You can help us decide....

[Ibelieveinfairies]

Okay, I finally talked my DH into considering WDW for our February break (President's Week). My 2 DDs and I would go anytime to the Happiest Place on Earth, but we have to convince him every time...you know the type...thinks that our family will have just as much fun on some island somewhere. Anywho, he is concerned about crowd levels that week. I know that much of the Northeast has a break that week.
We went the last week in April this year and were disappointed in the the crowds (we have always toured in October, early December, January and once in May and are mostly spoiled). Now that I am a full-fledged teacher, we are tied to the school breaks...
If any of you have gone that week, could you give us an idea about crowd level? TIA for any advice!

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

It will be very crowded on the holiday weekend through Tuesday. It starts thinning out on Wednesday.

We were there that whole week in 2004 and I would say the parks were the more crowded than any other time we've been there. But I will add we've never been at Easter, July 4, Thanksgiving, or Christmas week

Bob

 

[klofan]

You just have to convince him. I had to convince my dad because he wanted to go to some island. The only thing you can do is eat and swim. And none of us really like to swim that much anyway. get your kids in it! make them have sad faces, lol.

 

[addicted2disney]

I am pretty sure that presidents weekend jumps to peak crowds where just the week before its considered low crowds and value season. Yep.. just checked Birnbaums book.. and Prez weekend is listed as most crowded along with Christmas/New Years, end of march thru end of April, and June thru Labor Day. Can you pick a different break to go? Thanksgiving is crowded, but with all of the special Christmasy things to do and see, it never seems that bad to us! Our school gets a 6 day break for Thanksgiving. If DH is worried about crowds, Prez weekend might not be the best time for him to go. MY dh wont go over Thanksgiving with us. He'd rather hunt, so I just take the kids and go.

 

[jlcbshaw]

Not from a true experience, but my understanding is that is a very, very busy week.

We were at WDW for Valentines in 2002, not sure if Presidents week was the same time, but it wasn't too bad, so I am thinking we may have missed the major part of it. Pretty sure that we hit the first few days of it though, at the end of our vacation it did become more and more crowded. We usually arrive on a Saturday and leave the following Saturday.

 

[Lorelai]

If it's one of your only options, school break wise, just plan really well. Get your reservations for dining right at the 90 day window, utilize early entries, fastpass, etc. The early bird theory really pays off while in Disney! Get in right away, go right to the kids favorites. Eat meals at off times - luch at 11, dinner at 4. You'll do fine.

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

Thanks, everyone...that's what I was afraid of...crowds. However, I think we'll be able to talk him into it. This will be our 6th trip as a family (8th for me, 7th for him), so we have come to the point where we are relaxing at the resorts more, finding "off the beaten path" things to do (water mice, surrey bikes, shopping). I have talked to the girls and we thought since he wants to go to an island, maybe we can compromise and stay at the Poly! We haven't stayed there before and are determined to try every resort at least once! lol