Ugh. I have to go Jersey Week. How Bad?

[southjerseymom]

Ugh. Due to the ridiculous new attendance requirements forced on Jersey schools by the Feds I have to go to Disney during Jersey Week instead of our usual week later. Don't even get me started about PARCC lol. Anyway, in addition I get to pay extra $1000 for airfare and dealing with crowds that I'm not used to - how bad is it going to be???

 

[JenQ]

We are going that week by choice because we got a better deal and our airfare is actually $650 cheaper (From PA) than later in the month! I asked this question and was told it's really not that bad as long as you use the crowd calendars to plan what days you do each park.

 

[HelenParr]

It's really not that bad. We go that week most years, and find it very manageable. Epcot for F&W is tricky on weekends, and the marathon can clog things, but those aren't really Jersey week issues.

 

[Jdbsfw]

What the @$#% is "Jersey week"????

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We are still taking my son out for 6 school days in January next year. Happy to fight the state in court if it comes to it. My kids, my rules.

As for Jersey week, done it twice. The last time was about 5 years ago and it was getting pretty crowded so we decided to try other seasons, giving up October and early November completely.

 

[patrickpiteo]

The world is crowded just about every day of the year... I would be more mad at paying the extra k on airfare..

 

[ejgonz2]

What the @$#% is "Jersey week"????

Schools in NJ close for a week in early October for a teachers convention and families head to DW

 

[patrickpiteo]

Schools in NJ close for a week in early October for a teachers convention and families head to DW

LOL every family in NJ? Glad NY doesn't have a week like that..

 

[Jdbsfw]

Yea, I can't relate to getting a whole week off in October lol....we got 2 days off for Thanksgiving, 2 weeks for Christmas, 1 week for spring break, various "teacher inservice" days and 3 solid months off in the summer....

 

[JenQ]

It's actually the first week of November. And someone from there will know better but I believe its only a couple days off but families make it a week long vacation.

 

[Belle0101]

This site covers Jersey Week pretty well.

http://**************.net/2010/05/02/jersey-week-at-walt-disney-world/

It reiterates what JenQ posted, Jersey week is the week beginning November 1st, and goes into a little detail about it.

 

[anniemae]

It's a great week to go. The weather is beautiful. There really are no "slow" times anymore, but the crowd levels won't be bad. Early Nov is one of my favorite times to go!

 

[dwbrewster]

Schools in NJ close for a week in early October for a teachers convention and families head to DW

The best part about it is that no teachers really go to the conference anymore - it is just a free vacation for all!

 

[ejgonz2]

Right, meant November. I'm a proud new jerseyan but my kids aren't in kindergarten yet.

 

[pklein09]

"Jersey Week" is the same week as election day....whatever week that falls in (the first week or the second week). Most schools give election day as a half day or totally off because it's a polling place, as well as Thursday and Friday for NJ Teachers Convention. Some districts just close on Monday and Wednesday. If you go, just ask where in Jersey your bus mates are from....and I'm sure you'll get a chuckle. We had that happen so we asked where in Jersey they were from. Well, they were from Mississippi!!! When we asked why they thought we were from Jersey (we don't have an accent), they said everyone else they had met were from Jersey, so they started assuming!!!

 

[wisblue]

We have been at WDW for a few days that week each of the last two years.

Compared to the holiday times when we usually visit, the crowds that week are like a walk in the park. A larger percentage of the crowd than usual may be from New Jersey, but the overall crowd seemed more moderate than large.

Like the site linked by a PP above, Touring Plans says that the crowd for Jersey Week is larger than the week before and after. I would think, though, that, especially over the weekend, it is difficult to separate the impact of Jersey Week from the impact of the Wine and Dine Half Marathon.

My advice would be that if you have the flexibility to go the week before or after Jersey Week and the Half Marathon, I would probably do that. But, if you do have to go that week and weekend, I wouldn't be overly stressed about the crowds.

 

[mefordis]

Ugh. Due to the ridiculous new attendance requirements forced on Jersey schools by the Feds I have to go to Disney during Jersey Week instead of our usual week later. Don't even get me started about PARCC lol. Anyway, in addition I get to pay extra $1000 for airfare and dealing with crowds that I'm not used to - how bad is it going to be???

I have gone during Jersey Week and it was great! The crowds were not bad, you have food and wine still going on, and we got there in time for the final MNSSHP. I really wanted to go this year for free dining but have to wait until August so we can meet family down there. Are you getting free dining? It is being offered then as well!

Not to get off track but what are these NJ attendance requirements? My dd missed 16 days this year and no one said anything to us. Thanks for any info!

You will have a great trip!

 

[ArwenMarie]

It was a few years now, but that week isn't so bad and the weather starts cooling off a bit so that is a plus!

 

[mommyrosa2]

We used to go "Jersey Week" when my kids were younger and we loved that time of year. Weather was always pleasant and we didn't find the crowds to be bad at all.

 

[PantherPete]

I was there for Jersey Week in 2011. It wasn't a problem, other than being stuck somewhere with a huge contingent of people from New Jersey, which shouldn't be an issue for you as you are from New Jersey.