Jersey Week

[mchelle77]

I found out that I'm going on the week known as "Jersey Week" .. has anyone gone during that week in the past and can tell me if it's as bad as people are saying? What's it comparible to?

I'm not sure what to think. It's also free dining, and the last week of the F&WF.

 

[EPRV We love Disney]

Hi there,

Don't be afraid of Jersey Week. Typically the NJ schools have off the Thursday and Friday of that week. So, you have people scheduling vacation for the days prior and finishing that weekend, or people starting on the Thursday and possibly going into the following week.

I did Disney in 2007 and scheduled it for that week. We started our vaca on the Monday before and went thru to the Monday after. Crowds were very manageable on the Mon, Tues, Wed and into Thursday. Thurs and Fri were heavier but not ridiculous. Sat and Sun were a bit heavier still. We did Animal Kingdom on the Sun and we felt the crowds were the heaviest then, but it could have been the structure of the park as well.

Never was it terrible and the weather was fantastic. Low to mid 70's (capri weather for me) with 60's in the evenings (hoodie weather!)

And NJ people are awesome...

Really the only difference I can see for you this year is that it was NOT free dining when I went. I've heard that can make it more crowded...

Have fun!

We'll be at Universal that week this year!

 

[mchelle77]

Thanks for the input.

My only concern now is the order of parks I have (due to planning and scheduling ADRs before reading about the "best" and "worst" parks to go to each day.) HS on a Sunday, Fantasmic night, during Jersey Week, with free dining .. scares me!

 

[3mickeys&me]

Don't Sweat it, seriously the last two times we have gone to Disney it was during Jersey week. It wasn't anymore crowded than any other time we have been. Its usually more crowded on weekends also because of locals.
We love going during Jersey week as its cold here and beautiful in Florida. We never really waited more than 15 minutes for a ride.
Have a great time.

 

[nickymaria]

We were there for Jersey week last year, but we avoided the weekend crowd by going Sun-Fri. I had no idea it was Jersey week until I noticed that we were seriously the only people on the bus not from NJ! It was funny. But I don't think it was terribly crowded at all. We tried to make it to the parks as early as possible to hit the big rides or get fast passes and then we would head back to the hotel sometime after lunch. Sometimes we would go back to a park later for dinner and more rides or whatever. The crowds were nothing compared to what I remember from spring break several years ago. That was insane!

 

[JohnnyB2]

Hi, We were there last year and I noticed Thurs & Fri crowd levels growing.Still very manageable but Fri night at the WS was packed due to the last weekend of F&W festival

Have Fun

 

[Marlton Mom]

If you just pretend to be from Jersey..... you'll fit right in! Seriously, don't be freaked out, we really are all nice. The "troublesome" ones were sent on a boat ride with Tony Soprano It may help to get a t-shirt with something like "I'm from Exit 4, where you at?" or "Just say no to beach tags!" written on it.
Other helpful tips include: if they have a New York accent that means NORTH Jersey and if they have tomato stains on their shirt that means SOUTH Jersey. 7-11 = North Jersey, Wawa = South Jersey! Entemann's bakery goodies = North Jersey, Tasty cakes = South Jersey !!

So I hope that helps...

Generally speaking, the sages say that the park that has Extra Magic Hours the night before will be the least crowded the next day. So perhaps that little tidbit will help with your trip planning. I hope you have a great trip and I'm sure you'll meet some really fun Jersey people!

Smoochies
Marlton Mom (exit 4 off the NJ Turnpike!)

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I'm confused
I thought Jersey week was in April. Or are there several 'Jersey' weeks? Does anyone know and what EXACTLY it means by Jersey week?

I was at BC in April 2008 and EVERYONE except me and my family was from New Jersey. My husband couldn't believe the amount of people (or maybe BC is just that way??) and he said he never wanted to go back during Jersey week again - OY! How the heck am I supposed to know???

 

[njmom47]

Haha! Love the North Jersey/South Jersey thing but I'm from very Northern Ocean/Southern Monmouth county area, and we are not represented!!!

Anyway, I know 2 large school districts from my area have the whole first week of November off...if there are other school districts that have the whole week off also, it may be more crowded due to that.

Funny thing: I called into a radio station a few weeks back and when I heard myself on the radio, it sounded like I had that South Jersey accent..you know, that thing with the "o"... I never thought I had an accent at all!!

 

[sersee05]

Exit 2 here...We are going Jersey week..which is November 2-7th....I have heard that it is crowded and also heard that it wasn't bad at all. We went in the summer..and it was crowded AND hot..blah. Is there a spot where you check what the busiest times in the theme parks are? We are checking in MOnday and checking out Sunday..so I hope I miss some of the crowds.. Our school district has Wed-thurs off..and a lot of the people I have talked to around here only have two days off...

