with the beginning of May are the grad nights and MK closing early-no spectro,no fireworks. You might want to keep that in mind.

 

[daannzzz]

If the Saturday that you wish to go is the only day of the week that Sepctro Magic and the Fireworks will go on than you will possibly have a hellish time. I have been many times in May. Sometimes Disney will have fireworks and the parade all week. Sometimes on Fri-Sat-sun and somtimes just on Saturday. When it is once a week, everyone at WDW has to fit it in. Now that I know what is like on those nights I know how to manage it but be prepared. I suspect with the way things are going that it will be that schedule again this year.

 

[DebbieB]

We usually arrive on Saturday afternoon on Mother's Day weekend in May and that is the only night for Spectro. That night at MK is very crowded. We usually get there in time for the parade and that's it, the wait times for the rides are very long. If they add a second running, you are better off waiting for that one, it will be less crowded. After the parade or fireworks are over, don't try to leave right away unless you are in the front of the park. It will be wall to wall people on Main Street, it gets scary. Wait 10 or 15 minutes for the crowds to thin out.

 

[Pig Pen]

Grad nights are nights when MK closes early to the general public and then re-opens exclusively for local high school seniors in the late evening hours. Usually MK offers special events and entertainment for the teens who are bused in from all over Florida. I was lucky enough to have participated in a grad night in 1976 when I was a senior at a Florida high school.

 

[TDC Nala]

On Grad Nights there will probably be no SpectroMagic and no fireworks, so you won't be missing those.

When they finally release May hours, see if they've been scheduled for Sunday, May 4. They did that last year.