Weekend of May 17th packed?????

[chancellor]

I've been lurking here for a while, along with some "other" (inferior) Disney boards, and can't seem to figure this out. We are booked at CBR the weekend of May 17th (great discount for Florida residents), but the buzz seems to be that the hotels onsite and offsite for this weekend are booked solid. I've been able to find out that:

1. There's a "limited" Star Wars weekend (to coincide with the release of Episode II);

2. There's an Oncology convention at the Orange County Convention Center; and

3. A cruise returns that day.

These things don't explain to me why all the hotels are booked (go ahead, try to book a moderate online). Since you guys actually seem to know what's going on, does anybody know anything about this weekend (it's the weekend BEFORE Memorial Day). I though that weekend would have low crowds since most people would wait for the 3-day weekend that follows, but that doesn't seem to have happened. I'm stumped (and worried). :brick:

 

[DisneyHoneymoon]

I can totally relate!

My fiance and I (being married May 18th) are going to be there through that weekend and the following week. I'd sure like to know if we are going to be swamped.. one of the reasons we chose this date at WDW was because everyone would not be out of school yet....

 

[chancellor]

I chose that weekend for the same reasons.

After some further snooping, I've found out that the Oncology convention is going to be HUGE - 25,000 participants! This would start to explain the hotel issue (though Orlando has something like 100,000 hotel rooms, but the convention center is on the south side not far from WDW).

Anybody out there have experience with being at WDW while a large convention is nearby? I would think any effect on the parks would be limited to after 5 - is that true?:veryconfu

 

[The Mom]

I've been for a medical convention; it was larger than the Oncology one, and I recall it being crowded, but not as bad as during the summer. The docs, drug reps, etc won't be there during the day, but their families will be! It might be more difficult to get reservations in some of the upscale restaurants, however.