What and when is Jersey Week?

[Elmo888]

I don't know if this is the right place for this question, but I'm guessing that it goes under "strategies" for avoiding crowds. I've read that it affects both the weekend before and after, and it is the first or second week in Nov. Thanks!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Jersey Week is the second Thurs and Fri in November. School have off those days for a teacher's convention (which is in Atlantic City, NOT WDW). I guess a lot of people take advantage of the few days off and plan either a long weekend or decide to take their kids out of school those couple of days.

 

[MomofKatie]

This year the NJ Teachers Convention dates are 11/8-9. Many NJ schools schedule teacher workdays and parent/teacher confrences for the other 3 days of the school week, effectively giving lots of Jersey schoolkids the week off. LOTS of NJ folks come down to WDW that week.

We visited during Jersey Week in 2004, and it was a bit more crowded in the parks than we expected, but by no means as bad as summer or holiday periods. We met lots of really nice families from NJ that week. I'd go then again- my advice would be to arrive at the parks at opening, use FP, make ADRs for any restaurants you want to be sure to eat at, and plan ahead.

The NJ folks should start arriving around 11/3-4 and most should be done vacationing by the 10th or 11th.

 

[DisneyDadof3]

.... and I used to think it was people (kids in particular) that wore jersey's to the parks

 

[MJMcBride]

I would avoid Jersey week like the plague, and I'm not disparaging us Jerseyites (or is it Jerseyians?)

 

[TiggerPiglet]

I've done Jersey Week for the past 3 years and it's not that bad. The parks are certainly not empty by any means, but the weather is great, which makes waiting on the lines a lot more tolerable. The main attractions usually have a 45 to 60 minute wait, but with Fastpass you can just go on something else in the mean time.

 

[qman]

We've been to WDW twice during Jersey Week (2003 & 2005) and plan to go again next year (2008). It is not that bad!

I think half of my posts to the board are debunking the Jersey Week myth. I cannot speak for the weeks before and after (which from everything I read/hear are fairly quiet) but my experience is that the week is very reasonal.

Check out the unauthorized guide for crowd levels. They can give you much better prepective than I (or most people on the boards) can give you.

Actually, given we are going in 2008 I was thinking of joining the "avoid at all costs" band wagon to thin out the crowds and maybe induce WDW into some good discounts. Just a thought.

 

[mom2aredhead]

Actually, given we are going in 2008 I was thinking of joining the "avoid at all costs" band wagon to thin out the crowds and maybe induce WDW into some good discounts. Just a thought.

I'll join you on that bandwagon - I will soon be a teacher in Jersey and will have my vacation flexibility VERY LIMITED. Having only gone previously in October (and an upcoming trip in May), I cannot imagine what Christmas/Easter weeks would be like. That being said, if I can get there for 4 days during "Jersey Week", I'm there...

But from what I've heard, it's VERY CROWDED then, the weather is AWFUL, and those Jersey people - UGH! Who wants to be around them. Much better to go another time.

 

[qman]

Bad weather, huge crowds and Jersey folks....stay away at all costs!!!!

 

[mom2aredhead]

And a lot of things are closed for re-furb that week too.

 

[Fernter65]

Bad weather, huge crowds and Jersey folks....stay away at all costs!!!!

WOW!!!If I had feelings they'd be hurt by the last part of that!!!!

 

[CleveRocks]

Jersey week veteran here. Bad weather? WHAT??? We were in the pool every day.

Rides closed for refurbishment? WHAT??? I can't recall a single one.

The Friday of Jersey week was VERY crowded, and the Thursday was pretty thick, too. We arrived the Saturday before, and the crowd level seemed quite good until we started noticing some thickening on Wednesday, a prelude to the crowded feel on Thursday and the difficult to walk through Fantasyland Friday.

 

[mom2aredhead]

Jersey week veteran here. Bad weather? WHAT??? We were in the pool every day.

Rides closed for refurbishment? WHAT??? I can't recall a single one.

The Friday of Jersey week was VERY crowded, and the Thursday was pretty thick, too. We arrived the Saturday before, and the crowd level seemed quite good until we started noticing some thickening on Wednesday, a prelude to the crowded feel on Thursday and the difficult to walk through Fantasyland Friday.

Shhhhhhhh! Do you want it to be as crowded as Christmas week???

 

[loriandmatt]

so does it generally clear out by sunday afternoon and go back to being low crowds until the day before thanksgiving?

 

[Bella34]

Jersey week veteran here. Bad weather? WHAT??? We were in the pool every day.

Rides closed for refurbishment? WHAT??? I can't recall a single one.

The Friday of Jersey week was VERY crowded, and the Thursday was pretty thick, too. We arrived the Saturday before, and the crowd level seemed quite good until we started noticing some thickening on Wednesday, a prelude to the crowded feel on Thursday and the difficult to walk through Fantasyland Friday.

Come on!! You are letting the secret out!! Keep letting everyone think they need to avoid this week. Makes it better for all of us from Jersey ! Notice my dates below. I think everyone should go that last week of August - now that is some beautiful weather

 

[sleepinbootie]

For all those who plan ahead:
from the NJEA site:

Future Convention Dates

2007 Thursday, November 8
Friday, November 9
Saturday, November 10

2008 Thursday, November 6
Friday, November 7
Saturday, November 8

2009 Thursday, November 5
Friday, November 6
Saturday, November 7

2010 Thursday, November 4
Friday, November 5
Saturday, November 6

2011 Thursday, November 3
Friday, November 4
Saturday, November 5

 

[Elmo888]

So, if you have a choice and you aren't from NJ, would you avoid that week altogether? Is that what I'm getting?

Thanks.

 

[mom2aredhead]

Schools in NJ are closed Thurs and Fri for a teacher convention (held in Atlantic City). Generally, that is also the same week many schools are closed on Tuesday for Election Day. A lot of NJ people will go that week because they are only missing 2 days of school and are still able to go for a full week during an off-peak time. If they do not go for the full week, they are still able to do 4 days Thurs-Sun missing no school days.
I know someone who owns DVC and has a hard time going that week (last year had to switch resorts becuase he could not get the full week at BWV)
Honestly, if you want to go in the fall and have a choice, I would pick another week. I've never been during Jersey week, but I have been in mid-late Oct and it was great. Good luck with whatever plans you make.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

So, if you have a choice and you aren't from NJ, would you avoid that week altogether? Is that what I'm getting?

Thanks.

Yes, with a choice I would....I've been during Jersey Week, and with planning and fast pass it is a great time!

If you had a trip booked for then and discovered it was Jersey Week, I'd say, relax and don't worry about it.

If you were from Jersey, and wanted to know if it's a good time to go without the kiddos missing too much school, I'd say, yes, it's definitely a good time to go.

If you were not from Jersey and you could pick any week in November, I would suggest picking the week after or possibly the weke before -- but remember to avoid Halloween (unless you are going to enjoy the Halloween Festivities...) and Thanksgiving. The holidays are crowded - but in between is perfect.

Hope that helps!

 

[seajoker]

We went this past year Nov 4-12 2006 and stayed at AKL. We noticed on Wed Nov 8th the resort and parks had more people that spoke with a "jersey" accent than more people all together. This was our 1st trip to WDW, and it was a great week. The weather was great and with FPs, the lines were not unbearable at all. We never waited more than 20 minutes over the whole week.
One thing to remember, this is also the end of the food and wine festival, which made the weekends at Epcot a bit crowded around the countries, but it didn't seem to affect the attractions.
Safe travels

seajoker