Mardi Gras or Princess Half Marathon?

[mika]

I am looking at 2 potential weekends to visit WDW with my daughter and it looks like there will be events going on both times.
Here are the options-
1. Feb 20-24, which is the princess half marathon and Pres Day is the Monday before
2. Feb 28-March 4, which is Mardi Gras.
3. Could also potentially do March 5-9, assuming some Mardi Gras aftermath

Any strong opinions from those who have attended on which will be the least crowded? Also hoping my daughter can get in some pool time, so prob the later dates would be better, but really want to avoid crazy crowds if we can.

thanks!

 

[JIMINYCR]

Since your issue is crowds I’d suggest a later time frame. On our Feb trips we were comfortable in the pool and chilled when we went above water or left the pool . Even in March the water and air temps can still be a bit chilly. Latter March would again be a better option for swimming time.

 

[Tuvalu]

Princess weekend and Presidents Day are extremely crowded and I now avoid it. Madri Gras is less busy.

 

[mika]

Great thanks for your input. The travel agent helping me gave crowd calendar estimates that were at a 7 for Mardi Gras and 5/6 for the Princess Marathon weekend so I wasn't sure on that. Just to clarify- President's Day is Feb 17, so not sure if there would still be big crowds Feb 20-24 from that or not. So sounds like you think the princess marathon would cause larger crowds than Mardi Gras. Have you been at those times before? thanks!

 

[JIMINYCR]

Great thanks for your input. The travel agent helping me gave crowd calendar estimates that were at a 7 for Mardi Gras and 5/6 for the Princess Marathon weekend so I wasn't sure on that. Just to clarify- President's Day is Feb 17, so not sure if there would still be big crowds Feb 20-24 from that or not. So sounds like you think the princess marathon would cause larger crowds than Mardi Gras. Have you been at those times before? thanks!

The crowd calendars are a start to plan but for some time now they have been less accurate than in the past depending on the site they are working off of. They may or may not reflect the true numbers of park goers.

 

[networkpro]

Mardi Gras get aways aren't really a thing except for Louisianans escaping the tourists during the last part leading up to Fat Tuesday. Mardi Gras actually starts on 12th Night which is January the 6th for 2025.