How was week BEFORE President's Day?

[DeannaMKB]

Hi all! Just wondering if anyone was in the parks the days before President's Day and how the crowds were. We are particularly interested in the Tuesday to Saturday before President's Day. Was Saturday (13th) crazy?? Thanks for your help!

 

[opiwan]

We were there from the 6th - 12th. The below is purely my personal view. :-D I have not been at WDW since 1996 so what I consider busy, might not be.

6th - Epcot - Moderate crowds. However, most family rides were pretty well walk on.
7th - DHS - Moderately busy. Better get fast passes.
8th - MK - *insane crowded*, but the superbowl parade I'm sure had a lot to do with that. As in *run* to the fast pass queues right at rope drop. My bad for not knowing the parade was going to be there. Had I known I would have completely re-did our plans and not gone to MK that day.
9th - DHS - I personally felt it was crowded, until it started raining and then it was pretty dead. Most attractions we did were 10 - 15 minute wait on standby.
10th - AK - Crowded. Got fast passes for everything.
11th - Epcot - Very Light crowds until a party related to the give a day campaign blocked off some areas. Late afternoon and into the evening the park was extremely busy. Everything was walk on in the morning at the front of the park. Very fun day actually.
12th - MK - Very, very light. The weather was *terrible* this day though. Drenching rain and cold. I had on a winter coat + a parka + being under an Golf umbrella and still got soaked. Got fast passes for most attractions since the people who were there were in lines for indoor rides like pooh, peter pan, etc to stay out of the rain.

A lot of the crowds while we were there seemed to be related to some huge multinational school group event called 'The Magi Experience' being there. There were thousands of these kids there from countries all over the world. There were group of them at ASMu and I saw a bus full of them at ASMo leaving on the 11th. I think they were all out by the 11th as the park crowds really seemed to drop off our last two days. Thought the weather on Fri could account for the lack of any crowd.

There was also teenagers from Cheer leading and dancing group competitions around, you saw them practicing out the in the parking lots, but they didn't seem to be in the parks. They were very well behaved that the resorts so I really can't complain about them.

Personally, I would *not* go that week again. The weather was too iffy and was crummy enough overall that it seriously kinked up our plans on 2 days. I don't think we saw it warmer than 55 the whole week.

 

[DeannaMKB]

Wow! That was a very thorough answer! Thank you so much! We ran into major tour groups last year near the end of January too. I wonder if there is a way to know when they're going to be there or if there is always some kind of group at WDW (and to not bother trying to avoid them). Thank you for your help!

 

[Nutty4Disney]

We were there from 2/7-13 and didn't see too many crowds until the 13th. We were at Epcot, so that may have had something to do with them giving the folks who couldn't get on the ship passes to Epcot. The weather was rather cold, windy and rainy, but we dealt with it. We have been at this time in the past and the weather was great - 70's and 80's. This year it was 50's and 60's. We never had more than 20-30 minute wait for any ride. We only used fastpasses for Toy Story Mania. We are going the end of January next year. We will see if it is any warmer.

 

[DeannaMKB]

Nutty4Disney, thank you! I am glad you didn't notice any really crazy crowds. It is also comforting that you have had decent weather in the past! Thank you!

 

[opiwan]

I was hoping for 70's while we were there. That's what my parents who are snowbirds with a place in Tampa promised me.

I kind of wish we waited until the Flower show at Epcot. I know it's a lot busier, but the weather should at least be warm and I'd love to see all the landscape at Epcot all gussied up.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

We were there the 4th-10th. I thought the crowds were extrmely light, but the weather was like a roller coaster ride all week! That probably kept the locals home.
I believe Oct. and May are my favorite times of year to be at Disney. The flowers are out, sun is shining, special events going on, etc.

 

[Minnesota!]

