Why May is the BEST month to go (really!!)

Okay, we've decided that for practical reasons the only month we can go is May (daughter on college break etc). After reading the answers to my last post I'm really quite discouraged -and some touring plan site listed "weekends" in May among the absolute WORST times to go. So I need a pep squad! Tell me all the reasons that May IS good, and barring that, give me your best May-time advice on how to handle the stuff that is not-so-good. At least half our trip is at Universal where we will have unlimited express passes, so that will help there. (and they didn't say - but why are May weekends so bad? Is that really a super crowded time?) :mickey: Edited to add - we COULD do the last week of March, but I'm assuming Spring Break crowds are even worse than May?

The last half of May is worse than the beginning. Many schools begin to release for the year in May and, those families constricted by school schedules, often head to Disney once school is out. That said, I have been to Disney many times in the month of May and have found May to be a good time to be there and quite manageable in the parks.

I have mostly been to WDW during the "worst" times. We have been Memorial Day week, just after school gets out several time and are again this month! We love it. I love the excitement of the crowds, longer hours, and warm weather. We love to be able to swim and not get cold if we get splashed on the rides. We do get fast passes and dining reservations, get to parks at opening, and prioritize our attraction attack. We have always had a wonderful time and spend times in shops or indoor attractions when it gets hot. Sometimes we head back in late afternoon for dip in the pool and then head out for dinner. I have also been to the world in September when it is supposedly the best time and is admittedly less crowded, but there is something extra exciting about the peak times. It seems that WDW had the additional staff and techniques to manage it. May can be wonderful if you go with a plan and get to the parks early.

We just got back from Disney, and it was our 3rd May trip. It is rather busy (we're usually end of August people), but with FP and some planning, we did everything we wanted, with minimal waits. The weather is great, warm, but not crazy hot, but warm enough to feel like swimming.

The regular advice applies - get to the parks early, plan FP+ for your must-do's, and if it gets too crazy head back to the resort for a break and a swim (or a long indoor ride) and then tackle the parks again.

And ... don't ride Spaceship earth around lunch time! It was ALWAYS a 55 minute wait in the middle of the day. :)

May is also the time that chorus groups are here to perform, marching bands are here to performs, performance groups are here to perform and there are cheerleading competitions so the participants and their families are EVERYWHERE. It's all about planning ahead!!! There really isn't a "slow" season anymore :-(

I was there Sunday-Friday last week and it was BUSY. I figured the crowds would increase toward the end of the week because of Memorial Day weekend and Pandora opening but expected lighter crowds at the beginning of the week. I thought it was packed all week. There were crowds everywhere. It was difficult to walk at times. We escaped back to the room after lunch when the crowds were too heavy and returned in the evenings. It was still crowded but manageable. There were lots of school field trip groups each day.

That's terrible news :-( Now I'm really not looking forward to it. I assume late March would be even worse? our anticiated dates are the 17th - 23rd

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Originally Posted by mom2morgan

That's terrible news :-( Now I'm really not looking forward to it. I assume late March would be even worse? our anticiated dates are the 17th - 23rd

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next year easter is april 1st, and I know that our schools district has spring break until the 9th of april that week. So perhaps you would miss a lot of the easter/spring break crowds, but not all? We are aiming to go April 21-29, hoping to miss easter/spring breaks and hoping not a lot of people would take vacations this time frame because school is about to let out in mid May. There are though ALWAYS a lot of cheerleading groups in late April.

I think with some planning and expectations it is definitely manageable. Like others said, Disney amps up the staff to handle it. Just make sure you have your FP's and days planned, get your FP and reservations the first day you can.