Please help me decide.

[MrsJ Henry]

My husband and I have our trip planned for the last week of April.
When we first planned this I didn't think it was going to be that crowded since Easter was in March and the resorts are then on Regular season.
Well, I'm starting to get scared since I keep hearing how busy it is going to be. When thinking about dates we didn't think the first week of May would be good since on the 5th it would start the 50th for DisneyLand etc.... Thought there would be high crowds with the opening of new attractions.
If we can change our dates (airline, resort)to the first week in May do you think we should?
We have no children so that's not an issue.
Yikes ! What would you do?

 

[kilee]

When in April did you pick??? The first week of May is definelty going to be much, much busier than usual. Add to the fact that there will be many press events that will limit hours and shut many of the new attractions down for an entire day. This happened last year w/ the opening of Mission Space and Mickey's Philharmagic. It threw a last minute wrench into many people's plans.

The first week of April will be incredibly busy due to Easter. I, personally, think the 2nd and 3rd weeks will remain moderately crowded, but not Easter crowded. After that it typically peters out as most school's have had their spring breaks by then.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Thanks.
We picked the last week in April 4/23-4/30

 

[DisneyPhD]

OK, I didn't think of that. We went last year the 1st week of May to Vero Beach and it was such a great time that we were thinking of going again this year, but the 1st half of the week at WDW (April 29 to May 3rd, we got a good code rate of 79 a night at POR) and then head over to Vero Beach for 3 nights (May 3rd to 6th).

We weren't at the parks last year, but hear May is a great time to go. Should we re-think this? I never considered the Disney land thing into my WDW trip.

 

[picantel]

We went mid may this year and it was pretty decent.

 

[krystyana]

Ok...I'm confused....some people are saying that the park really isn't going to be affected until after May 5th, the kickoff for the celebration. Others are insisting that they are going to be crowded.....am I going to be swimming through crowds of people or is it going to be manageable? I'll be there april 30 to May 5.....anyone have any substantial info?

 

[chatty]

We too had to decide the last week of April or the first week of May. When we asked the WD Travel CRO she told us to go with the first week in May because for many Countries and US States the last week of April is Spring Break for all year schools? Go figure? I asked how bad the crowds will be the first of May (May 1-8th) and she said that it won't be bad during the weekdays but will pick up on Friday evening Saturday and Sunday. I said YIKES! what about the 5th. and all the press etc..? But she said to trust her? So I guess we'll see when we get there?
Good Luck because I am so clueless...
Chatty

 

[DisneyPhD]

We too had to decide the last week of April or the first week of May. When we asked the WD Travel CRO she told us to go with the first week in May because for many Countries and US States the last week of April is Spring Break for all year schools? Go figure? I asked how bad the crowds will be the first of May (May 1-8th) and she said that it won't be bad during the weekdays but will pick up on Friday evening Saturday and Sunday. I said YIKES! what about the 5th. and all the press etc..? But she said to trust her? So I guess we'll see when we get there?
Good Luck because I am so clueless...
Chatty

I thought we were good because Easter is in the end of March this year instead of April. It does seem when ever there is a good time to go to WDW word gets out and that time gets busy.

 

[chatty]

DisneyphD,
I Agree! I am just going to go and have a Great time. We had a trip last Oct 3rd-Oct. 10th all paid and than I fractured 3 of my ribs from coughing so hard from having phanunoma (spelled wrong) and we cancelled the trip 3 hours before our plane was to take off. I laid in bed looking at our suitcases and felt so bad. Even today my ribs still hurt but they are getting better. So with AP's for both in hand and 2 paid airline tickets we are going and if it is busy it's better than watching the clock and knowing my plane went without us.
Have a Great Trip..
Chatty

 

[KRWong]

Ok, so how much of an impact do we think this celebration will cause? We were planning on going from May 8-13. We were there once during the 100 years celebration and they closed certain parks on different evenings for press events...should I rethink my vacation? Thanks!

 

[chatty]

KRWong,
I don't think it will be as bad as other kick-offs.. We were there on the opening day for the 25th, and for the 100th. Our anniv. is Oct.1st 1971, so is WDW's so we try to spend our same anniv. at WDW. Yes a few opening days were busy but not bad and being that this is mainly about DL I believe that wDW won't be as bad as one might think. So go and have a Great Vacation you will Love WDW in May.
Chatty

 

[KRWong]

Thanks Chatty! I think we'll go ahead and plan it...DH said to switch to Universal, but I really have my heart set on WDW again! We just started planning this trip Christmas day while the kids and I were watching the Xmas parade from Disney!!! Thanks again!

 

[chatty]

AHHH, That parade will do it to you every time! I can't watch anything Disney anymore it just makes me want to go back to the Magic. I like Universal but I LOVE WDW...
Have a Great time planning.
Chatty

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Well, I guess we will stick with the last week of April and hope for the best.
We got spoiled with lower crowds when we went in Nov but we had to get there again before next winter. ( you guys know how it is!! )
I haven't been in the spring in MANY years so it will be nice no matter how big the crowds are. We will just stick with a good touring plan.

 

[kiddoc]

In the past 3 years, we have been in April or May--5/02, 5/03, and 4/04. The trip in the last week of April was MUCH more crowded than when we had been in May. That includes being in WDW on the weekend before Memorial Day. The 4/04 trip really suprised us--we were thinking along the lines of the original poster that crowds wouldn't be bad since Easter was over, Spring Breaks over, etc. We were wrong!
That said, we still had a wonderful time--AS ALWAYS!