How bad is Presidents week really?

[Katd52]

I've never been during presidents week so I have no idea what to expect. I'm trying to plan our vacation and I'm having the most difficult time picking a time to go. I usually only go at low attendance times. I'm debating between the second week in March and Presidents week. The kids have P week off. I'm having a hard time with taking them out of school for a week 3 weeks after a school vacation. I'd much prefer to go in March though.

 

[Jen D]

We went last year during the second half of President's Week. We missed President's Day weekend, which is the worst of it, or so I hear. We get the entire week off, as do many Northeast schools. Anyway, we got there on the Thursday and left the following Tuesday. Crowds were existent but manageable. I didn't find them overwhelming, except for Magic Kingdom on Monday afternoon. Weather was nice too.

Although, last week during President's Week the country was on Orange Alert, so I don't know if that was a factor.

 

[danny1649]

We went in 1998 was crowded This was our only experience with this week.No fast pass at that time and some days it was 1 hour wait to get on Small World.All parks were MK seemed to have the largest crowds.We had great time and weather was great and with the extended hours if you were willing to tour 10 to 12 hours you can get it all in or most of it anyway.

 

[Rpsemont]

We went last year Tues of Pres week to Tuesday after. I, too, was dreading it. Crowds did get lighter as the week went on and generally were very manageable with fast pass. We continually find that MK is almost always the most crowded. SO, if you hate crowds and aren't committed to trying to accomplish set things, you should find this time period fine as long as you're a little flexible. There are also usually 2-3 e-ride nights during this week. But the e-ride nights had waits of 10-15 minutes, which was a first for us.

 

[dizneefreak29]

I went President's Week of 2001. My little brother had a school trip there and I was a chaperone. It was SO crowded. I've been in the summer and other peak periods, but have never seen it so bad. Every ride was at least a 90 minute wait. We waited in line for 20 minutes just to get a Fast Pass to Space Mountain. Things were so congested you couldn't even walk through Main Street. Of course it is Disney...so I was happy to be there! But I wouldn't go that time of year again.

 

[Katd52]

Thanks everyone for your help. We will be going w/ 4 kids ages 16 months - 8 yrs. I think I may just take my chances and take them out of school for a week. It may be worth it

 

[Rpsemont]

With younger children and a willingness to take them them out of school, go for it! Last year was our first Pres week trip and MK was definitely the busiest park. Before I started getting concerned about taking DD out of school (which I really haven't quite gotten over since I'm pulling her for 4 days for our next trip in October LOL!) we would go early FEb and that is a wonderful time to go. Crowds are virtually non-existent. YOu may save bundles of money - airfares are cheaper, room rates are cheaper, etc. and in three years of early Feb trips there was only one where we never swam. For 2004 your ideal trip would bring you back home no later than Feb 12th to avoid the crowds and be able to take advantage of the discounts..

 

[G's mommy]

March is normally busy also with Spring Break crowds. If you are going to take kids out of school anyway, I would go either the end of January or very early February before President's Day weekend. Just a thought.

 

[Katd52]

I did want to go the first week of February but unforunately we are traveling w/ my mil and she can't go at that time. I'm pretty sure we are going to go 2/29-3/5. I'm hoping we will be able to avoid most of the spring breakers by going very early in the month!
Thanks!

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Hmmm. I'm going Feb 2004, from 2-21-04 to 03-01-04.

Will the crowds be cleared by then do you think?