Is Jan/Feb a decent time to go / Good deals?

[abe_bb]

Hello All, long time no post!

Well we had to skip our annual trip the last two years due to pregnancy and baby! (so well worth the skipping hehe)

So now we have an infant (currently 3 months) and an 8 year old. We are looking at the timing of everything, and when we would be able to go vs when would be best for the family...

And we would like to slip in 2 trips before our little one turns 2 years old. So we were thinking of going in January or Febuary instead of the normal september. The question is, does Jan/Feb have any decent deals usually?

Also, we have never been there during that time... is it usually a pretty decent time to go crowd-wise? Mind you, we don't care about cooler weather. We're from wisconsin, so even 40 degree weather there would be about 30 degrees warmer then what we would have here So we are mainly concerned about crowd levels, and anything "unexpected" that we should be aware of.

Thank you much!

 

[rwdavis2]

We always go in January. Mainly due to relatively smaller crowds (except for Martin Luther King weekend which we hit this year) and the kids have some days off around high school mid-terms. But even during MLK weekend it was not too bad since we got to the parks at opening. No waits longer than 120 minutes. By mid afternoon the MK(Friday) and DHS(Sunday) were very crowded. We tried to park hop to AK but we could not do anything we wanted there as fast passes were gone and waits reached an hour. So avoid MLK weekend.

The weather can range from 30s/40s at night to 80 during the day. So be prepared. We prefer the cooler weather and would never consider going in the summer.

I've never seen any deals other than it's Value Season and resort rooms are cheaper. One of the water parks is usually down for maintenance then as well (we don't go to them anyway).
Bob

 

[DisneyJoe]

And we would like to slip in 2 trips before our little one turns 2 years old.

You don't need to pay for them until they turn 3....

The last few years the promotion has been that you get the Park Hopper and Water Parks Fun and More options for free when you purchase a base ticket.

 

[Glasgow]

We've been twice in Feb and loved it. Cool weather + lighter crowds + value season = GOOD TIMES

 

[abe_bb]

You don't need to pay for them until they turn 3....

You do have to buy an extra airline ticket once they turn 2 That alone is a difference of around $300 bucks.

Thank you all for the info! Looking closely at the quick service plan this time (really, we only "need" 2 sit downs - the Rose and Crown and the Princess Breakfast in Epcot).

 

[abe_bb]

Okay, one more question:

Since if we book we are getting the "rack" rate for january 2009, would the AAA discount apply to the rate?

 

[DisneyJoe]

Since if we book we are getting the "rack" rate for january 2009, would the AAA discount apply to the rate?

Ask when you call and book, assuming room availability for that discount, of course.

If booking room only, call Disney direct.

if booking a package and you want the AAA discount, you need to call AAA - but double-check the math.

We've always bought an airline seat, even if under 2, we feel its safer, but to each his own.

 

[Figment25]

My DW and I have went down there Jan & Feb alot and the crowds are light and the weather is great. But this year were going the end of Feb due too the fact the Super Bowl is in Tampa the 1st week of Feb this year so we would like to stay away the week before and the week after. Iam pretty sure the crowds would be larger than normal at that time of year.

 

[abe_bb]

THANK YOU for pointing that out!
I had forgotten the super bowl was down there this year

 

[hokielutz]

Our trip is occuring the week prior to the MLK weekend, but ends on the Sunday of MLK. So we will have to deal with the Friday and Saturday crowds that are there for certain.

 

[bayoutinkbelle]

I like going during that time, too. The weather is nice and the crowds aren't too bad. However, I was there this past February for a long weekend (early Feb.) and the parks were quite packed. Many of my fellow Bayou State residents were there because it was during the Mardi Gras holidays for schools. The clerk even mentioned how many Louisiana residents had been checking in when we arrived at Pop. So beware.

I've got another trip scheduled for Feb. 6-9, so we're OK this year. Mardi Gras is late February.