Escaping Winter in 2017...When to Go???

[DisneyDreamers3]

For the past two years we have gone to WDW over winter and it's been glorious escaping the frigid cold- once the last week in February and another the third week in February. Both times the crowd levels were manageable and the weather was awesome .

I've used crowd level predictors but understand that those are becoming less of a reliable tool. I'd like to book our winter stay for 2017 and would like thoughts on what what week(s) should be avoided. I realize that there is no such thing as low crowd levels anymore but certainly some weeks are busier than others! Here are the weeks I'm thinking:

- January 30- February 3
- February 6- February 10
- February 27- March 3 (I've read about Mardi Gras and understand that it falls on 2/28 in 2017. I also read that this week should be avoided- is this true?)
- March 6- March 10

I greatly appreciate your insights!!

 

[tndisney5]

Feb 6-10! Our favorite time to go is early feb...around the 3-6. The crowds are usually lower, at least from what we have noticed compared to other times of year.

 

[caliope]

We were there January 29-February 2, 2016, and that was a decent week. The crowds weren't really light but they weren't too heavy either. We got all the Fast Passes and ADRs we wanted even with a late booking. The weather was good too. I'd go again either that week or the first week on February.

 

[anniemae]

We used to go the first week of Feb and it was fabulous. Low crowds, cooler weather, just wonderful IMO.

 

[DisneyDreamers3]

Thanks everyone!! Keep the replies coming

 

[phlppians413]

We have gone in both January and February. Both are great as long as you stay away from MLK and President's Day. The weather was warm during the day, and cool at night. We mostly wore shorts, but some days brought jeans in our bag to change for when it got dark. Always brought a jacket! It was too cold to swim in my opinion, though!

 

[Accident]

I find the weather can be sort of a coin toss in if it'll be great or cold from mid jan to mid feb. It's all kind of relative though and coming from somewhere colder you'll find it amazing but you probably need to change clothes for the evening and you may need some clothes that is more layer like to give you options for more of less depending on the day..

Overall a great time of year, it's my favorite time for AK actually.

edit too add: Flower and garden was pretty early this year so the march might be an interesting time to get that dine around the world experience without the hot weather. I find the food to be 1000x better when your not baking in the sun trying to eat.

 

[DisneyDreamers3]

Thanks everyone for your replies so far- I really appreciate it. Can anyone speak to crowd levels during Mardi Gras week, 2/27 to 3/3?

 

[NH-to-FL]

Here is another vote for consideration of early March for Flower and Garden. Epcot is quite beautiful with all of the flowers and topiaries. And of course there are now food booths there too.

That said, there is something to be said for escaping during the depth of winter.

As for the crowd impact during Mardi Gras, I can't say. I will note that last year we ran into a couple from New Orleans in Epcot during last year's Mardi gras who said they like to get out of town that week.

 

[Jen4400]

We recently booked for February 4-11. I was pleasantly surprised at the availability of ADR's, especially since we booked well past the six month mark. I looked at TP historical crowd calendar. The first week or two of February looked good in the past, except for last year. There was Mardi Gras, Valentine's Day, and President's Day all within the first half of the month, plus Club Villain. Yikes! Based off of my very limited knowledge, I would skip the Mardi Gras week and aim for the week after or a week early in February. Happy planning!

 

[karly05]

I'm in for Feb 4-11, too. I went around that same time in 2012, 2013 & 2014 and thought crowds weren't bad. I was there for Marci Gras in 2013 and thought it was fine BUT MG was super early that year. I think that helped.

Obviously I'd vote for 2/6-10.

 

[DisneyDreamers3]

Thanks everyone! I am very intrigued with going during the Flower and Garden festival. What kind of crowds could be expected during the week of March 6-10?

 

[MermaidMommy]

Thanks everyone! I am very intrigued with going during the Flower and Garden festival. What kind of crowds could be expected during the week of March 6-10?

March 6-10 should be a really good week. It's the week before spring break hits in earnest, and crowd levels are quite reasonable. I think it typically averages around a 4 on crowd calendars. The weather is variable at that time of year, but it's usually really comfortable. Just don't go in later in March if you want low crowds.

 

[NH-to-FL]

Thanks everyone! I am very intrigued with going during the Flower and Garden festival. What kind of crowds could be expected during the week of March 6-10?

That should be a good week. It is the week before the busy spring break time.