Star Wars weekend in May - Need info

[LuvvsMickey]

Need some help folks! I have a mother/daughter trip planned for May and just read that the weekend we will be there is Star Wars weekend. Ack! We normally stay on resort during value season, so I've no clue what to expect crowd-wise - if the resorts will be packed as well as the parks. We don't do Star Wars. Would the resorts and parks be packed this week/weekend? I know there are a lot of Star Wars fans out there and I've really no clue what to expect.

Let's just say that patience is not one of my virtues. Not sure what to do here.

 

[partypa]

We have been many Times during Star Wars Weekends ( we have several Star Wars Freaks in the Family and plan our whole Holiday around the Special Evwnts ) The only big crowds will be at Disney's Hollywood Studios, on the Weekends themselves. Most of us will spend our time waiting in line for Actor and Character Autographs, attending the Special Events and waiting on the sidelines for the Parade and the Hyper Space Hoopla
If you can plan to visit the Other 3 Parks Fri, Sat & Sun, you should be fine. Haven't found the Reaorts to be that busy. Mid June - Mid August is busier, IMHO

 

[LuvvsMickey]

That's what I was thinking (and secretly hoping). Will avoid HS over the weekend then. Thanks for responding!

 

[padawans]

Need some help folks! I have a mother/daughter trip planned for May and just read that the weekend we will be there is Star Wars weekend. Ack! We normally stay on resort during value season, so I've no clue what to expect crowd-wise - if the resorts will be packed as well as the parks. We don't do Star Wars. Would the resorts and parks be packed this week/weekend? I know there are a lot of Star Wars fans out there and I've really no clue what to expect.

Let's just say that patience is not one of my virtues. Not sure what to do here.

It will be crowded at Dhs. It still was not as crowded as Dec 19 of last year at dhs. That was insane. To anybody planning a Dec trip my advice would be to leave by the 18th. I have been May, Oct and Dec. May was the most crowded. Rope drop is key. Its still my favorite time to go I love the weather, and the long days.

 

[LuvvsMickey]

It will be crowded at Dhs. It still was not as crowded as Dec 19 of last year at dhs. That was insane. To anybody planning a Dec trip my advice would be to leave by the 18th. I have been May, Oct and Dec. May was the most crowded. Rope drop is key. Its still my favorite time to go I love the weather, and the long days.

Do you mean May was the most crowded at HS only or at Disney in general?

 

[marriedguy99]

I have found in December the closer you go to traditional school breaks the busier the parks get. This is pretty obvious when you think about it, but we usually go the week after Thanksgiving break or the week before Winter Break and the parks are usually pretty empty.

 

[LuvvsMickey]

I have found in December the closer you go to traditional school breaks the busier the parks get. This is pretty obvious when you think about it, but we usually go the week after Thanksgiving break or the week before Winter Break and the parks are usually pretty empty.

We always go the last week in August and the parks are always empty (to us), but we are not going this year. My daughter asked if I would take her on a special trip with just the two of us so I thought the middle of May would be generally safe as it is classified as "regular" season. That said, I was there last year the week right before thanksgiving and the crowds were fine for me. No issues at all. I was surprised because as a child, I remember the hoards of people during our spring breaks in early March and I thought that the week before Thanksgiving would be the same. I was pleasantly surprised. I've no clue about the month of May though.

 

[padawans]

Do you mean May was the most crowded at HS only or at Disney in general?

In general. It was more crowded than October and December. If you look at the crowd calandar on touring plans you will see that its suppossed to be pretty crowded. The parks are open later this May then they have been the last 2 Mays so I think they are expecting higher attendance.

 

[padawans]

I have found in December the closer you go to traditional school breaks the busier the parks get. This is pretty obvious when you think about it, but we usually go the week after Thanksgiving break or the week before Winter Break and the parks are usually pretty empty.

Yep. We arrived on the 12th the parks were empty. Then around the 18th the masses came in droves.

 

[judaloo]

We have always gone the last week of May/beginning of June. We have been there over Memorial Day weekend, and have been okay, although I like checking in on Memorial Day (as everyone is leaving!). The Florida schools don't let out until a little later in June, so overall not too bad. I've used fastpasses (yes, within the return time window) done rope drop a few times during each trip and never waited more than 15-20 min.for anything. I think it's a great time to go..we're doing it this year! Also, Star Wars weekends have always been going on and as the OP stated, we just avoid HS on the weekend. Gay Days have not been a big effect either on crowds as far as I could tell. Hope this helps!

 

[LuvvsMickey]

We're Canadian so I am working this trip around Canadian holidays (and using a free dining pin). Kids are out May 18 and 21 so I planned to book from May 16 - 22. I'm debating if I should now just book from Sunday, May 13th to May 19th. But then, that could really jack my flight prices up, too. Gah! So frustrating!

Thanks for all your input. Very appreciated.