Ride wait times - Jersey Week

[JohnNJ]

Jersey Week is an enigma. I cannot get the crowd level straight in my mind. We have always gone to WDW during the traditionally least crowded times of the year. Everyone's idea of crowded is different.

To me a long line is 30 minutes. Anything more than 30 minutes is unacceptable. We'll pass it up and come back another time. I'm used to anything from walk-on multiple times to 5-15 minutes during an average trip.

What are the wait times like during Jersey Week?

 

[sters]

We went that week last year and it was more crowded than I expected, but it was also during the Fairy Tale Package (was why I was there in the first place) so I can't tell if this was a normal Jersey Week experience. I don't recall the ride waits being too bad, but we used Fast Pass and were out of Fantasyland by noon. That place was packed on Sunday and many fast passes were gone by 1pm. I've never been in the summer, so I can't compare it to that, but comparing it the trips I've taken in Septemeber and October, Jersey week was more crowded.

 

[kilee]

Took a group of 12 to WDW this past Jersey Week as well. We were really pleased w/ the wait times. We FP'ed only a handful of things. MK: Never stood in line for more than 20 minutes standby, w/ 10-15 being more the norm. This includes things like Splash (which we walked onto w/ no wait at 4pm right after a rainstorm). Big Thunder, HM, Mickey's Philharmagic, Buzz, ect...

At Epcot. We did Test Track and Mission Space in the morning and mid afternoon (Mission Space had just recently opened). Neither was more than a 20 minute wait and that was w/o FP.

MGM--- EMPTY!!! TOT and RnRRC-- no more than 10 min w/o FP at mid morning. Everything else was 5-10 min tops all day. Only arrived at Fantasmic 30 minutes early too. Got great spots.

AK-- same as all the rest. No real crowds.

The one busy spot-- and I hate to say was Universal. Maybe it seemed worse because they'd post 20 min standby and it would really be 60-75 minutes!!! This kept happening over and over and I was getting really mad!!! Needless to say I was glad it was only 1 day we went there!!!

 

[JohnNJ]

This is exactly what I'm talking about. The two replies above are for the same week but yet one says it was crowded and the other says it was not. It's all very confusing.

Anyone else with experience during Jersey Week?

Thanks, John

 

[CarnotaurDad]

Hi John,

Lots of the confusion comes from the fact that individual perceptions and expectations can alter the experience.

Case in point is that sters found it crowded, but could only compare it to September and October.

Kilee found it not too crowded and, I could infer, is comparing it to previous experiences in the summer.

Think of Jersey week as being somewhere between the least crowded and most crowded time of year......

We were at Jersey week (coincidentally) in November of 2002 and then just missed it by a week in November of 2003.

November 2003 without Jersey week was definitely less crowded than November 2002 Jersey week.....

However, November 2002 Jersey week is MUCH less crowded than the Summer, Easter week, Christmas break and Spring Break......

For example, the lines for Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan and Autopia during Jersey week would sometimes reach 30 - 45 minutes......those same rides not during Jersey week would reach about 15 - 20 minutes....then again, that's what Fast Pass is for....

I'm sure this doesn't help but keep in mind that one person's crowded is another person's "not so crowded"......

 

[deanna2426]

I'm also curious if some went to parks on EMH and some did not during Jersey Week? Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Ishy]

what and when is jersey week? is there a club?

 

[funcinderella]

I'm from NJ, and went in 1994 during Jersey week though I didn't know what it was at the time. (I didn't have any kids then, and coincidentally picked that week; didn't know until I got there and EVERYONE was from NJ.) What it is: the kids are all off of school in NJ; I think it is Election day week and teachers convention; So the first week (I think) of Nov.

 

[TammyC]

Yes, everyone has a different perception of what is crowded. But I believe it also has to do with which day you go to each park. Sters post about MK being packed was on a Sunday, which is considered a busier day.

 

[redwingsmickey]

Our very first trip to DW was Sept 24 - 29th 2002. Very small lines. We only used FP a few times, just to see what it was like. We rode goofy's barnstormer over and over with little or no wait.

To avoid the September rain, we decided to go later in the year in 2003: Nov. 6 - Nov 14. (Despite reading crowd warnings here on the DIS) We were dissappointed by the crowds. (25 min. goofy, 40 min. winnie the pooh, 40 min. splash mountain, 30 min. space mountain) But it's hard to tell the story with just wait time numbers. The crowds for parades and fireworks were greater. The resort busses were much busier. This was the case for all 4 parks. (although at the end of the trip, the crowds started to break)

If we're going to go off-season, we're going to go when the crowds are not there. This year: Sept 23 - Oct 1.

Hear me now and believe me later. If you enjoy the empty parks in September, you will find a significant increase during Jersey week. Next year: Maybe we'll try first week of December...

 

[JohnNJ]

I was a big September advocate for years until I noticed that the crowds were increasing each year we went. I think line waits may also be a factor of which park, which day as was previously said.

We'll have to wait and see. Either way I win. If it's not crowded, great! If it is crowded, my wife won't push the issue for next year and we'll go at a slow time.

Thanks, John

 

[mikep25]

We were there in 2002 at that time. We arrived the week before and the parks were nearly empty. We went to MGM Studios the first morning and walked onto Star Tours. When our ride was done, we walked around and got right back on again. It was like that everywhere up until Jersey week. Then it was as crowded as I have ever witnessed (I have only been in January and October, so I haven't experienced what the worst times are like, so keep that in mind). The worst wait was probably for Thunder Mountain (about 45 minutes). I know that probably doesn't sound bad to people who go during the busiest times, but for us it was pretty bad.

We're going from Aug.25-Sept.3 this year so my idea of busy might change a bit

MikeP

 

[CuteKatCar]

John,

Stay away from MK on the weekends. Unless you go first thing Sunday morning. It should be pretty empty. Also try going to a park the day AFTER an early entry day. When MK has EMH on Sunday, be there at opening on Monday. It's important to get there early because a lot of people can't get up as early.

If it's any help, I knew about 10 families in my school that went last Nov. This year, so far I only know of 1, other than us!

Anna