Jersey week crowds- what's the real deal?

[JennyDrake]

I go to WDW 3-4x/year, including Jersey week. While it is not as bad as summer or holidays, it is NOT low crowds. Rope drop and midday break are your best friends. I would put it on par with spring break (but not near Easter!). Headliners will have waits of 55-70 minutes by 11:00 am and it will remain that way all day. Epcot on the weekends is packed and not terribly fun due to F&W crowds. The weather is usually great!

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

I go to WDW 3-4x/year, including Jersey week. While it is not as bad as summer or holidays, it is NOT low crowds. Rope drop and midday break are your best friends. I would put it on par with spring break (but not near Easter!). Headliners will have waits of 55-70 minutes by 11:00 am and it will remain that way all day. Epcot on the weekends is packed and not terribly fun due to F&W crowds. The weather is usually great!

Thanks for the Intel!

Couple quick questions:
1. Would you say that it is normally warm enough to swim?
2. What is your preferred touring strategy for that time of year? (You mentioned RD which we are big fans of...how about when you plan your FPs?)

Thanks soooo much!

 

[TJDisneymama]

I went during Jersey week last year and the crowds were very manageable. The only thing we had an issue with was the heat, but it was record setting 90+ every day. Very unusual

oh man, don't even say that. I have been dreaming about going to WDW and wearing long pants and sweatshirts, or a jacket. I've never done that before.

 

[jerzeystar09]

oh man, don't even say that. I have been dreaming about going to WDW and wearing long pants and sweatshirts, or a jacket. I've never done that before.

It's not normally like that! Lol we were shocked when we got there. Made up for it in my January trip when I got 30 degree days due to a blizzard up north. I'm sure you will have wonderful weather

 

[gorkt]

Yeah, normally it is 75F-80F during the day, cooler at night. But it can range from 45F to 90F. I really hope it isn't 90F this year, my husband hates the heat which is partly why we go this time of year.

 

[TJDisneymama]

Yeah, normally it is 75F-80F during the day, cooler at night. But it can range from 45F to 90F. I really hope it isn't 90F this year, my husband hates the heat which is partly why we go this time of year.

Gah! I know there's a chance......but 100% of the reason we are going in Nov. is b/c I'm sick of going and dealing with the heat, lol.

 

[JohnneeO]

The biggest impact I have seen from Jersey week is on the price and availability of flights between NJ to FL at that time.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

The biggest impact I have seen from Jersey week is on the price and availability of flights between NJ to FL at that time.

If you're in south jersey try flights out of Baltimore. Especially through Southwest. Lots of flights and prices aren't too bad. Flying out of Philly can sometimes be $400 one way during Jersey week!

 

[disneyseniors]

We went one year during Jersey week and never knew it was Jersey week. The only difference is there are just a lot of people there from New Jersey. Other than accents on people in queue lines, we didn't take notice of anything else different about that week.

I agree with disnut8 completely! We've been during "jersey week" numerous times, and never even knew there was such a thing. Just a lot of Jersey accents, that's all. Had some fun discussions with them while in line at times. No problem!

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

If you're in south jersey try flights out of Baltimore. Especially through Southwest. Lots of flights and prices aren't too bad. Flying out of Philly can sometimes be $400 one way during Jersey week!

Helpful info thanks!!

 

[KStash]

The biggest impact I have seen from Jersey week is on the price and availability of flights between NJ to FL at that time.

I had a hard time finding a decent flight for my family for Jersey Week. Every single flight was over 400 roundtrip from Philly or Newark. Finally found a deal with Spirit (though I had to leave a day early on Friday instead of Saturday...poor me ) though I've heard Spirit can be unreliable at times. Seeing as I booked Mickey's Backyard BBQ for arrival night, I'm praying they are on time or I will have wasted alot of money.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

I had a hard time finding a decent flight for my family for Jersey Week. Every single flight was over 400 roundtrip from Philly or Newark. Finally found a deal with Spirit (though I had to leave a day early on Friday instead of Saturday...poor me ) though I've heard Spirit can be unreliable at times. Seeing as I booked Mickey's Backyard BBQ for arrival night, I'm praying they are on time or I will have wasted alot of money.

Yikes! How far in advance did you start shopping prices? I know phl to Mco is typical under 200 round trip per person, so that price jump is eye opening.

Good luck with spirit!

 

[KStash]

Yikes! How far in advance did you start shopping prices? I know phl to Mco is typical under 200 round trip per person, so that price jump is eye opening.

Good luck with spirit!

We started looking late July for 8 of us. Annoyingly, at the end of May American Airlines had roundtrip for 320, but as I was paying for 8 people I wasn't quite ready to book at that time.

So long as Spirit gets us there on time, it will have worked out better though, because now we get an extra day at Disney. The kids are excited too, because they get to miss school to leave on Friday.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

We started looking late July for 8 of us. Annoyingly, at the end of May American Airlines had roundtrip for 320, but as I was paying for 8 people I wasn't quite ready to book at that time.

So long as Spirit gets us there on time, it will have worked out better though, because now we get an extra day at Disney. The kids are excited too, because they get to miss school to leave on Friday.

That's great- hope you have an awesome trip!

 

[TJDisneymama]

Im from boston and we have a 3 day week as well this year, so it might end up being a battle of the accents.

 

[JennyDrake]

Thanks for the Intel!

Couple quick questions:
1. Would you say that it is normally warm enough to swim?
2. What is your preferred touring strategy for that time of year? (You mentioned RD which we are big fans of...how about when you plan your FPs?)

Thanks soooo much!

1. I am VERY cold natured, so _I_ don't swim if it's less than the mid 80's. _I_ don't swim then, but YMMV.
2. Rope drop and hit the headliners-- AT MK I head straight for Fantasyland. I plan FP for 11-2 (or something like that) when the crowds begin to thicken then I go back and take a nap and read. I'm usually back in the parks at 4 or 5.
3. At MK, I never do SDMT, Peter Pan, or Astro Orbiter wo FP as those lines seem to always be insane, and the latter two are so slow to load.

 

[jerzeystar09]

We are in between both Newark and Philadelphia and last year we flew out of Philly for the first time. It was a lot cheaper and very easy to get in and out

 

[MissMet]

This year's Jersey Week looks to be VERY busy. I'm there the week before & the week of. The difference in making plans between the two weeks is shocking. Airfare going home was astronomical- flying in $100, flying out $391!! CR/BLT has been completely sold out for a while now and only had one room category left at each when I booked. There's no flexibility in moving ADRs around, unlike the week before where I have had no trouble moving ADRs. Seems like it's going to be quite busy. Hope I'm wrong!

 

[mousestruck]

We went during Jersey Week every year (for about 10 years), until my oldest went to college and we couldn't anymore. It is an awesome time to visit! The crowds are very manageable, the weather is usually gorgeous (not too hot or rainy) and the parks are transitioning from Halloween to Christmas. Most times, we'd see the Halloween decorations when we arrived and the Christmas decorations before we left! The week is considerably less crowded through Wednesday, then picks ups on Thursday when all NJ schools are off.

We've visited during the summer months over the last three years -- and boy do I miss November!!! Happy planning!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I wanted to do Jersey week for 2018 but after looking at Jersey week hours this week I think I may pass. There are 4 party nights that week which, I'm afraid, is going to make MK extremely busy on non party days. We like to go to MK in the evenings and 4 party days will really kill that buzz.