WDW vet, planning first DL trip for May, 2nd or 3rd week better?

[Minniekins]

We, myself and my DD25, usually go to WDW once a year. We are going to add another trip next year in May 2016 to see some of the 60th anniversary things and we are really excited! Was thinking of going either May 7 - 14, or May 14 -21 and getting 5 day park hoppers. We'll arrive on a Saturday, and leave the following Saturday. Will this work okay being able to see the fireworks show a couple of times, as well as PTN and WOC a couple of times?

Also wondering, if either of those weeks would be better than the other week for crowds or ride closures or temps, or anything? My DD25 is really insisting we go the May 7-14 week, so we can be there for Mother's day, lol. She wonders why I wouldn't want to be there on Mother's day. Now, I was checking the prices on Tropicana Inn where we plan to stay, and noticed that the prices were up $30 on the Sat, $20 on the Sun, compared to the following week May 14-21, where all nights were priced the same regardless of weekday or weekend. That's making me wonder whats up with that. Is it really just because it's Mother's day weekend or is there something else going on? Will it be much more crowded that weekend than the next weekend?

I know I'll have more questions as we are planning the days, but I'll come back for those, lol. I do need to read Hydroguy's thread again, checked it out earlier this spring, but gotta read more closely a second time. I am disappointed that things such as the Walt's Railroad and Fantasmic will be closed due to them starting things for the new Star Wars Land. Hopefully there won't be tons of extra things closed than usual, or that some open up before the summer rush in June!

Any thoughts you could share on this will be much appreciated! TIA!!

 

[SMD]

The Tinker Bell half marathon is Mother's Day weekend. Mother's Day is also a popular day in the parks before it was a race weekend.

 

[Minniekins]

Hmmm, interesting, lol. Thx for that info! So, how does the race affect the parks then? Does it make them more crowded? Hmm, makes me wonder if the second week we're considering is better maybe.

 

[figment_jii]

As the PP mentioned, the Tinkerbell Half Marathon is scheduled for May 5 through 8. I haven't been to DLR for that specific marathon, but I've been there during the Avengers Marathon. The crowds are noticeably higher, but taper off pretty quickly after the event ends (usually on Sunday). I expect you'd find higher crowds on Sat (5/7) and Sun (5/8) of your trip due to the race, along with some road closures (although, if you're on Harbor and walking it won't be so much of an issue).

The other thing that we unofficial know at this point is that there will be several grad nights during your stays. At this point, several unofficial sites are listing May 13, 14, 18, and 20 as grad nights during your stay (there are other nights, but there not when you are slated to be there). Grad Nites don't impact park operating hours (it's an after hours event in DCA), but it can impact park crowds. Dis'ers tend to fall into two camps about Grad Nights: 1) those that will avoid them at all costs and 2) those that ambivalent about them. Some folks feel that the groups of teenagers are rowdy and out of control and others feel that they really aren't that different for any other group. So, it's something you'll need to consider when you're going because your second week (May 14 to 21) has three grad nights.

In terms of entertainment, early May is generally considered part of the non-peak season (after Spring Break season, but before the official kick-off to the summer). Normally, fireworks, Fantasmic! (you already know it's down), and Mad T Party are only presented on weekends (Fri to Sun) during the non-peak season. WoC is usually presented nightly. At this point, we don't really know what PtN's non-peak season schedule will be (nightly or only on weekends). Historically, fall is considered non-peak season, but due to the crowds and popularity of the new show, DLR has been presenting fireworks and PtN nightly, but my guess is that the entertainment schedule will go back to "normal" next year (2016), but we won't know for sure until the 2016 entertainment calendars start to be rolled out.

 

[texasgingerbread]

I've been comparing figment (post above) calendar of events, crowd calendar from RMH Travel, crowd calendar from isitpacked.com, and TP historical crowd calendar. Good luck!!

 

[Minniekins]

As the PP mentioned, the Tinkerbell Half Marathon is scheduled for May 5 through 8. I haven't been to DLR for that specific marathon, but I've been there during the Avengers Marathon. The crowds are noticeably higher, but taper off pretty quickly after the event ends (usually on Sunday). I expect you'd find higher crowds on Sat (5/7) and Sun (5/8) of your trip due to the race, along with some road closures (although, if you're on Harbor and walking it won't be so much of an issue).

The other thing that we unofficial know at this point is that there will be several grad nights during your stays. At this point, several unofficial sites are listing May 13, 14, 18, and 20 as grad nights during your stay (there are other nights, but there not when you are slated to be there). Grad Nites don't impact park operating hours (it's an after hours event in DCA), but it can impact park crowds. Dis'ers tend to fall into two camps about Grad Nights: 1) those that will avoid them at all costs and 2) those that ambivalent about them. Some folks feel that the groups of teenagers are rowdy and out of control and others feel that they really aren't that different for any other group. So, it's something you'll need to consider when you're going because your second week (May 14 to 21) has three grad nights.

In terms of entertainment, early May is generally considered part of the non-peak season (after Spring Break season, but before the official kick-off to the summer). Normally, fireworks, Fantasmic! (you already know it's down), and Mad T Party are only presented on weekends (Fri to Sun) during the non-peak season. WoC is usually presented nightly. At this point, we don't really know what PtN's non-peak season schedule will be (nightly or only on weekends). Historically, fall is considered non-peak season, but due to the crowds and popularity of the new show, DLR has been presenting fireworks and PtN nightly, but my guess is that the entertainment schedule will go back to "normal" next year (2016), but we won't know for sure until the 2016 entertainment calendars start to be rolled out.

We did decide to for the first week for the Mother's Day weekend, May 7-14. Booked our flights yesterday when they opened up booking at SW. Yay! We're so excited!

Well, hopefully the crowds won't be too overwhelming. Don't really like crowds, lol! Yeah, I'm a little worried we won't get to see the fireworks each night they are on, or the PTN or WOC shows. I was looking at last year's schedule, and they only showed WOC on the weekends. Plus, is it as DCA? It looks like the WOC was usually on at or close to the same time the fireworks were on! What? I want to see both! Not sure what Mad T Party is, definitely have more to read up on DL, lol! I'll definitely need to be keeping an eye out for the entertainment schedules! Thanks for the heads up, I thought the fireworks were only on Fri and Sat, after your post I checked again and it was on Fri-Sun, so I was glad for the Sun on our first weekend.

Thanks for the heads up on the Grad nights, didn't know that. I guess we'll probably have to deal with the Grad night on May 13, that'll be our last night there. Hopefully we can still get around and do the fireworks and parade and stuff. Thanks for all the helpful info, figment_jii, I appreciate it! Definitely have lots to learn about going to DL, so it's great to have helpful Dissers sharing!

I've been comparing figment (post above) calendar of events, crowd calendar from RMH Travel, crowd calendar from isitpacked.com, and TP historical crowd calendar. Good luck!!

Thanks for the link, and other places to check for info!