Any other MN people go down for MEA week in Oct.?

[zulaya]

Thinking about doing this in 2005 instead of our usual December trip.

But wondering about crowds, weather and such. Never been in October but I feel pretty educated about what's happening.

MNSSHP, Funai Golf Tourney (hopefully not that week), Food & Wine Fest.

So, any experience the MEA/October pros want to dole out to me?

 

[kkmauch]

We are from MN, but we have never been over MEA. We are going in December, the 8-13th. You said you have been down in December, and since you are a fellow hearty Minnesotan, I was wondering if you have ever been during this time and if you have, do you find it warm enough to swim and hit the open water park?
Incidentally, we have very good friends (from MN) who have gone down over MEA and they have said that there were minimal crowds and the temperature was great! Have fun!

 

[zulaya]

Been in December 3 times already and swam every time. We have never actually gone to the water park, just swam at the resort pool.

The water is heated so that's not an issue. We had a couple rainy days that we didn't swim but you'd think people were going to melt if it wasn't 80 degree air temperature sometimes.

The weather can vary, but since we ARE from MN, and since I was a competitive swimmer, "cold" is completely relative. I have found swimming at Disney to be a must do no matter what.

We're there Dec 3-11 this year. Where are you staying?

 

[zen1]

Another MN person checking in!

We are going October 13-20 and this will be our first time going in October too! I have heard so many wonderful things about going in October, so we thought we would give it a try! And we are going to be going to Mickey's Halloween party on the 14th, I am really looking forward to that!

 

[Sherlee]

We are going down over MEA for the first time this year, October 21 - 25. So, I don't have any experience to offer, but I will report back. The golf tournament is that weekend this year. Our main focus of this trip was to be Discovery Cove, but once that Disney Bug starts to bite, I now find myself trying to plan DC around my WDW plans! We are also going to MNSSHP one night.

 

[kkmauch]

Thanks for the info on December. We are going to be there the 8-13th and we are staying at OKW. Our home resort is SSR, but we thought we'd try out something new this time. It's just mom and I, should be a good time.

 

[mndisfam]

Hi! We went last year MEA the first time. Except for COlumbus Day crowds, it was great. (It was very crowded and people kept saying it was a holiday - had to ask around b4 someone knew what holiday it was. ) Once the 3 day weekend holiday crowds left, it was great.

The not so scary haloween party was wonderful. The weather was wonderful - not too hot.

Have heard thru the grapevine Northwest really raises prices during that week. Hint: We left on Friday b4 MEA and parking at the airport was almost full!!

 

[decker96]

zulaya -- we are going over MEA in Oct. 2005 too! I think the gold tournament will probably be that week as it has been for the last three years and is this year again as well. I posted a thread about the tourn. a while ago and the responses I got were that it didn't seem to affect park crowds too much, but that the deluxe resorts seemed to get a bit more crowded.
Can't wait for MNSSHP!

 

[Mel6197]

Is flying from MN meeting us on Oct 22-30th

So my question is what exactly is MEA week? What does it do?

 

[zulaya]

MEA is the Minnesota Education Association. State Teacher Convention. Usually we have 3 days off of school that week. It's typically the W-TH-F of the 3rd week of October to give you some sort of reference.

Don't worry though, from what I understand, it's not like Jersey Week.

 

[disneymom3]

We went several years ago for that week and it was great. Wonderful weather, low crowds. Should be a great time for you.

For the poster wondering about December weather, we went in Dec too--the 3rd thru the 13th and went to the beach twice. For us it was hot, but we did notice we were the only people in the ocean! My DH kept saying, "Why aren't there more people here? It's hot!" Being from So CA, I tried to explain that you just don't go to the beach in Dec, but he couldn't understand.

 

[minniesota]

We will be there Oct. 16-23 and this is our 3rd MEA visit! My only advice is to stay away from MK on Saturday and possibly from Epcot on the weekends due to Food and Wine Festival. The weather has always been awesome with one exception. In '98, the day we arrived was 90s and sooo humid (a lot like today!) and we were in MK (a Sat.) Almost died but a big storm came through that afternoon and cleared it up for the remainder of our stay. In 2002, we only had one evening of rain but it cleared up in a couple hours and we saw Fantasmic as planned! Bring light jacket for the evening - we needed them on our Illuminations cruise ( at least the women did!) Crowds seem minimal and we loved MNSSHP - we'll be there the 17th! Start looking for fares early - try Delta and Sun Country if NW is too high. We have also been to WDW Dec. 5 - 12 and LOVED that too. It was considerably cooler. We wore long pants and sweatshirts to the parks half the time, otherwise shorts and t-shirts with a sweatshirt in the backpack. The kids definately went swimming but did not get to the water parks. Have fun!

 

[kkmauch]

Thanks for all the info on December. Glad to hear us hearty Minnesotans will be fine in the water!
Also, for those interested, we just got a great deal on airfare from MSP to MCO. We are flying United for $145 RT. We have a short lay-over in Chicago, but I don't mind giving up an hour there because it means we get to stay extra long on the day we fly back!