Should I go MLK 2022

[Timandalicia]

Ok. We are going to plan our trip. We go once a year, many times in January and February. Many of you remember when it was slow back the old days. We still try to find the “slower” times. Our oldest child is in high school now and we don’t want her to miss a ton of school. The kids have off the Friday before MLK and that following Monday so that might give us a chance to go longer. But how busy will it be? If we don’t go then, then we will go end of January for a few days less. Should we do that instead? So anyone who has gone MLK weekend please chime in. On the busiest day we are going to do Universal with the unlimited express pass. So which day will that be?

 

[cjlong88]

It's busier than a normal weekend, but definitely manageable. The weather was perfect last year -- 65 degrees and sunny all three days. I feel like the busiest day of MLK weekend was Saturday both times we have visited over that time period. Who knows how crowds will be affected in future years, though.

I think it's a great time to go, especially if you get the Friday before off as well.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I went in 2018. MK was a madhouse on Sunday before. I found the rest to be very manageable. We also have off of school on the Friday before and I would consider going again in the future. We had a blast.

 

[Timandalicia]

It's busier than a normal weekend, but definitely manageable. The weather was perfect last year -- 65 degrees and sunny all three days. I feel like the busiest day of MLK weekend was Saturday both times we have visited over that time period. Who knows how crowds will be affected in future years, though.

I think it's a great time to go, especially if you get the Friday before off as well.

Thanks. That’s very helpful.

 

[Timandalicia]

I went in 2018. MK was a madhouse on Sunday before. I found the rest to be very manageable. We also have off of school on the Friday before and I would consider going again in the future. We had a blast.

Awesome. Sounds like we will do Universal on Sunday. With the express pass, it has never mattered how busy it is there.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Awesome. Sounds like we will do Universal on Sunday. With the express pass, it has never mattered how busy it is there.

It might mean no Hagrid’s, but you might rope drop it?

 

[wilbret]

Ok. We are going to plan our trip. We go once a year, many times in January and February. Many of you remember when it was slow back the old days. We still try to find the “slower” times. Our oldest child is in high school now and we don’t want her to miss a ton of school. The kids have off the Friday before MLK and that following Monday so that might give us a chance to go longer. But how busy will it be? If we don’t go then, then we will go end of January for a few days less. Should we do that instead? So anyone who has gone MLK weekend please chime in. On the busiest day we are going to do Universal with the unlimited express pass. So which day will that be?

We were there MLK weekend, it was crowded. We went to SeaWorld on Monday and it was super crowded, we only rode a couple rides and just hung out. The shows were all filling up.

like you, it’s a 4 day weekend for a ton of schools. We pretty much head down whenever that happens, along with the rest of Georgia.

 

[Timandalicia]

It might mean no Hagrid’s, but you might rope drop it?

Good point. Thanks.

 

[Timandalicia]

We were there MLK weekend, it was crowded. We went to SeaWorld on Monday and it was super crowded, we only rode a couple rides and just hung out. The shows were all filling up.

like you, it’s a 4 day weekend for a ton of schools. We pretty much head down whenever that happens, along with the rest of Georgia.

 

[pixiedust2u]

We did Th-Tue of MLK weekend 2020. Went to MK on Friday & Sunday and stayed at WL. Park was crowded, but manageable. Having 2 days at MK was key as we didn't stress over what we didn't get to day 1. Park was def more crowded Sunday than Friday. So hard to compare the "old days" to what it will be now/future once crowds return to normal. As with old system it was dependable to rope drop, fit a bunch of rides in, start FP then roll off FP the rest of the day. So even on a busy day you could still fit a lot in. Now with no more FP+ and not knowing what Disney has in the works for crowd management will be tough to figure out how much you can fit in on a busy park day on a holiday weekend.

 

[Timandalicia]

We did Th-Tue of MLK weekend 2020. Went to MK on Friday & Sunday and stayed at WL. Park was crowded, but manageable. Having 2 days at MK was key as we didn't stress over what we didn't get to day 1. Park was def more crowded Sunday than Friday. So hard to compare the "old days" to what it will be now/future once crowds return to normal. As with old system it was dependable to rope drop, fit a bunch of rides in, start FP then roll off FP the rest of the day. So even on a busy day you could still fit a lot in. Now with no more FP+ and not knowing what Disney has in the works for crowd management will be tough to figure out how much you can fit in on a busy park day on a holiday weekend.

Thanks. Yeah we will have to see what the future holds for fastpass. I hope by then things are more normal. Good to hear a second person say Sunday was the worst. We will go 8 days, so definitely will be hitting Magic Kingdom at least twice. Thanks for the info.

 

[Leigh L]

Thanks. Yeah we will have to see what the future holds for fastpass. I hope by then things are more normal. Good to hear a second person say Sunday was the worst. We will go 8 days, so definitely will be hitting Magic Kingdom at least twice. Thanks for the info.

I'll third saying Sunday!
With Express Pass, I'd totally do Universal on Sunday that week (without it, I'd do a weekday). We did MLK Sunday this year without it. We ended up leaving early and the Potter lands during a pandemic, were awful. A TM was shouting in the crowd spilling into the Lost Continent, "We're still in a pandemic people - six feet apart!" but the problem was capacity, there was nowhere for people to spread. I felt bad for TMs trying to keep order. The virtual queue line for Hagrid's spilled into that land also. We had a 2:30 return time that probably would have gotten us on the ride at 5 p.m. if we were lucky. I'd rope drop that one.

We did WDW MLK week years ago when it was a "slower" time and had a blast. I guess can't really compare 2021 to whatever 2022 brings since things will probably completely change, but we also had a great time this year and would definitely go MLK week again.

