Tell me about your May experience

[ChloesDaddy]

We're planning our next trip for May 16-25 next year. We plan to stay at Beach Club (so we can walk/boat to Epcot and HS) and get park hoppers so we can spend some off times in Epcot World Showcase and jump to HS for Fantasmic one night. Our kids will be 5, 8 and 11 (boy in between two girls). We're thinking two days each in MK, Epcot and HS (maybe partial days there) and one in AK with some pool time in afternoons and/or evenings. I've scanned the board for some of the latest issues and trends (haven't been on since shortly after our last trip in June 2013). This will be our first trip with FP+ and magic bands. I've checked out MesaBoy's megathread on FP+ and understand the basics. We're at the parks for rope drop most days. We're planning a few TS ADRs, but not many since that messes with flexibility.

With all the background aside, I'm looking for insights from anyone who recently stayed in the latter half of May before Memorial Day. How was your experience with crowds, weather, FP+, getting the ADRs you wanted, etc...

Thx-- CD

 

[TXDisneyFan1]

Well, we didn't go at exactly the same time period, but I can tell you a little about our experience. Our family went May 3-10, 2014. The weather was great! It got a little warm on a couple days, but we had zero rain for our entire trip. The flower and garden festival was beautiful. The crowds became heavy at the usual time each day in the park, but with planning, we did everything we wanted to do each day with FP+ and rope drop. We only waited for more than 20 minutes for one attraction and that was meeting Cinderella. Another positive to this time period was we saw no big groups. No high school cheerleaders, no South American tour groups, etc...

We got the ADRs we wanted without a problem, but if you go without reservations, you will not get in to the good restaurants. Time after time we saw families come up to the hostess desk asking for a table, only to be told that they are all full for the rest of the night. This happened at multiple restaurants.

If I could pick any week to go, it would be the first week of May each year. Everything was perfect! I hope you and your family have a wonderful time as well!

 

[hiroMYhero]

Here are the SWW Trip Reports in case you are planning on SWW in DHS:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/official-star-wars-weekends-2015-trip-reports-and-recaps.3415848/

 

[juliekzp]

If any of them are into Star Wars, I highly recommend the character dinner at Hollywood and Dine. We went this past May, and it was very fun!

 

[ChloesDaddy]

If I could pick any week to go, it would be the first week of May each year. Everything was perfect! I hope you and your family have a wonderful time as well!

Thanks! I wish we could do that, but school runs through the second week of May. It looks like the crowds ramp up a little until Memorial day based on the EasyWDW crowd calendar, but earlier is clearly better.

 

[ChloesDaddy]

Here are the SWW Trip Reports in case you are planning on SWW in DHS:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/official-star-wars-weekends-2015-trip-reports-and-recaps.3415848/

If any of them are into Star Wars, I highly recommend the character dinner at Hollywood and Dine. We went this past May, and it was very fun!

We hadn't planned on doing SWW even though I know it's going on. I'm a long-time SW geek myself, but my kids aren't into it... yet (my son is all about super heroes right now). I'll be pushing the original trilogy before we go see Episode VII in December, so by the time we go they may be into it. Even if we don't spend a whole SWW day at HS we could easily hop over for a dinner. Thanks for the thread and the tip!

 

[bauer1168]

I found May this year to be great for crowd levels. Whether it was at Disney or Universal.
Aslong as you follow Josh's crowd calendar for which recommended park(s) to visit, you will be in fine shape.
The week before Memorial day was absolutely fine. But does start to pick up after it and from June until end of August crowds are pretty heavy.
I didn't do any ADR's so can't comment on that. But with a good touring plan and FASTPASS+ bookings you should be fine
The pic below I took in May on a recommended Tuesday in DHS, just to show how good the crowd levels are.
Hope you have a great trip!

 

[hiroMYhero]

Even if we don't spend a whole SWW day at HS we could easily hop over for a dinner

@yulilin3 will begin the SWW thread in September. You may want to join the thread to find out about the SW meals. Vader is at the breakfasts in SciFi and there may be changes for the Hollywood and Vine dinner because Disney SW characters may no longer be a part of SWW - it's reported to be strictly SW characters. Yulilin's thread will keep you up to date on all the latest news.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

Our group of 7 (5 adults, 2 kids) were just at WDW from May 16-25 (stayed at CBR).

