Week before MLK vs week of MLK?

[Vougar]

Has anyone done both the week before MLK and the week of MLK? We are now thinking of moving our 2016 trip to the week before rather than the week of. Our ultimate goal is less crowds even if it comes at the price of more refurbs. We are planning on having 5 day park hoppers and being there M-Fri either week.

Here are my thoughts:
Monday - Busier MLK Monday of course
Tuesday - Same crowd levels either week
Wednesday - Same crowd levels either week
Thursday - Possibly busier week before MLK due to Star Wars Marathon
Friday - Possibly busier week before MLK due to Star Wars Marathon and three day weekend.

Is this an accurate assessment, am I missing something? I would love to hear from someone who has experienced both.

Thank you.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I can't really say since I've never made the trip either of those weeks. But it's my understanding that the week AFTER is probably the slowest. So if you could swing that, it may be best. That way you'd avoid a holiday AND a marathon.

ETA....

I just looked up the info for Star Wars Weekend and it looks like they have stuff going on Thursday 14th - Sunday 17th. I didn't realize that when I posted the above.

So yeah, your assessment is probably fairly accurate. Though I do wonder if some people take an extra long weekend and extend their trip into Tuesday after MLK day.

I think you'll basically have to decide if you want crowds at the end of your visit or at the beginning of your visit.

This is just my guess as far as crowds go...

Monday 11th - Not bad.
Tuesday 12th - Not bad
Wednesday 13th - Iffy.
Thursday 14th - Busy.
Friday 15th - Busy.

Monday 18th - Busy
Tuesday 19th - Iffy.
Wednesday 20th - Not bad.
Thursday 21st - Not bad.
Friday 22nd - Not bad.

Hopefully someone who has been can chime in since I'm just making guesses...haha!

 

[Vougar]

Thank you for your thoughts, I appreciate it. Normally, I would go the week after or first couple weeks of February. However, our twin boys will be turning 3 on Sat 1/23/16, hence why planning before this date (big savings on park admission).

 

[ClaraOswald]

Thank you for your thoughts, I appreciate it. Normally, I would go the week after or first couple weeks of February. However, our twin boys will be turning 3 on Sat 1/23/16, hence why planning before this date (big savings on park admission).

Ah. Good idea!

I hope someone else who has been there can give you some good advice. I wonder if there's really much of a difference at all with those two weeks.

I know we went there the week of MLK, arriving on that Wednesday...but it was back in 2009. So I'm sure it's much different now. Especially with the marathon weekend happening right before.

 

[NiceOneSimba]

Yep, I'd make the same assumptions as Clara.

The weekend is going to be VERY BUSY. Lots of lines in the 40-50 minute range, with longer for E tickets over the weekend.

There will likely be fireworks all weekend (including Monday night), and then none after that during the week. So, if you want those, make sure you are there for at least one of the weekend days!

 

[Vougar]

Thank you for the feedback. I'm thinking overall the week of MLK (M-Fri) would be less busy than the week before MLK due to the Star Wars Marathon events. There were some early trip reports last week from people commenting on the low crowds on Tues-Thurs (except on MLK day).

I thought about going Tues-Sat MLK week but 1) the twins turn 3 that Sat. 2) sometimes we like a little longer to decompress from vacation before starting school/work the following Monday.

I would love to hear from anyone out there who has done both MLK week and the week before.