I am not sure what happens in April that brings all the Jerseyians down.. oh..probably spring break..I just checked..our school district get April 1st through the 5th off....

We really are nice people....except the Rocky impressions..Jersey peeps gotta let go of Rocky. Please. My hair isn't even big anymore!

 

[Topo Bella]

Jersey Shore chiming in ... We usually go Jersey week and find that that crowds are definately manageable. Nothing crazy, at all. A few years back, we went the week before Jersey Week and although the crowds were a little lighter, not so much so that it made a big difference.

Have a great time ... I'll see you there!

 

[toniosmom]

Central Jersey chiming in here! In NJ, the teachers have their convention the Thursday and Friday of the first week in November. Election Day also falls in that week, so at most, schools are open 2-1/2 days, but more likely to be closed the entire week. It varies from district to district, but it is always the same week.

Technically, there is no Jersey week in April because spring breaks vary from district to district. One district may be off the week before Easter -- another off the week after Easter -- and yet another off two weeks before that. Most of the local colleges break in early-mid March.

I am planning to go during (November) Jersey week after my son hits 1st grade in 2011. For now -- preschool and kindergarten -- we go whenever we like, so my favorite time is early-mid March. The weather is beautiful and the crowds are very manageable. Next year, we are going in early March and then again in early December in order to experience Disney Christmas. It's going to be fun to have two trips in one year, which is very rare for us.

Don't sweat it -- go and have a great time and make wonderful memories with your family.

 

[toniosmom]

Central Jersey chiming in here! In NJ, the teachers have their convention the Thursday and Friday of the first week in November. Election Day also falls in that week, so at most, schools are open 2-1/2 days, but more likely to be closed the entire week. It varies from district to district, but it is always the same week.

Technically, there is no Jersey week in April because spring breaks vary from district to district. One district may be off the week before Easter -- another off the week after Easter -- and yet another off two weeks before that. Most of the local colleges break in early-mid March.

I am planning to go during (November) Jersey week after my son hits 1st grade in 2011. For now -- preschool and kindergarten -- we go whenever we like, so my favorite time is early-mid March. The weather is beautiful and the crowds are very manageable. Next year, we are going in early March and then again in early December in order to experience Disney Christmas. It's going to be fun to have two trips in one year, which is very rare for us.

Don't sweat it -- go and have a great time and make wonderful memories with your family. We Jerseyans don't bite!

 

[My5Mouseketeers]

We normally go down for "Jersey Week". The crowds always seem manageable. From what I understand, Jersey Week is just a little blip in the crowd levels. Busier than the week before and after, but nothing like Christmas, Easter, Summer.

I am very concerned about free dining! I've heard the crowds were horrible and you couldnt get reservations anywhere unless you planned way out. (We have always been able to make reservation the day before (for 9), but we are very flexible). Hopefully all those people will be eating while we are in the parks. Can anyone comment on Free Dining?

Sandy

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I'm from Southern Ocean County (LBI) if that really matters. As far as Jersey week...our kids have off the entire first week this year for November. Remember that it is also the last week of F&W too, so that will add to any crowds-its not just Jersey folks funneling down to Disney. That said, we never found that week to be unbearable (quite the opposite) or have long waits for much of anything. I think most folks are just lamenting the fact that it isn't the dead zone as some people would like it to be. I certainly would not schedule a trip to purposely avoid that week. I think Jersey week is a lot of hoopla over nothing.

 

[sersee05]

I don't know too much about the free dining..but I booked my trip last week and made online reservations just because everyone on the boards suggested it. It does get crowded. I was able to get almost everything I wanted except Chef Mickey's . So it makes me wonder if maybe the crowds won't be too horrible if I could get some ressies like Cinderella's royal table. I have heard people complaining they can't get ressies 90 days out!!! I still check some times and Chef mickey's to see if anything else is available..and there is always Crystal palace, Askershus, tusker house and kona available. ..

 

[JoeyAnyc]

And NJ people are awesome...

Yes we are!

 

[jobie61]

All I can say is be afraid, very very afraid. Have you ever been to New Jersey

All kidding aside, the crowds aren't that bad !!

I think touringplans.com rates the days at a 6 or 7. With Thursday and Friday (11/5th and 11/6th) being the highest.

My family will be there 10/29 - 11/7 as our school district has off the entire week. We take the kids out a couple of days prior.

 

[sersee05]

not to mention some of us jersey people are driving down! If you see a big haired blonde woman really close behind you on the road..Just wave and move outta my way! Actually ..my hair is flat now..I miss south jersey mall hair..

 

[nicolemomof4cuties]

We have went during Jersey week twice. The crowds were not bad at all. And the people were really nice. We also didn't figure it out the first time until we started noticing that alot of the people on the busses and in line were from Jersey. What was really weird is that we met some people on the second Jersey week that we had also met on the first trip. AND, they remembered us, LOL! Very weird.