Mardi Gras Week - Need info Please

[LynnTH]

We will be at Disney from Feb 26th - March 4th. I booked this week as this is the week we went last year and the weather was great and the crowds were low. Now, I see that this is Mardi Gras Week. What exactly is Mardi Gras at Disney - do they do something special and does it really get crowded during that time. When I booked I didn't think anything was going on during that time. Any info would be great. Thanks.

 

[noladave]

We will be there Mardi Gras week, and yes it does get crowded. Not as crowded as Pres. week, or Summer time. Like any other time at WDW, planning is usually the key. We went this past February, and are going again next year. It seems to be the best balance between parks closing at 7pm (during non-peak times), and the insaneness of summer time..

As far as special events, I think Paradise does something, as does Universal, but I'm not aware of anything at MK,EPCOT,MGM,or AK.

 

[LynnTH]

Is this just people from New Orleans escaping Mardi Gras week and going to Disney?? If so, I wonder if because of Katrina that many people may not be taking vacations this year.

 

[noladave]

I have to admit, I am not a crystal ball reader.

As a person in New Orleans, we are very,very,very anxious to go to Disney. After the stress of the hurricane, spending a month in a hotel room, and then dealing with everything else, we can't wait for a vacation.

however, each family will have to answer that for themselves. On 1 hand, people need a break, on the other hand, people might not have the money to go. Add in the fact that the City of New Orleans appears to be limiting Mardi Gras to 6 days instead of 10 days. People like to leave New Orleans to escape MG, so if the season is shorter, then maybe they won't feel the need to escape.

Just don't know the answer, but my best guess is that it will still be very crowded.

 

[LynnTH]

Thanks noladave. So, Mardi Gras week is people from New Orleans coming over to escape Mardi Gras there. I wasn't sure if that was it or if it was something that was put on at Disney/Universal to draw people in. Now, I really need to plan to make the most of the days and get my ADR's made.

 

[vamassey1]

I would say it's more than just people from New Orleans. We did this in 2004 and we're from Baton Rouge. You will see lots of people from all over south Louisiana and Mobile, Al. We only have 2 days off that week, some private school take the whole week and some parts of southern Louisiana have 3 days to a week. Since lots of schools need to make up time missed for the hurricanes they might not have as much time off.

 

[cara76]

We went there for MG in 2004 and we were planning to go back in 2006 for MG until we had to relocate here. I know the school DS went to had the week off. Most schools have 3 days off (Monday, Tuesday and Wedneday). I noticed when we where there that it was crowed on Monday and Tuesday but the crowds thined out by Thursday and Friday (we took Wed. off from the parks) b/c the kids had to be bck in school. Alot of people take their vacations then, will they take them this year, who knows but I know where I will be Mardi Gras day!