How much does Mardi Gras effect MK?

[mketting]

I keep hearing different things. Some say all of New Orleans comes to Orlando and others say it is not to bad and a lot tend to go to Universal?

We are going Feb 9-12. Will MK be crowded?

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Not that I've ever noticed. Many folks do go to US for Mardi Gras, but I've not noticed MK to be adversely affected.

 

[lulu71]

I don't think one park is effected more than the others. As far as a lot of people going to Universal over WDW, I'm not sure I'd agree as far as people from New Orleans are concerned. I think the rationale I read is that more people go to Universal because they have a bigger Mardi Gras celebration, but most people leaving this area are trying to get away from MG! I know lots of people that go to WDW for MG, but no one to Universal. HTH!

 

[vicb]

Last year we noticed the crowds were very big at DTD the night before Fat Tuesday. But Tuesday itself was rainy so crowds seemed light. You will see people with beads and MG colors but we didn't notice any crowd problems in the parks.

 

[~Czarina~]

Does EPCOT still do the Internastional Festival over Mardi Gras? Please say they do! Please, please, please!

 

[3for Me]

I can only add this: Many schools in So. LA, and ALL in the greater N. O. are are closed either Mon., Tues., and Wed or for the entire week.

If you have young children and you have "been there done that" with Mardi Gras, then the logical choice is to head to WDW, especially this year as it is in value season.

When we go, we run in to MANY families we know both at our hotels and at the parks. I will say that overall, I do not think it "makes or breaks" the week but it definately increases the crowds. By how much, it's hard to say.

 

[FunkyLamb]

Adding to what everyone else is saying, this year Mardi Gras is very early (FEB 8th). I don't think that will have a great effect on New Orleanians heading to WDW, but I do think that overall crowds will be lighter.

 

[laceemouse]

I was raised in Louisiana and my mom and sister still live in Lafayette. My sis sells real estate and knows a lot of people. She says so many of them go the Colorado to ski during Mardi Gras that they have started to have a celebration in some cities there! Let's face it, WDW is crowded at least moderately most of the year now. I would not worry too much if I were you.

 

[pixieprincessmom]

I have heard that the crowds are higher if Mardi Gras and Presidents day fall on the same weekend because many people take advantage of the three-day weekend if they live in the area. The guy who told me this has been several times at that time of year and says next year should be light (not the same weekend).

 

[Antonia]

What about the Super Bowl happening in Jacksonville, FL on Feb 6th?? Wll that bring extra people to WDW that week?
This may be a factor no one has considered, because it has not happened so close to WDW before.