Help - Nov. trip during F&W?

[TerriBelle]

We just got the kids school calendar for next year and they have off Nov 6 & Nov 7. We thought this would be a great time to take a quick long weekend trip. However everything but OKW is booked because of F&W. We have never gone during this time. Is it really crowded?

 

[Dis13]

I don't have the school calendar handy, but I believe that may be the infamous "Jersey Week." NJ schools are closed for teacher's conventions and the entire state (or so I've read) heads for Disney.

 

[Candace]

Food and Wine does bring a large crowd, but I have found that Epcot will have the largest (due to F&W being held there). The weather at that time of year is fabulous, which means that even if you have to stand in line, it's not hot! Can't comment on Jersey week, but I have heard it really fills up WDW also.

 

[TerriBelle]

I've learned that this is Jersey week so we will be looking for another option. Maybe we will have to try the summer. Yuck!

 

[Dopey Sharon]

Yeah, go in the yucky summer instead of the infamous Jersey Week!

Please tell everyone how crowded it is during this week in November so they won't come!

I've been there a couple times in the summer and quite a few times during Jersey Week. The crowds don't compare and the weather is perfect!

Go in November...we aren't all that bad!

 

[thelobstershanty]

I agree with Sharon. We have been at WDW numerous times both in the summer and during Jersey Week. We would pick Jersey week hands down. The only con of Nov is that the parks close earlier then in the summer months.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We've been numerous times during both the summer and NJ Week. For the most part, I'd say NJ week is less crowds. But 2004 changed my opinion of that. We were staying at OKW Nov 1-6 in 2004. The resort was sold out 60 days prior. The parks were a mad house---particularily on Thurs, Fri, Sat of that week. We witnessed 90+ min lines in the MK for everything from Peter Pan to Splash Mtn. It was so packed we couldn't even walk comfortably. We utilized EMH as much as we could. I've had less crowds in August that in Nov '04.

 

[RLevy29]

I agree with Sharon. We have been at WDW numerous times both in the summer and during Jersey Week. We would pick Jersey week hands down. The only con of Nov is that the parks close earlier then in the summer months.

We have been to DW many times both in the summer and in November . We agree that the weather is better and the crowds are less in November. It is after all only one state that has these days off.

 

[kda]

Deleted-- server said it was too busy to accept my post, so I kept trying.

 

[kda]

Sorry for the multiple posts

 

[kda]

II think you're worrying about the wrong weekend. The NJ teacher's convention is the following weekend from when you want to go in November (although some years it's the first weekend). The second weekend is also Super Soap at Epcot and Festival of the Masters at DD, as well as being Columbus Day weekend. Some NJ families will go for the entire week, but certainly not everyone. The actual teacher's convention days are Nov 9-11, 2006.

We were there the week preceeding Jersey week(end) in 2004 and didn't have any problems with big crowds in the parks for the first 2/3 of our trip. It did get busier the second weekend of our trip, but still not bad.

No way to know how crowded the parks will be ...... lack of availability at DVC properties doesn't necessarily mean the other Disney resorts are full or the parks will be crowded. My guess is the weekend you want to go will be less busy than Columbus Day weekend. Disney just seems to be getting busier the last few years.

 

[Dis13]

We live in NJ. I now have the calendar in hand. School is closed November 9 and 10 -- Thurs. and Fri. -- for NJEA Convention. Since the kids have off on Thurs. and Fri., everyone takes off on Mon., Tues., Wed. as well, which would be Nov. 6, 7 and 8 (the dates you were looking for).

Hope this helps!
Donna

 

[lsket]

We have been taking the kids out of school for a few years and going the first week of Nov. MK and MGM are usually crowd free. Some years it is a little chilly to swim though.

Lynn

 

[byoung]

Stay away Jersery week, it's too crowded-----leave it for me.

 

[mstec]

I can confirm that that week is the infamous "Jersey Week". The schools are closed 11/9-10 (Thursday-Friday) due to the teacher's convention, and some schools, including ours, has 1/2 days 11/6-8 (Monday thru Wednesday), therefore most folks end up taking vacation that week, especially to Disney. They either leave the weekend before (which is what we usually do) or they leave on Wed. eve. Therefore the latter half of that week is the most crowded.
Typically, though, it was never REALLY crowded then, since most other folks DIDN'T go then.

I will say though, that I found that week to be a little more crowded last year than usual, and I had asked a CM if they felt it was more crowded than usual. He said that he had noticed all of November to be more crowded than usual, and that he thought it was due to people taking their vacations later in the fall, to avoid the hurricane season.

It is a BEAUTIFUL time to go and I think that if you are going earlier in the week, you should be ok.

Have a great time!