DLR in February - What Are Crowds and Weather Like?

[Aladora]

I don't see anything about CA there. I looked at Orange county public schools (not sure what other districts to look at) and the only thing I see them getting off is President's Day.

The State of California has it as an observed holiday but the schools do not have it as a day off. Something similar happens in Ontario for November 11th. Government has it as a stat holiday but schools and businesses are open.

 

[hilarys]

I don't see anything about CA there. I looked at Orange county public schools (not sure what other districts to look at) and the only thing I see them getting off is President's Day.

And why the heck would some states celebrate his birthday in November? So weird.

The school holidays in February in California are pretty varied. Many schools get all of President's week off (winter break/ski week). Our school district in Northern Calif gets two 3-day weekend's - for 2017 it will be 2/13 and 2/20. Some schools get President's Day and the Friday before President's Day off. Weather can vary widely. This year we had some really warm weather in February, some years it will be rainy.

 

[ClaraOswald]

CA decides when to observe a holiday the way any state decides, but making a law or allowing the legislature to set a date for the observance. The states that honor Lincoln in November probably do so because he created Thanksgiving as a national holiday. Or maybe because the date is connected to Gettysburg. Washington's birthday is not a floating Monday in February, but that's when it is observed because there is a federal law that moves some holidays to Mondays. I'm sure some states have a similar law too. If it causes you distress that states observe their own holidays how they choose to, or you don't agree with a state's holiday or the date that it falls on you may wish to reconsider traveling to that state, especially around the time of that state's holiday.

I think you need to re-read this thread because you seem to be misinterpreting posts.

The State of California has it as an observed holiday but the schools do not have it as a day off. Something similar happens in Ontario for November 11th. Government has it as a stat holiday but schools and businesses are open.

I still didn't see it as an observed holiday for CA on list I saw. But maybe it wasn't completely accurate.

The school holidays in February in California are pretty varied. Many schools get all of President's week off (winter break/ski week). Our school district in Northern Calif gets two 3-day weekend's - for 2017 it will be 2/13 and 2/20. Some schools get President's Day and the Friday before President's Day off. Weather can vary widely. This year we had some really warm weather in February, some years it will be rainy.

Yeah, we always avoid President's Day and the week of. I was just confused as to why people were saying the Monday (the 9th) of our trip in 2015 was crowded because kids were off for Lincoln's birthday. Perhaps they were just off for some other reason like teacher meetings or something.

We're hoping to go back the first week of February next year so I am wondering if this will be making crowds bad on that Monday again. If so, we me adjust which days we're in the parks and which days we do things out of the parks. I actually thought Monday the 9th seemed worse than Sunday the 8th.

 

[hilarys]

Yeah, we always avoid President's Day and the week of. I was just confused as to why people were saying the Monday (the 9th) of our trip in 2015 was crowded because kids were off for Lincoln's birthday. Perhaps they were just off for some other reason like teacher meetings or something.

We're hoping to go back the first week of February next year so I am wondering if this will be making crowds bad on that Monday again. If so, we me adjust which days we're in the parks and which days we do things out of the parks. I actually thought Monday the 9th seemed worse than Sunday the 8th.

Yeah - I think they technically call it "Lincoln's birthday on our school holiday calendar, but it is certainly not a holiday for everyone. In 2015 that was our first February 3-day weekend. I think in 2017, the first week of February will not have too many school holidays. But as others have said, there really aren't too many slow times any more. A lot people with little kids who don't have to worry about school calendars go during the "off times" My parents took my nephew last week (he had Spring Break, but I don't know of too many other schools that were off last week) and they said it was packed mid-week.

Back to your original question, I think the earlier in February the better.

 

[SMD]

I think you need to re-read this thread because you seem to be misinterpreting posts.

No, that was the response I intended to give to what you actually posted in the thread.

I don't know why schools would get Monday the 9th off for Lincoln's birthday (12th.) Must have been some other reason.

Hope we don't encounter that next year but if we do...that's life, I suppose.

