I have to move on.....

[MelodyMack]

OK Gang-

We had originally planned our family trip to WDW for October 15 - 27. Unfortunately, Hurricane Ivan caused a bit of havic on our stress levels and pocketbooks so we have decided to postpone out trip until end of Feb maybe beginning of March. I changed my countdown timer (which by the way had only 14 days left when I officially changed it...broke my heart), and am now starting my trip planning again.

Deep breath in...deep breath out...HELP!!!! Anyone been that time of year who can offer any general experience info? Weather? Crowds?

I am a lucky lady that my family and I escaped Pensacola before the storm, and we're all OK. I'm even a luckier lady because I can afford to postpone this trip and enjoy it (just a little later than I had planned). And I know I'll feel like the luckiest lady EVER when my DD3 sees that big castle and I get to see that sparkle in her eyes!

Thanks for all your prayers DIS and I'm looking forward to any advice you may have to help me plan for my first chance to hug Mickey in person!

Mel

 

[disneyfanz04]

Thaks alot...you made me cry.......You're right, you are very lucky...enjoy the trip...sorry I have never gone there at that time of year, so I really can't offer any advice, but have fun!!! And my family will say a prayer for yours!!!!

 

[ErinC]

Hey neighbor! I can completely relate to the Ivan stress. We are fine and are getting back to normal. So sorry, that you had to postpone your trip. We are planning a Feb. trip also. (this was already planned pre Ivan). We are using the Mardi Gras holiday to avoid to much missed school. Thank goodness when the new schedule came out in Baldwin Co. today, they did not take away the MG holdiday from school . Your lucky with DD3 you don't have to deal with that yet! My only advice for Feb. is kind of the obvious stuff. Stay away from Presidents Day if you can help it because of the crowds. I think the first part of Feb. is value season, so hopefully they might have some good codes for this time for you (we are DVC so that doesn't effect us too much.). I think park hours will be shorter, which we don't mind if the crowds are not bad. And most of all, it will be cooler, maybe even cold, but we can live with that too. Sorry again about your trip. If you can sneak over to the outlets, Disney Catalog has lots of good stuff on sale( I was there this morning), and that might lift your spirits. If not maybe you can grab some early Christmas gifts for your DD. At least Feb. is not that far away! Erin

 

[trola2]

We are also looking at postponing our November trip...

We were there early Feb 2004. It was great...short lines...beautiful weather, and my DD's 4th birthday. This next trip will probably fall end of Feb/Early March for my oldest DD's bday. Nice excuse to go to Disney, huh? Ours postponement has other issues, but there's a slight chance it could still happen so I haven't changed my clock.

Glad you and yours were Ok.
~~Beth

 

[Minnie&Nana]

We were there the first weekend in March once and it was 80 without a drop of humity - it was gorgeous!! We've been early Feb and early & mid Jan, both cold, but some days 70ish for a few hours. 30-40 ealry mornings and evenings in Jan & Feb (early). Last feb the wind chill was awful!! we were freezing - but again, this was early Feb, not late.

Take jeans and shorts, sweatshirts and t-shirts!!!

It'll be great!!

So sorry you had to change your dates, but good to read you survived Ivan.

Have you decided where to stay yet??



Christine

 

[klwdisney]

So happy to hear you made it thru the hurricane ok!!

We went that time of year 2/26/98 - 3/06/98. The weather was very nice...75 during the day chilly at night. Definitely pack a mixture of everything and then use the laundry at the hotel

Unfortunately these were some of the worst crowds I've ever experienced! Of course, we are used to going in the fall when it's quiet in the parks. This was UNREAL! DH went to get a snack and was gone for almost an hour... when he reappeared he said he'd been inline/crowds the whole time! So make sure you plan with crowds in mind, use Fast Pass where possible, and most importantly HAVE FUN!!!!!

 

[MelodyMack]

I knew you guys could cheer me up! THANKS!

We are staying off site because we are going with my husbands entire immediate family (10 adults and 4 other munchkins). So our biggest money saving option was for all of us to kick in our hotel points from the year and stay at the Imperial Palms Marriott.

I'm a little dissapointed to hear about the crowds as I was hoping the weather might keep a lot of people away. As usual, I guess EVERYONE thinks that and then we all show up at the same time right?

We are tentitively planning this for either the very last week of Feb, first week of March, as my family and I must conform to the blackout dates because we are Florida SEASON pass holders (yes, I bought them before Ivan...yes, I sleep with them under my pillow).

Is there another time in the Spring that tends to be LESS crowded and won't be blacked out? I want this to be a great first trip for my munchkin, so the shorter the lines the better.

You guys are the greatest....I 'm already excited about planning for my new and improved Disney trip!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Kids in the northeast (greater Boston area) have the 3 week of Feb as winter break, so maybe other schools in other states have the last week of Feb or 1st week of March?

When we went March 5 for a long weekend once, no crowds, practically no kids, mostly seniors citizens! I had my teens and friends along. They loved it at that time. weather was perfect as mentioned before.

Must be hard to stay off site when you are used to on site?

 

[Rozzie]

Hey MelodyMack, so nice to see other p'colains on here. We also had to postpone our trip from Sept 16-22 to Nov 15-22. It was hard to do, even it was physically impossible to make it, I know the disappointment.
We are hoping for great weather, but are bummed b/c nov is always busier than our sept trip's.
We are so blessed our home is ok, we just found out we are getting a new roof, porch, etc, but it is still livable, unlike so many others, it is so sad to know so many people without homes....


Hoping you have a great postponed trip!