Tell me about Nov, Jersey week and 2 weeks before Thanksgiving

[Micheme]

Planning for Nov 2007 and wanted to ask about the first few weeks in November.

How are the crowds during Jersey week (nov 11 in 2007) are the considerable. How does Veteran's day affect the crowds.

Are the crowds ok before the Thanksgiving holiday (Nov 22 in 2007) ?

Or should i start planning to go the week after Thankgiving

 

[Terry in NJ]

Hi,

The New Jersey Teacher Convention in 2007 is November 8th and 9th.
Literally BILLIONS of NJ residents hit WDW ! I know, I'm usually one of them !!! (That second weekend of November has traditionally been the ABC Soap Weekend in MGM Studios. It's also the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot.)
The crowds start checking in the Saturday before, some folks come down mid week and stay through the next Monday or Tuesday.
It is busy, but manageable.
Veteran's Day is not a federal holiday. Lots of state workers get it as a state holiday though.
I've heard that up until the Tuesday before Thanksgiving the crowds are light, but I've never been there then.
Hope this helps.

Toodles! Terry in NJ

 

[Eeyore2003]

We were there the end of Jersey week and then the next week, which was the week before Thanksgiving. The last week end of Jersey week was as stated before, plus also there was the Festival of the Masters Art Show. Jersey week is interesting. The atmosphere is quite different due to the number of "New Jersians" there. Let's just say, "They don't slow down, even on vacation!!!" So the atmosphere is kind of bustling and brisque.

I have gone all different times of the year and the people are just a little more "intense", as is the atmosphere. I know another midwesterner a couple months ago made similar comments. DH and family are from New Jersey, so I mean nothiing bad by it, but they do bring the New Jersey lifestyle to Disney World that week.

Once the "busy week and week-end" were over, it was positively awesome. The quietest week we've ever gone. Although the Christmas Pageant was not showing yet, nor MVMCP, the decorations were going up, Christmas music was playing,the parks were uncrowded, the Osbourne Lights were up and showing. It was just wonderful, weather was awesome, swimming EVERY day.

If you are planning on November, I would really encourage going the last Saturday and Sunday of Jersey week and then the next week. Saturday I would plan on taking advantage of the Festival of the Masters Art Show at Downtown Disney, and Sunday, I would go to the last day/night of the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot, both of these are REALLY nice. Sunday the crowds gradually clear out and then you will also then have the advantage of low crowds that next week for your park days.

We had a really hard time deciding whether to go that week this coming year or in October. We decided on October so my husband can attend a conference on one week-end, and then we can extend our stay with less cost. Otherwise, I really love that fun week-end and rest of that week between Jersey week and Thanksgiving week in November.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

If you want to avoid crowds that come during the infamous "Jersey Week", go the 1st week of November or the third. Both weeks are far less busy. And many kids all over do have Veteran's Day off, so it adds to crowds. My nephew in NC had two days off that week, just like the Jersey kids. So the week to avoid is Nov 5 - 12. The Friday-Saturday (Nov 10-11) is particularly crowded.

As for crowds during Jersey Week, many here say "never again", many others say it's just like summer or Easter. Then others say it's perfectly fine and the whole week gets overblown here on the DIS. Guess it what you're used to. I also believe the preconceived negative stereotypes of "New Jersey" influence people, too.

Well either way, I am planning on contributing to the crowds on "Jersey Week" this year!