Weather/Crowds in early February...

[ErinsMommy]

We're either going to WDW for 2/2 through 2/10 or as a back-up 2/9 through 2/17 (we're weighing out the options since 2/18 is Presidents Day and it gives us all a day (for DD a few days) of rest before heading back to work/school.

What is the weather like there in February? What about crowds - i.e., are most kids still in school and not on recess yet?

TIA!!

 

[bowbat]

Presidents Day is a very busy time at WDW, so if you're concerned about crowds, you should go the week earlier.

Aside from Presidents Day (which means probably the Friday before through the Wednesday after it), February has fairly low crowds. Here's a link to the Easy WDW February crowd calendar from this year, which will give you a good idea of what to expect next year. http://www.easywdw.com/category/calendar/feb2012/

We were there this year February 11-13. It was a weekend, so crowds were a little higher than I would like but totally manageable. As far as weather, well, it's Florida. There's no telling what you might get. We arrived in jeans & short-sleeve shirts, but were bundled up in our wool peacoats the next morning. Best I can tell you there is to check forecasts a few days before you leave. That said, February isn't usually very rainy, so you should be okay there. (Full disclosure: I live in Florida, so my definition of "cold" is probably very different than most people's. )

 

[ErinsMommy]

Thank you!! Well in NJ here it'll be in the 20s/30s (on a lucky day) so I'm hoping for 70s-low 80s and I'll be in HEAVEN.

 

[Missytara]

I had friends that stayed over President's Day week last year (dd was in a competition) and they said never again. The crowds were huge; it was cold; to the point they were wearing coats, hats, gloves, etc.

A few years before, they had gone and the weather was somewhat nice.

You have to remember, Florida is on the Atlantic coast, it is not like the Caribbean. There is no way of predicting what it will really be like until about three to four days before you leave. You have to pack in layers.

I go the week after Thanksgiving every year, and have run the gamut of 90 degree plus days to never getting out of the 50's.

If anyone could predict the weather that far in advance, they would be rich!

 

[pequele]

we were there the 21-27 this year. We hit the half-marathon day (no I don't run unless someone chases me ) and just missed president's day which was great! And I was ok with the crowd level even though we went for what would have been Feb break for many schools. It wasn't unbearable, but we did have some line waits if we didn't have FPs, but nothing like waiting hours!

Being from NH where our winter was so mild, it was nice for us. We had temps in the 70s I believe, MAYBE low 80s an afternoon or 2. Only 1 day seemed mildly sticky but not horrid like it is here in NH now We had some sprinkles/mist one morning where the sky did look like it would rain, but it never did. Then the evening we were to go to Spirit of Aloha, we actually DID have torrential downpours were we got caught in on our way out back to the luau! Wind, rain, lightening, you name it! We were DRENCHED! It came out of no where and we had no time to put on rain gear, they even had to cancel the show after the 1st act! But other than that, weather was PERFECT (for us)!

Next we are going for Christmas, 15-27 of Dec...should be a whole different "world" then!

 

[ErinsMommy]

I agree, plus I just did a search and it appears the "range" is more like in the 50s/60s. We'll have to go on the wait and see approach as we get closer to booking. Last time we went around the mother's day weekend and there were more days where it was hot than cool and I HATE hot weather.

 

[beccasmom]

Early February is better than later IMHO for lower crowds. We've had pretty good weather on our trips then too, compared to what it was back home! . 60's/ low 70's.....too cold to swim for some, but otherwise delightful.

 

[Momto3cuties]

We were there 2/1 to 2/8 this year and there were no crowds! It was fantastic - we used fast pass for those real popular rides, but other than that we pretty much walked up and on rides! The weather was fabulous, started off in the low 70's in the am and was in the mid/high 80's by midday (which is when we headed back for a swim). I don't think this weather is typical, but we sure lucked out!

 

[PrincessShanShan]

Mardi Gras day is Feb. 12. I can tell you all the schools here will be closed and it's a very popular time for families to go to Disney. If I had to choose between the two weeks you posted, I'd go with the earlier week to avoid Mardi Gras crowds.

