Need Help Planning February Vacation....

[Enchanted]

Hey everyone!

My family and I were planning to take a trip to Disney in late February for my eighteenth birthday, which is on the eighteenth of February. I was hoping to arrive on the seventeenth and spend the following week at the parks and resort. However, I noticed that starting on the sixteenth of February, Disney World is in peak season. We've always went in September during value season when no one is there. Are there going to be a LOT of people there if we went from say, February 17th through the 25th? Or will it be somewhat similar to September crowds (considering most people don't do spring break until March or April)?

Also, my mom was talking about her, my aunt, and I going for spa treatments on my birthday (probably at the Grand Floridian). Can someone tell me where I can find the rates and hours for the spa treatments?

I really wanted to be there for my first week of being eighteen. Plus, we figured it would be a lot warmer the last week of February than in the beginning of February. We also don't want to arrive the weekend before because I read that the high school cheerleading national championships are that weekend. Could someone give me some advice? Thanks a million!

 

[Bob P]

Hi and welcome to the DIS!

The probalem is that the weekend starting the 17th is President's Day weekend. That's a very crowded weekend and then it will be crowded into much of the week due to lots of schools being closed. It will NOT be similar to September at all, crowds will be MUCH heavier.

Aslo, President's Day week has been know to have its share of mornings in the 30s and daytime highs near 50, so there is no guarantee on the weather.

As for spa treatments, try:

www.relaxedyet.com


Bob

 

[addicted2disney]

Its value season right up until Presidents Weekend. If you end up going then, try and book your stay starting on the last day of value season. Then you will get the value season resort rate for your whole stay. If not, you will be paying peak prices for you room!!

 

[Enchanted]

Thank you for all of information! You've both been very helpful. Could you tell me something else? When you say crowded, could you give me a ballpark figure of wait times? What would you guys do? I would love to be there for my birthday as long as it will be somewhat warm (I heard low seventies are the average high temps in February), and as long as I can walk without being bumped into. If you can help me out, please do!

 

[Rpsemont]

IF the main goal is to be there for your birthday, then IMHO I would go as many days as you want before the 18th, and plan to leave the 19th or the 20th. The 13th, 14th 15th will be MUCH less crowded the 20, 21,22. Plus, i'm not sure how far away you live, but flights can be very expensive from the northeast to FLA on Pres day weekend.
If you do decide to go the 17th on, if you use EMH right (which sometimes means doing the opposite) use Fast Pass, and don't mind changing plans to go with the flow, you should be fine. Last year, during Pres week there were a few times that it seemed everthing in the MK mid day had long lines or hours for FP return.. HOwever, DD and I bopped in there 3 nights post 9:30PM, on night there was no EMH and they were open until midnight, and had walk ons or wait times of 10 minutes or less. There is no doubt though, that mid day (12-5) in all parks is the busiest. Get up early, nap by the pool mid day, and go late and you should have lots of fun.

 

[Enchanted]

Thanks, Rpsemont! Would you happen to know if the pools are heated, or if it is ever warm enough to swim? My mom was wondering. Also, what would you suggest we dress in? Long sleeves and jeans? Or t-shirts and jeans? I would appreciate the help because we literally have no clue as to what Orlando is like in February. Do you like going in February? Thanks for everyone's help!!!

 

[Bob P]

Hi again,

In February packing is "anything goes!" You could have some days in the 80s and other mornings in the 30s all in the same week.

The pools are heated, and if you do get those 80-ish days you'll certainly be able to swim.

We've been to WDW quite a few times and many different times of the year and President's Day week is the most crowded we've ever seen the parks. We've never gone for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter week, or July 4, but President's Day definitely had the longest lines and highest volume of people in the parks.

Bob

 

[Rpsemont]

We've been able to swim most Februarys although we were thankful the pools were heated. Out of the past 7 years, 5 of them we've done a day at the water park - but there's usually only 1 day warm enough, so the weather decides our water park schedule. There was only one year that we couldn't wear shorts. And only one year we didn't swim at all. You definitely have to pack for all weather. The mornings and eveings are cooler. Plus watch the weather channel the week before you go and adjust accordingly. I've had some trips that I take 4 shorts/2 pants and others that I take 2 shorts/4 pants (for 8 days) I usually do short sleeves and then carry a couple sweatshrts and light jackets. Personally, I always take a set of silk underwear too. For those freak days when it might be damp and the temp barely getts into the 60's, it's worthwhile to have. Again, watching the long range forecast right before you go can help give you guidance. We enjoyed going early Feb, which we did for the first few years. Now we feel we have to go a school vacation (pres Week). When we used to go first week of Feb, everything was a walk on most of the day.