Mardi Gras Escape Thread

[Finally08]

Hey, look at all the locals!

We will be going MG week, our first family trip there.

We are leaving Friday afternoon and driving at least to Tallahassee, maybe a little more if we aren't too tired. We probably can't leave till about 7pm though, after dh gets home. We'll get up Sat and finish the drive and check into our room at AKL, and that night we are hitting the P&P party at MK!
We will be staying there through Thursday am when we check out and head to PC to board the Wonder for our 3 day cruise - another first time thing for us.

I am *beyond* excited.

 

[DWjunkie]

We'll scheduled to leave really early Sunday morning. Driving all the way, we should arrive about 4p at POP. Counting down the days!!

Hmmm, hadn't given any thought to bringing beads. What else do you do with them besides decorating the room?

 

[Mr. Baloo]

What do you all bring and how do you decorate? just the inside of the room? or do you decorate the outside of the door too???

I normally ride in Thoth... so I will have to dress up on Sunday Morning and Tuesday.

 

[skram79]

We are planning on leaving the Wednesday night before Mardi Gras and hope to make it to Lake City that evening. We are planning on leaving around 4. We are staying at the Pop. If the Saints make the superbowl, we will need a thread where we can choose a spot to watch it with a bunch of Saints fans.

Happy vacation everyone!

 

[reeeoga]

We'll scheduled to leave really early Sunday morning. Driving all the way, we should arrive about 4p at POP. Counting down the days!!

Hmmm, hadn't given any thought to bringing beads. What else do you do with them besides decorating the room?

We will be at that Party!!!! Staying for 8 days!

 

[Bunch24]

Hey all,

My wife and I are seriously considering a Mardi Gras trip in 2009. And this is the perfect thread to ask some questions, it seems, because it sounds like we have some Mardi Gras veterans in this thread.

First of all, are the parks pretty packed for Mardi Gras? I figure a lot of Louisiana/Mississippi/Alabama people probably head to WDW for that short trip, but I'm trying to get an idea of the crowd. Are the waits like summer waits, off-season waits or somewhere in between?

Secondly, do most people come home on Ash Wednesday, or do they stay the rest of the week? We're thinking about arriving the Saturday before Mardi Gras, then leading the Sunday after Mardi Gras. My wife is a teacher, so she'd have to miss two days of school, but she's willing to take personal days. Our kids are both young enough not be in school yet, so that's not a problem.

And lastly, does Disney consider Mardi Gras value season? What kind of rates should we expect compared to summer or off-season?

Thanks in advance for any and all question or points in the right direction.

 

[Mr. Baloo]

Hey all,

My wife and I are seriously considering a Mardi Gras trip in 2009. And this is the perfect thread to ask some questions, it seems, because it sounds like we have some Mardi Gras veterans in this thread.

First of all, are the parks pretty packed for Mardi Gras? I figure a lot of Louisiana/Mississippi/Alabama people probably head to WDW for that short trip, but I'm trying to get an idea of the crowd. Are the waits like summer waits, off-season waits or somewhere in between?

Secondly, do most people come home on Ash Wednesday, or do they stay the rest of the week? We're thinking about arriving the Saturday before Mardi Gras, then leading the Sunday after Mardi Gras. My wife is a teacher, so she'd have to miss two days of school, but she's willing to take personal days. Our kids are both young enough not be in school yet, so that's not a problem.

And lastly, does Disney consider Mardi Gras value season? What kind of rates should we expect compared to summer or off-season?

Thanks in advance for any and all question or points in the right direction.

It all depends on how Mardi Gras falls in relation to Presidents day, crowds are good if MG falls before Pres Day, OK if it falls after, and I have heard very bad if it falls the same week. So check your calender.

I will check my worksheet at the office and post the dates later today.

 

[Carmen1247]

What do you all bring and how do you decorate? just the inside of the room? or do you decorate the outside of the door too???

My DS and both DD's like to bring beads and decorate the room. I have never decorated outside, but that sounds like a good idea! Also, the kids like to wear their beads on Mardi Gras day and hand them out to other kids. They love telling people from other parts of the US what Mardi Gras is all about and it helps them "spread the magic" a little for others.

To Bunch24:

We always stay for the full week, the kids do miss two days of school, but there is usually not much going on for those two days. We make sure and let the teachers know we will be gone and get any makeup work we need.

Also, Mr. Baloo is right, if Mardi Gras falls before Presidents week it is smooth sailing! It was not crowded at all. I don't think I would go back again on Presidents week due to the crowds.

 

[Mr. Baloo]

Years that Mardi Gras falls before Presidents Day - 2008 and 2013.

Years that Mardi Gras falls after Presidents Day - 2009, 2011, and 2014.

Years that Mardi Gras and Presidents day coincide - 2010, 2012, and 2015.

I planned out the years until my son graduates HS... after that I dont guess it will matter.

 

[Bunch24]

Years that Mardi Gras falls before Presidents Day - 2008 and 2013.

Years that Mardi Gras falls after Presidents Day - 2009, 2011, and 2014.

Years that Mardi Gras and Presidents day coincide - 2010, 2012, and 2015.

I planned out the years until my son graduates HS... after that I dont guess it will matter.

Awesome, thanks.

It looks like it will fall after President's Day in 2009, and that's when we're thinking about going. I mean, I can roll with the punches, so if it's packed, it's packed, but I was just trying to get an idea. I know a friend of mine started going Mardi Gras week around five years ago and said back then you could walk on to just about every attraction.

