NJ week 2017

[DisneyMom111]

I am contemplating NJ week next year so I don't have to take my son out of school for too many days. I just talked to a coworker that was there last week and she said it was PACKED, in every park, every day! To the point that she didn't get on many rides she wanted to. I know they were filming the Christmas show, and it was Food and Wine, and Dapper day....do you think it was just a "perfect storm" or do you think NJ week is becoming one of those weeks to avoid? I'd rather have to deal with 2 more days of make up homework and be able to enjoy ourselves if it's going to be that crowded again next year. I'd love to hear from others that were there last week. Thanks!

 

[Koz]

It wasn't as bad as your friend indicated. The crowds were more than manageable, especially if you were there for RD. Sure, World Showcase during F&W was a madhouse, as was Fantasyland at 2PM, but you can certainly manage. I'm always one to fear large crowds and how they can impact your day, but it wasn't nearly as bad as your friend indicated, at least from what I saw. The only "heavy" crowd day I saw was on Veterans Day, where alot of people are off from work.

 

[RachaelA]

We left last Tuesday. I was shocked by how crowded it was just from Monday to Tuesday at Mk. I still think other school holiday times are much more crowded though.

 

[PatMcDuck]

In my NJ area, during presidential election years, kids in NJ get the whole WEEK off school. Other years, they usually only get the Thursday and Friday off, or sometimes-rarely-get Tuesday (election day) and Thur and Fri. But most election days the schools are open (I know, I vote in a school). But it is the presidential years that get the week, and that creates larger than usual NJ crowds. While many NJ families take the whole week off in the off years, and pull their kids M-W, others have older kids where that is too difficult.

So next year may not be as "bad". The weather is really excellent at this time, too. We did NJ week a few times, and also took a trip during the Jewish holidays, we get those days off from school.

 

[DisneyMom111]

In my NJ area, during presidential election years, kids in NJ get the whole WEEK off school. Other years, they usually only get the Thursday and Friday off, or sometimes-rarely-get Tuesday (election day) and Thur and Fri. But most election days the schools are open (I know, I vote in a school). But it is the presidential years that get the week, and that creates larger than usual NJ crowds. While many NJ families take the whole week off in the off years, and pull their kids M-W, others have older kids where that is too difficult.

So next year may not be as "bad". The weather is really excellent at this time, too. We did NJ week a few times, and also took a trip during the Jewish holidays, we get those days off from school.

I didn't even factor in the election. My son's school doesn't close for that so I forgot alot of them do. Hopefuly the parade taping will be a different week next year, no presidential election and things won't be quite as bad. Honestly, I don't think there are really any "slow" periods anymore so like the PP said, we just have to plan accordlingly.

 

[anniemae]

I think it will be less crowded. I think that due to the last weekend of F&W really ramped up the crowds. Also, the Christmas taping. Apparently there were many Disney stars there filming some Christmas special so I think that added to the crowds and general chaos.

 

[kmb584]

That's odd, but crowds can be unpredictable. We were there during "Jersey Week" in 2015 and didn't notice a major uptick in the crowd level. Don't get me wrong, it was crowded, but not shoulder to shoulder packed. We were also in MK on one of the days they were filming portions of the Christmas special and didn't experience overcrowding. My daughter and I were even easily able to get a good viewing spot for the Descendants portion of the filming. Maybe we were just the right parks and right part of the parks and avoided the crowds.

 

[SLim501]

I was there all last week and Monday at the MK was crowded, but it was definitely manageable. We had fast passes for the big ticket rides and other than those rides, waits were not horrendous. I don't think we waited more than 20 minutes for anything. We had a plan and it really worked. We were also able to get more fast passes throughout the day and that helped too. We were at the MK on Thursday as well and it was much less crowded even with the holiday show filming. We were there at rope drop and got more rides in the first hour or two than we did on Monday.

Epcot was crowded on Sunday, but it was the weekend with Food and Wine. Animal Kingdom was fine on Tuesday and HS felt crowded on Wednesday, but we were able to do everything we wanted including 2 extra fast passes for Toy Story Midway Mania.

I just think it takes more planning, but even by the afternoon, when our plan was thrown out the window, it was fine.

 

[DisneyHardin]

We were last week too. It was crowded because Election Day and Veterans Day fell in the same week - that doesn't always happen. This was our third year going election week and it was the most crowded, but not unbearable. We did rope drop every day and spent afternoons at the pool. We had a great time, did every attraction we wanted and never waited more than 20 minutes for anything.

 

[Accident]

It was crowded but not as crowded as some other weeks have been. Disclaimer: I'm a local and work in the afternoons so I tend to not see those crowds and my perception might be the evening when everyone has given up.

