So excited but sorta afraid! President's Day/Week, 2018

[Stacy's a freak]

My husband and I just decided that February 2018 is the time. We're planning a trip to WDW! I have been about a dozen times prior to meeting him but my husband hasn't been for about 15 years and his kids (13 and 11) haven't been at all - haven't even been on a airplane!! So we're doing it - February, 2018. We have decided not to take the kids out of school so President's week it is ... and I'm afraid. I have no bio kids of my own so I have always been able to schedule trips during value season. But now we are working around the school schedule and it seems that the kids have the week of President's day off each year. Once we know for sure and once we can book packages for 2018, we're doing it.

So here are my questions...

1. How bad is that time of year? I'm sure the weekend is busy but we are planning to do Sunday, the day before President's Day, to Saturday. Will it slow down a bit as the week goes on?

2. This is more of a fear ... I have been looking at airfare from area airports (we live in Central NY State) and I'm seeing $600 per ticket through Travelocity and Orbitz!! I'm hoping this is inflated because the actual rates/schedules are not out yet for the airlines. I am hoping that these third party sites guess high when the airlines do not have confirmed plans? Or maybe it's just too far out to get the best rate? I am thinking the fares will start to come down around the 100 day mark but I would love any info or experiences you all have.

3. We are planning to stay in a value and I'm sad that POP is under refurb. It seems that they will be done in May or June, 2018 so I'm rethinking that. I'm not a fan of the Allstars and I wonder if AOA would be too expensive.

Any tips you all can give us? I haven't been to the world since 2010 so keep that in mind.

 

[JennyDrake]

It will be spring break level crowds the whole time. Rope Drop is your best friend!

I'm just back from stay at Pop and it was fine, really. I know I'm in the minority but AoA is the *only* WDW resort for me that is "never again". (I was in Little Mermaid section, some aspects would be better in a suite.)

I'm not any help on the airfare question......

 

[KristiKat]

I can only help you with #1 since we live in Georgia and drive down. I've never stayed in a value resort due to the military discount we receive we usually do moderate or stay at the military resort. I've been 4 times President's Day weekend/week. It is busy but workable. In my opinion it's not as bad as when I've been in the summer. February will be cooler weather wise and that to me makes a big difference in dealing with the crowds. I can't deal with being that hot and that many people around me just makes if fill hotter. Make sure to use FP+, it will make all the difference in the world. If you have certain places in mind that you want to eat be sure to make reservations if possible, you don't want to waste time trying to get a table at the last minute, it can sometimes be impossible depending on where you are trying to get in at. Last but not least, don't over plan. Kids like to move at a slower pace and since this will be new to them they'll want time to enjoy the experience and not fill rushed from attraction to attraction and having a tight schedule can be stressful as I'm sure you know. The crowd does get lighter throughout the week so take a look at crowd calendars to see what park will be best on which day. Avoid EMH parks as they tend to be the most crowded. Enjoy planning your trip.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

I can only help you with #1 since we live in Georgia and drive down. I've never stayed in a value resort due to the military discount we receive we usually do moderate or stay at the military resort. I've been 4 times President's Day weekend/week. It is busy but workable. In my opinion it's not as bad as when I've been in the summer. February will be cooler weather wise and that to me makes a big difference in dealing with the crowds. I can't deal with being that hot and that many people around me just makes if fill hotter. Make sure to use FP+, it will make all the difference in the world. If you have certain places in mind that you want to eat be sure to make reservations if possible, you don't want to waste time trying to get a table at the last minute, it can sometimes be impossible depending on where you are trying to get in at. Last but not least, don't over plan. Kids like to move at a slower pace and since this will be new to them they'll want time to enjoy the experience and not fill rushed from attraction to attraction and having a tight schedule can be stressful as I'm sure you know. The crowd does get lighter throughout the week so take a look at crowd calendars to see what park will be best on which day. Avoid EMH parks as they tend to be the most crowded. Enjoy planning your trip.

This is great reminder to not over plan! It's as if you can read my mind ... totally a planner and am used to go-go-go touring. I have to keep reminding myself to take it easy

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I took my daughter during that week in 2016 and the parks were packed. The best time was evening EMH because the crowds were very light. It was chilly and many parents took their children back to the resort. I would consider park hoppers or consider attending the parks with the EMH- especially the EMH at MK at night.

The weather was gorgeous in the daytime, but quite chilly at night. Pack for a big variety of temperatures.

