last week in Feb or first week in March?

[gapoochi]

I was pretty sure I had my dates set...my ds5 has his bday on 2/16 and dd2 has her bday on 2/27 so we were going to try and be there between those dates.

BUT the more I read on here (and yes it has become a slight obsession) the more worried I get about the dates. we don't do good in long lines and I really would like this to be not a super crowded trip. at the same time, I want to make sure we are there when things are happening (woc, aladdin, fantasmic, longer hours, the special weekend thing)

Would it be smarter to push back a week? or would that be crowded too because it's march and spring break time?

am I stressing over nothing?

help! any input is much appreciated.

 

[Casey's Mommie]

As long as you avoid the entire week of President's Day, You can't go wrong in February/early March.

 

[skiingfast]

It will probably make little difference. I would go the later week, just for better weather. Spring break will barely be leaking in and hours shouldn't be much better.

Plan to use FP and rider swap to avoid lines.

 

[gapoochi]

As long as you avoid the entire week of President's Day, You can't go wrong in February/early March.

the entire week of pres day is the last week in feb correct?

 

[Casey's Mommie]

Yes, I would avoid the parks Feb 19th-26th

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

first week in march been 2 times it has been great

 

[HydroGuy]

the entire week of pres day is the last week in feb correct?

Yes it is the week of te 21st according to the DLR calendar.

 

[gapoochi]

thank you all for your input. I am considering changing the dates but am now concerned that March doesn't have much on the calendar in terms of shows. is this something that will soon get added or there just aren't as many shows?

thank you!

 

[ShaunaM]

...to president's day last year and it was really nice crowd and weather wise, we just missed the rain. It did not get busy until the friday.

My touring plans update just updated me for the second time in a week; that the week after presidents is busier yet for anticipated crowds. Sigh....we have to go then flights are booked and that is when the kids are off school....I think I am going to try ridemax this time and just make the best of it.

 

[MommyWithDreams]

...to president's day last year and it was really nice crowd and weather wise, we just missed the rain. It did not get busy until the friday.

My touring plans update just updated me for the second time in a week; that the week after presidents is busier yet for anticipated crowds. Sigh....we have to go then flights are booked and that is when the kids are off school....I think I am going to try ridemax this time and just make the best of it.

Shauna what week are your kids off of school? The week of Feb 21st or week after which is Feb 27?

We'll be there 2/27-3/5, anything is better than Spring Break weeks.

 

[gapoochi]

wondering if we skip the long weekend and go during the week and following weekend (22-27) if that would be better crowd wise. I would think the worst of it would be the 18-21st?

 

[ShaunaM]

...get the week following President's day so Feb 21- 25 they have no school.

Presisdent's day is also a holiday in alberta (Family day) then we have teacher's convention that week too.

Last year we left prior to their holiday but the eldest is in grade six now so it is getting harder and harder to pull them out of school so this year they only miss two days...we arrive on the 21st and fly home on the 1st of march.

 

[ShaunaM]

...hope they are wrong...first number out of 10 is the resort, second number is DL thirds number is CA

Crowd Levels and AP Blockouts Date Resort Disneyland DCA AP Blockouts

Mon, February 13, 2011 3 out of 10 2.4 4.8 SL
Mon, February 14, 2011 6 out of 10 3.3 6.6 Valentine's Day
Tue, February 15, 2011 2 out of 10 0.6 3.4
Wed, February 16, 2011 2 out of 10 0.9 3.5
Thu, February 17, 2011 2 out of 10 0.8 3.7
Fri, February 18, 2011 6 out of 10 5.3 5.3
Sat, February 19, 2011 10 out of 10 9.2 9.6 SL SC DX
Sun, February 20, 2011 10 out of 10 9.1 9.6 SL SC DX
Mon, February 21, 2011 10 out of 10 9.6 9.5 SL SC Presidents' Day
Tue, February 22, 2011 8 out of 10 6.4 8.6
Wed, February 23, 2011 8 out of 10 6.6 8.8
Thu, February 24, 2011 8 out of 10 6.6 8.8
Fri, February 25, 2011 10 out of 10 8.6 9.4
Sat, February 26, 2011 10 out of 10 9.5 9.8 SL SC
Sun, February 27, 2011 5 out of 10 3.5 6.0 SL
Mon, February 28, 2011 3 out of 10 1.8 4.3
Date Resort Disneyland DCA AP Blockouts Notes
Tue, March 1, 2011 2 out of 10 1.4 4.3
Wed, March 2, 2011 3 out of 10 1.6 4.2
Thu, March 3, 2011 2 out of 10 1.0 4.1
Fri, March 4, 2011 6 out of 10 5.4 5.5
Sat, March 5, 2011 7 out of 10 6.0 6.0 SL SC
Sun, March 6, 2011 4 out of 10 2.8 5.6 SL

Annual Pass Blockouts: SL=SoCal Select; SC=SoCal; DX=Deluxe; *=projected event date.
Crowd Levels: Relative Scale, with 1 being least crowded, 10 the most crowded

 

[DnA2010]

*sigh* I hope presidents week isn't too bad...being from Canada I picked the week as DD had the friday off school and stupid me didn't check for American holidays...

Last time I checked the wed and thurs were 7's now they are 8/9's....

 

[MommyWithDreams]

*sigh* I hope presidents week isn't too bad...being from Canada I picked the week as DD had the friday off school and stupid me didn't check for American holidays...

Last time I checked the wed and thurs were 7's now they are 8/9's....

Looks like we'll be good.
Can you share the link that you are finding this info. I'd like to save it.

Thanks

 

[ShaunaM]

...but when I did it it was a free trial for disneyland
http://touringplans.com/disneyland-resort/tools

 

[gapoochi]

yes please share the link...this is very helpful.
the resort number means the hotels right? so more important would be the second and third numbers (for DL and DCA?)
I'm thinking of splitting it up to be the 17 and 18, then 22-24 and then 27. those days look good, we get in the bdays and we can do sea world, legoland and beaches in between.
too bad we can't add more days to the tickets.

 

[ShaunaM]

...that maybe I was reading it wrong...but no I was not...resort is ...

"The Resort Crowd Level scale represents the combined wait times at all the standby lines and FASTPASS booths in both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. The Disneyland and DCA Crowd Levels just predict the relative crowd level for attractions in those parks, respectively."

 

[gapoochi]

oh
darn and i thought i finally had it all planned out!
back to the drawing board.

 

[ShaunaM]

...of shifting my dates I would this is an $$$ trip you want it to be worth your while. Why not gor the week before or after and still have a birthday celebration (either early/late) Go do the "Its my birthday" button thing, pick a resturant , my sister is doing BB for her son's bd....and just go with it. My daughter's bd is on boxing day and my DH is Christmas so we often have to shift our celebration days around but we still have fun. As far as shows as long as you still have a weekend you should be ok. Say you went mid week to mid week Feb 9 16 you hit Valentine's day (good day for a bd celebration.) crowds are beutiful then according to crowd calendar and you would still hit fantasmic etc.

If I had to give up shows for less crowds that would be a no brainer for me....you can cover SOOOO much more ground in the park when there are fewer people.