 

[Mr. Baloo]

Where is your favorite place to spend the night between Lake City and Ocala? Hotel doesn't have to be a 5 star, just a good clean roon and some restaurants to pick from for dinner....

p.s. well, we don't have too worry about planning that saints superbowl game....=(

 

[4 from Da Bayou]

We will be there for mardi gras leaving early Friday morning, coming back the following Saturday. Can't wait to go!


2001-February (off site)
2003-July (Port of Orleans)
2008-February (Port of Orleans)

 

[mfabre]

We fly out on the Tuesday before (29th) and will stay till Friday when we will drive to Port Canaveral to head out on the Magic for MG week.

We did this in 06 too and loved it! We are also planning this again for 2010!!

I am counting down the days!!!

 

[lsutigger2]

Don't forget about the Disney Way turn off from the Fla. Turnpike. The toll is $2.50 on the turnpike and another $1.00 on Hwy 429 (Disney's Western Way?). It really cuts off time and miles since you don't have to get on I-4. We drove from Lake City to Wilderness Lodge in 2 1/2 hours in Oct. It is great. After you make the turn onto Hwy 429, it is about 13 miles. The road passes on the side of Coronado Springs Resort.

All of you going at Mardi Gras, enjoy yourselves!! Have a great time spreading the fun of Mardi Gras with others!

 

[Brave teacher]

We will be there as well. We are leaving on the 2nd and returning on the 9th and staying at the Wilderness Lodge.

Is anyone else concerned with the fact that the Disney website is only showing availability for Mardi Gras week at Fort Wilderness and Saratoga? I thought this was supposed to be a slower time!

 

[noladave]

we've been going to either WDW or DL, during MG, the past 3 years (2008 will be 4th), and plan on going every year until the kids tell us to stop - and even then, maybe the DW and I will still go.

As for the crowds, I don't think the "slow" times are all that slow any more. Disney has learned that if it's a "typical slow time", then that's when you bring in conventions, or Pop Warner, or Cheerleaders, or whatever group is available. That's one reason I've sworn off ever staying at an All-Star type resort anymore - that's where all of these "groups" stay - so it's ALWAYS crowded at the budget resorts.

As for the Mardi Gras time frame, it seems to be gaining popularity as a time to go - more and more people from the La, Ms, Al, Georgia areas find that they can take their kids out of school for and extra day, or 2, and go to WDW during a slower time period. Others are finding out that MG is usually within a week, or so, of President's day, and they bookend their trip to end at the time that PW is starting. This is also "usually" the last couple of weeks of the cheapest resort prices, so any locals thinking of going, go before the prices go up. That's my theory, at least.

Lastly, if you think it's crowded at this time, go in July or the 1st week of August - our last trip at that time, is definitely our last trip at that time. Even the early morning crowds were large - and forget going to evening EMH - I remember showing up at the start of EMH, and Fast Track fast pass was already at 11:00pm (EMH started at 9:00pm). Standby was something like 60 minutes. So, even though you might find some crowds at MG, they are never like summer time crowds - at least IMO.

P.S. We will be there for a short 5 day trip this year - Feb 2 - February 6. (Y&BC). We wouldn't think of going at any other time.

 

[Mr. Baloo]

Don't forget about the Disney Way turn off from the Fla. Turnpike. The toll is $2.50 on the turnpike and another $1.00 on Hwy 429 (Disney's Western Way?). It really cuts off time and miles since you don't have to get on I-4. We drove from Lake City to Wilderness Lodge in 2 1/2 hours in Oct. It is great. After you make the turn onto Hwy 429, it is about 13 miles. The road passes on the side of Coronado Springs Resort.

All of you going at Mardi Gras, enjoy yourselves!! Have a great time spreading the fun of Mardi Gras with others!

Wow! didnt even know that route existed??? Have always gone I-4. Is it really worth the savings of 2.5 miles?

 

[Coach81]

We will also be there staying at our new DVC resort Old Key West
We are actually traveling with Brave Teacher and her family. We are very excited, and are eagerly counting down the days
We will be in Disney from the 2nd to the 8th.

 

[Serenity]

We will be there as well.

We leave mid day on Friday 2/1 and hope to drive as far as Lake City. We are doing an Illumination's cruise on Sat night and want to be checked in (staying at Windsor Hills), unpacked and maybe even do some shopping at DTD before then. We are doing the P&PP on 2/5.

We will be at Disney from 2/2 to 2/9!

 

[cfbarker]

Don't forget about the Disney Way turn off from the Fla. Turnpike. The toll is $2.50 on the turnpike and another $1.00 on Hwy 429 (Disney's Western Way?). It really cuts off time and miles since you don't have to get on I-4. We drove from Lake City to Wilderness Lodge in 2 1/2 hours in Oct. It is great. After you make the turn onto Hwy 429, it is about 13 miles. The road passes on the side of Coronado Springs Resort.

All of you going at Mardi Gras, enjoy yourselves!! Have a great time spreading the fun of Mardi Gras with others!

This is a tip in the 2008 Unofficial Guide. I was just telling my husband about it last night as I was pouring over the Guide and hilighting away! We're going to try it...sounds like it'll save quite a bit of time. I-4 can be pretty crazy, depending on the time of day you drive through.

My DH, DS9, DS5 are heading to WDW on the Friday before MG...checking out of school early. We plan to make it to Tallahassee...haven't picked a hotel yet. Any suggestions? We're checking in to WL and heading to MK. We have ticket for P&PP for Saturday night. We're leaving WL Monday and checking in to BCV until Friday after MG. This is our 2nd time going during MG week. I hope it's as great as it was in 2006. Before that trip, we had been during Thanksgiving week or in June. I was amazed standing in Fantasyland with NO ONE else around. I didn't believe it was possible. Now, I can't talk my husband into going any other time!!!