WhY is ~DiSnEy~ so CROWDED in *FeBrUaRy*?????

[posh*tots* resale]

Originally Posted by Murron

shushhhhh!!!!! September is still the wonderful a-hem "secret" ... we go after Labor day and it's heaven. We are also going in early May again this year. The Epcot Flower/Garden show does draw the crowds, but it will never compare to the chaos we had to experience when the children were young and the only time we could go was in (ugh ugh ugh) end of August. I think you'll find May is very do-able. EMH is not a consideration for us...but then again we are very early risers and EMH or not, we are usually at the parks early and in the resort pool by 2 p.m.

My lips are sealed!!!

[larryz]

Originally Posted by posh*tots* resale

I've been watching the boards the last few weeks & have noticed a LOT of posts on how CROWDED all the parks have been & how long wait times are for rides!!! I just don't get it!! Do you think this is because MANY of the people are on the FREE DINING PROMO that ends March 7th????? That's all I can think of. We've done FREE DINING in Sept. 2007, 2009 & 2011 & even at THAT time never experienced wait times such as those that are being posted. We are going May 4-12 are are PAYING for dining this time around (really goes against my grain to do this) but I'm hoping & PRAYING that the parks aren't as busy as NOW since the FREE DINING promo & SPRING BREAK will be over. UGH!!!

Two words: F - L - E.

[tink_n_pooh]

We have been to WDW several times in February before and never before have we seen crowds like this past week. It was more crowded and hectic than peak summer season trips we have taken. The tour groups were overwhelming, more so than ever before for us. The cheer and dance girls were there but not causing any problems, all the loud cheering, crowd stopping groups were BTG. We also did not realize schools had off for mardi gras, that does not happen near us. Winter break here, if we have one in Presidents' Day and possibly the week of

[MacClemsons]

We were there 2/5-2/12. Apart from the first three days of our trip it was very crowded. I do think new FL is a big draw. We were some of the first people to get in line for ETWB on a Wednesday at RD and still waited 20 mins.starting over the weekend, the parks were flooded with Louisiana visitors. We were some of the only people not wearing green, gold&purple. I know Pres day is busy so we planned to avoid it. No idea Mardi Gras would bring crowds. We saw wait times of 90 mins for Pooh on 2/10. Even DS6 said, "that's crazy!" Another consideration might be Daytona 500?

[Prince Eric's Mom]

Originally Posted by tink_n_pooh

We have been to WDW several times in February before and never before have we seen crowds like this past week. It was more crowded and hectic than peak summer season trips we have taken. The tour groups were overwhelming, more so than ever before for us. The cheer and dance girls were there but not causing any problems, all the loud cheering, crowd stopping groups were BTG. We also did not realize schools had off for mardi gras, that does not happen near us. Winter break here, if we have one in Presidents' Day and possibly the week of

I agree. We just came back. Saturday MK closed to capacity in the afternoon. Was told by a CM that other than the obvious holiday times that hasn't happened in the 10 years he'd been there! Sunday was crazy, too! This was NOT at all like the other visits we have had during this same time period.

[eeyoresmom]

Not sure if it was Friday or Saturday, but at one point late morning there was an hour wait for the monorail from the TTC to MK!

[blebert]

I hope they crowds die down the first week of March. I was one that took advantage of the FR deal 4 days for $129. We will be in the parks Monday the 4th through Thur. 8th

[carolinamama]

A friend was there last week and also said it was crazy crowded!

Our first day in the park is 2/27. Touringplans is showing a 3 for that day as well as 2/28. Hope it's accurate!

[posh*tots* resale]

I was watching on TV this morning "LIVE with Kelly & Michael" and they are broadcasting their show all week from Disney. Early this morning at the MK, it looked soooooooooooooooooooooo crowded on their show. YIKES~~!!!!!

[cc-atl]

People could not believe the crowds in January either.

I think the main reason is the FLE. I imagine quite a few people put off their 2012 trips until 2013 in order to see the new fantasyland.

Also, the traditional school year is becoming less common. Educators are coming to believe that it might be better for students (and their ability to retain material) to have more smaller breaks through out the year and less of a summer break. As a result you are seeing lots of school systems give weeks off in February (either for Presidents Day or Mardi Gras or just as a random winter break).

[Aliceacc]

My school was incredibly lucky in that we didn't lose our "February break" because of all the days we lost over Hurricane Sandy.

Four of the teachers I work with are at WDW at this very minute with their families.

[mikerobrewer]

Leaving tonight for a short 3-day trip. Hopefully the crowds will die down a bit but it is just the wife and I and there is nothing that we must see so we'll deal with whatever crowds are there.

[Love Tink]

Originally Posted by cc-atl

I think the main reason is the FLE. I imagine quite a few people put off their 2012 trips until 2013 in order to see the new fantasyland.

I keep seeing this in posts on various threads...and I just couldn't agree less.

I think if I went around to my whole neighborhood, knocked on doors, and asked people what they thought about the Fantasyland Expansion, 98% of people would have no idea what I was talking about.

If you search the Dis, there are threads from every single year talking about the crowds on "Presidents Week." (I just looked at one from 2003 reporting a Stage 4 closure.)

[Maleficent53]

Originally Posted by carolinamama

A friend was there last week and also said it was crazy crowded!

Our first day in the park is 2/27. Touringplans is showing a 3 for that day as well as 2/28. Hope it's accurate!

We arrive on 2/24 and are also hoping the "3" holds up for the dates you mention. We picked our dates based on the crowd prediction. The other days are showing 5 or 7 which also would be doable....

Originally Posted by posh*tots* resale

I was watching on TV this morning "LIVE with Kelly & Michael" and they are broadcasting their show all week from Disney. Early this morning at the MK, it looked soooooooooooooooooooooo crowded on their show. YIKES~~!!!!!

On another thread it was mentioned that the shows are not "live" but were already recorded so that whole stage setup should be removed by now.

[pigletto]

Originally Posted by Love Tink

I keep seeing this in posts on various threads...and I just couldn't agree less.

I think if I went around to my whole neighborhood, knocked on doors, and asked people what they thought about the Fantasyland Expansion, 98% of people would have no idea what I was talking about.

If you search the Dis, there are threads from every single year talking about the crowds on "Presidents Week." (I just looked at one from 2003 reporting a Stage 4 closure.)

I have to agree with you there. Mardis Gras, Presidents Week and Tour Groups are by far the major culprits in these crowds. And for as long as I have been a member people have warned about Presidents week, often putting it in the same breath as "Christmas" and "Easter" for crowd levels. I don't think the new FLE is helping any mind you, but I've never been under the impression that these were good weeks to go.