Late Oct or Jersey week- advice please?

[Mrs~Incredible]

Hi friends! So we are planning our next trip for either late Oct or Jersey week.

1. We have been in the Fall a few times but never did MNSSHP.

2. We have never been around Christmas time and never saw MVMCP.

3. It will be DH, 6year old Dd, and myself. It will be our 5th trip together.

4. We will stay a week and do all the parks with park hoppers.

So, in your view:
1. Which would you recommend, Halloween or Christmas party?

2. Which do you think would be more crowded, 3rd week Oct or 2nd week Nov (jersey week)? We are used to early May crowds.

Thanks for any input!!!

 

[ErinsMommy]

Jersey Week will be more crowded for sure - 3rd week October should be beautiful. We did the Xmas party twice and loved it both times. Looking forward to doing the Halloween party this year.

 

[CarolynFH]

What about the week before Jersey Week (heading into W&D half marathon weekend) vs. Jersey Week itself? Any significant difference? DD & DSiL are waiting to find out whether they can transfer their lightning-cancelled January half marathon registration to W&D on November 5, and if they do we plan to go cheer them on. I've been wondering whether it would make sense for us to arrive Oct. 29 and leave Nov. 6 or for us to arrive on the 3rd and stay on into Jersey Week.

 

[PSUGuy]

I don't know, I think the Jersey Week thing is overblown, been there twice that time, still not as crowded as the first week in March which used to be 'our' week. This year we're there from Nov 2 - 12, we'll see. The only advice I'd give concerning Oct vs Nov would be to avoid Columbus Day, the weekend prior and a day or 2 after.

Bill From PA

 

[ErinsMommy]

Also the airfares for Jersey Week - coming in and out of NJ at least, are pretty high.

 

[dkrauss]

Our family went during Jersey week in 2016. It was more crowded then we were use to but there were extenuating circumstances in my mind. First, it was the last week of F&W which impacted Epcot.............in the evening Epcot was very crowded. Also they had a Dapper Day on the last Sunday of Jersey week which made Epcot nuts. The other impact was all during Jersey week Disney was filming for its Christmas specials. This impacted all parks and led to slow downs here and there. The biggest impact was the MK when they were filming in front of Cinderella's Castle. During Jersey week there was a MVMCP every night but Saturday and Wednesday............we did the party on Thursday........that was the least crowded night of our trip. .

Since we're from NJ it was kinda cool...........every line we were in we ran into Jersey folks.............was it more crowded....for us yeah......but we're older and can travel during slower times.....we were lucky in that we had some pixie dust thrown our way 2X with extra FP's which really helped on our MK day (which was Monday.........poor planning on our part ) Was it the summertime........nope! Was it Christmas/New Years week..........no. Most days if you picked the right park topped out as 7's.........although that Sunday in Epcot was a 10!

Didn't frighten us........we're looking at Jersey week 2017 for a weeks stay

Doug

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Thanks everyone!

We live in NJ too, and Dd will be starting 1st grade. Thinking jersey week would be easier for her from a school perspective, but still weighing all the factors.

Hadn't thought about flights being more expensive, that would definitely affect us.

Hmmmm. November easier from a school perspective, but October possibly with lower crowds and (some would say) a better party. Garsh, wish we could just do both

 

[amytaylor2]

I've been during the middle of October(2015) and Jersey week(2014). I MUCH preferred Jersey week. I didn't see where it was crowded at all and the weather was perfect. Very short waits....if any. We LOVED MVMCP! The following year we did the MNSSHP. I did not enjoy it at all. It was super crowded, and hot. I know the weather is something that can be change drastically from year to year but I will most likely never go again during the month of October if I can avoid it. We plan to go back during Jersey week this year.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

I've been during the middle of October(2015) and Jersey week(2014). I MUCH preferred Jersey week. I didn't see where it was crowded at all and the weather was perfect. Very short waits....if any. We LOVED MVMCP! The following year we did the MNSSHP. I did not enjoy it at all. It was super crowded, and hot. I know the weather is something that can be change drastically from year to year but I will most likely never go again during the month of October if I can avoid it. We plan to go back during Jersey week this year.

