Super bowl 2009

[sally s]

When i was researching a good time to go to WDW, i looked at crowd calenders, US holiday events and UK school holidays to avoid. Thought that i had chosen well when booking the end of jan and first week feb 2009. Forgot to look up Super Bowl! Smack bang in the middle of out holiday and at Tampa bay!
As it will cost us £250 to change dates, we are stuck with it. I am wandering if it is going to be terribly crowded for the entire 2 weeks, or possibly just the long weekend of super bowl.
We will avoid the main parks that weekend but thought that we could hit DTD and TL. Would it be to cold at the water park for my 2 boys aged 4 and 5years?
Thanks for any help and advise.

 

[Revtel]

It's our regular time of year to visit, and you will be fine. In fact, I go BECAUSE it's the Superbowl!

Parks are fairly quiet, the resorts also, but perhaps slightly busier on the weekend of Superbowl. But nothing to worry about, honestly!

By the way, your kids will be fine in the Disney Pools. Standard temperature all years round, although it may be slightly chilly when they get out. My wife and I had the quiet pool at BWV pretty much to ourselves most of the time. The only other people swimming will be the Brits, so enjoy!

 

[sally s]

I was panicking about super bowl as it is being held only an hours drive away from WDW! Thought that many fans may tie it in with their annual holiday and therefore add to huge crowds in the parks!

 

[renkadima]

I concur that it is a great time to go to Florida, and particularly to the parks as the queues are at their shortest (although Magic Kingdom never seems to be less than busy nowadays). As far as the Superbowl goes, the only impact that will have is that you might bump into the winning players in MK the day after!

 

[SimonV]

Super Bowl fans typically will be confined to Tampa because they are loking for the party atmosphere (which is not really Disney!). Busch gardens may well be busier than usual on the Fri and Sat, but that's about all. In fact, the parks will probably be quieter than usual on the Sunday as many people will be stuck in front of the TV for the game (kick-off at 6pm locally). Although Orlando is only an hour away, the hotels may do better business with people trying to escape the high cost of staying in Tampa, but the rest of the place probably won't see very much extra business, if any.

 

[kellykaypa]

Booked airlines for Jan 24-Feb 1st and costs too much to change. Happy to see such positive responses on this thread. Another thread I have looked at says that things are crazy during that time
I guess we'll just make the most of it

 

[Mrs Stonfiesta]

i agree, its a perfect time to go to WDW, i love it at this time year, we have gone Late jan to mid feb the last 3 years running and will probably book again for 2009 Good chocie of dates so i would stick with them!

 

[blestmom]

I sure am feeling better after reading these posts. I, too, booked what I thought was a quiet time for a trip for me and 3 of my kids, Jan 25-Feb 10. I didn't even "think" Superbowl=Tampa. I read horror stories too, so I was contemplating changing my tickets, but being free frequent flyer ones (and on a companion airline, too) it is just too expensive.

I'm glad to hear maybe it won't be too bad.