Week Before Memorial Day

[Seaton]

Hey folks!

Can anyone tell me about the crowds the week before Memorial Day? Out of necessity, my last few trips to WDW have been over Memorial Day weekend and the crowds have just been overwhelming. However, this year I can go the week before MD if I want to. According to the crowd calenders, it looks like that week is pretty good. If I do go, my window is leaving on the 21st and returning on the 27th. I will take one day to travel there and one to travel back. Travel days aside, I am looking for three full days at WDW. It seems the most sensible three days would be either M-W or T-TR.

If anyone has any experience with this slice of the calendar and wouldn't mind sharing some advice, I would appreciate it.

 

[Seaton]

Anyone?

 

[DekrRini]

With the cancellation of Star Wars Weekends it should be better. It will probably be better than a holiday weekend so you should be good. I'm heading to WDW around that time as well. Hope you have a great trip.

 

[Seaton]

Thanks. What three days would you recommend: Sunday-Tuesday, Monday-Wednesday, or Tuesday-Thursday?

 

[DekrRini]

I'd avoid Sunday because I'd assume locals would be most likely to go on the weekends. I think either of the other choices would work fine. I might lean towards Tuesday-Thursday, but I really don't think it would make a big difference.

 

[volfan1978]

Also keep in mind that in recent years they've done the 24 hours at Magic Kingdom on the Friday prior to Memorial Day.

 

[LoKiHB]

We were there the week prior to Memorial Day in 2013. Friday-Sun are... sorry WERE packed at DHS ::sob:: for Star Wars ::sniffle:: Weekends. The rest of the week we found the parks rather manageable. Sunday was the only day we felt packed in, and that was at MK the day before Memorial Day. If you have 3 days, I'd go T-W-R. Weekends bring the locals, and Mondays usually brings the new arrivals who absolutely HAVE to go to MK first thing!

 

[Seaton]

Thanks for the advice, folks.

 

[lchuck]

Also keep in mind that in recent years they've done the 24 hours at Magic Kingdom on the Friday prior to Memorial Day.

I'm not familiar with that. We're currently planning on being at MK on Saturday of Labor Day weekend, so if they do the 24 hour thing again, would that mean there is no rope drop that day?

 

[Accident]

I've found friday night - sunday is more crowded than mon-thurs (and some current discounts are for stays that don't include friday or saturday night). on 3 day weekends, the short work week is the really packed one with the multi-day weekend being even more crowded.

I generally consider the weekend an 'enjoy where your standing' time while the weekdays are my 'attraction' days. My next trip we're skipping the weekends and seeing what a arrive early monday leave late friday trip is like.

 

[OB1]

We were there 2 years ago, and will be there during that time this year. WE found it start to get busier the later in the week you stayed. Many schools are getting out and making a quick trip. Even though there were crowds, it was very manageable with just a moderate amount of plans and FP. We were actually surprised and how well we managed because we really expected the parks to be packed.
Have a great trip - it will be here before we know it.