May Question...

[VT GAL]

Hi!

We are headed down May 17-21, and the crowd calendar on touringplans says that they are 8's and 9's. Is there something going on that week that I missed? We have been down in May for the past 3 years and it has never been this busy.

I am just starting to get a little worried that it is going to be a little crazy...

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks!
Shelley

 

[polynesiangirl]

Yeah, I'm a bit surprised at the predicted crowd levels.

My sister and I were there at almost the exact same time last year and it wasn't empty but it wasn't insane either....so, hopefully it's similar to last year and not beyond that (with the economy being what it is I would be shocked if it was MORE crowded but I guess stranger things have happened.)

I'm a slacker about making ADRs (I make them late in the planning phase, if I even make them at all,) so this year I didn't make any until just a few weeks ago. I had no problem getting the places I wanted (most of which were located in the parks,) at peak times (e.g. lunch at noon,) so maybe that's an encouraging message. Maybe.

I guess it won't really change what we do anyways (I admire those of you with the will to get yourselves up for the rope drops, but God knows there is no way we can make that happen even if we know it's going to be crowded! :lol, and if we end up missing something then we'll just see it next time around.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Yeah, I'm a bit surprised at the predicted crowd levels.

My sister and I were there at almost the exact same time last year and it wasn't empty but it wasn't insane either....so, hopefully it's similar to last year and not beyond that (with the economy being what it is I would be shocked if it was MORE crowded but I guess stranger things have happened.)

I'm a slacker about making ADRs (I make them late in the planning phase, if I even make them at all,) so this year I didn't make any until just a few weeks ago. I had no problem getting the places I wanted (most of which were located in the parks,) at peak times (e.g. lunch at noon,) so maybe that's an encouraging message. Maybe.

I guess it won't really change what we do anyways (I admire those of you with the will to get yourselves up for the rope drops, but God knows there is no way we can make that happen even if we know it's going to be crowded! :lol, and if we end up missing something then we'll just see it next time around.

I have some friends who were just down there the week after Easter and they had some serious crowds then. I had prepped them the best I could suggesting early/late touring. They said they saw a lot and had a great time. They did notice that they had to pick and choose for their touring times. If they stayed out super-late touring parks then they weren't able to drag themselves from bed for rope drop the following morning. When my brother and I take my nieces late in May I'm going to do the same. If I think we'll be out super late at night I'll make sure we don't have early morning breakfast ADRs to make it to.

Also, it's entirely possible/probable that the parks will be busier than the same time last year. My hubby and I were there the 2nd week of May last year and I know exactly what you're talking about. Even with the economy, the stay4/get3 deal has been a huge success and brought a whole lot of people in. If these people are traveling on a tight budget they may not have made a bunch of ADRs which would've made it easy for others to get the times they want. I've adopted the attitude that I'll be prepared for the worst but hope for the best.

 

[mbtohill]

Like everyone else we are 1st week of May people, having gone that time 3 of the last 4 years and heading down again on the 1st...6 DAYS FROM NOW!!!

I have noticed that crowds have steadily increased every year at this time, I think parents are getting "smarter" about the opportunity to take kids out of school for a week to avoid the huge summer/holiday crowds.

The 8's and 9's on touringplans is a bit scary since last year I'm sure they listed the crowds at 5's or 6's..and I too am confused at the expected spike in attendence....

At the end of the day ...we are going to take it slow....and HAVE A BLAST...:ROFLOL:

 

[Teddi]

I was concerned at first, as we've been going the first week of May for the last 3 years.
Once I realized I couldn't do anything about it, I decided to plan accordingly and do what we do every year:
Go have the time of our lives and kick the cr*p out of WDW again! :king:

See all my fellow May'ers at rope drop!

POR May - 4 -11!!!

10 days away!! WHAT???!!! Oh yeah baby!

We too will be at POR that week! Just May 6-9 though.
I was at WDW during "Spring break" time....March 15-19 I believe. It was as packed as I've ever seen it. Now I'm going back with some friends to celebrate one of their birthdays. I assured them it would be nothing like it was when I was down in March. I'm sure they're going to be a little disappointed with the crowds since we only have 3 days there. And here we thought this would be a pleasant and quiet time of year! I don't mind the crowds...I'd go to WDW on a Phase 4 day and have just as much fun. The rest of my party hasn't been in 15-19 years though so I'm crossing my fingers in hopes that it's slow enough that we get to do everything they had hoped to do!