I've noticed a strange thing this fall. There seems to be shorter ride lines and more people just roaming around making it feel more crowded. i've had shorter waits for lines than in the summer, easier to get same day adrs, it's just weird crowded these days. I think the preplanned fastpasses has people thinking 20 minutes is too long. there is exceptions and days it's not like that but overall, it's been street crowded but ride wait times don't match and should be more crowded.

 

[DisneyMom111]

It was crowded but not as crowded as some other weeks have been. Disclaimer: I'm a local and work in the afternoons so I tend to not see those crowds and my perception might be the evening when everyone has given up.

I've noticed a strange thing this fall. There seems to be shorter ride lines and more people just roaming around making it feel more crowded. i've had shorter waits for lines than in the summer, easier to get same day adrs, it's just weird crowded these days. I think the preplanned fastpasses has people thinking 20 minutes is too long. there is exceptions and days it's not like that but overall, it's been street crowded but ride wait times don't match and should be more crowded.

That's interesting. You might be on to something, people are getting spoiled by short waits with FP so they bypass any line over 20mins. Seems like nothing is normal anymore making it much harder to plan your days. I'll just be at RD for every park and hope for the best!

Thanks for all the feedback!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I was thinking of doing Jersey week next year but when I took a peak at this years hours I noticed it had 4 party nights. That may have made the MK seem way more crowded on non party nights. We've decided to not go that week since we enjoy nights in the MK.

 

[DisneyMom111]

I was thinking of doing Jersey week next year but when I took a peak at this years hours I noticed it had 4 party nights. That may have made the MK seem way more crowded on non party nights. We've decided to not go that week since we enjoy nights in the MK.

Wow really? That's alot. It really does seem unfair that you pay the same amount for that week but are limited with the time you can spend there unless you want to pay even more. That is something to think about before I decide. Thanks.

 

[Hopefully]

Wow really? That's alot. It really does seem unfair that you pay the same amount for that week but are limited with the time you can spend there unless you want to pay even more. That is something to think about before I decide. Thanks.

That will be the case for all of party season, which is basically mid September through mid December. First you have MNSSHP with maybe a week break in Nov and then there is MVMCP in november through to mid December. We always go to Food & Wine in October and it is always this way.
I don't think it is unfair, I think it is what it is. On non party nights MK is usually open later than other "off" times of the year. It is just how you plan.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

That will be the case for all of party season, which is basically mid September through mid December. First you have MNSSHP with maybe a week break in Nov and then there is MVMCP in november through to mid December. We always go to Food & Wine in October and it is always this way.
I don't think it is unfair, I think it is what it is. On non party nights MK is usually open later than other "off" times of the year. It is just how you plan.

Isn't it usually 3 party nights a week? I think read there was an extra party that week due to Veterans Day or it being the first party week. I'm not too familiar since we don't go that time of year.

 

[Hopefully]

Isn't it usually 3 party nights a week? I think read there was an extra party that week due to Veterans Day or it being the first party week. I'm not too familiar since we don't go that time of year.

I believe, could be wrong, but I believe it is usually 4 nights a week. It definitely was 4 when we went 2 weeks ago and we have been going sometime in October for over 10 consecutive years.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

We were there last week and it was packed at Epcot. We passed on MK after seeing the crowds. I thought Jersey week was the first week in Nov. so booked to avoid it. Later I found out it was the second week this year and too late to re-book at our military discount. I will be checking from now on to see when it will be next year to avoid it.

ETA: We go every year to F&W and other dates it has not been that crowded.

 

[Dis703]

I've only done Jersey week once about 6 years ago. While I'm sure it was nothing like Christmas or Thanksgiving crowds, it was busy enough for us to decide not to return that week again. We did the week after a couple years later and it was significantly less crowded. Another thing to consider, if you are coming from NJ like we did, the airlines hike up the flight prices quite a bit.

If it was the only week we could manage, we'd go, but as we are able to go during slower times we stick with those for now.

 

[abja09]

I was at Disney last week for jersey week and I didn't think it was overly crowded at all. Just the normal as pp said - fantasyland was crowded about 1/2pm as always and Epcot was busy at the world showcase because of food and wine not because of jersey week. We didn't wait long for many rides (20 minutes tops) and were able to add more fast passes after our first 3 without any problems. It was a perfect week for us to be as Disney and we had a great time!

 

[5kidsmommy]

That will be the case for all of party season, which is basically mid September through mid December. First you have MNSSHP with maybe a week break in Nov and then there is MVMCP in november through to mid December. We always go to Food & Wine in October and it is always this way.
I don't think it is unfair, I think it is what it is. On non party nights MK is usually open later than other "off" times of the year. It is just how you plan.

And this is why we go during party season anymore. I like late nights at MK and party season really limits it. It's great though if you plan on doing the party or want to go to see the decorations or whatnot but we are kind of over that.