Presidents Day 2007 - how will it affect us?

[Mazzy]

I have just booked flights for a week to WDW next February. We are arriving on Saturday 10th Feb, departing late on Saturday 17th Feb.

I see that Presidents Day is Monday 19th Feb next year. Does anyone know how this affects crowds? Which days are usually busy, is it just the Monday or the whole weekend?

I am thinking maybe staying at WDW for the first 5 nights, and then staying on-site at Universal for the Thursday and Friday nights, as I'm thinking Universal may not be as busy, and we would have front of line tickets from our hotel stay.

What do you think? Is that a good plan? I'm really hoping that the whole of our week won't be very busy!

 

[bicker]

We'll be there the same time as you Mazzy. (We're arriving Sunday leaving Friday.) I believe you'll encounter some crowding on your departure day (including at the airport) but otherwise should be relatively unaffected.

 

[LISAMWDW]

It's one of the busiest times of the year as with any holiday. Everyone, including me likes to combine the holiday with vacation time. I was there about 4 years ago during this same time. Just plan around the crowds and make your ADR's and you should be fine. Here's a website to help you pick your park days:

http://www.undercovertourist.com/united-states/florida/orlando/attractions/when-to-visit.html

 

[Preds]

We did Universal/Disney in 2005 over President's Week.

We stayed at the Royal Pacific (nicer than any Disney Resort IMO), and loved the front of line passes on President's Day weekend and Monday specifically. A holiday weekend is a great way to take advantage of that perk, and what a perk it is!

We spent the remainder of the week at Disney, and the crowds weren't bad at all since the holiday was a few days earlier. Certainly nothing like this past Easter where the crowds were insane.

I'd recommend you shift your Universal stay to the actual President's Day weekend to take fulla dvantage of the Front of Line perks. Disney is also not as busy later in that week. At least that's what we experienced in 2005.

 

[madalex]

We often go during the week of President's Day, as that is when my kids have their school break. The parks are crowded during that week, but not massively so.

 

[Mazzy]

Thanks everyone for your help.

Bicker - hope the crowds don't get too bad for both of us, have a great time. I will remember to allow plenty of time getting back to the airport, as I remember how long it took us to get through to the gate last time, there were loads of people missing their flights.

Preds - I agree with you about the Universal hotels, we have stayed at both Royal Pacific and Hard Rock, they are fab aren't they? So if we do Disney first then we go to Universal for the Thursday-Saturday (15th-17th) and Presidents Day is Monday 19th do you think that is the best way to do it, considering Universal have the front of line access?

Our last visit was at Christmas and New Year just gone, and the crowds were manageable I thought, not as bad as I was expecting, so hopefully Presidents Day crowds will be a doddle compared to that?

 

[makinorlando]

That is a very busy week at the parks. Not only is it Pres Day weekend, with lots school breaks, but it is also Daytona 500 weekend, and may folks "spill" over to Disney from there!

 

[Krazi4Travel]

It will probably be crowded that week due to President's Day and also Mardi Gras is Feb 20 for all of us in "Katrina" country (LA & MS) that leave town during the festivities!!

 

[MICOL]

Were we there for the Holiday Week 2006 but we arrived on Monday Pres day and the rest of the week for good. MK is always nuts, it was the only park that was really busy and we did Universal too, nice weather but it cools down quite a bit a night

 

[puffinp51]

Hi We were there this year the weekend and week before President's Day weekend. It was a GREAT trip! The crowds did get a little heavier towards the weekend (we left on friday) but totally, totally manageable. The friday before we left was crazy but it had more to do with the President giving a speech at the Comtemporary (and we were at the WL) than anything else. I would suggest using EMH every day if you can park hop - it worked great. We never waited long except for the stand-by line for EE. We've only been 3 times - all at traditionally off times - and this was our best trip. The weather was great except for the EMH night at MK when it was a record low. We had planned for cool but it was darn cold - definitely a two sweatshirt night at 30 degrees! But our DD are older and we just bundled up and had most everything to ourselves - even walked up to the rope at the parade as it was starting. I think this is a great time to go and we would do it again. Have a magical time!