It will be a crowded week. I was surprised at how very crowded it was. It is also a very expensive week. Flights and resorts will be more expensive than at many other times. Many Georgia schools have that week off, and a huge number of us head to The World.

You will definitely want to plan far ahead for fastpasses and ADRs if you don't want to spend a lot of time in lines.

With that being said, my daughter and I had a fabulous trip that week. I planned thoroughly and we were able to do everything we wanted in spite of the crowds. We stayed at Pop that trip and loved it. By February, I would imagine most of the room construction will be moved to the 50's or 60s section, so if you were to stay in the 70s, 80s, or 90s, you may be able to avoid most of it. And you could have a nice, new room. Could be that by that time they begin the construction on the rumored gondolas, and I guess no one knows what impact that might have on resort guests.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

One thing to watch out for is the Princess Half Marathon weekend is 2/22-2/25 (Thursday-Sunday). That will start to bring in folks closer to the weekend. Room discounts for those days could be in short supply across property.

The other event to pay attention to when going in Feb is Mardi Gras. Many Louisiana schools have off around that time and folks flee to WDW. Mardi Gras is early in 2018 - 2/13. It was later this year (2/28) which made mid/late Feb pretty packed with back-to-back major attendance influences.

I went President's Day weekend this year. It was quite busy, but manageable. We are rope drop people so cover our ground that way, then leave the rest of the day more open. Have fun!

 

[msjprincess]

It's going to be busy and airfare is crazy that week from the NY area. We spent the weekend at WDW before a cruise this past President's week. We ended up driving from NY because airfare never dropped below $750 and we're a family of 5.

 

[wdwthanksgiving]

Yes - that is a busy week with kids out on break and the princess race...at least the weather is cooler and with thoughtful planning you will still have a great time --after all, its WDW!
Have you considered staying at Port Orleans Riverside? It is not too much more expensive especially when the publix discounts come out-- and has a neat pool with 5 quiet pools..can take the boat to Disney Springs and can walk to POFQ and use their facilities. I mention this resort because I think there is more to do there for your family if the parks are crowded ..and Yehaa Bob entertains at the bar area on certain nights (totally good for the kids) .
If you are set on a value, POP is our favorite -- be sure to request a room closer to the food court and buses!

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Yes - that is a busy week with kids out on break and the princess race...at least the weather is cooler and with thoughtful planning you will still have a great time --after all, its WDW!
Have you considered staying at Port Orleans Riverside? It is not too much more expensive especially when the publix discounts come out-- and has a neat pool with 5 quiet pools..can take the boat to Disney Springs and can walk to POFQ and use their facilities. I mention this resort because I think there is more to do there for your family if the parks are crowded ..and Yehaa Bob entertains at the bar area on certain nights (totally good for the kids) .
If you are set on a value, POP is our favorite -- be sure to request a room closer to the food court and buses!

I also love POR and know the family would love to see Yeehaw Bob - I love him too! The more I hear, the more my wallet is crying - lol. I'm sure we would like a slightly larger room in a MOD but I may have to stick to a value if the airfare is going to be insane I have been looking at historical data on the WDW discount and it looks like there have been discounts covering this timeframe for the past few years. That seems so odd since everything shows higher attendance then. I really thought they only released discounts when crowds are lower ... but maybe it's that "fake" discount thing where a discount exists but there is no availability.

 

[wdwthanksgiving]

Have you looked at an online newsletter called Mousesavers? Here is a link to historical dates for discount releases - hope this will help!
https://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/#codetrends

 

[ppjluvsdvc]

That week is Winter Break for Massachusetts and parts of New York. It has historically been high for air fare. It has gotten busier now at Disney as they have added the Princess 1/2 marathon that next weekend.

 

[beck00]

The Princess Half attendance will definitely affect the end of the week. We were there for Mardi Gras this year, which coincided with the Princess races. While many on the boards claimed the race would not affect park attendance that much, the parks were noticeably busier/more crowded this year at that time and the resort lobby/food court @ All Star Sports was nuts the mornings of races (Sat & Sun, can't speak for Friday). Mardi Gras is a week earlier than President's Day week this year, and the races are at the end of that week. Since Princess Half registration opened on May 2nd, and earlier than that for AP, DVC, and return racers, I know many have already booked rooms for that weekend.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Oh boy ... Princess runners are already booking these rooms?! But I have to wait until the actual school calendar comes out for next year to confirm that the kids have that week off and I really want to book a package which, the last time I checked, were not available yet. Bah!