Question for those traveling late May thru mid-June

[Mandi Bartz]

We are booked May 20-30, this trip has been planned for over 2 years. We had to work around end of school and start of football. Trying to not worry about what I dont have control over. Still gonna be a fantastic trip.

 

[Music City Mama]

We are going the first week of June, and I have found this trip to be probably the most frustrating to plan of all the trips we've taken.

This is me. The sad thing is, is that I don't have the will/energy to change stuff around at this point. Like others have mentioned, RoL (along with the nighttime safari and the Tree of Life effects) was supposed to open on 4/22. It just never occurred to me that by June 2nd, it still wouldn't be open. Granted, they may make an announcement in May that it's opening the very next week, but I'm not optimistic at this point.

I think I'll probably get to see the new SW fireworks, but I read a rumor on the SW thread that the old ones will end on 6/3 and new ones begin 6/5, with none on 6/4, and of course, one of my HS nights was/is on 6/4! I had one other night planned there to see the fireworks twice.

I started putting together a list of what days I could possibly change (and changing ADRs/FPs), but then that affects something else like the 'Sounds Like Summer' concert at Epcot or putting us at a non-recommended park, etc.

I wasn't really counting on Soarin' to be open, and as far as the Frozen ride, it would be nice, but it's not a must-do.

Then I think it will be just my luck that I change park days around only for them to announce that RoL will be open when I'm there, that SW fireworks will be going on the original night, etc.

I'm just "blah" about planning at this point.

 

[tracynicole21]

Let me open by saying I understand something will always be "coming soon" or under refurbishment at WDW and I never make travel plans expecting a new attraction to be open. We presently have plans for early June but I am considering delaying this trip and want to know how others feel.

Given early June was about 6 weeks past announced Rivers of LOLight opening, I was excited that this would be available for our trip. But with uncertainties (again, I wasn't expecting any of these to be open) of FEA, Soarin' and the new Star Wars fireworks, our vacation feels devalued.

I'm arriving at DW the week of May 22, and I know there's a bunch of construction. I know Soarin' will be closed, Frozen ride won't be open, and none of the new AK stuff will have started yet.
With that said, I am super excited to see all the things that have been added since the last time I went (over ten years ago). I'm excited to show my new wife all of the things I loved as a child and make new memories, along with feeling like a child again.
So while I'm often jealous of everyone on here who goes to Disney World five or six times a year or even yearly, I feel like I'm even luckier in some aspects because yes, it's been a while since I've been, but I get to experience everything like its the first time again while reliving all the things I loved as a kid.

 

[pmaurer74]

I understand, we have tons of unconfirmed plans and it is annoying. We are going June 2-9. Waiting on plans for Olaf, Star Was fireworks, A&E, Frozen ride, Soarin and ROL. Most I think are targeting Memorial Day weekend but any, some of all of these could be delayed.

 

[tomatecerise]

We Will Go may 30 to june 6 and cannot change our plans

We take The Ferrytales Wishes to have something special for those dates...

 

[Amore Disney]

We are going to be there May 21-28. To be completely honest, I'm very frustrated with planning this trip. This is our family's first trip to WDW as a whole (well, my parents have visited 25 years ago but lots have changed since then). I planned very carefully to make it a magical experience for each member of the family, but Disney did throw some curveballs.

They announced the end of Star Wars weekend, delays in ROL and FEA, and possibly the most frustrating change was announcing MK Magic Morning on my MK day. If I had known, then I would probably have selected a regular EMH day since we're staying on site. I for one, do think my vacation is worth a little less now because if we were to attend just two months later in late July, we would (most likely) be seeing ROL, FEA, and the new Soarin while BTMR would still be open.

Will my family and I have a great time? YES. Am I grateful for the opportunity to finally visit WDW? Extremely. But I am disappointed in all the changes that are constantly being made after I had to commit to certain dates and park days (ADRs, FP+).

 

[bigbabyblues]

Our trip is June 4-10, and we are going. Frozen doesn't affect us at all, unless I want to force my 15-yo to ride it as a punishment. I was hoping Soarin' would be back open, but it isn't a huge deal. I was also looking forward to RoL, but I haven't completely given up on it yet. I think there will be some form of SW fireworks at HS, but we'll see.

 

[BridgetR3]

I do feel it is frustrating to be so close to our late May trip and not know what will be there and what won't. I was telling DH the other night that either we will be super busy in the parks seeing lots of new stuff or we will be able to relax and spend more time at the pool and water parks. Either way it will be great but I would rather see the new stuff so I don't feel the need to make another trip this fall before our AP expires.

 

[momof2halls]

It appears several of us will be there around the same time! Our trip is May 25-June 3.

We have been planning this trip for over 700 days. We booked at the 499 day mark in order to feel "officially booked". We have ridden this crazy roller coaster and the ride has had a lot of not so pleasant twist and turns. However, we are determined to not allow the cancellation of SWW or any ride closure ruin our trip. No, our trip is not going to be the trip we thought it was going to be 700+ or even 180 days ago, but we are looking forward to slowing down our touring plans and truly enjoy every moment of our trip.

 

[Rivergirl2005]

We are going June 20-27. I feel the frustrated with the planning aspect but at the same time it's WDW!!! If you look at the bright side of everything you can do then it will be great!!! Who knows maybe something will be available when your there, and if not oh well your on vacation

 

[twodogs]

With all of the new things they are building between now and 2020, I think anyone who plans a trip at any time will find themselves wishing they could push it out a little (or a lot) to see some new things that will be just around the bend. They good news about that is more new stuff at WDW! And the need for multiple trips to see it all ( is my dear husband listening??!!)!