 

[onelumiere]

To try and help with your question, we did the exact same thing you are doing except we did it this past year 2006. It was very very crowded at the beginning of the week and unfortunately, it stayed that way until we left because at the end of the week, was the begining of mardi gras so a lot of people from new orleans, etc.. were coming in town for next week. We then went to the Universal Hotel (hard rock) the last 2 nights Friday and saturday and had a great time. The front of the line access is worth it weight in gold. We never waited for a ride except on the Pteradon flyers because they do not have the front of the line access on theat particular ride. other than that, it was awesome. So in other words, I believe it will be crowded regardless of when you go, either at the beginning of the week or the end. The good news is that the weather is cool so you do not mind standing in line.

 

[Mazzy]

Thanks everyone for your great advice. I didn't realise that Mardi Gras started so early, we went to it in April 2005 and it was brilliant.

Unfortunately as we arrive on a Saturday and leave on a Saturday we won't be able to attend, if Universal only hold it on Saturday nights as they have been doing.

Anyway, I'm sure we will still have a great time, and we coped at Christmas so hopefully we will do OK in Feb. Let's just hope that the weather is kind to us, we took sweaters, gloves and wooly hats for our Xmas trip and they never left the suitcase, so hoping for more of the same in Feb!

 

[bicker]

Hmmm... I think there is some confusion... people talking about different weeks. Mazzy: Your family and mine will be there the week before the week of Presidents Day and Mardi Gras, Mazzy, not the week of Presidents Day and Mardi Gras.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Bicker and Mazzy: We will be right there with you!!! I actually chose that week b/c it was the week BEFORE Pres. day. This is an "over-the-hump" trip to my boys, since Dad will be be deployed.

Just purchased my airfare yesterday!!!

 

[Mazzy]

Bicker - I was getting a bit confused too, by the conflicting advice, yes we are definitely not there on the actual Presidents Day (monday). So how do you think the crowds will be?

Mickey Fliers - great you are going that same time too, I'm sure your boys will have a great time. By the way, what is 'over the hump'? I'm from the UK and not familiar with that term. Also, your opinion on crowds would be great, thanks!

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Mazzy-My DH will be on a 6 month deployment with the Navy. We call it "over-the-hump" when we are halfway through the six months. It gives my boys something to look forward to .

I think that the crowds are going to very managable. My friend went that week this year and said that the parks were very pleasant. The weather can be iffy, but we should all have very magical vacations.

 

[bicker]

As I indicated earlier, my expectation is that it will be slightly busy on Friday, February 16 (the day we leave), and will be pretty busy on Saturday, February 17 (the day you leave). Prior to those days, I expect only light crowds.

 

[Mazzy]

Mickey Fliers - ahh thanks for the explanation - that's a great way of getting through the time and giving you and the boys something to look forward to, you sound like a brilliant Mum, I bet they love you to bits! I'm glad you're friends found the crowds manageable that's great news, and hopefully we will get plenty of Where are you staying? We would love to stay at the Dolphin again, but will have to see how the budget goes, as this was a spur of the moment trip, not really planned, as myself and the children are at WDW for Halloween this year, so have to keep the costs down as I have got carried away with the booking!

Bicker - thanks, yes we will definitely go to Universal then for those two last days and stay on-site. I think our fave is Hard Rock, DD Sam loves the ice cream parlour so she has requested we stay there again, but will have to check out AAA and AP rates nearer the time. Are you staying on-site at Disney?

 

[bicker]

Yup. We're DVC members staying at the BWV.

 

[wilma-bride]

Hi all We will be there that week too - looks like a popular time to go. We're flying in on the Sunday (11th) and back on the following Sunday, the day before Presidents Day. It's a surprise trip for DH 40th Birthday.

As there are 6 adults, we will probably be staying in a villa but am now considering a 1-night stay at a Universal on-site hotel for the Friday or Saturday night before we go home if the parks are likely to be busy that weekend.