 

[Sue M]

We go yearly in late Jan but not Presidents weekend or MKL weekend.
The weather is unpredictable. Last Jan was wonderful, but the temps can be as low as 30 or up in the 80s. Some January's there was frost and we needed layers, and froze early morning and nights.
Some January's we swam mid day. Like last January.

 

[wesjohnson]

we always go the first week of Feb and we love it. Lines for the rides are non-existent. We even walked on BTM and EE multiple times in a row. Weather can be iffy. Two years ago it was a high of 70 every day (cool nights required a sweathshirt). Last year, it was 80-83 and sunny every day. To me, it is the best time of the year to go since you don't have to put up with crowds and lines. Plus rates are cheaper (value season). We love it.

 

[Peaseblossom]

I agree, plus I just did a search and it appears the "range" is more like in the 50s/60s. We'll have to go on the wait and see approach as we get closer to booking. Last time we went around the mother's day weekend and there were more days where it was hot than cool and I HATE hot weather.

We were there the week prior to Presidents' Day. The crowds were 'low' by Disney standards, but it always hits me how crowded a 3 or 4 on the crowd scale is. Manageable though.

Weather:

First 2 days - we wore every article of clothing we took with us, Michelin-man style. It was a nice change from walking around wilted from the heat though; you can go a lot longer in the cool weather, we stayed at the parks much longer than we would have during a summer visit.

Last 4 or 5 days - beautiful, warm to hot, one rain shower - we were at the pool in the evenings after the sun went down and were completely comfortable with just a light coverup, no sweaters or mitts. I LOVE those nights by the pool (Scottish complexion means I have to be a pool vampire) - they're a magical part of any Disney vacation, and I was glad to experience it in February!

 

[cjsm&d]

Thank you!! Well in NJ here it'll be in the 20s/30s (on a lucky day) so I'm hoping for 70s-low 80s and I'll be in HEAVEN.

Pick a year... we have gone that same time alot.

In 2009 we were at POR and it was in the 70's most days. In 2010 we were at CSR and it was in the 60's most of the time (still did the pool) though it warmed the last couple of days. Last year we did CSR/Swan and it was in the 80's every day.

Basically, it's a roll of the dice.

 

[LadyLuck24]

We were there the week prior to Presidents' Day. The crowds were 'low' by Disney standards, but it always hits me how crowded a 3 or 4 on the crowd scale is. Manageable though.

Weather:

First 2 days - we wore every article of clothing we took with us, Michelin-man style. It was a nice change from walking around wilted from the heat though; you can go a lot longer in the cool weather, we stayed at the parks much longer than we would have during a summer visit.

Last 4 or 5 days - beautiful, warm to hot, one rain shower - we were at the pool in the evenings after the sun went down and were completely comfortable with just a light coverup, no sweaters or mitts. I LOVE those nights by the pool (Scottish complexion means I have to be a pool vampire) - they're a magical part of any Disney vacation, and I was glad to experience it in February!

Like this PP, we were there this year (2012) the week before President's Day (2/11-2/18). Weather-wise, we got a huge variety just within that one week. The first few days got as cold as the 30's and we were wearing sweatshirts/fleeces to the park. The middle of the week warmed up and we were wearing shorts and t-shirts. The trickiest part is packing--you really need everything from shorts and flip flops to jeans and sweatshirts/jackets (being from MA though, 40 degrees isn't that cold to me so I didn't wear a jacket).

The biggest surprise that week was the crowd level. I'm used to going in November and May when the crowds are pretty low, but I thought those winter weeks would be the slowest I'd ever seen. Was I wrong! There were days when we just left MK because we couldn't tolerate the crowds and couldn't get on anything in under a half hour. The fastpass return times were hours and hours after the current time. The only place we we didn't feel claustrophobic was in the World Showcase, where there is just so much space that you never really felt crowded. Everywhere else was wall-to-wall people. It by no means ruined our trip, but it wasn't what I expected.

Never been there the first week of Feb, but based on our experience last year, I'd go with the first week!