What are the crowds really like Mardi Gras week?

[arielou]

trying to decide for 2019. First week of March.
I don’t like crowd levels above 5-6. Calendars are showing conflicting info...although I’m more inclined to go with touringplans.

 

[Suprize2017]

We were there during Mardi Gras a year ago. It was pretty crowded (I think MK was an 8), but we don’t go often enough to compare. It was a lot busier than when we went two years before, at the same time, but it wasn’t Mardi Gras. We had our dining reservations and FP selections and a general plan, so the crowds were annoying (I’m from MT, I don’t handle any kind of crowd well! ), but we did everything we wanted to do and never waited more than an hour or so for a ride. Best times were first thing in the morning and the last hour or so at night. Made for really long days, but we packed more rides into those two hours than the rest of the day combined.

 

[cc-atl]

It depends on when Mardi Gras falls. I don't think Mardi Gras itself has a really significant impact on crowd levels as only Louisiana and maybe a few cities in Texas or Mississippi actually close schools at that time. When it is the same week as Presidents Day or is later into March when some spring breaks are starting to happen it can be pretty busy. In this case of early March I think crowds should be pretty reasonable.

 

[jwolfpack]

Mardi Gras brings a very savvy crowd because many people from Louisiana go every year at this time. For an equal crowd level compared to other times, ADR's and FP may be harder to get because the majority of these folks know what they're doing and know how to plan. We've been a couple times during Mardi Gras, and I'd do it again - but only with a very good plan!

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

Being from Louisiana I have visited Disney many times during Mardi Gras. I can say, without a doubt, that each year, regardless of when MG falls, it seems more and more crowded (like Disney in general these days).

It used to be the perfect time to go with low crowds and amazing weather. A few years back we visited for both MG and Thanksgiving week in the same year, and our MG trip was more crowded of the two! My sister in law and her family visited for MG this year, and after 10 or more trips to Disney she said this was the busiest she has ever seen it. She is a teacher, they only travel during holiday breaks and summer.

Having said all that, we will still continue to go at MG, mainly because of the weather. Just don't go thinking it's going to be low crowds simply because it's a holiday most of the country doesn't celebrate and that most schools aren't on break.

 

[SaintsManiac]

2019 will be our first MG trip, as we usually stay in town to enjoy the festivities. I know several families that go every year. Some of the Alabama schools get the whole week off, too.

Expect it to be busy. When we realized we could catch F&G we didn't hesitate to book it.