 

[redsbe]

We are going to be there May 21-28. To be completely honest, I'm very frustrated with planning this trip. This is our family's first trip to WDW as a whole (well, my parents have visited 25 years ago but lots have changed since then). I planned very carefully to make it a magical experience for each member of the family, but Disney did throw some curveballs.

They announced the end of Star Wars weekend, delays in ROL and FEA, and possibly the most frustrating change was announcing MK Magic Morning on my MK day. If I had known, then I would probably have selected a regular EMH day since we're staying on site. I for one, do think my vacation is worth a little less now because if we were to attend just two months later in late July, we would (most likely) be seeing ROL, FEA, and the new Soarin while BTMR would still be open.

Will my family and I have a great time? YES. Am I grateful for the opportunity to finally visit WDW? Extremely. But I am disappointed in all the changes that are constantly being made after I had to commit to certain dates and park days (ADRs, FP+).

Well this is your first family trip (and 25 years for your parents) there are certainly many open attractions and activities to experience for the first time, regardless of those underdevelopment that may not be ready for your visit. WDW is constantly evolving and changing with ongoing construction and pending reopenings year round and every year - all of which are not in your control. I agree adding new paid early hours days at MK can mess with plans, but I doubt it will have as much impact as some are speculating - only time will tell. But for a first time visit why would you feel devalued by missing on rides/attractions not ready thus why plan for, and not value all that exists that you have never experienced?

 

[Amore Disney]

Well this is your first family trip (and 25 years for your parents) there are certainly many open attractions and activities to experience for the first time, regardless of those underdevelopment that may not be ready for your visit. WDW is constantly evolving and changing with ongoing construction and pending reopenings year round and every year - all of which are not in your control. I agree adding new paid early hours days at MK can mess with plans, but I doubt it will have as much impact as some are speculating - only time will tell. But for a first time visit why would you feel devalued by missing on rides/attractions not ready thus why plan for, and not value all that exists that you have never experienced?

First, I want to say that I don't feel devalued as a person by these changes, only the trip . Just in the economic sense, there would be more experiences per dollar spent if the new attractions are open. I suppose if you wanted to be technical, my vacation has less value relative to a vacation happening in late July (which was my hypothetical example). But you are right if you're suggesting that vacation probably has similar value relative to trips that people have already taken in 2016.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip to WDW (as you can see, I'm earning my ears), and I don't think we'll be back anytime soon. So that might explain why I'm disappointed about these changes and delays, but as you may have noticed I'm not alone in feeling this way. You may feel and see it differently, and that is perfectly fine. I just wanted to clarify in response to your question.

 

[Lyricallie]

I'm going May 7 - 15 and I was looking forward to ROL and Star Wars. I'll get over it though, I'm just so excited to go to America, Disney and Universal! BF is coming down this weekend (LDR) so we can start packing!!

 

[ashnicole]

I'm going in June. I booked my plane tickets just a couple of days before the ROL news broke. If my vacation time wasn't set, I would probably have postponed my trip so I could see ROL. As much as I would have hated to add more weeks to the countdown, I know my sister was really looking forward to seeing ROL. But since we don't know when it's opening, I could have been postponing the trip for a while. I try thinking about it this way: even if I went when it was opened, things happen, so I would possibly miss it anyways if it was closed that night for some reason. I also planned this trip not knowing ROL would be open.
If anything new is open I'll be happy, but if not, I understand that too. Like others have said, I'm just happy I'll probably get to ride BTMR since I missed it last time!

 

[jknc]

Thanks for all the responses.

Everyones vacation to WDW is truly unique and we all value it differently.

 

[smiths02]

We are going June 12-21 (but only in the parks June 12-19). We have to go then because our APs expire on the 19th...and I don't stop work until the 9th
I just did our FP+ last night.
My oldest will be 10, but does not enjoy "thrill" rides (although we are really pushing Test Track and 7DMT) and I'm praying that my twin toddlers (3 1/2) will be 38 inches.
I am sad if we miss Soarin', Rivers of Light, and the frozen ride...not a HUGE deal because my kids don't know they exist (well, my 10 year old does, but he can totally deal)
I am upset about the A&E meet and greets not having FP+...wouldn't you know, it's the one freaking thing the 3 year olds really want to do again. Oh well, I guess I'll tell them they got stuck in the ice and couldn't get to Disneyworld.

It does make Epcot FP+ seem like a joke. I made a FP+ for The Land...you know the ride we rode about 10 times with while the big people took turns on Soarin' our trip last year LOL

 

[smiths02]

I wanted to add that as much as I love Disney...going 3 times in 365 days makes me realize that I'm glad we are taking a break because I do believe that the product is stagnant or diminished (at least for the short term) and yet the prices are skyrocketing. And when we return in several years, I hope many new things are added.

 

[smiths02]

I should also add that making FP+ selections in every park (except Epcot) while not really doing thrill rides did make me realize that there is a lot of neat stuff that we have not done. Then again, this will only be our 4th time in 5 years...so we still have life left in us.
I can't see Disney being yearly for us, especially at this point. It would get old too fast.

 

[StuckInKS]

We are mid-May to early June and we really have no choice but to go anyway. We are booked SSR through RCI and would lose 44K points (2 rooms for 2 weeks) + my $876 RCI fee. The MFs for those points are worth $3k in annual dues, so that would sting quite a bit. If we were booked through Disney and could just push the trip back, we definitely would do it. We will actually be in Orlando at an offsite resort for another week after our passes expire, so if there are any rumors of soft openings that next week it may push me to upgrade to APs. We have been thinking about doing it anyway to cover our Oct/Nov trip, but it would mean skipping some other things that we'd like to do.

ETA: Had to recalculate the RCI fee as a forgot to add in the credit we used from some cancelled on-going searches. We actually paid $876 for the RCI fees and that would also sting a bit. So almost $4k that we would lose.