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

[tinkerbella16]

We booked our Jersey Week airfare back in December as soon as it was released. $200/pp RT and that's with a bag each out of AC TBH I find airfare out of Newark to be insane no matter what your destination!

Awesome! I paid for my seat each way and bag each way and I still came out under $200 roundtrip. People always say negative things about Spirit but I have had no problems... each year, my airfare for my Nov wdw trips keeps getting cheaper and cheaper! They WIN in my book!

 

[larryz]

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

So I did a little search and found this thread from somewhere in the way-back machine.

It's the oldest thread I can find on it.

 

[southjerseymom]

Thanks for all the replies folks! I have a lot of problems with the new attendance mandates. Federal funding for school districts used to be based on how many kids signed up for free or discounted lunches. With the introduction of the Common Core curriculum, as well as PARCC testing New Jersey has adopted the new Federal guidelines that base school Federal funding on attendance. Why they don't base it on median income is beyond me. Why the heck the Feds are mandating anything for a State education boggles my mind. My kids are both honor students but we were given an extremely hard time by our district when we took a cruise in March. Of course they were NOT happy when I refused the PARCC test for my kids LOL. Anyway, I think we may tweak our dates as one poster suggested. Again, I appreciate the replies.

 

[MillauFr]

Awesome! I paid for my seat each way and bag each way and I still came out under $200 roundtrip. People always say negative things about Spirit but I have had no problems... each year, my airfare for my Nov wdw trips keeps getting cheaper and cheaper! They WIN in my book!

You will have no problems with Spirit as long as your expectations are low. Don't expect to arrive on-time. Don't expect to be quickly rebooked if your flight is canceled. Don't expect friendly and efficient service.

 

[disneywarriorprincess]

I went in 2014 during jersey week (I'm also from nj) and it was surprisingly quieter than i expected. The only real crowds were in Epcot during food and wine that week but that's only because its a special event. The weather is nice and cool during November so you won't have to go as nuts on making sure you're reapplying sunblock every 2 hours. And I'm so glad i don't have to deal with PARCC i'm a senior in high school and it skipped us. And I'm graduating on Wednesday

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

So true! Years ago I could get really good prices if I booked airfare right when they were released for Jersey Week. No more.... the prices are sky high from the get go. We live in Northern NJ so now we fly out of one of the NYC airports. Which stinks since we live about 20-30 minutes from Newark. One time we flew out of Long Island, boy that drive was fun!

I think that applies year round. I'm in Somerset County and am flying out of Philly (90 minute ride and $110 in long term parking) instead of Newark (30 minute ride) because the difference in airfare is $1400!!!! Newark to Orlando is a joke.

 

[tinkerbella16]

You will have no problems with Spirit as long as your expectations are low. Don't expect to arrive on-time. Don't expect to be quickly rebooked if your flight is canceled. Don't expect friendly and efficient service.

I have flown Spirit for years and have experienced friendly and efficient service, never a delay or cancellation and have never been rebooked. I cannot say the same for other airlines... Delta and United are no better- I have experienced horrible service, have been delayed/cancelled. And that is why I choose Spirit, I do get all of those things and get super low airfare along with it.

 

[tuckerkeys]

We have gone Jersey week, and we always fly spirit out of AC. I have found that with Spirit, if you watch the sales you can get great airfare. Usually the best price is 6 months out. The first flight of the day out of AC is always the smoothest, and I have never experienced a delay. We go so much, the ticket and baggage people know my family! Jersey week this year we're in the Keys, and I got a flight out Thursday eve for $79 pp. That's just insane! So I booked it & kids will miss Fridays school....

 

[MillauFr]

I have flown Spirit for years and have experienced friendly and efficient service, never a delay or cancellation and have never been rebooked. I cannot say the same for other airlines... Delta and United are no better- I have experienced horrible service, have been delayed/cancelled. And that is why I choose Spirit, I do get all of those things and get super low airfare along with it.

Delta has a significantly better on time performance record than Spirit. I'll agree with you that United is terrible unless you like getting stranded at Goose Bay airport and spending the night in military barracks. You simply don't hear stories about Delta stranding people for days because they canceled a flight like you do with Spirit.

