What is Memorial Day Weekend Like??

[Jacob'sMom]

We are thinking about taking our DS to WDW for his 3rd birthday in May. We really want to make this special because he was diagnosed with leukemia in September and has already been through so much. I just realized that his birthday falls on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend so now I am rethinking when we go. Can someone tell me what it is like Memorial Day weekend? Does attendance go down the week following Memorial Day. I can handle a day or two of craziness but I don't think I can handle a whole week. Thanks!

 

[tzolkin]

How many days are you planning to go?

We went for 9 days last year (the Wednesday before through the Thursday after). It was definitely more crowded on the weekend than it was the first few days we were there, but since we were there for so long we didn't try to stay in the parks all day- every day. Either Sunday or Monday we wound up in MK in the afternoon and it was packed. Most everything in Fantasyland and several other attractions were 90-120 minute waits.

If you are able/willing to go to the morning EMHs you should be able to do everything you want to do. We went to several and were able to do all the attractions we had on our list before any crowds started to pick up (around 11:00). For example in Fantasyland everything was walk-on and we even did several attractions more than once, but if we would have waited until the afternoon we probably would have only seen one attraction in the same amount of time. We then left and went back to the hotel and then did a different park in the evening. My kids don't nap at home, but we wound up sleeping for a few hours every afternoon in the cool AC at the hotel. It was actually a very relaxing trip.

 

[hardingk]

We were there the Saturday - Friday before in 2005 and the weekend of in 2007. In 2005 the week was great in the begining up until thursday or so, then it got crowded. In 2007 the parks weren't that bad on Saturday and Sunday morning, but it was packed Sunday afternoon and Monday. It was also Love Bug season when we were there in 2007 and they were EVERYWHERE!!!!

 

[WallE]

I am interested in advice here too. We will be arriving the Tuesday after Memorial Day for 7 days. What are the crowds like then?

 

[cheerforchelsea]

I have been to WDW several times over the Memorial Day weekend...and yes it is crowded. Crowds tend to thin out on Tuesday and the rest of the week is not totally unbearable but it is still crowded.