Columbus Day or Jersey week?

[Live4theMagic]

We usually go to WDW in May, but since we just purchased AP I'm looking to add a fall trip, without pulling the kids out of school for another whole week. I'm trying to decide between the week before/after Columbus day, or Jersey Week(overlaps with Veterans day this year)... which do you think would be the better option? Thanks!

 

[HM2012Butler]

Week before Columbus Day seems best

 

[wintotty]

I'm trying to figure out date around Columbus day as well. Looking at the crowd calender, the week of Columbus day looks pretty busy, marked "heavy crowds". Is it really that bad? My other options are to go the week before Columbus day, but that week seems still pretty hot and wet...... Or we can try the end of Oct, but that choice will cost us extra $800 for flight and hotel being more expensive...........

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

I have never been on Columbus day, so I don't know how busy it is. However, I went for Jersey week in 2014 expecting huge crowds because I have always heard Jersey week was so crowded. I was pleasantly surprised to find it was only slightly more busy than August when we usually go, and less busy than spring break when I went as a kid. The weather during Jersey week was awesome too. Not too hot, not too cold, not too much rain!

 

[L&Lfan]

We, by necessity, have gone to WDW during Jersey week for the last 5 out of 6 years and we find the crowds very manageable. Of course, we have been to the parks so many times that we are no longer park stormers, so for someone who wants to do A LOT of rides/attractions they might disagree with us on the crowd size. We'll be there this year from 11/5-11/13.

 

[Mikie]

I haven't gone in May, so I'm not sure exactly what comparison you're making, OP. I can say our fall breaks have shifted from late Sept, early Oct to now land over Columbus Day. Between the change of weeks, the general increase in WDW crowds, Columbus Day week was NOTICEABLY more crowded on my 2014 trip. Columbus Day itself was very crowded and I highly recommend using crowd calendars to pick the right park on that day especially. Been a long time since I traveled in Summer, so I can't compare to those crowds, but Columbus Day easily was as crowded or more than prior spring break trips I've done when my break wasn't also Easter Week.

With a good idea how you'll attack the parks, it's still manageable and fun, but definitely crowded walkways, long lines at certain times, but the weather is great! I'd look at whether food&wine is going on during both options and make my decision based mostly on that and on November weather, which would be preferable to me.

 

[richmo]

Jersey week doesn't have that much of an impact on crowds at WDW, but the biggest impact is getting to and from NJ to Orlando. Airfares from the NJ area airports can get really rough that week.