Spirit On-time 68%
Delta On-time 83%
Alaska On-time 84%
United On-time 78%
Southwest On-time 81%
American On-time 78%
JetBlue On-time 80%
From FlightStats data for flights between April 15 and June 15

 

[aVASTGrl]

I went in 2014 during jersey week (I'm also from nj) and it was surprisingly quieter than i expected. The only real crowds were in Epcot during food and wine that week but that's only because its a special event. The weather is nice and cool during November so you won't have to go as nuts on making sure you're reapplying sunblock every 2 hours. And I'm so glad i don't have to deal with PARCC i'm a senior in high school and it skipped us. And I'm graduating on Wednesday

Congratulations, graduate!!!!!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

With the introduction of the Common Core curriculum, as well as PARCC testing New Jersey has adopted the new Federal guidelines that base school Federal funding on attendance. Why they don't base it on median income is beyond me. Why the heck the Feds are mandating anything for a State education boggles my mind. My kids are both honor students but we were given an extremely hard time by our district when we took a cruise in March. Of course they were NOT happy when I refused the PARCC test for my kids LOL. Anyway, I think we may tweak our dates as one poster suggested. Again, I appreciate the replies.

Sorry but this simply isn't correct. Fed funding changed when No Child Left Behind became law. That was the mandate that changed fed funding to test scores.

 

[mefordis]

Sorry but this simply isn't correct. Fed funding changed when No Child Left Behind became law. That was the mandate that changed fed funding to test scores.

If you are referring to my suggestion in a previous post, I'd like to add that you may even get away with missing only 1 1/2 days, as many schools have half days that week for conferences.

 

[disneywarriorprincess]

Congratulations, graduate!!!!!

Thanks!

 

[southjerseymom]

Sorry but this simply isn't correct. Fed funding changed when No Child Left Behind became law. That was the mandate that changed fed funding to test scores.

In New Jersey up until last year federal funding was based on reduced lunch participation.

 

[Sparkly]

Hoping the crowds are all gone by the 9th November, as that's when we arrive!

 

[nobellybutton]

I'm from Jersey and I'm going during this time and I'm more worried about F&W crowds than my fellow Jerseyans being there.

 

[Alpha1]

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???

Jersey week is real, Jersey week crowds are a myth. Election day is usually only a factor during major election cycles and 2015 is not one. There is NO free dining that week and Marathon crowds wont show up until the latter part of the week. Our visits to DW are always the first or second week of May and again the first week of November. The crowds are almost always identical. Crowds get bigger every year, but that applies to every day of the year compared to the previous.

If your looking for the lowest crowd levels for "Jersey Week" 10/31 - 11/5 would be the best days. Touring Plans estimated crowd levels, currently, claim the opposite, but I suspect they will adjust them as the dates get closer. It wouldn't be the first time they are completely off base.

 

[southjerseymom]

Jersey week is real, Jersey week crowds are a myth. Election day is usually only a factor during major election cycles and 2015 is not one. There is NO free dining that week and Marathon crowds wont show up until the latter part of the week. Our visits to DW are always the first or second week of May and again the first week of November. The crowds are almost always identical. Crowds get bigger every year, but that applies to every day of the year compared to the previous.

If your looking for the lowest crowd levels for "Jersey Week" 10/31 - 11/5 would be the best days. Touring Plans estimated crowd levels, currently, claim the opposite, but I suspect they will adjust them as the dates get closer. It wouldn't be the first time they are completely off base.

Thanks we are 10/31 - 11/7. Now if I could just get the flights cheaper LOL

 

[Disney/Universal Fan]

Does Disney officially recognize this as "Jersey Week" or is this just something that has caught on? I have been there during the first week in November many, many times, and have never noticed an increase in crowds, etc. When I lived in Ohio, we always went in October, as did our neighbors. How many people from a particular have to visit during a particular week to have an entire week named after them. Ohio Week, Florida Week, Montana Week, Alaska Week.........?????

 

[Alpha1]

Does Disney officially recognize this as "Jersey Week"

No