Seriously concerned about going during February half term :(

[thephoo]

Hiya,

Due to OH's step daughter (who he treats as his own) doing her GCSE's for the next couple of years we're going to have to go in half term to make sure we're not going to overlap our holiday with any important exams.

I went once in the Summer holidays and I promised myself I would never do it again - it was horrendous! So I have always gone in term time and I suppose, been a bit spoilt because it's always been pretty quiet when I've been before.

So the plan is we go in February half term next year and unfortunately, I thought I'd checked it all thoroughly but I've just realised some of the French schools are off then too so I'm feeling pretty apprehensive about it all really.

I guess the hope is that even though it's half term it is still February so low season? I know it's hard to describe or even fully gauge how busy it will be at any given time but if someone could offer some kind of comparison then that would be great. I just need a few pointers because I really don't want to go if it's anything like it was the last time I went during the school holidays!

I usually go in March or May and have been in October but that was way back in 1992 so I can't really judge it by those standards!

 

[A Small World]

I have always been in school holidays.

I went a few years ago during Feb half term and it was no where near as busy as during the summer or at Christmas (even a weekend in November during the Christmas season was busier) however I cant remember if the French schools were on holiday that week as well.

Also Feb half term can often differ between authorities- there are usually 2 weeks but not all UK schools will be off the same week

 

[thephoo]

Thank you Small World!

We are wanting to go w/c 18th of Feb 'til the Friday so we avoid the weekend too.

Thinking about it, I think I did once go in May half term but it was one of those weird ones where the holidays were completely different across the UK and I can assume the French schools weren't off because the park was the quietest I have ever known it.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

It's Northern France not Paris and region that are on holiday starting the 16/02 so it will be busy not not manic

I'd be more bothered by the weather than the crowds as it will be cold then. Hopefully not as cold as this year, which was exceptional, but even with dry and clear days the wind chill is biting over there

 

[A Small World]

It's Northern France not Paris and region that are on holiday starting the 16/02 so it will be busy not not manic

I'd be more bothered by the weather than the crowds as it will be cold then. Hopefully not as cold as this year, which was exceptional, but even with dry and clear days the wind chill is biting over there

I didnt find the weather that bad the year we went - there were a couple of days when I didnt wear a coat into the park- just a big cardigan.
We also went to Paris (not DLP) another year for half term and ended up wearing short sleeves and sitting by the river in the sun as it was so warm

 

[Carrie_Cat]

I didnt find the weather that bad the year we went - there were a couple of days when I didnt wear a coat into the park- just a big cardigan.
We also went to Paris (not DLP) another year for half term and ended up wearing short sleeves and sitting by the river in the sun as it was so warm

You got lucky Though I always found it to be warmer in Paris than out here..that's one of the many things I'm so looking forward to when we move back in

The last couple of years have been colder but there was a great many where we had no snow and extreme temps. We always get that wind though from Siberia "shivers"

 

[thephoo]

I've always been unbelievably jammy with the weather and, no word of a lie everytime I've been to Disneyland the weather has been glorious, whether it be March, May, June or July...

I know people always talk about the cold and how bad it is and I have to say I don't think it would bother me, but having not experienced it, I can't exactly say for sure! Surely if it's raining it's far worse though?

I might be being naive but in this region of Europe the weather is so unpredictable isn't it?

I'd rather be frozen and not have to queue than be sweltering and be queuing for hours on end for every attraction I think

 

[zanzibar138]

Sorry to hijack!

Just a bit concerned now about school holidays! I can't stand crowds and thought it would be very quiet when we're going. Willing to put up with the cold if it means less crowds!

Will it just be the north of France that are on holidays w/c 25th Feb? We're avoiding the weekends, but I'm hoping school holidays don't mean that it will be crowded during the week too.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Sorry to hijack!

Just a bit concerned now about school holidays! I can't stand crowds and thought it would be very quiet when we're going. Willing to put up with the cold if it means less crowds!

Will it just be the north of France that are on holidays w/c 25th Feb? We're avoiding the weekends, but I'm hoping school holidays don't mean that it will be crowded during the week too.

Zone C - Paris and region start holidays on the 2/3 through to the 18th so you'll miss them and they are the biggest crowds.

Zone A (mostly South) starts on the 23rd of Feb through to the 11th of March so they overlap a week with the North.

It won't be manic though because it's traditionally the holidays for going ski ing here in France so don't worry

 

[zanzibar138]

That's a bit of a relief then! Thanks for that info

 

[RoseBug]

I've always been unbelievably jammy with the weather and, no word of a lie everytime I've been to Disneyland the weather has been glorious, whether it be March, May, June or July...

I know people always talk about the cold and how bad it is and I have to say I don't think it would bother me, but having not experienced it, I can't exactly say for sure! Surely if it's raining it's far worse though?

I might be being naive but in this region of Europe the weather is so unpredictable isn't it?

I'd rather be frozen and not have to queue than be sweltering and be queuing for hours on end for every attraction I think

This is what I thought - I don't feel the cold, I'm a Geordie, we don't own coats and go out in the snow barefoot! I hate the heat and burn through factor 50 (which happened today) BUT the cold we felt in Feb this year in DLP is like I have never experienced before. DD had thermal leggings, tights, thermal boot socks and boots, thermal long sleeved top, long sleeved tee, jumper, hoody, coat and padded snow suit on, hat, scarf, gloves and hood. And she was SO COLD that she couldn't walk (her feet were swollen with the cold) and cried if we queued for anything because standing still the cold went straight through you. It was unbearable for her, I coped, hubby just about did but DD was miserable.

It has put us off going in Feb again, but it was apparently a very cold Feb, so we may think about it again but would only ever book last minute in a sale to check out the weather first.

Saying that, I went in Feb half term a few years ago, and I was happy enough with a hoodie on!

We are going August - I am worried about the heat, as we have also been in August and the heat was unbearable, but I think it is preferable to the cold, and because we are going for 4 days, we will use the hotel pool to cool down during the hottest part of the day!

 

[DLPdaft]

I remember Carrie_Cat saying it was too cold for snow for a fair old length of time around DLP in February this year. Thats cold !