Why is Presidents Day/week so busy?

[JodiR]

I am thinking of going February 2006 instead of October 06. The week I want to go falls during Presidents Day. Is it really that crowded? More crowded than ....? I guess I don't see why this one day/week is that busy.

 

[antbritt]

JodiR


I personally have never been during this time frame but.. A lot of school districts in the NE have the whole week of presidents day off for what they call Mid Winter recess. MY kids only get the Friday before and the actual Holiday off but we used to live 20 minutes south and there they had the whole week off.

 

[motaei]

I think many school districts around the country get that week off for "mid-winter break" (also known as "ski-week" in some areas). I know we do. One family I know at our school took that week to visit WDW this year. (And we are all the way in California) So I can imagine how many families from the East Coast must take advantage of that week to get away from the cold.

 

[NotUrsula]

The primary reason is because all the Nascar fans are there for the Daytona 500, and do WDW in the same trip, the offsite hotels all market packages for this. There are many who actually could not get tickets to the big race who just go down as a sort of pilgrimage; then once they have done all the other Race Week stuff in Daytona, they head to WDW and just watch the race at ESPN.

For others, it's a long weekend at the right time of year, and one of the few for which the airlines don't go totally insane with ticket price hikes. (I'd say most Nascar fans drive to Florida, it's not a huge weekend for flying.)

 

[funhouse8]

We have been there that week. The start of the week was busy and towards the end of the week the crowds weren't that bad. I think some of the states just give off on that Mon but NY, Pa and I think NJ have off the whole week. Just use your fastpasses. The parks stay open later because the schools are out. The weather was great and we had a ball. This year we were in WDW for NYE. Now you want to talk to me about crowds. Go this time of the year. LOL. With a little planning you can go anytime and still have a wonderful time. Gina

 

[lisareniff]

School is out for the week in Upstate NY.

In order to make a trip to FL worth while we need a large portion of a week off. For our area that boils down to:
Thanksgiving
Christmas-New Years
President's Week
Third week of April (This can vary slightly if Easter is close)
Summer (Around June 22 - Labor Day)

Hate the Heat so summer is out. That only leaves 4 choices!!

We will be there Pres. Week 2005!! I hope it isn't too insane!

 

[GaryWT]

School vacation week in MA and ME.

 

[HopperFan]

We lived in NJ and we had whole week off - yes "ski week".

In the many of years of going it was the worse we ever had.

It was the only time I have ever left a park after half a day because of crowds !

Have avoided it ever since !

 

[goodferry]

We went in 2000 over President's Day because the kids were out of school, I didn't think the crowds were that bad.

 

[jwfla422]

The crowds were not bad last year (2003)..we actually left on President's Day to come home, but were there for that weekend which was also Valentine's Day.

BUT, I heard this year was just packed!!! Neighbors of mine went and said it was awfully packed and wouldn't go back again during this time.

As other posters have stated, I do know NJ schools are on spring break this week so I'm sure many of the other states in that area also have spring break as well.

 

[monarchsfan16]

Most of New England, plus other parts of the country have the whole week off. Plus there's the Daytona 500, and some people start arriving a little early for bike week in Daytona, which, this year at least, was the week after Presidents Day/Week. So I think Bike Week added to the crowds as well.