Which day at MK is better? Sunday or Monday

[nicko]

I only have two days at WDW on May 16-17. I keep hearing that Mondays are bad because every tourist goes there first. On the other hand Sundays are bad because the locals fill the park. Which is the better day crowd wise?

 

[fla4fun]

I don’t know that past history is really relevant right now, as a lot of locals are WFH so their schedules are more flexible, and most of the time the parks aren’t filling to capacity right now (with the exception of holiday periods). If it were me, and other factors such as ADRs didn’t impact my choice, I would probably choose Sunday. But I don’t feel Monday is as big a problem as it used to be.

Now if you had said Epcot instead of MK, I would lean more towards Monday as there still seems to be more crowding on the weekends when festivals are going on (whether this is due to locals, or due to the construction corralling the guests into a smaller space, I can’t say for sure - probably a combination of the two).

 

[Timandalicia]

I don’t buy that. I need more data. When I go, Mondays seem much quieter. And I can think of reasons why. Less likely for locals. A lot of conventions have Sunday off. And I don’t get that. Don’t people travel on Saturday?

 

[scrappinginontario]

If it were me, I would go Monday.

 

[fla4fun]

Don’t people travel on Saturday?

I think a lot of people travel when it’s most convenient and least expensive. So if they find a flight on Thursday that is cheaper, they travel Thursday. People who drive may be more likely to take a traditional Saturday to the following Sunday trip. Personally, my trips are usually Monday or Tuesday to the week following on Thursday, to minimize the higher weekend room rates at Disney resorts.

 

[redrosesix]

In the past, I would say definitely Monday. No idea if that has changed because of covid but I doubt it.

 

[nicko]

Thanks all. The World certainly is upside down these days so who knows. I tried to see if MK park hours are longer on Sunday vs Monday as an indicator of expected crowds. No luck. They are the same.

I tried to see which day is "all booked" more often. Sunday vs Monday. Inconclusive. No enough data.

I do like to hear opinions.

Back in the "pre pandemic" days I would have gone on Sunday. My theory was always that Sunday mornings were quieter because some locals may be attending Sunday morning services. Of course these days few attend services in person.

 

[Timandalicia]

I think a lot of people travel when it’s most convenient and least expensive. So if they find a flight on Thursday that is cheaper, they travel Thursday. People who drive may be more likely to take a traditional Saturday to the following Sunday trip. Personally, my trips are usually Monday or Tuesday to the week following on Thursday, to minimize the higher weekend room rates at Disney resorts.

I was actually being rhetorical but that makes sense. Drivers.

I also always make my last day a quieter day. Usually Tuesday, then fly out Wednesday.

 

[MomOTwins]

Another wrinkle for ya: we often like to travel Sunday-Friday because airfare is cheaper and so are resort prices (Fri-Sat are more expensive than other days). So that Males Monday a good MK day.

Also Monday attracts the “long weekend” type vacationers who go down friday morning/monday evening and do MK on departure day.

Basically it is really only to really be sure of a dip in crowds is to go mid-week

 

[kylenne]

Another wrinkle for ya: we often like to travel Sunday-Friday because airfare is cheaper and so are resort prices (Fri-Sat are more expensive than other days). So that Males Monday a good MK day.

Also Monday attracts the “long weekend” type vacationers who go down friday morning/monday evening and do MK on departure day.

Basically it is really only to really be sure of a dip in crowds is to go mid-week

It’s funny, when I do those long weekend trips I usually hit AK on Monday. I have to feed my Satu’li bowl habit, lol. But when I take those trips it’s a holiday weekend most of the time and on those Monday holidays every park is crowded. I have not been since the pandemic though so idk how it’s changed if at all.

 

[CTDisneygal]

Another wrinkle for ya: we often like to travel Sunday-Friday because airfare is cheaper and so are resort prices (Fri-Sat are more expensive than other days). So that Males Monday a good MK day.

Also Monday attracts the “long weekend” type vacationers who go down friday morning/monday evening and do MK on departure day.

Basically it is really only to really be sure of a dip in crowds is to go mid-week

Interesting. Those are two of the most expensive days to fly for us.

 

[kylenne]

Interesting. Those are two of the most expensive days to fly for us.

I think it depends on your route and home airport. At least pre Covid, NY/NJ/CT tri-state area has a LOT of weekend warrior types (self included) and so even though we have plentiful daily direct flights to MCO, I find it’s always more expensive to fly out of the big three airports around NYC on Friday. But also we are a major hub for business travel...the only folks flying during the week typically are business travelers. I remember the IT consultant we worked with on a big project a couple years ago always used to fly home to Houston on Thursdays because it was way cheaper than on Friday. It’s hard to say how it is now though because almost all travel at the moment is leisure.

 

[CTDisneygal]

I think it depends on your route and home airport. At least pre Covid, NY/NJ/CT tri-state area has a LOT of weekend warrior types (self included) and so even though we have plentiful daily direct flights to MCO, I find it’s always more expensive to fly out of the big three airports around NYC on Friday. But also we are a major hub for business travel...the only folks flying during the week typically are business travelers. I remember the IT consultant we worked with on a big project a couple years ago always used to fly home to Houston on Thursdays because it was way cheaper than on Friday. It’s hard to say how it is now though because almost all travel at the moment is leisure.

Ironically, I'm from CT with immediate family dispersed throughout the greater tri state area, especially Fairfield County, Rye, NY, the city itself and northern jersey. But i live in Houston now and Fri/Sun are definitely the most expensive days to fly here

 

[MomOTwins]

Ironically, I'm from CT with immediate family dispersed throughout the greater tri state area, especially Fairfield County, Rye, NY, the city itself and northern jersey. But i live in Houston now and Fri/Sun are definitely the most expensive days to fly here

So I’m in the midwest, and I should clarify—it is cheaper to fly TO Florida on a Sunday and return home on a Friday. It would be expensive to fly to Florida on a Friday and return Sunday. Direction matters because we are going against the flow of traffic.