Unexpected crowds?

[CleveRocks]

Just for fun, I went to the WDW website to check the rates for my room at CBR during the nights of my stay (secretly hoping the rates went up so I could feel like I got a bargain ), and I learned that CBR is SOLD OUT for that time frame. I then called Central Reservations, and learned that ALL the moderates are booked for my week, 5/8 (Mothers Day)-5/14. We specifically chose the week we did because of relatively low crowd expectations. Is it normal for these resorts to sell out much of the time, or did we just get very unlucky ?

C'mon, tell me, I can take it.

-- Eric

 

[ninaeve]

I am sure bc that is the week right after the big opening/start of the 50th celebration. I have heard all of May is expected to be crowded.

 

[LucyStorm]

That's because I will be there celebrating my birthday and the whole world just had to join me!

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

WDW added extra EMH for the month of May- That usually means they expect higher crowds.

We have been there in May- and I love it that time of year. We are heading down the last week of April, because of my birthday, and our anniversery. After booking, thinking it would be after Spring break, I found out that many NY, and NJ schools are out that week, so I feel your worries. I'm having them too.

Good luck- Have a great trip.

 

[kathyseb]

Mady/Sophiemom,
We will be down there from April 24 through April 30 for my birthday (26th) and our 12th anniversary (24th)!!
When is yours?

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Mady/Sophiemom,
We will be down there from April 24 through April 30 for my birthday (26th) and our 12th anniversary (24th)!!
When is yours?

Our 15th anniversery is the 28th, and my birthday (almost 40 ) is the 30th.

We were going to go to Jamaica (just DH, and I), but because of babysitting issues- no family close enough to us, we decided to take the kids to disney

I'm so Excited About the trip- not the almost 40 part.

 

[dani12]

We are also going during that time (May 4th-10th). After I booked it I realized that it would be the first week of the celebration! I hope we didn't mess up and book a busy time.

 

[sarahg311@hotmail.co]

Eric, I'll be there the same exect dates as you. I honestly think there will be a huge crowd during the time that we are going to be there. When I was making some additional PS's there wasn't really anything left for the *good* restaurants. A CM told me over the past couple of weeks they have had a swarm of reservations made for May. Looks like we'll be fighting the crowds!

Sarah

 

[AJKMOM]

May 5th is the official start of the Disney celebration of the 50th anniversary of Disneyland. Of course, it's a celebration that is supposed to last until Dec. 2006! I think there is at least one new attraction that will be opened on that day,and they offered special packages at all the Disney parks.

 

[mickeyluv]

That's because I will be there celebrating my birthday and the whole world just had to join me!

Me to LucyStorm!! Celebrating my birthday May 21st in WDW. Vacationing in the World May 20th - May 25th. How about you? When is your birthday?

 

[disneyfan67]

I have a feeling that it's going to be a busy May and even a busier summer due to 50th celebration. Everbody wants to say they were at a Disney Park for the 50th. I'm going in 26 more days and I have a feeling that it's going to be packed. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[franw]

I cannot count how many times we have been at the CBR when they have said they are sold out and yet the resort and parks were very manageable. Sometimes they offer such good deals on property that Disney is sold out but the surrounding off property hotels have lots of space.
You can look up the calendar for your time period and see what hours they will be open. It is often a good indicator of how many people they are expecting in the parks. I wouldn't worry about it, plus you may find that it is quite a festive time to be there with the kick-off of the celebration. I can't imagine people would be taking their school age kids out that close to the end of the school year.

 

[dani12]

I checked the dates from the 4-10 to see what the rates would be and there were quite a few hotels open during that time. I'm not as concerned after seeing that. Let's just keep our fingers crossed!

 

[disneyworld!]

Me to LucyStorm!! Celebrating my birthday May 21st in WDW. Vacationing in the World May 20th - May 25th. How about you? When is your birthday?

another one celebrating there birthday!! mine is May 15th and I am coming down oon May 20th(due to school)!! I alwyas need to hit disney for my birthday

 

[bavaria]

I was once checking into CBR, 2 busses of very excited dutchmen pulled up, I got stuck behind them for about 30 minutes. Got to the desk, and the sweet desk clerk looked like he was going to cry. I asked if they were busy, he said they were oversold, so I volunteered to move to POR.

Turned out that it was a computer convention which had booked rooms at WDW, but was at the convention centre. I never felt the impact all week, even at POR where there were a few conventioneers. They didn't go to the parks during the week, so WDW had a few sold out resorts, but the parks were perfectly fine.

It's sometimes like that with conventions at the Swan/Dolphin or YC/BC - they only end up going to Epcot in the evenings or for special events.....

 

[weluvpluto]

Just a thought but is it possible that Disney would put the press covering their "events" in the moderates?

 

[fireman17]

Our family is heading down to WDW from 5/2 to 5/11. I'm not to concerned about the crowds, you have to remember schools are not out and spring break is over. I do expect some higher volume on the 5th for the start of the celebration. But with it lasting for 18 months I don't think the start of it will overwhelm the parks.
The countdown continues
Been there, Done that, Going back. YAHOOOOOO!!!!!
:thewave:

 

[Elbow642]

fireman, we are going the exact dates, and i hope you are right. I think the same things, schools are not out then, so it should be ok, right?

 

[Violetx3]

I am going the same week and think it will be busy--I just wish I knew how busy. Disney is mentioning May specifically in advertising for the celebration and I wonder if it has just resulted in a lot of interest in that month. I don't think it is always so clear that is an 18 month celebration.

I am interested, though, in the conventions going on. There do seem to be a lot of them and it might be better to have rooms booked by convention people than regular tourists who came specifically for the parks. I know Coronado Springs and either Swan or Dolphin have been booked for a while for that week. Grasping at anything in the hope that it won't be out of control...

 

[tstobb]

We're heading up from the 2nd to the 8th and got a great FL resident rate for the cabins. If it was going to be all that busy, I don't think (hope!) that they would have offered these rates.