6th - Epcot - Moderate crowds. However, most family rides were pretty well walk on.
7th - DHS - Moderately busy. Better get fast passes.
8th - MK - *insane crowded*, but the superbowl parade I'm sure had a lot to do with that. As in *run* to the fast pass queues right at rope drop. My bad for not knowing the parade was going to be there. Had I known I would have completely re-did our plans and not gone to MK that day.9th - DHS - I personally felt it was crowded, until it started raining and then it was pretty dead. Most attractions we did were 10 - 15 minute wait on standby.
10th - AK - Crowded. Got fast passes for everything.
11th - Epcot - Very Light crowds until a party related to the give a day campaign blocked off some areas. Late afternoon and into the evening the park was extremely busy. Everything was walk on in the morning at the front of the park. Very fun day actually.
12th - MK - Very, very light. The weather was *terrible* this day though. Drenching rain and cold. I had on a winter coat + a parka + being under an Golf umbrella and still got soaked. Got fast passes for most attractions since the people who were there were in lines for indoor rides like pooh, peter pan, etc to stay out of the rain.

There was also teenagers from Cheer leading and dancing group competitions around, you saw them practicing out the in the parking lots, but they didn't seem to be in the parks. They were very well behaved that the resorts so I really can't complain about them.

Personally, I would *not* go that week again. The weather was too iffy and was crummy enough overall that it seriously kinked up our plans on 2 days. I don't think we saw it warmer than 55 the whole week.

We were there from the 5th - 12th. The weather was wacky but the crowds were SO light. I loved it! It only rained 1 day that we were there, which is what it seems to do to us at any time we go. And it was def warm enough for us Minnesotans! Shorts and sandal weather! We just all carried a hoodie for the evenings.

We were at MK on the 8th (Superbowl parade day) and I didn't think the crowds were insane. Near the hub and main street it was crowded, but the rest of the park was just fine..

I would do that week again in a heartbeat (actually, this is the 2nd time I have done this week...about the same each time..)

 

[mom2mek]

We were there the week before President's Day as well. Arrived on the 6th - left the night of the 13th. The crowds were pretty non-existent with the exception of the 13th at Epcot. CRAZY that day! But I have since found out that the Magic was delayed getting back in port and they put all the outgoing cruise ship folks at Epcot resorts (or something like that anyway). We had to battle a few crowds of tour groups that day as well...we saw them all week, but they never affected what we were doing until the 13th! It was like night and day between the other days of our trip and the 13th! Weather was definitely roller-coaster all week, but we still had a great time!

Sara

 

[opiwan]

I must have a pretty low crowd tolerance compared to what others are saying.

To me the MK just felt oppressively busy on Monday. But, we were running around doing BBB/picture session and CRT with my little one from about 3pm right through Wishes. So I wasn't walking around in the mid-afternoon on.

Also, comparing it to Thurs/Fri where it was almost dead in the parks, which was *wonderful*. Th/Fr was what I was hoping to see all week. Guess it's all in the expectations.

 

[CdnCarrie]

We were there from the 6th - 12th. The below is purely my personal view. :-D I have not been at WDW since 1996 so what I consider busy, might not be.

6th - Epcot - Moderate crowds. However, most family rides were pretty well walk on.
7th - DHS - Moderately busy. Better get fast passes.
8th - MK - *insane crowded*, but the superbowl parade I'm sure had a lot to do with that. As in *run* to the fast pass queues right at rope drop. My bad for not knowing the parade was going to be there. Had I known I would have completely re-did our plans and not gone to MK that day.
9th - DHS - I personally felt it was crowded, until it started raining and then it was pretty dead. Most attractions we did were 10 - 15 minute wait on standby.
10th - AK - Crowded. Got fast passes for everything.
11th - Epcot - Very Light crowds until a party related to the give a day campaign blocked off some areas. Late afternoon and into the evening the park was extremely busy. Everything was walk on in the morning at the front of the park. Very fun day actually.
12th - MK - Very, very light. The weather was *terrible* this day though. Drenching rain and cold. I had on a winter coat + a parka + being under an Golf umbrella and still got soaked. Got fast passes for most attractions since the people who were there were in lines for indoor rides like pooh, peter pan, etc to stay out of the rain.

A lot of the crowds while we were there seemed to be related to some huge multinational school group event called 'The Magi Experience' being there. There were thousands of these kids there from countries all over the world. There were group of them at ASMu and I saw a bus full of them at ASMo leaving on the 11th. I think they were all out by the 11th as the park crowds really seemed to drop off our last two days. Thought the weather on Fri could account for the lack of any crowd.

There was also teenagers from Cheer leading and dancing group competitions around, you saw them practicing out the in the parking lots, but they didn't seem to be in the parks. They were very well behaved that the resorts so I really can't complain about them.

