What are crowds like in May?

[Angel Ariel]

My family (me, DH, my mom/dad, bro/SIL/nephew) is talking about taking a big vacation to WDW next year--the time is still up in the air at this point, but realistically I think May will be the best time. My brother will have graduated w/ his post-bachelor's degree and b/c he's going into teaching, he won't have a job til September anyways so vacation isn't an issue, and DNephew isn't in school yet, so that's not an issue.

My brother graduates the 2nd of May, and I know things start to get really crowded at Memorial Day (plus it starts getting hotter)--so my question is, which is the best week to go? The week right after his graduation-and i'm sure many other graduations? (May 3-10th?) The following week? (May 10-17th) or right before Memorial Day (May 17th-May 24th?)

Obviously the earlier it is, the less heat there will be...but what are the crowds like in those weeks? My family (aside from DH and I) hasn't been to WDW since 1995, so I want to be able to plan the best experience possible (and, unfortunately, I don't think going in December is an option, or I would do that! )

TIA!

 

[Lowillian]

A co-worker of mine went the week before Memorial Day this year. She said there were no crowds and didn't wait more than 5-10 mintues for any ride.

In 2006, I took my mom and aunt for a long Mother's day weekend trip. It was beautiful! The weather was excellent and no crowds at all.

Hope that helps!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

We went starting Mother's Day in 5/07. It was not dead, but with fastpass on the biggies- we never waited more than 15 mins for anything! Weather was mid-80s everyday and dry- really great for swimming and the wet rides.

WE will be there that week in '09

 

[jheigl]

A co-worker of mine went the week before Memorial Day this year. She said there were no crowds and didn't wait more than 5-10 mintues for any ride.

In 2006, I took my mom and aunt for a long Mother's day weekend trip. It was beautiful! The weather was excellent and no crowds at all.

Hope that helps!

I have to second this one. The wait for rides is very low, the parks not ridiculously crowded, and the weather very nice (can get hot and humid, but makes the resort pool all that much better). I have been going the past two years on this exact week and have experienced the same thing. I am going this week next year as well.

 

[Finally08]

I'll be watching this thread! With ds in junior high now, and dd starting kindy next year I know school year vacations are out (can't afford holiday time nor do I wish to be in those huge crowds!). The kids here get out in later May, so I think about the last week of May will be when our future WDW visits happen. Soon as finals are done, we can go, but I hate to think of being there with the memorial day crowds!

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

I have been both weeks in May, and found neither to be that crowded. We like to go first thing in the morning though. By 5 p.m., there are a lot of people, but not like when its a holiday or spring break. We went just before Memorial Day this year and did a lot of walk-ons. The year before, we went on 5/3. I think it might have been a tiny bit more crowded. Maybe there was a convention or something. But we had an awesome last minute, room-only rate of $180/night at the cabins, so Disney must not have expected crowds.

We are on year round school and have a break in May (in school all summer). We really like going that time of year and in November on another track-out.

Best of luck in your trip plans!

 

[roselark]

I am super excited to hear this. Taking DM for a girls only trip over Mother's Day next year

 

[jngwright]

Another May fan here-low crowds (we waited under 10 minutes for everything, even rode the biggies multiply times in a row. We used UG's touringplansdotcom for best crowd days-that may have helped)
Mid 70's to low 80's and no rain. No lovebugs either.
I just posted this same response on another thread, but wanted to give my opinion on how great May was! We were there the 5-10th.

 

[jphilhower]

I second that. May is a great time to. The weather being great. we found we could anything in the parks with the crowds being so low. we walked on to most rides several times. that being said we did notice this year a lot more school groups.

 

[Lynn5700]

We always go the first week of May and it is great!!! Perfect weather and the crowds are not bad at all. May is my favorite time to go

 

[Angel Ariel]

Thank you for the replies everyone! (And if there are any more, feel free to keep 'em coming ) I'm happy to hear that it's lower crowds. DH and I went in December last year (13-19th) and the crowd levels were so amazing compared to our honeymoon trip (July '06!) I must say it spoiled me a bit for wanting to go to Disney at non-peak times

many college graduations happen around May 10thish.....has anyone noticed rises in crowds around then? I dunno if college grads would be going to Disney the way many do to celebrate HS graduations

W/my nephew (and, well, me ) I'm sure we'll be having early mornings...he'll likely be up at least 2 hrs before normal opening time, and we'll be staying at SOG so we'll have EMH also. I also love touringplans for the park crowd predicitions--how far out in advance do they go, though? Again, thank you everyone! This is very helpful and I'm already looking forward to planning

 

[jheigl]

I always stay a few days after memorial day and found that Thursday before memorial day - tuesday afterwards to be quite busy. The two weeks before are the greatest time in my opinion to go.