Jan/Feb of '04 ... please help

[MichelleB]

We want to go to WDW in Jan/Feb '04, but want to make sure we miss the marathon, cheerleading championships, and Mardi Gras. Can someone tell me when these will be? Thank you.

 

[anniet]

The Marathon is usually early January....we went this year for the last TWO weeks in January and did not run into any of these. We did run into 2 days of cold weather but otherwise it was 60-70, and we walked onto ALL of the rides including Test Track.

We'll be planning for the last two weeks in January 2004 as well.

Hope that helps!

 

[fredms]

I was in WDW for the Millenium and the week following. The marathon was that week and crowd wise it really was not a big deal. In fact I think the first couple weeks in January is the least crowded time.

We literally walked on rides!

 

[wordzylady]

We just got back from BWV. We always go the last of January/first few days of February week. Usually when we are leaving on Saturday the end of our stay the high school dance troops have just been there a day and start their competition the Saturday we leave. This was our first trip with DVC. We always stayed at ASMo and the cheerleaders and dance troops stay at the All Stars or the Carribean Beach, not the DVC resorts. So we didn't notice too much this arriving this year as in the past. There is always competition the first of February.

 

[LisaR]

We were there this year during the marathon and there was some other event that was going on as well. I never did find out what it was. Some of the kids had soccer shirts on so maybe it was related to that. The point is, when I made the ressies, I didn't have a clue that these events were taking place. I never noticed anyone from the marathon. The "soccer kids" invaded Epcot one day in HUGE groups. We were coming in at the same time as they were. I thought it would be a disaster. Once we got ahead of them, we NEVER saw them in the park again! We went to Perkins for breakfast one day and a smaller group of them were leaving when we arrived. There weren't any crowds or waits for anything (rides, restaurants, etc) during the weekday at all. On the weekend, Epcot and Animal Kingdom had 5 - 10 minute waits the entire time we were there. I can honestly say, I have never seen the parks so empty as they were this January. There were many rides where we were literally the only family on the entire ride.

Lisa