Please help sort me out! ack!!!!

[mmtdevlin]

Ok, after much thought and research I had planned to book our holiday (myself, dh, ds10, ds5) for the last week of August and first week of September, however dh refuses to be away after 1st Sept. and also both Ds start new schools on 01/09. So now it looks as if it has to be the last two weeks of August beginning August 16th.

Since we are planning on booking Vistana Villages for 10 nights and then HRH for four nights - should I turn the booking around and spend the first four nights in HRH Universal (where we will have FOTL access) and then spend the following week in Disney where the crowd levels and waiting times *may* be lighter? I need some information on this.

I guess what I'm really asking is,
Is there much difference in the crowd levels between during the third week of August than there is the last week of August. *tearing my hair out here* I know the children would prefer to see WDW first and also (unfortunately) none of my ds or dh are the patient sort who would wait for more than 30 mins for any ride.

p.s. Virgin Holidays have told me I can book this April 29th.

Thanks in advance.

mmtdevlin

 

[vernon]

I would go for HRH first then the villa and Disney. It may not make any difference, but that is the most likely time to get busy. You can only plan for the likely events, the rest is in the lap of the gods

 

[Dimplenose]

We went during those two weeks in 2002. I didn't notice any differnce in crowd levels between the two weeks. The Florida schools had gone back by then and WDW was busy but not crowded. The biggest difference was the park hours were much shorter (especially for MK) during our 2nd week. Most queues were less than 20 minutes either week, any longer and we used fast pass.

We did experience long queues at US but as you'll have FOL access it won't bother you.

If I had to choose I'd do WDW first then US, but I'm sure you'll enjoy it either way round.

Libby

 

[Korbs]

Looking at it optimistiaclly, if you did go the first week of september, Labor Day is on Mon 6th Sept this year so that weekend would be busy anyway. So, it probably won't make any difference bringing it forward a week.

 

[Goofyish]

We went the same two weeks last year and found the crowds quite manageable, especially if you make good use of Fastpass

 

[UKDEB]

I would say doing what you prefer, is far more important than worrying about what may be an indiscernible difference in the crowds. We've been at all times of year and we've found the rain in the summer months has had a greater impact than the crowds.

By avoiding EE days at WDW, using FASTPASS and enjoying the flexibility of APs, we've very rarely felt overwhelmed by the crowds. We've also had FOTL access at Universal during both busy and quiet times and, whilst it's undoubtedly a bigger benefit during the busy periods, it's still an advantage when it's quieter and much more enjoyable.

I <i>always</i> worry about the crowds. One year we did the last two weeks of August and the first week of September and it was nowhere near as bad as I'd convinced myself it was going to be!