Speculation for first week in May?

[chessie]

I am curious as to what things will be like the very first week in May. With this year being the big five-0 it was hard to decide just exactly when to go. We chose May 1st through the 8th because.... we thought the weather would be warm without being so stinking humid and the spring break crowds would be gone. What was hard to figure out was what would be happening with regard to the anniversary celebration? Will the new attractions and rides be open that week? Will the parks or portions of the parks be closed at anytime for press functions that week? How about the crowds, will they be larger then normal for that week?

Any speculation?

 

[tjkraz]

There are press events scheduled for May 4-6. I'm reasonably certain MGM will close early on 5/4 for a party. Info on the other dates should be forthcoming.

Both Soarin and Lights, Motors, Action should be open...at least by the 5th...probably sooner than that.

Speculating about crowds is just guesswork. We're vacationing at the same time, and I don't expect any big increases. Those in town for the press events will be kept busy by Disney most of the time. Given that the DL Celebration runs for a year-and-a-half, I can't see kids being pulled out of school to visit WDW right as the event begins. IMO, it will largely be business-as-usual.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

We're going down from the 1-7th. We've decided we're not going to drive ourselves crazy with hours, crowds, etc. Since we're now DVC owners we know we'll be back and can do everything that we don't get done this time, the next. Just go with an open mind and perhaps a backup plan. Know one is going to really know anything until we're there.

 

[molenda]

I am in the same boat! I picked the first week of May and keep worrying about what it will be like. I don't think it will be busier because of people trying to be there for openings necessarily, but I am wondering if the press events/early park closings will cause other parks to be more crowded.

I would think that until the press starts writing about the new stuff (which won't happen until after the press events) the public won't be flocking to the parks.

I picked May also because of the weather, less crowding, etc and I hope I am not disappointed.

Has anyone been to WDW when the press were invited?

 

[FallDisney]

Has anyone been to WDW when the press were invited?

We were there when Mission Space and Wishes was debuted to the press. I'm not sure though that you can judge crowds by this particular event though, as Columbus weekend immediately followed. Crowds were pretty negligible during the first part of the week, and picked up after that. By Friday, it was packed in the parks! Seeing the premiere of Wishes, I could not believe how many people were there!!!!! My kids were almost trampled - it was scary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wouldn't you know that for our second trip, we pick the first week of May? I will say the press event for Mission Space wasn't a big deal. There were lots of tents for radio shows, but no real problems. Epcot closed early and we didn't spend that evening any any other park. My biggest concern at this point is it looks like several parks will close early on May 4. I've heard Epcot PS's aren't to be had for this date and the latest I could get at MGM was 4:25. On the 5th, the lastest seating I could get at the MK was 5:25. I cannot wait to see those hours!!!!!

 

[n2mm]

We are there and planned to be there just for the celebration, along with lots of our friends. We are ready for anything and will expect an increase in crowds during a few days. We go to WDW about 5 trips a year and have found that there is NO slow time anymore. I am ready for the CMs and friends to be there, the locals, the press, and all of us regular spring/flower and garden folks to be there. I have to laugh everytime a read a post that someone says, "it won't be crowded because schools are still in". We go only during the times when schools are in and the crowd level can get pretty crazy. There are more and more "big" kids like ourselves going to WDW....my 11th spring in a row. This will be my second trip for 2005, but not my last for 2005.

 

[PCFriar80]

Has anyone been to WDW when the press were invited?

We were there in December, 2001 (12/3 -12/8 to be exact) during Walt Disney's 100th Birthday Celebration. We were at MGM on the 5th and got to see Eisner and Jeb Bush, shook hands with Bush and snapped off a few photos. The fanfare is isolated, but noticable. I would not change your plans for this week.
It's sort of fun to see the activities and the crowd difference is negligible. We'll be there 5/1 - 5/6 this year also and look forward to "the who's that game" .
See you in about 11 weeks!

 

[Ames]

We'll be arriving on May 4th and will not be visiting a park that day. Resort hopping or DTD. Not sure where to go on the 5th, we don't visit AK or MGM anymore (they don't appeal to us). Possibly Epcot, with the thought that Cindrellabration will draw more crowds then Soarin.

However that means MK on a Friday night.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Well, I am disappointed to find out that Cinderellabration does not seem to be a really huge deal, anywhere close to the one from Tokyo! I was really looking forward to seeing this. The one in Tokyo was the huge night-time spectacular. Disney now has this listed on Disney.com on the MK page, listed just as 'entertainment' several shows daily. Doesn't sound like a big 'Spectacular' to me now.... Still hoping to plan an afternoon around seeing this though. We have PS for lunch at the Castle on May 5th.

I am just DYING to see the May hours posted!

 

[RC Fan]

I am coming in on the 6th so hopefully I will miss most of it.

I do love May. It seems to be a great time to go.

Hi Wishing on a star! I too am anxiously awaiting the May hours. I made three PS's this morning, so all I need are the park hours and fireworks schedule so that I can make my last PS for O'Hana and Wishes.

 

[Selket]

I've heard Epcot PS's aren't to be had for this date and the latest I could get at MGM was 4:25. On the 5th, the lastest seating I could get at the MK was 5:25. I cannot wait to see those hours!!!!!

I just wanted to note that we plan to go the following week (arriving May 7th) and I also couldn't get seating times for PS's inside the MK after 6:00 p.m. I think that has to do with the May hours not being released rather than it already being booked - at least for us. She said there were no seatings after 6 at all - not just that they had been there and were already booked. I also couldn't make Fantasmic dinner package ressies after 6pm cause they hadn't released those seating times yet.

Definitely call back every now and then and check for more times to open up. This same thing happened my last trip (Aug '03) and closer to my arrival date I had my choice of times for places like Chef Mickey's and so forth.

 

[RC Fan]

Hi Selket!

I am not sure when you were trying to make the reservation for the Fantasmic package, or for what time, but I was able to book the package for Sunday, May 8th at 4:30.

 

[areno79]

We booked our trip from May 1-May 7, without realizing the 50th celebration starts on the 5th. I'm hoping it's not too bad, but just in case we're going to Blizzard Beach on the 4th and going to DD for the night. On the 5th, we're going to AK and eating at DD again, or going offsite. That way we're covered in case the crowds are bad those days :nod: Then we'll go back Friday to MK and Epcot and see the new stuff, or things we didn't see before

 

[Selket]

I am not sure when you were trying to make the reservation for the Fantasmic package, or for what time, but I was able to book the package for Sunday, May 8th at 4:30.

I was able to book it too for May 12th at 4:30 but I don't really want to eat quite THAT early! I was just saying that on my last trip they seemed to release a lot more dining seating for after 6:00pm about 30-45 days before my travel dates. I had the Fantasmic pkg booked then too for a very early time but was able to move it to around 6:00pm about 45 days out. I think since they don't know the park hours yet for certain (even though you KNOW they're gonna be open past 6:00pm!) they don't let you book dining for later in the evening.

The CM on the phone with me for an MK ressie was trying to convince me that they often show Wishes at 7pm in May (!!!!!) and that indeed it was dark by then and the park would close. I didn't argue with her but I don't think it is dark enough in May at 7pm to have fireworks.