Feb. confusion

[mdrankos]

I'm about to hit "purchase" on a trip from Feb. 9th and coming home on Feb 15th. I thought this would be an empty time for the parks (I usually go the last week in April and it's been getting increasingly crowded then) but now I'm reading that this week and weekend up to and through the 15th will be like mid summer!!!! How can that be? Kids are in school (or should be) and it's before spring break! It would seem after reading these boards these days that there is just no good or empty time left in the parks. Should I skip this trip and go some other time this year? I hate to waste the money on 2 hour wait lines....

M~

 

[frayedend]

I'm not sure of the exact dates of if this is true everywhere, but in MA all schools up to high school have 2 vacations after Christmas. One is in February, one is in April. I think they call Feb Winter Vacation, and April Spring Vacation. When I was in school we just called them Feb vacation and April vacation. It is only the colleges that have "spring break" and I think that is in March. You can see by checking flight prices. During Feb vacation they are very high.

 

[SaraMc]

We go at this time every year and it gets busy closer to Valentines and closer to Presidents day weekend. All I can say is its managable. Use fast passes and EMH if your staying on property. Also there is usually a giant convention of highschool cheerleaders there at the same time. Its really not that bad. Some rides you can walk right on to, others you will need to do the fast pass.

Have fun!

 

[d4est]

Where are you reading that? Are you saying from this week (1/10) until the 15th of Feb? Or are you refering to your selected week (2/9-2/15). I'm not clear...

 

[mdrankos]

I'm reading that from this board and others. I will be there Feb 9th and coming home Feb 15th (if I purchase). Since Presidents Day is on a Wednesday this year, I'm not sure if the weekend before or the weekend after would be the "killer" weekend. Staying onsite so I would get to take advantage of the extended hour nights so that might help. I don't mind waiting in a 15 or 20 minute line at all, however, when you start to get to July line lengths (2 or 3 hours) then that really kills your enjoyment. Would also spend a day at Universal Islands of Adventure, just not sure which day.

 

[keriannhoward]

Go on ahead and purchase!! Believe me, any lines you hear about are minimal when you consider holiday and summer crowds AND waiting is much more pleasant this time of year than in July. I hate lines and am quite a complainer, but in February it's really not crowded.

When *I* say there are lines, you have to consider that I'm a resident with an AP that comes and goes. I never go in the summer because of the heat (this year is an exception) and to me a 15 min wait is about all I'll stand, any longer than that and I'm going on to something else. For other guests who aren't as lucky as I am, a 30 minute wait is fabulous!

 

[turnlisa]

President's Day is February 20th. I would imagine that the weekend right before that will be busy. I know that schools here (suburban Detroit) are off that week starting February 20th. We will be there with you on February 12th. I didn't have any problems making ADR's a couple of months ago. I think as long as we take our patience and realize we are all in this together, we will have a great trip!

 

[mdrankos]

OK, that's a little better. I thought it was the 15th. Not sure why. Anywho, that makes me think the two weeks before (9th through 15th) should be ok with people saving up their vacations for the 3 day weekend and week afterwards. I do know there is the National Cheerleader contest that week, but I can't imagine there would be THAT many cheerleaders going to the contest.

 

[kstgelais4]

My calendar says that Presidents day is the 20th (a Mon.). We are going from the 12th to the 24th, and from what I've read/heard it is slow until pres. day So I'm thinking it will be calm probably until the 18th. We live in MA and our school vacation is the 20th-25th, so you should be safe. Enjoy.
Kelly
Our first disney family vacation! 2/12/06-2/24/06

 

[mdrankos]

Crap...I just found out they denied my other half's vacation request. Now I've got to find another slow week. Sometimes I think planning a vacation is harder then going on one!

 

[horsegirl]

My calendar says that Presidents day is the 20th (a Mon.). We are going from the 12th to the 24th, and from what I've read/heard it is slow until pres. day So I'm thinking it will be calm probably until the 18th. We live in MA and our school vacation is the 20th-25th, so you should be safe. Enjoy.
Kelly
Our first disney family vacation! 2/12/06-2/24/06

Hey Kelly, and eelcome to the boards! We are flying out of Portland on the 12th too and returning on the 24th!. I posted about this time frame in the last day or two and got the sense that the madness starts on the weekend of presidents day. We have been in the first 2 weeks in the past and it is great. We have had lines and needed fastpass, but getting out of the EMH parks after mid morning was our strategy once we realized everyone else stayed in the park. We love this time of year, it is not hot and compared to summers and xmas is very enjoyable-heck, fabulous!