President's week crowds

[Jeff456]

Am going to disney world next year and most of my time falls in presidents week, i have always gone to disney world in October around halloween so it has been fairly quiet then. Living in UK i did not know presidents week fell then and it would be busy. What are the crowds/ queues like? Thanks

 

[Monty]

OOoooo... I hope it isn't while I'm there...

I don't actually know when President's Week is either, but as I understand it that's the only time in January/February that the parks are busy... I don't think it's July-busy, but more crowded than other weeks in February.

I think the crowds are still manageable. Use FastPass and plan around EMH to help mitigate the crowds and you should be OK. Actually, you're in Disney World, of course you'll be OK! :sohappy:

So, when is president's Week, anyway? :lookaroun We're there 2-10 Feb.

 

[Jeff456]

Your lucky i think. I go on the 13th and it starts getting busy from the saturday the 16th i think then just busy after that, am planning to be at parks for opening perhaps taking a break in the day then going back late in evenings and EMH for smaller crowds.

 

[Cole'sPooh]

Presidents Day is officially Feb 18th so I imagine around the 16th they will start to get busier. For business reasons, we had to switch from April to February and will be there 2/4 through 2/10 so hopefully it won't be too crowded!

 

[Jeff456]

I am hoping i should be ok i mean i have 9 full days a morning and an evening to do it all, i have done everything before but obviously the more i can get done the better, i am hoping to go to universal if i get time also anyone know how busy they are at this time?

 

[kawaba]

Am going to disney world next year and most of my time falls in presidents week, i have always gone to disney world in October around halloween so it has been fairly quiet then. Living in UK i did not know presidents week fell then and it would be busy. What are the crowds/ queues like? Thanks

I was at the world earlier this year and our trip ended on presidents weekend. In my opinion it was very busy. Our trip was great until the Friday before presidents day. As an example for dinner on Friday night we tried to eat at Cosmic Rays and you could not get in the door. All the seating was full and people were sitting on every wall, planter or step outside that was not being used. We ended up leaving the park and eating at the Contemporary on the way back to the poly. Saturday was even worse! We only rode on the rides that we could get fast passes for and ended up leaving MK and going over to EPCOT which seamed a little better. I was glad that Saturday was our last day and we had not booked Sunday and Monday. The first six days we were there it was great with very light crowds and we went to the pirate and princess party twice which had even lighter crowds, you could just walk on any ride. We have booked another 8 day trip the same time next year but this time we are flying out on Friday, so I am hoping that I won't be glad this time that Thursday is our last day.

 

[Capt. Salty]

This is one of the times of the year we're stuck at going. My wife's a teacher, so...
Yes, the crowds are larger, but it is managable. Because we go at this time of year consistantly, we've learned how to be able to enjoy everything we want, and not feel like we've missed something. We have a 12 y/o and 8 y/o. They travel and move around the parks well, which really helps. Sometimes you just cannot avoid waiting in a line, it happens, but some of the qeues are just as entertaining and part of the show (EE). Just take your time, dont rush or you'll feel like the trip went by way too fast, and you'll be exhausted.
Have a great time, maybe we'll run across each other...
:wave:

 

[tonganprince]

This is one of the times of the year we're stuck at going. My wife's a teacher, so...
Yes, the crowds are larger, but it is managable. Because we go at this time of year consistantly, we've learned how to be able to enjoy everything we want, and not feel like we've missed something. We have a 12 y/o and 8 y/o. They travel and move around the parks well, which really helps. Sometimes you just cannot avoid waiting in a line, it happens, but some of the qeues are just as entertaining and part of the show (EE). Just take your time, dont rush or you'll feel like the trip went by way too fast, and you'll be exhausted.
Have a great time, maybe we'll run across each other...
:wave:

My wife is a teacher as well, and we have been arguing about Presidents week. (We usually go in October, but can't this year)

Is it worth the extra money? I mean 2 weeks prior is like $2000 less for airfare. Just sick

 

[Karolena]

Maybe I'm just used to the crowds because we always had to go when I had a school vacation, but I don't think it's awful. The worst day is definately President's Day, because the Florida kids don't have to go to school, so alot end up going to the parks. If it's cool, like it was last year, it'll probably be less crowded as well. Just plan ahead, but we walk onto rides all the time when we go.

Have fun, even though your trip is next February. :wave:

 

[kstella]

Effective use of FastPass and EMH (both am & pm) and a relaxed attitude and you should be fine.

