Disney in February

[SadieDawn90]

So tell me about February.

We go every year in December. I'm a total Christmas nut and when you mix Disney and Christmas...*sigh* is there ANYTHING more magical??

The only exception was my very first trip in 2008, and we went in March. That trip was pretty crazy because I think the spring break season had already started, but we had an amazing time.

Anyway, we won't be able to make it in December this year. I'm thinking of doing a February trip...tell me about it. Crowds? I know there's no real off-times anymore but how does it compare to early December (we often go during Pop Warner week or the week after)? Weather? Is it colder? Do they do a lot of refurbs at this time? Not being able to ride splash mountain because of refurb/weather would be a deal breaker! I had to miss it last year because I was 6 months pregnant.

What are your favorite times to go? I'm nervous to break out of my comfort zone! We want to be ready to book as soon as the open up package reservations :] I'm "homesick" for the World! :]

 

[mkla2015]

It depends on what time in February you plan on going-

I've heard the week of President's Day tends to be busy because some schools are off that week.

We went the last week in February 2015 and loved it- it was chilly (cold front), not crowded at all, and I don't think there were any major refurbs at the time- I know for sure CRT was closed because we couldn't get a reservation for DD's 5th bday but other than that, I don't remember missing out on anything.

We usually go in March- I think its the perfect time to go even with spring break crowds.

 

[CAS239]

Crowds aren't too bad. Weather is hit or miss. My birthday is on the 19th of Feb so we're usually their for that. This year it was warm, last year it was great with daytime temps in the 50's-60's. Splash is usually down in Janurary for refurb.

Every time we go in February I'm hoping the weather will be cold, but you won't know until about a week out

 

[karly05]

I went in early February (pre-Presidents Day) in 2012/2013/2014. In 2015 and 2016, I went in April, which I loved, but I'm going back to February for next year because of the mid-April date for Easter.

Honestly, one of the WORST things about February is the fact that Splash Mountain is closed more often than not. We won't know a refurb schedule until much later this year, but it seems to me that Splash is nearly always closed for most of January and often closed into February or March. Other February closure issues - I think one or the other of the water parks is always closed in February, and cold/cool weather can close Kali and keep some animals "offstage" at AK. Seems to me that refurbs in general are just hit and miss, so you never know this far out what may be closed. (Refurbs get moved a lot, too: BTMRR was supposed to be down for my April trip this year, but then they postponed the refurb.

Crowds: As long as you get in and out before the Presidents Day holiday period starts, I've had good luck with crowds (even the year I was there for Mardi Gras). 2017 should be a good year for February: Pres Day isn't until the 20th, and Mardi Gras is much later than it was this year (I think it's at the very end of Feb or very early March?).

The Value Season dates in February seem to have some of, if not THE lowest resort rates of the year. AFAIK there are always some sort of discounts out for that period.

Weather: Over the course of 3 years - 2012 trip started with 2 freezing cold mornings, but the sun was out; the first cold day stayed cool, but the second was pretty nice by afternoon, and the rest of the week was lovely (cool in the mornings, but sunny and 70s by afternoon). 2013 trip was perfect, just like the averages, lows in the 50s, highs in the 70s, lots of sunshine. 2014, my first two full days had drippy rain off and on all day; I was fine with it at MK, but gave up on AK the next day, where I think rain is really a drag. After those 2 days, however, again it was beautiful, ighs in the 70s and sunshine. I don't use the pools, but every year there were people using the pool(s) on the nice days.

On my early February trips, I have seen large groups of Cheerleaders and the South American "Fifteens," but I've had no trouble with them (I've stayed at BC and POFQ). The one time I encountered a "Fifteens" group at DHS, I just went another way and did something else. I did see a large group of them in line for a POP bus leaving AK. As for the Cheerleaders, I have seen/flown with large groups of them to and from the airports, but any time I saw them in the parks, they were in smaller groups of 8 or so and no different from any other guests (I only knew they were cheerleaders by their matching school/team shirts).

If you were willing to risk no Splash Mountain, I'd give February a try. If that is a deal breaker, I'd hold out for May. April is going to be a mess with the 2 weeks in the middle eaten up by Easter, and March is Spring Break month for a lot of schools who don't tie their breaks to Easter and are NOT in the Northeast. Any time Easter is not in the way, April is really nice: Epcot Flower & Garden Festival is going on, weather is pretty despite the chance of a downpour (2015 on my AK day - I couldn't have gotten wetter if I had jumped out of the Kali raft and swum around for a while).

I hope that helps.

 

[beccasmom]

We visited in early February once in 2005. The weather was okay, not cold, but chilly high 50's at night and to warm-ish mid 70's during the day with good amounts of sunshine. Great for touring, not necessarily swimming weather - not for me, anyway. Crowds were moderate to low, but there is a good bit of rehabbing taking place and your favorite ride or water park might be out of commission. I enjoyed the temps in terms of touring since we often visit in August and we all know how uncomfortable that can be.

 

[SadieDawn90]

Thanks for your advice, everyone. I'll be sure to avoid the holiday like the plague :]

I'm just nervous about splash I would really hate to miss it 2 trips in a row. It's my favorite! Water parks aren't a deal breaker at all, we never go.

Is there any way to see a record of past refurb dates? That might help me decide if I'm willing to take a chance

 

[BarbMike821]

February is also when the gaggle of cheerleaders descend upon Disney for the national cheerleading championships! So pick your weekend carefully.

 

[Starclassic]

We usually go in February, week before Presidents Day. My biggest February recommendation is try to steer clear of Presidents crowd as best you can! Crowd gets BAD as the Presidents crowd comes in that weekend. Last trip (2015) we went to Magic Kingdom the Saturday before Presidents Day, which also happened to be Valentine's Day. It was the worst crowds I'd ever seen....I ended up in tears (I'm sure pregnancy hormones didn't help ). I always say never again with the weekend before Presidents Day, but then we always end up back because of DF work schedule and the weather is PERFECT in my opinion. Can get a little chilly at night (nothing more than sweatshirt weather to me), and during the day is just beautiful. Hardly ever rains...maybe one day out of a week long trip, and only once it was bad enough that we broke down and bought ponchos. It's also a nice break for us from the NY winters. You can almost always count on some major rides to be closed (Splash Mountain has only been open once for us), so if that's really important to you, it's something to consider. I can't say how it compares to December, but we do love it.

This year we're trying out September and I'm pretty nervous to break away from our comfort zone, so I know how you feel!

 

[pens4821]

We were there this year and loved it. We were after the holiday, and started doing the parks the Sunday of marathon weekend. We didn't notice any major crowds from it, but in not sure how Friday/Saturday were.

The weather was great. We were there in January a couple years ago and it was colder than normal, this year in February it was perfect. Even a couple days that were warm (mod 80s) but no humidity. One morning of rain, that was it.

splash was open, it wasn't in January. Kali was closed for refurb as well as tea cups, but I don't remember anything else.

Crowds were good. Monday at MK was bad, but it was the least recommended and everyone says don't go Monday's. We had two more days planned after that so it worked out. We went to the am EMH park, then hopped to fp. It worked out great as no crowds early so we got so much done, then we just took it easy the rest of the day.

Stayed at sports and thought slow time we'd share buses but didn't much maybe a couple times afternoon when no one else was at the bus stops. No groups there while we weren't there either.