Jersey Week

[ilovefh]

Ok so this trip was pooryly planned....and I can't believe it! It's not like me at all! Very last minute...not much research....anyway....I've been reading now that the time we will be there will be "Jersey Week." I went last year 11/10-11/14 and this year we have extended it 11/4-11/13. Last year we walked on all the rides and barely waited in a line. Is the beginning of the week any busier? I'm just so amazed that I did not plan this well! My main concern is my friend who is coming with us has never been and he is not a crowds type of person!!

 

[MrGrumpy222]

Double post, Sorry

 

[MrGrumpy222]

We went last year for Halloween and MNSHP and it was crowded for that and 2 of the 10 days we were there were very crowded. Animal Kingdom should not be attended during the 3 days of the NJ Teacher's Convention. The walk ways there are tight to begin with and I couldn't go 20 feet w/o seeing some one I knew from Jersey. We didn't plan it around the teachers convention it just happened that way since we booked our trip 12 months prior. I will not go again during that time but I have seen it worse in May and June. I will only go in December and January for now on.

Cheers.

 

[ktmouse]

I emailed Len Testa at the "Unofficial Guide" site, he emailed me back and this is what he had to say regarding Jersey Week.

"I don't think "Jersey Week" impacts Walt Disney World very much. Two reasons for this: First, New Jersey is far away from WDW, and that dissuades many people from going. If the same week off was for, say, Tampa (Florida)-area schools, you'd see a bigger impact.

The second reason is that "Jersey Week" falls just before Thanksgiving and Christmas. I suspect most families will wait to have their WDW vacations over those time periods, it's more of a traditional vacation time period. (That is, most people won't take off "Jersey Week" and Christmas, and Christmas usually wins that decision.)

We have actual wait-time statistics from Jersey Week last year, and they don't show anything out of the ordinary. Also, I think higher gas prices will keep some families from traveling far from home this year, and that'll also keep the impact low. In short, I wouldn't worry about the timing of your trip."

We are going Nov 4-14th with extended family members. This information helped me feel a little more relaxed about my concerns for this time period. Hope this info helps out.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We have gone often during Jersey Week many times. Last year it coincided with Food and Wine as well. We were there Nov 2-6. Nov 2nd wasn't too bad at all. But Nov 3-6 we found it to be crowded. We witnessed 60 min waits for Space Mtn and BTMR. Splash was a 90 min line. Peter Pan, Pooh and Buzz were all around 45 min waits. On the flip side, the HM was maybe 20 min. You def had to get up early to beat the crowds which became quite congested by noon-1 pm.
AK was very crowded on Nov 5----we were very happy we got there as soon as they opened and worked the FP system. But it was like summer crowds by noon and we left to go back to OKW and swim.
On the positive side for you, I don't *think* Jersey Week coincides with F&W Festival this year ? I could be wrong on this, but this should make it better for you.

Two reasons for this: First, New Jersey is far away from WDW, and that dissuades many people from going.

I sort of disagree with Len on the above statements. I know MANY who plan for this week. I also can't tell you how many people we meet in line, at the resort etc who are from NJ during this week.
Last year, we, in addition to vacationing in WDW for the week, also did a 7 night cruise on the DCL. I'd say 50% (easily) of the ship was from NJ ! My son was in the teen club and still emails with many of the NJ friends he made on that cruise. I think the northeast section of the country is well-represented in WDW and Jersey Week makes it a very popular time for NJ residents to visit because the schools are closed all week.

 

[mikesmom]

We have gone Jersey Week a couple of times, although our destination was actually the Food & Wine Festival (and yes it does coincide). Epcot was not crowded until the weekend (locals coming for the F&W fest). I can't speak for AK, as we didn't go. Friends who traveled with us popped over to MK for a day and said it was quite crowded.

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

We were at OKW last Halloween and following week. There were crowds but still very manageable with Fastpasses and a little bit of planning. And the weather was so perfect! You need to weigh all the factors. Actually the busiest place seemed to be Downtown Disney.

I also think that there must be a second "Jersey week" in April as there were quite a few from Jersey there in mid to late April.

Come to think of it...there were a lot of Canadians as well...maybe it's just because WDW is such a great vacation destination!

Make use of the Extra Magic Hours. We did and the parks were beautiful at night...not as crowded...

Have a great time!

 

[Pluto 2]

i have never been during new jersey week. im from new jersey and i know a lot of people that goes during that time of year, but its only one state. i cant see it having that big of an impact.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Unless you have some strange prejudice against folks from New Jersey, you should be fine. Things get crowded even during low attendence times. I have seen 60-90 min waits for popular rides even in late January. It's only one fairly affluent state on vacation that week, so there will be quite a few New Jersey families there that week; the rest of the country has school that week, so no huge crowds at all.