(If given the choice, I'd pick MLK week over President's week. Every.Time. To me, the latter is harder to navigate than Christmas week, lol. )

 

[Timandalicia]

I'll third saying Sunday!
With Express Pass, I'd totally do Universal on Sunday that week (without it, I'd do a weekday). We did MLK Sunday this year without it. We ended up leaving early and the Potter lands during a pandemic, were awful. A TM was shouting in the crowd spilling into the Lost Continent, "We're still in a pandemic people - six feet apart!" but the problem was capacity, there was nowhere for people to spread. I felt bad for TMs trying to keep order. The virtual queue line for Hagrid's spilled into that land also. We had a 2:30 return time that probably would have gotten us on the ride at 5 p.m. if we were lucky. I'd rope drop that one.

We did WDW MLK week years ago when it was a "slower" time and had a blast. I guess can't really compare 2021 to whatever 2022 brings since things will probably completely change, but we also had a great time this year and would definitely go MLK week again.

(If given the choice, I'd pick MLK week over President's week. Every.Time. To me, the latter is harder to navigate than Christmas week, lol. )

Great. I did not know there was such a difference between MLK and Presidents so that is helpful because we still looking for that sweet spot (relative to the crowdmeters of today). Then to work around a high schooler’s schedule on top of it. Lol on the lines. I can just picture if they increase capacity and still have the 6 feet apart measure in place. The queue will go all the way through both parks to Diagon Alley to get on Hogwart’s Express in Hogsmeade.
Gosh I hope it gets better by the time I go.

 

[cjlong88]

The virtual queue line for Hagrid's spilled into that land also. We had a 2:30 return time that probably would have gotten us on the ride at 5 p.m. if we were lucky. I'd rope drop that one.

The line looks deceptively long but it moves very quick. We entered through the Lost Continent area and saw the line, thinking it would be a long wait. It was constantly moving and never longer than 25 minutes. This was Saturday during MLK weekend.

 

[heresabe]

I have not been on Disney property on MLK weekend but I have been there just before. The period just before MLK weekend offers a lull between the busy NY/Marathon timeframe and the MLK holiday.
So...if you can be there several days before the holiday, perhaps up to and including the pre-holiday Friday...

 

[Leigh L]

The line looks deceptively long but it moves very quick. We entered through the Lost Continent area and saw the line, thinking it would be a long wait. It was constantly moving and never longer than 25 minutes. This was Saturday during MLK weekend.

Interesting, I won't tell DD14 lol. We've been to both parks three times since August and lines at both parks move generally quickly in our experience and are deceptively long. That one was unlike any others we'd seen though, especially with the lack of social distancing going on and we didn't see steady movement when we were trying to find the end of the line.

 

[cjlong88]

Interesting, I won't tell DD14 lol. We've been to both parks three times since August and lines at both parks move generally quickly in our experience and are deceptively long. That one was unlike any others we'd seen though, especially with the lack of social distancing going on and we didn't see steady movement when we were trying to find the end of the line.

Yep, that portion of the makeshift queue back in the Lost Continent has frequent stops because they have to stop the Hagrid's queue to let guests trying to get on the Hogwarts Express queue through. It's totally bizarre. Once we got past the lockers and into the actual queue, we only stopped briefly and then would continue to move forward. We also made sure to not need a locker and that definitely saved us some time as well.

As amazing as Hogsmeade is, it's a freaking bear to navigate during times of social distancing.

 

[Leigh L]

Yep, that portion of the makeshift queue back in the Lost Continent has frequent stops because they have to stop the Hagrid's queue to let guests trying to get on the Hogwarts Express queue through. It's totally bizarre. Once we got past the lockers and into the actual queue, we only stopped briefly and then would continue to move forward. We also made sure to not need a locker and that definitely saved us some time as well.

As amazing as Hogsmeade is, it's a freaking bear to navigate during times of social distancing.

That's exactly the area, it looked like it was at a standstill but maybe that's why. Honestly, it was so chaotic it was difficult to figure out where to go, so we scooted out of there after DD said no way.

We still have one day left on our UO ticket and hoping to use it sometime this year and try again - we did ride in August - but would love to go one more day. If we do, we'll keep this in mind, thanks!

 

[Blondie58]

Ok. We are going to plan our trip. We go once a year, many times in January and February. Many of you remember when it was slow back the old days. We still try to find the “slower” times. Our oldest child is in high school now and we don’t want her to miss a ton of school. The kids have off the Friday before MLK and that following Monday so that might give us a chance to go longer. But how busy will it be? If we don’t go then, then we will go end of January for a few days less. Should we do that instead? So anyone who has gone MLK weekend please chime in. On the busiest day we are going to do Universal with the unlimited express pass. So which day will that be?

Have been in January across the MLK weekend multiple times. We have never thought it was too bad. We have been over Thanksgiving once and Christmas three times. Yes, crowded but to be expected and we go with that mindset. I think MLK weekend is less than other holiday times but a mindest of "there will be crowds" will be a big part of how you approach. I am all about having kids miss the least amount of school possible expecially as they get older and are in honors, college prep and advanced courses. Curriculums and learning expectations move quickly the older kids get. And school is their "work". You start setting expectations for what will happen in the work force as young adults.

 

[cjlong88]

That's exactly the area, it looked like it was at a standstill but maybe that's why. Honestly, it was so chaotic it was difficult to figure out where to go, so we scooted out of there after DD said no way.

We still have one day left on our UO ticket and hoping to use it sometime this year and try again - we did ride in August - but would love to go one more day. If we do, we'll keep this in mind, thanks!

I wholeheartedly agree. It looked like a total cluster when we visited. Took us a few minutes to even find the "entrance" to the queue. It's just not a good area for social distancing or reconfiguring/extending lines.