President's Week (Feb 19). How bad are the crowds?

[simba2]

Never been to the Mouse in Feb before, but planning a trip with 2 teachers, so we have to go during school vacation. Does the whole country take the week of President's Day for school vacation or is that just here in the Northeast? Who's been then? Were the crowds unbearable? We are not first time vistitors so it's not like we have to see everything this trip.

 

[Bob P]

It's pretty crowded from Saturday till about Thursday, when the crowds start to taper off. It's not "Christmas or July 4 crowded" though.

 

[snjmorrison]

New Orleans area schools are off for Mardi Gras.

 

[luvpoohbear]

Birnbaum's Guide has always said that President's Day week is one of the most crowded weeks?!?!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Birnbaum's Guide has always said that President's Day week is one of the most crowded weeks?!?!

It's because not only is it President's Day and Mari Gras (some New Orleans families go to WDW to escape), but the Daytona 500 runs on Feb. 18th!! Many of the peole who attend the race make a "pitstop" at WDW as well. Hotel rooms sell out from Orlando to Daytona, which is relatively close. If you happen to be there on that week, you'll see tons of people walking around the parks in NASCAR gear.

 

[Lorelai]

Birnbaum's Guide has always said that President's Day week is one of the most crowded weeks?!?!

I was surprised when I read that too. I've never been in Feb. though, so I couldn't judge it. Seems odd, yet anything is possible.

 

[n2mm]

It is a federal holiday, so government employees are off, along with banks, and courts, and pretty much a lot of companies that follow the federal holiday schedule. Schools are all closed too. I avoid all holiday weekends in WDW. We are scheduled to be there Feb. 2-9. I use the holiday weekends to relax at home. Sorry to say, that weekend will be busy, no way around it.

 

[Gonz Of Lancashire]

Try to avoid Presidents Weekend (as opposed to the whole week) as it is very crowded. We went in EPCOT as with the size of the place we thought it would feel the least crowded, but it was jam packed, and the family who came with us went to MK and met up with us at EPCOT later and said it was ridiculously busy compared to earlier in the week. Going back in January 2007 to avoid any clash of holidays. Also UK schools have a weeks holiday around Presidents Week too, just to add to the squeeze.