Why is the third week of February so busy?

[tigertirz]

I realize it's President's Day, but is there anything else going on then?

 

[Belle & Ariel]

I think that is Jersey Week which is like fall or spring break in the state--a week off school.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I believe the Disney Princess half marathon is the following weekend after President's day. Run Disney tends to help fill rooms, dining establishments and parks.

 

[JaimeA]

Here on Long Island the kids have that week off. We went once that week and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be at all. It was crowded but not Xmas crowded.

 

[MomofKatie]

President's Day week is one of the busier holiday weeks of the year at WDW. Many schools around the country have Winter Breaks then. Louisiana and some Alabama and Mississippi schools have Mardi Gras vacations, as well. Crowds are high starting the weekend before President's Day and continue to be very busy until the weekend after.

 

[Disney Frenhines]

I found that when I was there and many were wearing LSU shirts, I asked someone and they said a lot of Louisianans come down to avoid the crowds for Mardi gras, not sure if that was true, but, it sounded plausible. I wouldn't have said it was overly busy and I'd happily go that time again.

 

[siskaren]

I think that is Jersey Week which is like fall or spring break in the state--a week off school.

Jersey Week is in November.

 

[zipuzee]

I found that when I was there and many were wearing LSU shirts, I asked someone and they said a lot of Louisianans come down to avoid the crowds for Mardi gras, not sure if that was true, but, it sounded plausible. I wouldn't have said it was overly busy and I'd happily go that time again.

Practically all of the New Orleans metro area heads to Disney during Mardi Gras as the schools generally close for the full week. Mardi Gras 2015 is February 17.

 

[Amanda999]

Here in Massachusetts public schools have the entire week off. (We don't have March vacation; we do April for Patriots' Day.) HTH.

 

[Aurora0427]

I realize it's President's Day, but is there anything else going on then?

Presidents' Day and the princess half marathon. We went in this week this past February. I'd never go again- it wasn't horrible Christmas crowds and the weather was good, but it was crowded.

 

[Ilovemyprincesses]

Most of the east coast has off of school and goes south to get out of the winter.

 

[karly05]

Yep, it came up in one of the "Spring Break" threads that apparently a lot of schools in the northeast have a "Winter Break" around Presidents' Day (and a separate Spring Break later). Plus, as mentioned, you have the Perfect Storm of Mardi Gras falling the same week as Pres Day.

I was there for Mardi Gras in 2013 when it was the week before Pres Day. It was so early that year, it wasn't overlapping with anyone else's breaks, and the crowds weren't awful. There were a LOT of (lovely) folks there from the Gulf Coast. I had a nice talk with Princess Tiana about how many people were there from her hometown and the "sea of purple and gold" she was excited to see from the train at MK opening that day.

 

[EMode]

Its winter break for a lot of school districts in the northeast. Spring break will be in march or april depending on when easter is.

 

[Micca]

I found that when I was there and many were wearing LSU shirts, I asked someone and they said a lot of Louisianans come down to avoid the crowds for Mardi gras, not sure if that was true, but, it sounded plausible. I wouldn't have said it was overly busy and I'd happily go that time again.

Wow, when people go to WDW to AVOID THE CROWDS AT HOME...

 

[AThrillingChase]

Princess half marathon alone is 22k runners + 10k +5k + presidents, breaks, mardi gras, valentines. Its the perfect storm!

Can't wait

 

[rideswithchrist]

So is it a safe bet to go the last week of February?
We went for our honeymoon Mar1-8th but we are going to go this year
Feb 22-27.

I can't get the prices to load for that week though, it told me to check back

 

[ZoZo]

So is it a safe bet to go the last week of February?
We went for our honeymoon Mar1-8th but we are going to go this year
Feb 22-27.

I can't get the prices to load for that week though, it told me to check back

I went the last week of February this year (February 22 through March 1) and it was fabulous! Fairly low crowds, decent weather (we even had a few days where it was warm enough for the water parks!), and only one two-hour rain shower all week. I think it just might be my new favorite time to go!