 

[Jeff456]

I was at the world earlier this year and our trip ended on presidents weekend. In my opinion it was very busy. Our trip was great until the Friday before presidents day. As an example for dinner on Friday night we tried to eat at Cosmic Rays and you could not get in the door. All the seating was full and people were sitting on every wall, planter or step outside that was not being used. We ended up leaving the park and eating at the Contemporary on the way back to the poly. Saturday was even worse! We only rode on the rides that we could get fast passes for and ended up leaving MK and going over to EPCOT which seamed a little better. I was glad that Saturday was our last day and we had not booked Sunday and Monday. The first six days we were there it was great with very light crowds and we went to the pirate and princess party twice which had even lighter crowds, you could just walk on any ride. We have booked another 8 day trip the same time next year but this time we are flying out on Friday, so I am hoping that I won't be glad this time that Thursday is our last day.

Wow that doesn't sound great! I am hoping it wont be too bad though in the UK you kinda get used to stupid queue times which are always over an hour and often 1 and a half hours for big rides, its just something that when i normally go to disney in october i dont expect and i love only having to wait 30 mins for a ride.

 

[Nemo14]

Presidents day is pretty busy, as is the weekend before. That's the weekend of the Daytona race, so that in itself brings in a lot of people. As the week goes on though, the crowds thin out. It's a great time of year to be there!

 

[Jeff456]

Presidents day is pretty busy, as is the weekend before. That's the weekend of the Daytona race, so that in itself brings in a lot of people. As the week goes on though, the crowds thin out. It's a great time of year to be there!

Thas good to know, so your saying the crowds will die down anyway towards the end of the week following presidents day?

 

[Nemo14]

Thas good to know, so your saying the crowds will die down anyway towards the end of the week following presidents day?

The crowds die down, but it still is busy - nothing like it gets in the summer or during Easter break though. You'll have a good time!!!

 

[Jeff456]

The crowds die down, but it still is busy - nothing like it gets in the summer or during Easter break though. You'll have a good time!!!

Sorry that i keep asking questions any idea of queue times on the monday to friday after presidents day around the middle of the day i guess what am i looking at 45 mins an hour?

 

[Nemo14]

possibly, sometimes they're not so bad. Just use FP's and you'll be fine.

 

[KingStefan]

As of the beginning of August (which was the last time I downloaded data) touringplans.com, the official web site of the Unofficial Guide to WDW, rated expected crowd levels as follows: (I don't have my Unofficial Guide with me right now, so I can't get into the web site to check for an update)

Sat, 09 Feb '08 6
Sun, 10 Feb '08 6
Mon, 11 Feb '08 5
Tue, 12 Feb '08 5
Wed, 13 Feb '08 7
Thu, 14 Feb '08 7
Fri, 15 Feb '08 5
Sat, 16 Feb '08 7
Sun, 17 Feb '08 8
Mon, 18 Feb '08 9
Tue, 19 Feb '08 9
Wed, 20 Feb '08 9
Thu, 21 Feb '08 8
Fri, 22 Feb '08 9
Sat, 23 Feb '08 8

5 = Peak waits of 45 - 54 minutes
6 = Peak waits of 55 - 64 minutes
7 = Peak waits of 65 - 74 minutes
8 = Peak waits of 75 - 84 minutes
9 = Peak waits of 85 - 94 minutes

Peak waits means for E-ticket rides, measured by the big three mountains at MK. It is also a good indication of crowd levels in general.

It is my personal opinion that 5 days are great (the park feels a bit empty early and late), 6 days are not so bad, still very enjoyable, 7 days are still quite tolerable, and 8 days start to get a bit uncomfortable, but hey it's still Disney. I don't think I've ever been on a 9 day, but I imagine that it's pretty crowded.

So President's Day week is one of the most crowded times of the year. It is exceeded only by July, Easter week, and the week after Christmas (in that order, getting worse left to right).

Having said that, if you have a plan, and you go to the parks early and late to do the attractions, use FP wisely, take a break in the middle of the day when it is most crowded, eat during off-hours, and stay calm (and flexible), I think that 8 and even 9 days can be very enjoyable. On 9 days especially, early means before rope drop or EMH starts.

I highly recommend touringplans.com and the Unofficial Guide to WDW. You have to own the Unofficial Guide to take full advantage of the touringplans site. In addiiton to the crowd levels, the site will also tell you what parks are the best park to visit on any given day, and which parks to avoid. I have found that it is pretty accurate (I have learned that both by following it and by ignoring it!) and wouldn't plan a WDW trip without it now.

 

[Jeff456]

Has anybody actually been to disney during presidents week did you have a good time?