lia_b

Considering booking a short trip to Disneyworld (4 days) in Florida President's week. Is it a really bad week? Two years ago we were in Disneyland in California and we were surprised there were no crowds and literally walked onto many rides without waiting. We were told that schools were not off that week in California. So, how is it in Florida that week? We have been there in the summer many times and always crowded. We wanted to try it in the winter hoping for
less crowds and less heat but tied to school breaks due to the kids.

Thank you for your input.

escargot

you might want to read this link:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34920184

We have not been in February for over ten years, but were stuck in that week b/c of school vacation and it was always crowded, but doable. I don't know if schools are out in Fla that week, but they are all around Massachusetts and New England and many families head there with kids.

If you haven;t checked all the Disney links like disboards and mousesavers, etc, ec, if you do a search here there are lots of threads on Disney.

I am taking my 20 somethings there in January and here is a link to that thread and lots of good info people gave me as links.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34889482

DebitNM

Specifically, read this:

http://www.allenontravel.blogspot.com/

You will regret going that week! The best week we ever went was around January 7th, everyone was long gone, though it was quite chilly and grey. But no lines.

Hope this helps...
Debi

GoTravel

President's Week is one of the biggest weeks of the year at Disney.

lia_b

Thank you for your replies. I also looked at mousavers at your suggestion and it is looking very dismal. I was hoping we would have the same luck as in California. I probably already know the answer but how about the week before Easter? Wednesday through Saturday before?

I was there in 2005 the first week of January for one day and it was empty, but unfortunately, I have to stick to the school calendar. It is just so hard to find a place to getaway during the school breaks when you have kids without paying tons of money and being there with millions of people : (.

If this does not work out, I will look at a ski vacation but that's also crowde. So any ideas you can throw my way will be appreciated. We are on the East Coast with two kids pre-teen and teen.

GoTravel

lia, the school calendar is a map for the busiest times of the year for Disney.

The weeks before and after Easter are always packed.

Any Federal Holiday weekends will also be busy.

If you really want to go when it isn't crowded, go early June. Disney doesn't get stoopid busy until about the third week in June.

DebitNM

Here's a clue...when your kids have off, so do the majority of other kids! It pretty much doesn't matter where you go; it's going to be crowded. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

GoT has it right...just before and after holidays, 3 day weekends are going to have lots of others doing the same thing.

I don't know if this is doable, but how about going somewhere OUT of the US? You won't find crowds of locals during President's Week -- maybe some other folks trying to get away that week but not locals since they don't celebrate. Mexico, Cananda??

escargot

Debit, good thoughts...how about a Disney in Europe? maybe that would be doable....if you want the theme park thing -
on the other side, places we went when my kids were ages of yours (they are now early 20's) that they loved during Feb break , aside from skiing - although that included - Conway area, (more to do if less snow), Sunday River, Okemo, Killington - all still crowded on that week, but still fun for the teens.
Otherwise, we had trips to: St. Lucia, St. John, St. Thomas, - but all those areas are also crowded and high priced.

Maybe you want to think about places to do sight seeing instead? Either in US or Europe -

I can relate and only say I was glad when we were not bound by school calendar...although I was one of the awful ones who pulled my kids out a few days earlier or stayed a few days later to take the sting out of the craziness....

angethereader

We took the kids out of school also.

One of my fondest memories was going to Florida over Easter with the family. We were gone for three weeks. The nuns had a fit, but dad was the boss, so Florida it was. He thought travel was more important. Wasn't I a lucky kid?

lia_b

The reason I asked the question is because not every state or school district in the US, has President's week off from school. Hence my comment regarding my past trip to California Disneyland two years ago. It was empty during President's week. Last year, we went to Lake Placid to ski during President's week, it was also not crowded. Therefore, I am hoping to find another place where the same situation is true. Obviously from everyones comments Disney in Florida is not the place. I already have a summer vacation booked and have been to Disney before in the summer and do not care to do it again. In 2005, I did pull the kids out of school to take the Disney cruise and that was lots of fun. However, this year, there are too many state exams in the grades they are in : (,so cannot do it. I agree sometimes travel is more educational, but Disney can wait. I will keep looking. Thank you everyone for the suggestions. Maybe I will get lucky, the research is half the fun.

Polymerpig

It is true that not all states have that whole week off. So though it may be crowded, you are not competing with the whole country, as you would be in summer. Judging from other holiday weekends I've been there, the holiday weekend is crowded and the crowds diminish as the week after goes on. But look at it this way - standing in line during a crowded week in Feb is going to be more comfortable than a crowded week in April or July!

Bob_KY

The Unofficial guide calendar has that as a very busy week. With the money you will spend, take the kids out of school and go the week before.

bennnie

lia_b - I have gone to WDW twice during that week (as recently as 2005)and would not hesitate to do it again. We were able to avoid crowds by following the advice found in the Unofficial Guide, using Fast Passes and taking breaks during the peak hours. We often walked onto rides. We also made reservations for restaurants in advance so we were able to eat without too many waits.

The biggest problem with going this week (at least from Massachusetts - our home state) is getting a reasonable air fare.