We had no trouble getting all the ADRs we wanted, including: CRT pre-opening breakfast, Akershus dinner, Tusker House late breakfast, Boma dinner, Sanaa (5 pm), 'Ohana dinner, BOG 6:30 dinner, BOG 11:45 lunch, Kona breakfast, HDD (cat 1), Via Napoli lunch, Biergarten lunch, and WCC dinner. DH and I were on the desktop at 6 am at our 180 day opening and made all reservations in less than 15 minutes.

We had similar luck with making our FP+ reservations. We got A&E, a couple 7DMT, TSMM, Fantasmic, etc. Making FP+ reservations for the 7 of us over 8 park days took maybe 10 minutes. We didn't always stick to our FP+ reservations, but changing them wasn't too difficult (only the most popular attractions, like A&E and TSMM had no day-of availability).

We spent May 17 at AK. Most of the day was hot and sunny, but it did rain pretty hard for maybe 15 minutes (with lighter rain for maybe half an hour). Over the course of our vacation, it rained a couple more times (for probably less than an hour at a time), but not nearly as hard as that first day. Several days were overcast, and we heard reports that it was raining in other parks. Mornings seemed to have more clear skies, with late afternoons the cloudiest. My parents tried to go on Characters in Flight (the hot air balloon at DTD) a few times, but it wasn't operating any time they checked due to wind. It was also quite hot with temps in the mid-90s (a couple times, our weather apps said the heat index was around 102*).

We tried to go to the 24-hour day at MK but it was very busy. We spent the morning and afternoon at I think EPCOT and headed over to MK around 9 pm (I can't remember exactly). It was difficult to maneuver down Mainstreet due to crowds. We ended up in Tomorrowland, which was crowded enough that we weren't able to ride anything. Between the crowds and the rain, we gave up and went back to the hotel before midnight.

 

[BalooFan]

I have traveled to WDW several times in May, most recently the second week in May this year. I don't think I have ever been there during the week you will be there. Most of the time, it is cool in the morning and quite warm in the afternoon. This year, though, it was warm and humid in the mornings and hot in the afternoons. We have had May trips with a lot of rain and others with no rain at all. The crowds aren't bad. I had no problem getting the ADR or FP+ that I wanted (including Anna and Elsa for the last day of our stay). Park hoppers are a good idea, since you will be so close to Epcot. Enjoy the Epcot resort area - I love it!

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

We went to WDW the week before/leading up to Memorial Day in 2013 and loved it! The crowds were what I would consider to be "moderate" and definitely picked up a bit the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, but were still manageable. It was hot (mid to upper 80's) but without the stifling humidity and daily rain we experienced during our August trip. From what I've read, it seems like it was a lot hotter and more crowded this year all around, but I am hopeful that the mid-May trip we're planning for next year will be pleasant since Memorial Day falls later in the month and our trip will end a week before the holiday weekend. I always recommend being prepared and planning ahead with your "tools" (crowd calendar, recommended park days, touring plans, lines app, etc.) as the reality is the "low crowd" times at Disney are much fewer and far between than they once were.

 

[ChloesDaddy]

The pic below I took in May on a recommended Tuesday in DHS, just to show how good the crowd levels are.
Hope you have a great trip!

Wow. That's probably the best single indicator of crowds anyone can provide. This trip is going to seem like a breeze compared to our usual June trips.

 

[ChloesDaddy]

@yulilin3 will begin the SWW thread in September. You may want to join the thread to find out about the SW meals. Vader is at the breakfasts in SciFi and there may be changes for the Hollywood and Vine dinner because Disney SW characters may no longer be a part of SWW - it's reported to be strictly SW characters. Yulilin's thread will keep you up to date on all the latest news.

Thanks. I will look for it in September.

 

[ChloesDaddy]

We had no trouble getting all the ADRs we wanted, including: CRT pre-opening breakfast, Akershus dinner, Tusker House late breakfast, Boma dinner, Sanaa (5 pm), 'Ohana dinner, BOG 6:30 dinner, BOG 11:45 lunch, Kona breakfast, HDD (cat 1), Via Napoli lunch, Biergarten lunch, and WCC dinner. DH and I were on the desktop at 6 am at our 180 day opening and made all reservations in less than 15 minutes.

