Jersey Week

[funshipm174]

Lighten up! After all, we are known for being thick skinned!

It's just a little kidding around from someone who wishes they lived in N.J.!


AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!

 

[packy]

We are from Jersey and have gone during Jersey week. Monday thru Wednesday were mildly crowded (compared to other times we have gone) but the crowds drop off big time as the week goes on. Nothing like summer. I wouldn't worry.

 

[funshipm174]

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.

We are going on Thursady 11/3 and coming back on sat 11/12. I can't disagree more with your post. Part of the reason we have booked this is because we have many friends and family from here ( Jersey) who have gone every year and found it as good as you can get in regards to not being crowded. Who better to get info from than Jerseyans who are there every year!

 

[kilee]

We were there for Jersey week in 2003. I was really worried as I had read lots of posts on this board about really high crowds. We didn't see it. I would of never of know anything different if I hadn't read it on these boards.

The crowds and weather were both great, I think it is a really great time of year to go.

 

[MiaSRN62]

The crowds are light (for Disney) and we thought it was so great we are going again this year (11/4 to 11/12).

it will be just great, weather, lines are perfect

I dunno....I must be hittin' the wrong parks on the wrong days of the week because just this past NJ Week (while I agree the weather was awesome), there were many lines for popular attractions ranging from 60-90 min. We had to leave AK at noon one day that week because the park became packed. My dh even mentioned that it "felt" like "summer crowds". There were good spots here and there but we get this during the summer as well. I'm reading these reports about light crowds and perfect lines and (while I believe this must have been like this for you all), I'm wondering why I experienced different scenarios ?

 

[della]

I was also there this past Jersey Week. It did seem a little bit more crowded than previous years but I think the combination of Food and Wine, Soap Weekend and Halloween all together added to that. We were also there this past May and the crowds were much worse than they were in November. We skipped a lot more in May because of long lines than we ever have in November.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We skipped a lot more in May because of long lines than we ever have in November.

We were there Nov 2-6. If we used the strategy of getting up early and getting the park as soon as they opened it wasn't too bad (also using FP system). To be fair, the 60-90 min lines were not too noticeable until noon and after. Thurs, Nov 4 was very bad crowd-wise in the MK (90 min wait for Splash around 1 pm). By 2 pm, we felt the need to hop over to Epcot which was better, but we still needed FP's to get on TT which had a 60 min wait. Fri, Nov 5, in the evening was again pretty crowded in the MK. The only reason we stayed was because it was a sneak peak for Stitch for AP holders and DVC Members and the kids really wanted to do this. The best days that week were Nov 2 and 3.

 

[ktmouse]

Do you think any of last year's high crowds during the Jersey Week time period, had anything to do with people rescheduling the vacations they had to postpone, due to the hurricanes? I read somewhere that last November was busier than normal because of that. I do find it odd that Tourguide Mike says crowd conditions are high, and the Unofficial Guide claims it shouldn't be much of a problem (mostly level 4 crowds) during Jersey Week.

 

[MiaSRN62]

This is possible ktmouse, because our past Jersey Week trips weren't nearly as crowded as last year. I did read alot of people had to reschedule. I had never before encountered 60-90 min waits during Jersey Week as I did this past Nov.

 

[DiscussDisney]

I agree that 2004 Jersey Week was a little more crowded than previous years, but still very manageable. Just avoid Saturday night at the MK during Jersey Week...it tends to be very crowded. One thing to keep in mind this year is that Veterans Day falls during Jersey Week as well as Super Soap Weekend. This will all add to the crowds.

Having said that, we are 5 Jerseyites that will not be there during the 2005 Jersey Week. FREE FOOD had us change our plans. So maybe other Jersey folk changed their plans as well.

JW will still be less crowded than Summer, Easter, Christmas, etc..so HAVE FUN!!!

 

[Hopefully]

We stumbled upon Jersey week a few years back, (I had not even heard of it before ). The only time we felt the impact was at mid day in the MK. We didn't find it to be awful, just more crowded than we expected.
This years combo of F&W (which added 2 weeks due to popularity this year), the Holiday, The Super Soaps Weekend and Jersey week will be an interesting combination. I guess I would be wondering too, if we were planning to visit during that time.
I believe it will still be better than the peak times of the year.
Have a Great Trip.

 

[JohnNJ]

Do you think any of last year's high crowds during the Jersey Week time period, had anything to do with people rescheduling the vacations they had to postpone, due to the hurricanes? I read somewhere that last November was busier than normal because of that. I do find it odd that Tourguide Mike says crowd conditions are high, and the Unofficial Guide claims it shouldn't be much of a problem (mostly level 4 crowds) during Jersey Week.

If you follow TourGuide Mike's advice you may never encounter the crowds. This may lead you to believe that his prediction was incorrect. It's a Catch 22.

TourGuide Mike bases his forecast on actual experience in the parks every day. If he sees the pattern changing, for better or worse, he will notify his guests on the AVP, the forums or by private message.

The Unofficial Guide bases their crowd level predicitons on some random samples plugged in to a computer model which spits out a best guess. Problem is if the assumptions were incorrect when setting up the model, the results will also be flawed. There's no substitute for being there in person.

You decide which is better - proving TourGuide Mike wrong or avoiding the crowds. As I said before, your perception of the crowd level will be based on your previous experiences. It will be less crowded than Christmas, Easter and summer. It will be more crowded than September and January.

 

[MiaSRN62]

As I said before, your perception of the crowd level will be based on your previous experiences. It will be less crowded than Christmas, Easter and summer. It will be more crowded than September and January.

I agree John.
Mid-to late Sept have been some of the lowest crowds I ever experienced at WDW. Same with mid to late Jan. Jersey Week, in the past has been pretty low crowd-wise with the exception of last year where I'd put it on par with maybe mid to late August (crowd-wise). Maybe there were alot of displaced hurricane vacationers there ? I was in WDW early August this year and it was only a little more crowded than what we experienced the first week of Nov 2004.

 

[lentesta]

The Unofficial Guide bases their crowd level predicitons on some random samples plugged in to a computer model which spits out a best guess. Problem is if the assumptions were incorrect when setting up the model, the results will also be flawed. There's no substitute for being there in person.

The Unofficial Guide researchers are in the parks three to five times per week, on average. In terms of a sample, that's more than sufficient.

I haven't checked the TGM website in a while, but is he still using that 1 to 5 scale to indicate crowd levels? If so, what's the difference between a "3" and a "4?" Sorry I don't have time to check this myself.

Len

 

[awatt]

Have always had great success with the Unofficial Guide. This year we are going Jersey week for the first time, and I find it reassuring the UG lists the crowd levels as moderate.

See you all in November!

 

[lUVTOGO]

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......

Oh Yeah, I am right there with you!!

 

[mom22boys]

I've lost my shortcut to UG Best Days Guide web site. Can anyone post the link? Much thanks!