Why so busy in Feb?

[bobandkevin]

Hi-
We are heading to WDW from 2/9-2/14 and we've noticed that things are booked very tightly (PS's/ Lodging). Any idea why it is so crowded at this time? It seems early for Spring break? Is it because of Valentine's Day?
Thanks for any help!
Just 22 dyas to go! :jumping4:

 

[Alexander]

Many schools take a winter break. Ours in NY is actually President's week 2/21-2/25.

 

[kikipug]

By the time Feb rolls around, all the Northerners are fed up with the cold and snow. So they escape to Florida... and some of them (like me) never leave!!!

 

[NotUrsula]

President's Day and Race Week in Daytona. The guys go to the race, the women and kids go to WDW.

PS: I don't mean to imply that women don't like the races. Most people I know with children who do a "Race Week" trip split it like this because of the race ticket prices. A day at Daytona tends to cost about 2X as much as a day at WDW, and they may not be able to afford or even be able to get race tickets for the whole family.

 

[TiggerStac]

I have to agree, as someone from the Northeast, we are escaping the snow!! We didn't want to wait until our normal week (st patricks day week) this year. Plus, we got a great rate that is much better than what we would have gotten for March!! The rate was probably our deciding factor.

 

[jjsmom]

I absolutely agree with the above posters. We've gone every year sometime between the MLK holiday and Pres./Daytona week. Last year we went on Pres./Daytona weekend to take advantage of our daughter's school's 4 day week end. NEVER AGAIN!! MK & MGM were swamped; Epcot was manageable. We didn't even get to AK. Universal was manageable. The restaurants (on & off property) were all very busy. We decided this year to go the very 1st week of Feb, hopefully to avoid crowds. Honestly, Pres. week was more crowded than when we went this past July.

We're leaving Sat. 1/29. Eleven days and counting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please pray for good weather flying out of Baltimore for us!!! I'm starting to have nightmares about ice on the wings.

P.S. NotUrsula; My BIL drags his poor wife to Daytona!! She would MUCH rather be at Disney, even if she's alone (not this year-baby due early March!! )

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Yup, It's mid winter break up here. We can't wait to get down there and get some sun. Poor kids are sun deprived here in Syracuse.

 

[TracyK]

I was wondering about this too. This is our first time in Feb and all the guides say how quiet it is except for President's week. I'm really disappointed as I'm usually there at busy times, Spring break and summer, so I was hoping to get a break from the crowds this time.

Tracy

 

[Suivi]

What is our "Forecast" for May? The holiday begins end of may, right? 17th or 23rd - I'm not sure. The first week will be start of celebration.

What do you think when is the best time around May? Last week of April - or 2nd and 3rd week of May?

Thank you for your help.
Christian

 

[goingbackagain]

I was wondering the same thing. You see, I'm escaping Mardi Gras(Feb.8th). I love going at this time except when Mardi Gras falls during Pres. week. But since it is so early this year, I didn't think it would be a problem. I'm not sure now. I know I always run into a lot of Fellow New Orleanians but I'm not sure what else is happening.

 

[kikipug]

The guys go to the race, the women and kids go to WDW.

I beg to differ... as a diehard race fan AND 'woman', there are plenty of women who go to the race... its about 60/40, men to women. NASCAR isn't just for men any more. Most people who are going to the race go to the race AND Disney- not a 'divide and conquer' approach...

 

[saffymom]

I think that the Super Bowl being in Jacksonville is making a difference. DH and I actually changed our trip so we would be in WDW at this time and he could just drive over the day of the game (just in case the Steelers make it!). I'm sure we weren't the only ones who had this idea, although I was sort of hoping we were!

 

[bubba's mom]

........and I'm sure there are some folks going who had to reschedule from last fall due to a hurricane!

 

[MommytoPayton&Max]

I also heard from a CM of the Swan/Dolphin that there are two bigger conferences there. Perhaps that makes a difference. Even so, I have high hopes that it will still be nice for us in terms of the crowd levels.

 

[Sandyincanada]

We are going around the same time Feb 9-19. Since we were missing Presidents week, I thought we would be safe but it does seem like its going to be busier than we expected. We usually go in mid-Jan and are used to low crowds. I'm sorta hoping that all the people going just happen to be Disers and thats why it seems like so many people are going at that time, lol.

 

[WANNABE@WDW]

It seems to be a lot going on the first part of Feb. You would think that Disney would adjust park hours to reflect that. Maybe it won't be as busy as we Disers think.

 

[Tabetha]

This may explain some of the "busy" vibe for February.

Wide World of Sports Complex -- February Events Calendar
Feb. 2-8 - Varsity Dance Team Championship
Feb. 5 - AAU Girls-N-Sports Day
Feb. 9-14 - Varsity National High School Cheer Championship
Feb. 12-April 22 - Disney's Track & Field Spring Training
Feb. 16-20 - Twirl Mania
Feb. 17-March 31 - Atlanta Braves Spring Training
Feb. 18-21 - Disney's President's Day Fastpitch Open
Feb. 19-21 - Disney's Spring Holiday Soccer Festival
Feb. 19-28 - Disney's Spring Warm-Up
Feb. 22-28 - Four Season Contest of Champions (cheer & dance)
Feb. 24-27 - AAU Spring Field Hockey Classic
Feb. 26-April 29 - Disney's Lacrosse Spring Training
Feb. 26-April 29 - Disney's Softball Spring Training

 

[Big V]

"Feb. 2-8 - Varsity Dance Team Championship"

Like, oh my god, like, this totally reeks. Like, I totally think it's like, so stupid when all these like, teeny bopper dancers, are like running around the park screaming like total idiots. They're like, totally bogus. They're all like, so stupid. They're always like, "Hey, did you see how good Bobby looks in those jeans? Like, Oh my God, he was like so dreamy."

You forgot to put a few "Dudes" in there too!

 

[Carrieberry]

OMG that was like so funny!

 

[Lawshark]

for our 1st trip as a family...the last time I was there was in 1985 or so...freshman in highschool! Now it will be my wife and I, and our 3 1/2 yr old son and 3 month(!!) old son...can't wait...staying at the WL.

I'm curious to see how crowded it is too...we did this as a spur of the moment trip due to insanely low airfare ($90 roundtrip nonstop airfare from SW!)...we just booked this last Thursday!

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the Disney site showed availability at the WL. On Thursday, it was GONE. Oops. I spent a half hour going over options with a CM on the phone and the Poly, CR, WL were booked up...the best they could do was WL Villas the first 2 nights and then the WL on night 3 and 4.

Thank god for our local AAA...they were able to get us in at WL in a courtyard room...don't know if they have blocks of rooms allocated or what...

So...sounds like it's pretty busy, right?

Except I called to make PS for lunch and dinner this past saturday and had NO problem getting into any of the restaurants I wanted at the time I wanted. Not even a problem doing the Fantasmic dinner package at Mama Melrose. There was a wide variety of choices of times available also.

That certainly makes it seem like it won't be too bad.