February -- Dream Season?

[snicker-doodle]

We're planning our WDW for Feb 5th-12th (2008) for our DD's golden birthday. We've gone in early December in previous years and this is our first February WDW vacation.

Unless I'm mistaken, I thought early February was included in the "Adventure" season. I just looked at my 2007-2008 Vacation Calendar and noticed that February 1st-15th has been bumped to the "Dream" season.

Anyone know the reason for this change? Has early February changed to a more popular time of year with larger crowds? I'm not sure if I sure consider swapping our plans for a January vacation. My DD would be bummed not to celebrate her golden birthday at WDW, but I really want to avoid crowds with our three young DD's. Any thoughts?

I REALLY appreciate any help you can give! Thank you!!

 

[Chuck S]

I think that time of year has always been Dream Season for the WDW DVC resorts. I pulled out the original 1991 point chart for OKW and Feb 1 to 15 was Dream Season then, too. It is NOT Dream Season for Vero (Magic Season) or Hilton Head (Choice Season)

 

[snicker-doodle]

Thanks Chuck for the info. I saw elsewhere on this site that Jan 1st-Feb 14th was the "value season" and assumed that meant the least crowds and points.

For those that have visited early February, are the crowds tolerable? I know the weather can be cooler, but being from Minnesota, 60's is a heatwave!

Thank you!

 

[1000th happy haunt]

"Value Season" refers to the regular DisneyWorld resorts. DVC (when using points) does not necessarily follow suit.

 

[Chuck S]

Yes, and while the overall WDW resort may not be busy, thus the regular resorts are in Value Season, the DVC resorts are designed for almost full capacity year round. DVC resorts will be busy, but your park crowd experience should be great!

 

[snicker-doodle]

I didn't know that. Still pretty new at this. Thank you.

It confused me because the info on this site states "value season" under the Home Away From Home resorts. Again, thanks for the clarification.

 

[Dean]

As noted, the seasons timing has never changed for DVC other than the floating of the holidays. Feb 1-15 is Dream and the rest is Magic. It's actually interesting that a significant portion of the magic time for DVC is value season for CRO.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

It confused me because the info on this site states "value season" under the Home Away From Home resorts. Again, thanks for the clarification.

You're looking for the charts for folks who pay cash (not use points) for their reservations. The DisneyWorld charts say the same thing.

 

[snicker-doodle]

Thanks very much to both of you for clarifying.

I never even realized there was a "season" difference between the DVC points charts and the cash system. I figured the rates/points were all based on how busy the parks are. I figured wrong.....

I'll go ahead with our February 2008 plans -- appreciate your input.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

I was at Disney from Feb 10 (Sat) to Feb 16 (Fri) and it was very nice!!!! Low crowds, we won dream fast passes at Epcot on Sunday Feb 11 and didn't even need to use them ( we had gotten 2 for soaring and TT right before we won them), but the crowds were so manageable!!

The weather was really nice too.

 

[Dean]

Thanks very much to both of you for clarifying.

I never even realized there was a "season" difference between the DVC points charts and the cash system. I figured the rates/points were all based on how busy the parks are. I figured wrong.....

I'll go ahead with our February 2008 plans -- appreciate your input.

The other item you may want to know is that, as I understand it, the season of your check in day determines your rate for the entire time. So if you check in for a lower season and the season changes during your stay, you get the lower rate throughout. I haven't done it but have been told this is the way it is a number of times. Others can confirm or deny this information.

 

[Chuck S]

The other item you may want to know is that, as I understand it, the season of your check in day determines your rate for the entire time. So if you check in for a lower season and the season changes during your stay, you get the lower rate throughout. I haven't done it but have been told this is the way it is a number of times. Others can confirm or deny this information.

Just to clarify Dean's post. This is true of Cash reservations through CRO only. DVC point reservations, of course, use the point charts for each night of your visit.

 

[ebenmax]

We were not given the whole stay under one season - using our points. As soon as the seasons changed our points went up.

 

[Starr W.]

The other item you may want to know is that, as I understand it, the season of your check in day determines your rate for the entire time. So if you check in for a lower season and the season changes during your stay, you get the lower rate throughout. I haven't done it but have been told this is the way it is a number of times. Others can confirm or deny this information.

No, it's points per day, so like Thanksgiving week you cover 2 seasons. I did the points myself and MS confirmed the same number when I made the reservation.

 

[Dean]

No, it's points per day, so like Thanksgiving week you cover 2 seasons. I did the points myself and MS confirmed the same number when I made the reservation.

As Chuck correctly pointed out, I was referring to cash reservations. through CRO.

 

[crys5]

We're planning our WDW for Feb 5th-12th (2008) for our DD's golden birthday. We've gone in early December in previous years and this is our first February WDW vacation.

Unless I'm mistaken, I thought early February was included in the "Adventure" season. I just looked at my 2007-2008 Vacation Calendar and noticed that February 1st-15th has been bumped to the "Dream" season.

Anyone know the reason for this change? Has early February changed to a more popular time of year with larger crowds? I'm not sure if I sure consider swapping our plans for a January vacation. My DD would be bummed not to celebrate her golden birthday at WDW, but I really want to avoid crowds with our three young DD's. Any thoughts?

I REALLY appreciate any help you can give! Thank you!!

Just thought i'd let you know, the week you are planning is Mardi Gras time here in Louisiana, a LOT of people from around here go to Disney that week and it is usually very crowded. We have freinds that were their this Mardi Gras week and they said the crowds were horrible. It just so happens that this was the week after the person who posted saying they were there this Feb, when the crowds were low. I am sure they were , but the next week got really crowded. That is the week you are planning your vacation for next year. We went in Feb. during Mardi Gras in 2005, never again...it was crowded....we have gone before during that time and it wasn't bad , but each year after that it's more, and more crowded.

 

[snicker-doodle]

Wow - thanks for much for the heads up! Do you happen to know when the 2008 Mardi Gras week? I will definitely avoid that. Thank you!

 

[snicker-doodle]

Never mind - I figured it out. Mardi Gras is the day before Lent begins which would be February 5th, 2008.

Now I REALLY need the help of you WDW vacation experts!

Has anyone been to WDW the week before President's Day. I know President's Day weekend can get pretty crowded. I was thinking Saturday, Feb. 9th, 2008 (the Saturday after Mardi Gras) through Saturday, February 16 (the Saturday before President's Day).

Any thoughts on crowds during this time? My other thought is to plan it for the end of January, which I know is a slower time. We'd miss my DD's golden birthday , but we could also miss some big crowds.

Thoughts....please?? THANK YOU!!

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

We just stayed 2/5-2/15 and it was great. Little chilly at night, but relatively okay as far as crowds!