Time of Year Advice?

[Andrea0710]

Next year, we were thinking of going to Disney World during our Mardi Gras break (February 26- March 4). I was thinking this would actually be an ok time to go because it is after President's Day. Thoughts on what we can expect as far as crowds? Thanks in advance!

 

[MomOTwins]

Crowded. I get that it is not president's day week but there's so much pent up demand from people who didn't go this year because of virus, masks, no firewords etc., I expect early 2022 will be packed, especially any time one area gets school holidays (in your case, Mardi Gras week, but also look for example at how crowded it used to be at Jersey week).

 

[Magical2017]

Crowded but maybe less so than other times? We used to go quite a bit in January during non-race times and avoided MLK week. DH is not a fan of humidity. The past few times we went it was super crowded on what used to be "slow" times. We went at the end of August of 2018 and it was slow but of course extremely hot and humid. I did not mind it but DH was not thrilled. I would just book whenever you want to go and have a plan. The weather will be nice in Feb.

 

[Andrea0710]

Thank you so much for your advice. We were trying to avoid peak holiday times, and we wanted to wait until next year since it would be my daughter's first time to Disney World, and I want her to have as normal a Disney experience as possible.

 

[MomOTwins]

Thank you so much for your advice. We were trying to avoid peak holiday times, and we wanted to wait until next year since it would be my daughter's first time to Disney World, and I want her to have as normal a Disney experience as possible.

I think you’ve hit exactly on why I think it is going to be crowded. The people going in 2020 and 2021 are mostly repeat guests who don’t mind a reduced experience. But pre-Covid, a huge chunk of attendees were first timers or one-in-a-lifetime type visitors. Anecdotally, I know a lot of parents who were waiting to go for a “sweet spot” when all their kids were old enough to remember but young enough for the magic, and now are planning on 2022 because their 2020/2021 plans were dashed and they need to get in as soon as “normal” returns before their kids get “too old.”

 

[Andrea0710]

I think you’ve hit exactly on why I think it is going to be crowded. The people going in 2020 and 2021 are mostly repeat guests who don’t mind a reduced experience. But pre-Covid, a huge chunk of attendees were first timers or one-in-a-lifetime type visitors. Anecdotally, I know a lot of parents who were waiting to go for a “sweet spot” when all their kids were old enough to remember but young enough for the magic, and now are planning on 2022 because their 2020/2021 plans were dashed and they need to get in as soon as “normal” returns before their kids get “too old.”

We will just have to keep in mind that the crowds will be there and work our way around it. Our son is autistic, so I am assuming that there is still the disability pass, so that will help us?

 

[Magical2017]

We will just have to keep in mind that the crowds will be there and work our way around it. Our son is autistic, so I am assuming that there is still the disability pass, so that will help us?

Yes. In fact, there is a section on this board dedicated to families who have a member with SN. It is the disABILTIES board. https://www.disboards.com/forums/disabilities.20/

 

[MomOTwins]

We will just have to keep in mind that the crowds will be there and work our way around it. Our son is autistic, so I am assuming that there is still the disability pass, so that will help us?

Yes, DAS is still available, subject to the usual caveats that they need to interview you to determine if they will give it and it is not guaranteed based on an autism diagnosis.

I don’t know if the last time you visited with your son was under the DAS system or the prior GAC system, but in general, the idea is it is kind of like fastpass where you get a return time based on the standby time, and can wait outside of the line and return to ride at your given time. This Disney fact sheet is pretty handy:

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/disney-parks-disability-access-service-card-fact-sheet/