We had similar luck with making our FP+ reservations. We got A&E, a couple 7DMT, TSMM, Fantasmic, etc. Making FP+ reservations for the 7 of us over 8 park days took maybe 10 minutes. We didn't always stick to our FP+ reservations, but changing them wasn't too difficult (only the most popular attractions, like A&E and TSMM had no day-of availability).

Thanks. It took me a moment to figure out what A&E was (haven't been on the board for awhile). That's the top priority for DD5, so I'm glad to hear you were able to get it.

 

[ChloesDaddy]

I have traveled to WDW several times in May, most recently the second week in May this year. I don't think I have ever been there during the week you will be there. Most of the time, it is cool in the morning and quite warm in the afternoon. This year, though, it was warm and humid in the mornings and hot in the afternoons. We have had May trips with a lot of rain and others with no rain at all. The crowds aren't bad. I had no problem getting the ADR or FP+ that I wanted (including Anna and Elsa for the last day of our stay). Park hoppers are a good idea, since you will be so close to Epcot. Enjoy the Epcot resort area - I love it!

Thanks. Since we're going in the latter half of May I thought we might be hitting a transition period for the weather. We've been in late June / early July before, so we're ready for hot and muggy if it shows up.

 

[ChloesDaddy]

We went to WDW the week before/leading up to Memorial Day in 2013 and loved it! The crowds were what I would consider to be "moderate" and definitely picked up a bit the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, but were still manageable. It was hot (mid to upper 80's) but without the stifling humidity and daily rain we experienced during our August trip. From what I've read, it seems like it was a lot hotter and more crowded this year all around, but I am hopeful that the mid-May trip we're planning for next year will be pleasant since Memorial Day falls later in the month and our trip will end a week before the holiday weekend. I always recommend being prepared and planning ahead with your "tools" (crowd calendar, recommended park days, touring plans, lines app, etc.) as the reality is the "low crowd" times at Disney are much fewer and far between than they once were.

Here's hoping that next May's weather is more typical. Disney definitely appears to be filling in the "down" times well. Is it typical for them to offer room discounts or free dining before Memorial Day? We went in early-mid June 2013 and got a room discount for our stay at CR.

 

[Hootch]

We went at the end of May, 5/24-5/30. It was Memorial Day week and some school systems, like ours, ended the 22nd. The crowds were about what we normally see in mid June. We did not make many ADRs and got we wanted. My wife and I planned out our FP+ and times in advance. We pretty much got our exact times. The furthest off was Mission Space by 15 minutes one day. Even Seven Dwarves was easy to get at the right time. That was helpful since we had it planned for our first night with a late arrival. And, at least in the MK, we were able to get additional FPs after the first three were done.

The one benefit this trip was the weather was a bit cooler, usually in the mid 80s with one day in the low 90s.. Having been stationed in Orlando a couple of times, I know the temp can vary greatly having seen March near a hundred almost every day and short trip in the 30s. Or the trip we arrived on Dec 31st to low 80s only to see temps in the 40s a couple of days later. The odds, though, are slightly higher for mid 80s when you are planning to go than late June or July.

 

[yulilin3]

Hi, as HiroMyHero said if you are interested at all in any of the SWW activities I'm opening the thread Sept. 1st.
On my signature are links to SWW2015 planning thread and also trip reports from SWW 2015, many include May visitors.

 

[jess20k]

We have stayed in May many times. The last including this past May, during Memorial Day week, which of course was very crowded. But, usually we stay the first or second week, which for 2016 we are going May 10-18. It is a nice time to go. Very hot, but we do what you plan on doing. We go at rope drop, go back to the resort in the afternoon to swim, and then go back out to the parks. It really helps so much if you make sure you do go at rope drops, we get so much done!

 

[ChloesDaddy]

Hi, as HiroMyHero said if you are interested at all in any of the SWW activities I'm opening the thread Sept. 1st.
On my signature are links to SWW2015 planning thread and also trip reports from SWW 2015, many include May visitors.

Thanks. I'll be sure to check them out.