The Monday we were there and it was crowded was the 9th. Lincoln's birthday is the 12th. Presidents Day was the 16th (we were gone by then.) I didn't realize people would get the 9th and the 16th off. That is so freaking weird. I don't think schools do that here,

So how to they decide which day they take off for Lincoln's birthday since they apparently don't take off his actual birthday? That would be good to know for our trip next year.

I don't see anything about CA there. I looked at Orange county public schools (not sure what other districts to look at) and the only thing I see them getting off is President's Day.

And why the heck would some states celebrate his birthday in November? So weird.

You're choosing to travel somewhere without checking for possible local holidays before your trip, then complaining about that, and criticizing when they observe the holiday and how they choose it. And there was no Monday February 9th this year and there won't be next year. That might be adding to your confusion about the holiday or why things you don't understand are so "weird" to you.

Rather than judging how our state observes our holidays and how school districts plan their calendars, please take some time and do some research when planning your vacation. 7 of the top 10 school districts by enrollment are without 2 hours of DLR. You may want to check their school calendars if crowds are going to have that much of a negative impact on your trip. There is also likely to be a semester break the last week of January or first week of February for schools that start after Labor Day.

LAUSD - 650K
San Diego - 130K
Long Beach - 81K
Santa Ana - 57K
Capistrano - 54K
San Bernardino - 54K
Corona-Norco - 54K

There is also Garden Grove-Anaheim, Fontana and Riverside in the area with 40-45K each as well.

Other days that many impact people's planning are Columbus Day, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Cesar Chavez Day. Other days that many school districts observe as non-school days.

 

[LizzyS]

Is it just me or is this getting a little silly?

 

[mamapenguin]

We were the 2/4-2/6, the days were nice but the nights were cold. I wore a sweatshirt and a NorthFace Denali for those familiar with NF. The mornings were cold early too. Jungle Cruise and Autotopia were the 2 big ones that were closed that we missed. Thursday was low crowd, Friday was busier, and Saturday looked like Summer crowd-wise. We will probably do February again, or maybe March. I don't enjoy cold.

 

[mamapenguin]

We were there mid-February 2015 and lucked out with not only amazing weather (shorts and tank tops!) but also booked the GCH for $239/night! I loved being there with the lower crowds, at least lower when compared to either March break or end of August.

I would love to go back there next February but I turn 45 in March and really want to be there for my birthday. We have celebrated my 40th, 42nd and DH's 40th on other trips and I love being there on the actual day so we are looking at March 2017.

How did you get such a great rate at GCH?

 

[Davey Jones II]

Is it just me or is this getting a little silly?

Indeed. It's becoming well-nigh impossible to dodge every national or state holiday/weekend/week, religious holidays (in which people come to Disney instead of observing their religion), zillions of school district breaks, almost two solid months of Spring Break, not to mention mobs of parents just yanking their kids out of school to beat the crowds, creating more crowds. It's like trying to dance through a mine field. The work ethic is clearly out the window for good.

 

[Aladora]

How did you get such a great rate at GCH?

All the planets aligned at the same time! Disneyland was offering a good discount because it was before the start of the 60th celebrations plus I was able to use an amazing Orbitz discount code that gave me another 20% off on top of the already discounted rate. Now, I did have to deal with the USA/Canadian exchange but it was totally worth it for my husband's 40th birthday.

 

[buttercup3]

We went in Febuary in 2013. Sunday the 10th through Thursday the 14th. Crowds were non-existent!
The downside is that so much was down! BTMRR, Splash, Matterhorn, IASW, Teacups, Grizzly, plus a few of the less popular attractions Some of them did open on our last night so that was great!
We weren't expecting it to get so cold!! Even if it was warm enough when we left the hotel in the morning, it was cold in the park and especially on the rides. Pack layers and bring them with you to the park! It also rained a few times when we were there, which probably helped keep the locals away some! A hoodie was enough for us but an umbrella might be nice to have in case you can't get inside during the few minutes that the rain picks up.
Overall we loved going in February!!

 

[ClaraOswald]

Deleted. Ridiculousness is not worth it.