Don't worry; it'll be fine.

 

[MiaSRN62]

the rest of the country has school that week, so no huge crowds at all.

Just a head's up.....some PA schools also have 2 days off the first week of Nov. It's why it's been a popular time for us to visit (we visited this week in '99, '01, '02 and '04). The kids usually only miss 3 days of school even if we stay a week in WDW.

 

[bdcp]

I know that a few years back the first week of Nov was National Education Week and a lot of schools had 1-2 days off.

 

[ilovefh]

Unless you have some strange prejudice against folks from New Jersey,
Don't worry; it'll be fine.

That's it! Spend time with people from New Jersey...no thanks!


Thanks for the info! I've never been during the first week of Nov so I was a bit nervous! Plus bringing a friend who was annoyed the whole day at Six Flags when we went with his DS, DBIL, his niece and nephew and thinks Disney is silly is a bit nerve wracking! Also, we tried to book a package at Universal but the only thing available was a club level room at Portofino, so we were nervous they were fully booked! AT keast we are going to US, IOA, Sea World, and Bush Gardens first so if he hates Disney the trip won't be a total bust!

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

We’ve been to WDW during Jersey Week twice in the last few years and it didn’t create any problems for us.

We use FP as much as possible, and there were only a couple times that we waited in a line for more than 10 or 15 minutes.

 

[JohnNJ]

Here's my observation, having been to WDW during Jersey Week and also being from New Jersey:

1) You will not have any problems if you follow TGMike's advice.

2) There is a significant increase in the crowds during Jersey Week.

3) How you percieve the crowd level is based on your own experiences.

I was standing in Magic Kingdom with my NJ neighbor during Jersey Week 2004. My point of view, having been to WDW during the most quiet times of the year, was that it was extremely crowded. His point of view, being used to Six Flags and Hershey Park during peak summer crowds, was that it was delightful. He laughed at the 60 minute wait for Splash Mountain even though we never waited in line longer than 10-15 minutes because of my TGM tips.

It's not just a four day weekend. Jersey week starts the weekend before and carries over to the following week with peak time in the middle. And don't forget the Food and Wine Festival and Super Soap Weekend.

There may be emotional/monetary effects due to Katrina/gas prices. To counter this, Disney may try to stimulate activity with discounts, so it may be a wash.

 

[DisneyD]

I'll be braving it with Jerseyites! I've been to Disney in July when it was crowded AND hot! Cooler weather and crowds I can deal with......

 

[northcapemaymom]

Please don't consider your trip poorly planned - we folks from "Joisey" are a delightful bunch (we're at Exit 0 on GSP). We're just trilled to be able to spread out a little in another state! We'll be there Nov. 8 - Nov 15th at OKW. We promise to be nice! The crowds are quite manageable - Have a wonderful trip!!

 

[homer424]

We are planning on doing "Jersey Week" next year, too, and I am looking forward to traveling to Disney just to see all the people who live in my state! LOL It is funny-no matter when we go we always get CMs telling us there were "a lot of people from NJ/NY here this week".

I have found crowds can happen at any time-I remember we went the second week of December in 1996 and there was no one there, we practically had every park to ourselves. But when we went during the first week in 2000, it was as if it were the height of August, except it was chilly out. And that really was the busiest we have seen it in the past 4 times we have gone (last week of April/first week of May 02, First week of May 03 and 2nd week of August 05 respectively).

 

[qman]

We went during "Jersey Week" in 2003, or I guess we did because I didn't notice much of an influx from the Garden state. The crowds are light (for Disney) and we thought it was so great we are going again this year (11/4 to 11/12).

 

[minijeanie]

That's it! Spend time with people from New Jersey...no thanks!


hey, I take offense here...us jerseyites are good people...and quite honestly fun to be with..

stop being so negative and so harried....you are going during the off season..

it will be just great, weather, lines are perfect...much better than any summer month.

and you know, some new yorkers are off that time as well.

get to know them as well....

 

[JandD Mom]

The worst thing about Jersey week in WDW is getting airfare from/to PHL, EWR or ACY! If you go on a split week (say Thurs the week before Jersey week to Thurs the week of Jersey week - as I have done in the past) you WILL notice a huge increase in crowds as you get closer to the Thursday and Friday of "The Week." That said, if you are comparing it to March, April or July, you will find it not so bad. If you are comparing it to the week after Labor Day, it will be crowded.


I agree with JohnNJ, that is, IF TGM took the time to update his site. We had his "plans" with us last week, and noticed many errors and discrepancies between reality and his info. It was disappointing. His assessment of the crowds Labor Day weekend was flat out inaccurate.