Wow! Thank you for this feedback. I have to be honest, I hear that the Halloween party is so much better, but the crowds give me an eye twitch. I have a perception the the Christmas party will be more low key. I'm also glad to hear that JW was not too bad crowd wise for you. I am sure it depends on other things (race weekends etc) but it is good to know you had a good experience!

 

[amytaylor2]

I had heard the same things about the Halloween party too. It was packed when we went....seemed much busier than the Christmas party. We did get front row to the Hocus Pocus show but we sat there almost 2 hours prior to make sure we did. The lines for candy were INSANE. I told my kids I would rather buy them candy after we left.

 

[NYEmomma]

So just when IS Jersey Week this year? (says a girl from Ohio...)

 

[scrapquitler]

Time it right, and you can do both MNSSHP and MVMCP! We did just that in 2015. We arrived on Halloween, went to the Halloween Party on Nov. 1, and then went to the Christmas party the following week (it was the 7th or 8th of Nov).

I didn't think that Jersey week was crazy busy.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Time it right, and you can do both MNSSHP and MVMCP! We did just that in 2015. We arrived on Halloween, went to the Halloween Party on Nov. 1, and then went to the Christmas party the following week (it was the 7th or 8th of Nov).

I didn't think that Jersey week was crazy busy.

You just blew my mind

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

So just when IS Jersey Week this year? (says a girl from Ohio...)

Teacher conventiin is Nov 9-10, so JW would be that week.

 

[theone74733]

I would choose late October. Websites are calling "Jersey Week" from November 6-12th. In addition, Veterans Day falls on Saturday, November 11th, but many Government/City agencies are going to observe it Thursday, November 9th so you will get a lot of people taking "long" weekends and taking that Friday off as well. Could be a lot of people off from work/school around the U.S. during this timeframe.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

I would choose late October. Websites are calling "Jersey Week" from November 6-12th. In addition, Veterans Day falls on Saturday, November 11th, but many Government/City agencies are going to observe it Thursday, November 9th so you will get a lot of people taking "long" weekends and taking that Friday off as well. Could be a lot of people off from work/school around the U.S. during this timeframe.

Yes you are right!!! Thank you for reminding me of that!

 

[PatMcDuck]

We went last year Oct 25-Nov 1. We will do so again this year. It was somewhat crowded but fun. We skipped the MNSSHP, but will do it this year I think. Instead we did the BBQ at Fort Wilderness on Oct 31, it was pretty great. Characters in costumes, dancing and interacting with the kids for a few hours, live music.

If you go before Halloween, consider taking a golf cart around Fort Wilderness one evening, to see the decorations. It is pretty amazing.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

My sister and I hit the trifecta last year:

We went for one day during Jersey Week, the weekend of the Wine & Dine Half AND F&W during the weekend (a Friday into a Saturday) and didn't have a problem. I will say, we hit a lot of the booths early on and after taking a break, it was a lot more crowded.

I think we're going the 28th to the 1st this year. We were hoping to fit in MNSSHP and MVMCP but I doubt we're able to.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

We went last year Oct 25-Nov 1. We will do so again this year. It was somewhat crowded but fun. We skipped the MNSSHP, but will do it this year I think. Instead we did the BBQ at Fort Wilderness on Oct 31, it was pretty great. Characters in costumes, dancing and interacting with the kids for a few hours, live music.

If you go before Halloween, consider taking a golf cart around Fort Wilderness one evening, to see the decorations. It is pretty amazing.

What a neat idea! What sort of decorations?

 

[OldSchoolReasons]

We went last year Oct 25-Nov 1. We will do so again this year. It was somewhat crowded but fun. We skipped the MNSSHP, but will do it this year I think. Instead we did the BBQ at Fort Wilderness on Oct 31, it was pretty great. Characters in costumes, dancing and interacting with the kids for a few hours, live music.

If you go before Halloween, consider taking a golf cart around Fort Wilderness one evening, to see the decorations. It is pretty amazing.

Tell me more about this BBQ - we're staying at Fort Wilderness (Cabins) over Halloween and we're planning a no park day on the 31st.