Presidents Week

[Red Randal]

How bad are the crowds on Presidents Day?

I'll be in central Florida for business Tuesday the 16th and there's no way I'm getting that close without entering my favorite place on Earth. I can go to Disney either Presidents Day, the 15th, or Wednesday the 17th. I'd have a bit more time in the parks if I went Monday but if the crowds are historically really bad I'll go on Wednesday.

I really only plan on seeing Toy Story Mania, the new Spaceship Earth, and anything else I can get into without waiting in much of a line. Maybe I'll go for lunch somewhere new.

Are the crowds bad enough on Presidents Day to make it worth me waiting until Wednesday but maybe getting 3-4 less hours to do stuff?

[faline]

The crowds are high that entire week as it's a school vacation week in many parts of the country. Additionall, the Daytona 500 runs on Sunday of that weekend so a number of folks combine that with a Disney trip. I'm not sure you'd find crowds appreciably lower on Wednesday than you will on Monday.

[Iluvpooh]

I've been that week before-Epcot & MGM will be crowded, but not nearly as crowded as MK. I would just go on Monday, but stay far away from Fantasyland (and the rest of MK).

[Red Randal]

Thanks. I was just wondering if anyone has personal experience with it or if it is like a New Years Day thing where the days leading up to and including the holiday are nuts but then everyone immediately goes home.

[princessesmom]

I have been that week twice before and will be there next month. The entire week is pretty crowded due to many schools in the Northeast having their winter break that week. That is the reason we go that week. I still find it to be manageable, just get to the park early and use fast passes. I agree that MK is the best park to avoid on the actual holiday.

[1EeyoreFan]

Is the school break prior to the holiday or the week of President's Day?

Thanks!

[nickv1025]

Most schools that have break in February have it the week of President's Day.

We went in 2006. It's busy, but not that bad. Splash Mountain had a 20 minute wait first thing in the morning. In the evening, Test Track was 60 minutes and Soarin' was up to 2 hours.

If you want to fastpass anything, do it in the morning (the early morning) or there will be none left when you get there!

I would say the day doesn't really matter. If people are there, they are there for the week.

Head over to MGM first in the morning and grab fastpass to Toy Story right away (if there is already a wait). SSE should be fine.

Have fun!

[wwebber]

I work in a travel agency in New York and we have done a ton of bookings for that week, with all the good promotions Disney has had as of late. With locals being off from work on President's Day, the Daytona 500 being the day prior, and with that Monday being the first day of a lot of people's vacations there, I would tend to lean towards Wednesday to go. Wednesdays usually have lower crowds during an off peak time too, and I would think at least some of the people would be gone by then!

[I_am_ts]

I have been that week a few times and just last February 2008.

The parks are manageable - in my experience, Thanksgiving was more crowded. It seems the most crowded over the weekend and then as the week goes on they start to thin.

I agree with the OPs that MK will be the most crowded ON Monday the 16th - park hours are also long from 9 am to 11pm.

A FP is highly recommended for TSM!

I think you will be fine either day but Wednesday may be a little less crowded than Monday.

Have a magical day!

[thumperbug]

I will be there that week!!!! Yay, We went the same break/week last year expecting the worse case scenario in crowds but didn't think it was any worse then any other time we had been there. If you know where you are going, what you want to do and how FP works, you will be fine.

10 more days!!!!!

[I_am_ts]

Please be sure to double check park hours when you arrive - it appears that Disney might be playing with President's Week hours again.

[Red Randal]

Thanks for all the advice, everyone. Sadly it turns out I don't have enough time to hit up the parks regardless. It was worth a shot though.

Hopefully this helped out some people in a similar situation.