Never Again in February

[CHIPSTER]

Just got back - 2/1 thru 2/10 trip - never will go in February. Couldn't believe the crowds - especially on Saturday. Couldn't move. And the "15" groups from South America were untolerable. I use a scooter and was trying to get on a bus at EPCOT when 4 groups converged and started chanting and they wouldn't let me get to the ramp to the bus. They were so rude! Cheerleaders were there on the weekends but they were well behaved. Downtown Disney was a zoo especially with only 1 bus stop. Any questions I'd be happy to answer. Weather was great though.

 

[pl4bby]

When will you go then? Seems slow times are a thing of the past.

 

[CHIPSTER]

My favorite time of the year - the week after Thanksgiving.

 

[Psav74]

I just got back from a 1/26 to 2/2 trip and it was nuts. People everywhere, tour groups creating huge lines everywhere. Food prices are high for the quality you get.

This was our 6th year in a row we have gone and I think we need a break from Disney.

 

[davedmaine]

Just got back - 2/1 thru 2/10 trip - never will go in February. Couldn't believe the crowds - especially on Saturday. Couldn't move. And the "15" groups from South America were untolerable. I use a scooter and was trying to get on a bus at EPCOT when 4 groups converged and started chanting and they wouldn't let me get to the ramp to the bus. They were so rude! Cheerleaders were there on the weekends but they were well behaved. Downtown Disney was a zoo especially with only 1 bus stop. Any questions I'd be happy to answer. Weather was great though.

Unfortunately there are seemingly no slow times anymore..

 

[2012bella13]

We leave in 12 days, I hope there is not alot of tour groups there then.
I picked this week because of low crowds, lower prices & cooler weather!

 

[stinkpickle]

This doesn't sound encouraging. Hopefully, it's just a fluke.

 

[babygirlamg]

same here bella i leave in 14 days and hoping for the same things....

 

[quandrea]

Unfortunately there are seemingly no slow times anymore..

we were there 1/31 thru 2/8 and found it really quiet.

 

[mariethecat]

I was at WDW from Jan 26 to Feb 3rd and didn't have any problems with large tour groups. I actually thought it was my best trip as far as having to deal with rude people. Most days the parks we went to were not that busy.
On Jan 31st I was at MK and most rides I did had a wait time of 5 to 10 minutes. We never waited more than 10 or 15 minutes for buses even after the parks were closing.
We were able to get good seats at Fantasmic within 20 minutes of the show and I got a very good view of Illuminations just 5 minutes prior to the show.
The weather was really nice most days (no rain) and we were in the pools lots.
Overall I thought it was my best trip and just wish it had been longer.

 

[Time Traveler]

we were there 1/31 thru 2/8 and found it really quiet.

Yeah....this isn't adding up. Josh at EasyWDW hasn't been reporting anything about higher crowds than usual; from what he's posted, it seems pretty slow.

2/5:

http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorize...hs-cheese-sandwich-and-seafood-sandwich-2513/

Maybe some of you just got unlucky with the tour groups?


-----

edit:
From Late January:
http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorized/art-of-animation-lunch-and-oh-my-gosh-its-so-crowded-here/

 

[MINNEMUMMUM]

We are also arriving on the 25th of Feb. Staying at OKW. Will hope for the best. DH made ADR's last week and got what we wanted. Sooooo I guess we all will see what happens. This coming week should be CRAZY with all the winter breaks up here in the Northeast and New Englad.

 

[CHIPSTER]

On Saturday 2/9 the wait times were 75 minutes for Buzz, 90 for space mountain, 120 for under the sea which I thought was very cheesy, 90 for Big thunder mountain and about 45+ for Haunted Mansion. The weekdays were manageable in MK. On 2/2 it also was very crowded - we had to activate our passes at guest relations and the lines were unbelievable. Cast members were not expecting the crowds to be that large.

 

[pigletto]

On Saturday 2/9 the wait times were 75 minutes for Buzz, 90 for space mountain, 120 for under the sea which I thought was very cheesy, 90 for Big thunder mountain and about 45+ for Haunted Mansion. The weekdays were manageable in MK. On 2/2 it also was very crowded - we had to activate our passes at guest relations and the lines were unbelievable. Cast members were not expecting the crowds to be that large.

Ok but Saturday 2/9 was listed as a 7 on Touring Plans, was a weekend and the park to avoid on both easywdw and TouringPlans. Those wait times are congruent with a not recommended park at a 7 and my guess is they were at peak times. Nothing surprising there.

 

[FrostedSteph]

We were there from 2/1-2/9 and the crowds were DEFINITELY higher than we have seen them during years previous. I haven't ever had to wait longer than 40 minutes (and that was for TSM) but we did have quite a few 90, 120 minute waits posted. I am used to the tour groups being there, what I was not prepared for were the cheerleaders and dancers that were there for a competition.

 

[AR81]

Do you think the tour groups will be fading out this week and next. We leave in 8 days, Feb 19-23. I am going to the most recommended parks each day and trying to plan out our mornings and leaving the afternoons for less popular rides. Hope it works out, this is my 8 year old's first visit.

 

[2012bella13]

a while back, I asked a ? about tour groups for the last week in Febuary & someone said that most of the groups (BG) go in January & up to the middle of Febuary, that the last week of this month there should not be any.
I am hoping this is true!!
I have been planning this trip for awhile, & it might be our only trip for a long time, DD will be starting school & summer will not be an option for us.

Here is PIXIE DUST for low crowds

 

[Belle5]

I am curious if the OP used any kind of crowd predictor when making plans. Personally, we try to avoid MK on weekends. Epcot is usually a good bet on the weekends if you must go into a park...

 

[pigletto]

a while back, I asked a ? about tour groups for the last week in Febuary & someone said that most of the groups (BG) go in January & up to the middle of Febuary, that the last week of this month there should not be any.
I am hoping this is true!!
I have been planning this trip for awhile, & it might be our only trip for a long time, DD will be starting school & summer will not be an option for us.

Here is PIXIE DUST for low crowds

I don't know for sure. I have been the last week before and didn't see a single tour group. My understanding is that people from Brazil will be back in school but that Argentinians are out until March. Again, I didn't see any tour groups in Feb of 2011, but this year may be different.

 

[SmallWorld71]

One thing Josh (easywdw.com) explained in a recent article/blog? on his site was how it is so much MORE important to pick your park days carefully when you go at a slow time of year than if you went in say, July. Because the hours are not extended every day, shows are not every day etc... people are much more likely to flock to the same park each day.

He actually showed this by going to the MK one day last week and it was MOBBED then showed the MK on a different day in the same week and everything was basically walk on.

I am sorry for everyone that had a rough time due to crowds. I would strongly encourage people with upcoming trips to check out the crowd calendars at easywdw.com

Under each month is a detailed explanation of why you should/shouldn't go to each park on certain days and why it is/isn't a good choice.