Personally, I would *not* go that week again. The weather was too iffy and was crummy enough overall that it seriously kinked up our plans on 2 days. I don't think we saw it warmer than 55 the whole week.

Did you go to recommended parks (TGM/UG)?


First 2 weeks is one of the best times to go. Done it several times and everything is a walk on. And if you had checked with TGM you would have know that to avoid MK on the 8th. LOL.

 

[SafetyPinndSally]

We were there the 4th-10th and a lot of things were only 10-20 minute wait. We did DHS on the 7th...didn't make rope drop and got on TSM in less than 30 minutes.

The weather wasn't the greatest with the 7th being cold and two days of rain, but still it was better than being home with 2 feet of snow. We'll probably go this time of year the next time we go.

 

[Conan the Librarian]

We were at MK on the 11th. It was a wonderful day weather-wise (we spent the 12th in a tent about 30 miles west of WDW...that was horrible).

The crowds were higher than we expected, but, not unmanagable. Splash Mountain was down (too cold to ride it anyway), PotC was down when we tried to get to it, and, there was a rather long line for the HM. I suspect that they had a breakdown there also, because the line flowed very quickly once we got in it.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

I was there on the 6th - went to Epcot-- light to moderate crowds--very managable with FP and single rider lines. Rode TT 2 times (ran into the tour group of 100 kids with FPs , soaring 2 times, land ride, Mission space, checked out club cool, and did Kim possible in China, and rode the Mexico ride all before 1:30. Ate in Germany got out around 3:00 and it was chilly so we went back to the resort for 2.5 hours. Went back and did Kim possible in England, watched O'canada, went on Journey into your imagination and had fun in the play area after, rode soaring, space ship earth, ate dinner, rode TT again and then watched illuminations! If we didn't run into the tour group we could have done more.

Sunday we did TSM 4 times, tower of terror 2, rnrc 1, saw B&B show, ate lunch, one mans dream, Narnia, great movie ride and the little Mermaid all before 3:00 (went back to room after the RNRc got my daughter sick (poor thing)-- moderate crowds, but not too bad. The single rider line works great

then Wednesday we went to MK-- it was cold but did, SM 2 times, people mover ride, laugh floor, buzz 2, HM 2, POtC, Jungle cruise, BTMRR 2, took the train around the park (we had to pick up our rent a car which took 3 hours from 3-6pm) HOP, Tiki Birds, Iasw, Country Bears, watch Spectro and wishes and the park closed at 8 pm (very early!!) --very little waiting!! Peter Pan was only 40 minutes in the evening which its usually 90 minutes when we are there. light crowds-- fp wasn't even open at the Jungle cruise

 

[tiggergirlinMI]

Having been many spring breaks, I purposely went the week before Pres. day and thought it was great. Low crowds IMO.....I still love the time right after thanksgiving and before Dec 15th but still the crowds were manageable.
Weather rainy as heck but me and my umbrella made it through the parks easily and the crowds that were there lessened quickly after the rain started.
There were alot of South American kids there...one group in particular, the Fifteeners were so loud and rude, goodness, pushing people in line, and walking around others in line with no "excuse me" but that's another topic!
Other than not getting much of a tan, I would go again this time of year.....never waited more than 20 min for a ride.
Alot of the time our group (all adults) would break up to ride the single rider line and it was usually a walk on.

 

[mommyoftwinz]

We were there from Feb 5th to Feb 13th. I didn't think the crowds were bad at all. Actually my husband and I commented on Superbowl Sunday that it seemed so empty, we walked right up to Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Carribbean, HM even BTMRR had a 10 minute wait etc. I don't ever remember not having to wait for those. Some rides still had a wait but we just got the fast pass for those. The ones that were really bad like Dumbo we just did first thing in the morning and ended up waiting about 10 minutes. The only ride that was insane was TSM in DHS, don't even bother waiting on line, grab a FP. We had two half days of rain while we were there and EPCOT didn't seem to get lighter with the rain, I guess because most of it is indoors. We were at MK for the morning of Feb. 13th to say goodbye and in one morning we did most of Fantasyland and Frontierland and Adventureland. I think it was a great time to go as long as you not into swimming as the weather was on the cool side.