 

[Kindermouse]

Im in norther ca and we get Lincoln and Presidents' Day as school holidays. Lincolns bday is never celebrated on the actual birthday (12th) but rather the Friday or Monday after the 12. Presidents' Day has never (in the last 13 years at least) been celebrated on washingtons bday (22nd) but rather the Monday before the 22nd. It's even been a full week before.

My sons birthday is Washington's Birthday and my little sisters is Lincolns and yet we have never been off for either of their birthdays. It would be nice if we were.

Those weekends/weeks are always busy because people from California tend to take an extra day on the already long weekend and go to Disney rather than face the spring break crowds.i have learned that the the 25 to the march 3 is not bad as long as their isn't some dance/cheerleading/gymnastics/school band competition going on at the convention center which is right down the street.

As far as weather it can be nice and warm or rainy. On one trip we started the week in rain ponchos, jackets, and fleece lined legging with rain boots but within 2 days we were in shorts and tees and sandals

 

[ClaraOswald]

Yeah, from what I've read...it looks like CA does Lincoln's birthday the 3rd Monday of February which is the same as President's Day. So I think any school closures during the first week of February are likely unrelated.

With no real "slow" season left these days, I still think February is probably likely to be least crowded. Though I know with a lot of ride closures it can feel worse. I am hoping full lands won't be closed in February 2017 like it was in 2015. Fingers crossed!

Weather is funny because we were in shorts/t-shirts and in our photos, you can see people in the background wearing winter coats and hats.

 

[SMD]

Yeah, from what I've read...it looks like CA does Lincoln's birthday the 3rd Monday of February which is the same as President's Day. So I think any school closures during the first week of February are likely unrelated.

With no real "slow" season left these days, I still think February is probably likely to be least crowded. Though I know with a lot of ride closures it can feel worse. I am hoping full lands won't be closed in February 2017 like it was in 2015. Fingers crossed!

Weather is funny because we were in shorts/t-shirts and in our photos, you can see people in the background wearing winter coats and hats.

California does not observe Lincoln's birthday on the third Monday in February. This is well documented. The third Monday in February is a federal holiday for Washington's birthday known in some states, including California as Presidents Day. The reason that it is the third Monday is something called the Uniform Holiday Act. Lincoln's birthday, not being a federal holiday, is not determined by this specific act. Lincoln's birthday is literally listed as an observance on Monday, February 8, 2016 on the school calendars of several of the districts I listed above. Why do you keep insisting that this state holiday either doesn't exist, or isn't when it is? After criticizing the state for observing it in the first place and complaining about how it affects your vacation, you're still ignoring the facts and not checking to see when these districts will be closed for the holiday next year. If you're planning an vacation in February any week that doesn't the week that includes the third Monday, then a highly, highly recommend checking the 2016-2017 school calendars of at least the San Diego, Long Beach, Santa Ana and Anaheim school districts. And please stop spreading misinformation about which dates affect park crowds. This is a very real holiday that we observe in California that many people planning their park days might like to know about. It's a mystery why you keep insisting otherwise, but it will nonetheless impact crowd levels, hotels, traffic, and other local places people might visit.

 

[fantasia73]

I was there over Presidents Day week (February 15th-20th) this year. The crowds were rough especially Monday and Tuesday, but thinned out on Wednesday and Thursday. We were also there during a freak heat wave. It was in the mid-90s Monday-Wednesday. I wouldn't say the weather or the crowds put much of a damper on our trip. We had a blast and just made to sure to plan everything out ahead of time. The schools in the Northeast have vacation that week, but we only encountered one other family from Boston.

 

[Kindermouse]

Our district does either a 4 day weekend combining Lincoln and Presidents' Day or 2 consecutive 3 day weekends. Since it sorta fluctuates I'm guessing at least where I'm at the school have some control over when they choose to do the days off but we always get 2 day.

The thing is these holidays are occurring for the group of people who often have annual passes to Disney, making it a perfect weekend to go. It's not just a holiday for anybody you see. It's a holiday that specifically frees up the people who have passes and live close enough to drive over and can go without having to spend any extra money. The perfect storm for a busy Disneyland

That being said I also agree, there isn't really a slow time at disneyland anymore.