So just how bad will Memorial Day 2011 be?

[Shadowcat70]

Our family is faced with the choice of scrapping our mid-may vacation plans and shifting them a week and a half later so we can get the free dining. The busiest part will be memorial day weekend, and we're worried how many other folks will be going for that weekend. We will also be there the week after, which should be a lot quieter.

Does it sound like a good switch? Would airfare heading out the Thursday night before that weekend be really high? We would be saving about $1000.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

We were there this year.

It wasn't as busy as Spring Break - the week after Easter in 2009. That was crazy!

For 1,000 savings, I'd go over Memorial Weekend. You are right when you say the week after will be quieter.

 

[Shadowcat70]

We're also worried about how many other people will be there because of the free dining. It could be a crowded, hot nightmare! lol!

 

[chatty]

I was just there a few months ago and I will not go back at that time again. My B-day is May 24th and we went to celebrate it and Never again. so we are keeping our Non discounted four rooms for the first two weeks of May. If a discount comes by Great if not were still going. I've seen it worst at Easter and it was not as bad but too crowded for my liking. now crazy as this sounds we have been there 10 times to celebrate my B-Day and it was Great, Not crowded at all so I am wondering with all the discounts and free food if this is what made it so nuts last May..??? I know I'm no help but Who Knows Anymore???
chatty

 

[padawans]

I would hold off and see what the spring discounts are going to be. Everybody is in a panic ,but spring discounts are usually not released to Dec or January. You might get something better then free dining. Early and mid May is not crowded at all I wouldn't ditch your plans. Rooms won't start selling until the discounts are released anyway.

 

[dclfun]

We've stayed at AKL CL for the last two years over Memorial week with our DVC points and I'll not choose that week again. It really wasn't the crowds but that the horrible summer heat/humidity had set in whereas early May usually isn't quite so bad. We live only about 10 minutes from the resorts/parks so we're used to the heat more than some folks, but I still don't like it, esp. when being out most of the day trying to tour a park. Heat + crowds= misery.---Kathy

 

[Shadowcat70]

Yes, heat is also a factor for us, since up here in the NW we get lots of humidity, but our heat usually doesn't go above 95 in the summer and that's only about 4 times a year. The difference in travel time is a little over a week, so sometimes I feel that the 87 degree average vs. the 89 degree average wouldn't be that much of a melt. It will still be hot either way.

If we go during the FD, the kids miss 2 days less school, and the airfare will be cheaper because of the day we are returning, not to mention the flight departure time is much, much better as well. I guess the big question I keep asking myself is if the $1000 is worth the crowds. Even if there are room discounts for May, the 25% or so won't come close to the FD savings (we are staying Value). The only thing that would really make our trip less costly would be a FD pin code, and let's just say I'm not holding my breath for that one. *chuckles*

Gah... such a hard decision!

 

[taymaesmom]

We've been at Disney for Memorial Weekend 4 times. We honestly don't find it that busy or crazy. I would avoid MK for the actual weekend because it does get busy but we have had no problems spending those days at the other parks. We arrive at rope drop and use FP and never wait in any line longer than 20 mins. We often see rides that are walk on or 10 min waits. Crowds do pick up after lunch but seem to die back down after dinner so we take an afternoon break to rest and swim. I would definately switch to save $1000!

 

[emmabelle]

I was wondering the same thing about crowd levels, but I booked CSR with FD for 5/27 to 5/31 anyways and now I'm worried about the crowds and the restaurants being insane?

I'm surprised that Disney has the free dining for just 5/27 to 6/2, I would think that they would be able to fill the rooms that weekend without offering FD.

My whole thing is that I'm trying to have a cruise out of PC that works with the FD dates, because that's the only way I'll get the teenagers to agree to Disney.

 

[BrerMama]

Guess we'll find out. We have a trip booked over the same weekend. Our last two trips, we arrived on Memorial Day. So we're used to the slow crowds of the week after. I'm just going to use Tour Guide Mike (can't imagine planning a trip without that site) and we'll be fine. Our last trip was for 2 weeks, so we've pretty much done and seen everything, which will allow us to do the best this trip since we've only got six park days.

 

[cindermomma]

We went this last Memorial Day weekend with a free dining pin and booked again for next year with the FD. We had previously been the first week of June. We honestly didn't think it was much worse than the first week of June trip. Like previous posters said - use FP, rope drop, we used EMH at night (loved that!). We were going to go the week before Memorial Day, but chose to move to get FD. The heat and crowds were not bad enough to stop us from the FD promotion! The only rides that had long wait times were Peter Pan and Soarin for us. But, those always seem to have long wait times! I say go Memorial weekend and save the $ and get better airline times.

 

[twoplustwins]

don't forget about all the people arriving for Star Wars weekends too. We were going to try for Memorial Day weekend and through the next week. After reading the crowd calendar sites and searching the DIS, we have changed our dates.

 

[cindermomma]

We did SWW too while we were there. We LOVED rope dropping the studios to see the storm troopers open it up. So fun! We still rode all our rides with not too bad of wait times.

 

[lblume91]

Our last 3 trips have been centered around the MD weekend. Fri, Sat & Sun leading up to MD are usually pretty crazy but then the crowds thin out. I'm curious to see how the FD offer will impact the week after. We'll be there!

 

[cab0ad]

We changed our dates from May 21-31 to May 27-June6 just to get the free dining. Really temp shouldn't be too different for the dates. We tend to go in the morning and then stay most of the day at the resort until dinner and then wander out again. It is saving my family$1500 to switch dates and go over Memorial Day and its definitely worth a crowd to me! We went over Christmas last so Memorial Crowds won't even make us blink!How bad could it POSSIBLY be???

 

[Shadowcat70]

So we've decided to make the switch and save the money. Due to budget cuts with our schools, the kids will actually miss two less days of school as well. Hubby and I figured that if Disney does end up adding more days to the FD offer, we could always switch back later, but it would be better to know we have it than pass up the chance.

 

[cindermomma]

I think you made a great choice! I am always about saving $$$! We really loved being there this year at Memorial Day. You guys will have a great time! Nothing like being at Disney and eating FREE food.

 

[MickeyEars]

We were also there this past Memorial Day and it was extremely busy and it was Africa hot. I had sweat running down places I didn't realize I had!! It was pretty miserable but we are going again at the same time after I swore we would never go again at that time.
The free dining was too hard to pass up so I just hope it won't be as hot as this past Memorial Day. I'm middle-aged now and the heat just really gets me!!

Carla