BEWARE: new speedweek dates

[pinnocchiosdad]

Race fans including me love WDW. The Daytona 500, the crown jewel of the NASCAR////// season has changed its date starting 2012. The race has traditionaly been held on the Sunday before presidents day. Starting next year (the race is 2/26/2012) the race will be held on the Sunday after presidents day. Presidents week (winter recess) will now coincide with speedweek. This means we get to learn the new math:

PRESIDENTS WEEK + SPEEDWEEK= Double the crowd at WDW

Plan early (I have me seats and room reservations). Expect crowds. Enjoy.

 

[wildernessDad]

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[ErinC]

Add to that Mardi Gras. Many of the "gulf coast" schools will be out for several days if not the whole week due to Mardi Gras. Since it was Presidents Day, Daytona 500, and Mardi gras, we opted to go with Thanksgiving instead. Surely, it won't be any worse...

 

[jennypenny]

And it will be the same day as the Princess Half Marathon. Ugh.

 

[LoveToDisney]

Thanks. Good to know how that will impact crowds.

 

[Starr W.]

Actually the 2012 date for the D500 was announced race morning this year.

 

[PMDR59]

Race fans including me love WDW. The Daytona 500, the crown jewel of the NASCAR////// season has changed its date starting 2012. The race has traditionaly been held on the Sunday before presidents day. Starting next year (the race is 2/26/2012) the race will be held on the Sunday after presidents day. Presidents week (winter recess) will now coincide with speedweek. This means we get to learn the new math:

PRESIDENTS WEEK + SPEEDWEEK= Double the crowd at WDW

Plan early (I have me seats and room reservations). Expect crowds. Enjoy.

Guess I will have NO SHOT at changing resorts at 7 months. Thanks for the heads up. NYC schools are off the whole presidents week.

 

[DVC Grandpa]

Does anyone have experience of past 500’s and knowledge of any bus transportation from Disney? Would like to go but don’t want to drive and park in all of that traffic. I don’t think it would be a bad move on Disney’s part to offer a “Bus / Ticket” package.

 

[Antonius215]

We ended up at Disney this last year on the same day as the 500 and those were the biggest crowds we have ever seen. EVAH! Thanks for the update!

 

[iluveeyore]

We love WDW and Nascar too, but opted to combine our Halloween Disney trip with....Talladega! Bought our tickets this morning and now I can't wait. After watching the Daytona race last night, we really wanted to go for the 500, but we've been before and never to 'Dega. So I still get Disney and Nascar, it's just a bit further of a drive this time!
Enjoy the 500 though!

 

[swift]

We will be arriving on the 25th. Will the week after President's Week be busy too? Thanks.

 

[OhioDVC]

There is also a medical conference at the Swan that week from Wednesday to Sunday.

The crowds are going to be crazy

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

Add to that Mardi Gras. Many of the "gulf coast" schools will be out for several days if not the whole week due to Mardi Gras. Since it was Presidents Day, Daytona 500, and Mardi gras, we opted to go with Thanksgiving instead. Surely, it won't be any worse...

Don't these people talk to eachother???

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

We will be arriving on the 25th. Will the week after President's Week be busy too? Thanks.

I am hoping that everyone goes home on Monday the 27th.

 

[MikeyNS]

Unfortunately we're arriving on the 21st, but when I called today I had the choice of a AKV 1BR Value or a BWV 1BR Standard.. so rooms might not be booking up quickly yet.

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

 

[cinderella97]

We will be arriving on the 25th. Will the week after President's Week be busy too? Thanks.

I am hoping that everyone goes home on Monday the 27th.

We arrive on tFeb 26th too. I hope everyone will be gone too...

 

[JimMIA]

deleted, sorry

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

And it will be the same day as the Princess Half Marathon. Ugh.

I knew there was a secondary reason I didn't want to do this race.

(Crowds, cost and too close to the 26.2 with Donna. Disney has pretty much pushed me out of their races....I am only doing 1 where I used to do ALL of them!)