WDW in February?

[Donnababe]

We are in the early stages of planning/considering our next WDW fest... (I am planning, DH is considering )

If we do go, we are looking at Feb '08 mostly because DH and kids will cope better in the 'cooler' weather. Are we going to miss out on anything major going low season? I realise the parks will have shorter hours but are there things like night time parades and Fantasmic* this time of year? We are looking at 9 -23.

*Haven't seen Fantasmic yet

Thanks folks!

 

[wilma-bride]

Feb isn't necessarily low season as such. Presidents week usually falls the 2nd week in Feb and that can be fairly busy. Not sure how much later the parks are open as a result. The regular shows and fireworks etc. will still be on but, depending on the park hours, they will probably only be once a night. Try checking out the archived park hours from Feb this year to give you an idea of the park opening/closing times.

You are right about cooler weather though - it can be very hit and miss. We were actually cold when we were there in February. We had to buy jumpers and fleeces

 

[cazzie]

We were there last couple of days of 30 Jan - 9 Feb this year and Fantasmic was on. The only downside for us was that the parks seemed to close a lot earlier than previous visits. We did have a few warm days but I remember standing waiting for the bus at AK to go back to the hotel and my teeth were chattering it was so cold. I think I got to wear my shorts the last couple of days but otherwise it was trousers and definately a fleece.

 

[Donnababe]

Thanks for the info!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I agree with Joh and Cazzie, February weather can be very unpredictable.
We found March to be the same in 2005 - let's hope it is nice and sunny next Easter!

 

[Hodkys]

We're planning to go Thurs Feb til Sat 16th. I believe Presidents Day is the third Monday of Feb, ie, Mon 18th Feb. I understand that some schools close for a mid-winter break for that week (a bit like our Feb half term break). I'm not sure how many of the individual states do this.

As to weather - we've been in early Dec and Jan. On our Dec trip it was cool and we needed jumpers/fleeces and long trousers. However, for our Jan trip we were in shorts and t-shirts and went to one of the water parks. The weather was lovely. (Even on the Dec trip we got to wear shorts some of the time).

Although the parks closed earlier - we experienced lighter crowds and therefore you can get round all the rides as the queues are so much shorter. We're only going in July this year as my step-daughter's mum doesn't like her missing school and we want to make sure she gets to come on one of our Florida trips before she gets too old to think it's not cool (not that we believe that could be possible at any age - we get worse the older we get!)

Oh - and it's cheaper, another reason to go non-peak!!

 

[Joanne UK]

We were there this year from Feb 8th - Feb 22nd so we were there for Presidents Day. Alot of schools now take their spring break that week and the parks were extremely busy and were open later. We are planning to go Feb 2009 but a week earlier so that we miss Presidents Day altogether. Re the weather, it was hit and miss, but we only had a few cold days and only one day where it rained.

 

[Donnababe]

Feb sounds perfectly doable. Thanks folks!

 

[wicket2005]

I have been 3 times in February, all covering President's Day but it was in 96, 98 and 2000 and I believe crowd levels are supposed to have risen. We found the lines perfectly okay, weather as mentioned was different on each of the holidays. 96 we wore shorts/teeshirts a lot weather mild, one day rain. 98 Saw a lot more heavier rain, had a tornado, hail stones, wore sweatshirts/joggers a lot. 2000 very very warm and humid in shorts/teeshirts all of the time.

Personally I like the hotter weather of the summer now and would not go back in February.

 

[wifey]

We loved our stay there in February (Valentine's week) although it was chilly a couple of days the crowds were managable, guests were more relaxed,CMS were fantastic and the Disney Transport System ran like clockwork everywhere.
Rides and attractions were sometimes closed for a day or two for rehabs but you can find out before you go what will be open still plus the Disney hotel staff kept us up to date with changes. One plus for the shorter park days is you get to see the fireworks earlier which is great if you are travelling with younger kids, there's no humidity too.