Crowd Calendars- Jersey Week

[Alison S]

Our trip is scheduled Nov 3 (Sat) - Nov 8 (Thurs). We would be at the parks Sunday-Wed. I understand that the Thurs and Fri (Nov 9 & 10) of that week are school holidays in New Jersey.

Can anyone explain why the Mon-Wed of that week are showing up as heavy crowd days? I see this in two spots: https://www.dadsguidetowdw.com/november-disney-world-crowds.html and http://www.characterlocator.com/?p=cal_index&tdate=11/04/2018. Undercover tourist rates them as moderate, the same as the next week.

How worried should I be about my dates? Should I switch to the next week? Should I just assume that every week is equally busy? I don't see the logic that ONE state in the US having a couple days off school influences crowd levels that much.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Just FYI in case you don’t have this on your radar, the Food & Wine Half Marahton weekend is 11/1-11/4. The half itself is on 11/4. That’s a pretty big draw and some stay a few days afterwards.

 

[Disneylovingmomof2]

Our trip is scheduled Nov 3 (Sat) - Nov 8 (Thurs). We would be at the parks Sunday-Wed. I understand that the Thurs and Fri (Nov 9 & 10) of that week are school holidays in New Jersey.

Can anyone explain why the Mon-Wed of that week are showing up as heavy crowd days? I see this in two spots: https://www.dadsguidetowdw.com/november-disney-world-crowds.html and http://www.characterlocator.com/?p=cal_index&tdate=11/04/2018. Undercover tourist rates them as moderate, the same as the next week.

How worried should I be about my dates? Should I switch to the next week? Should I just assume that every week is equally busy? I don't see the logic that ONE state in the US having a couple days off school influences crowd levels that much.

I would make a good plan and enjoy. We were there during a “slow” week in Feb and I’m pretty sure TP showed some of our days ending up as 7/8 crowd levels. It was definitely not a low crowd time though that’s for sure!
We still had a great time, though. Make sure you have your FP and ADR all planned out. Skip Epcot on 11/4.

 

[Gentry2004]

FYI many areas have that Mon/Tue off for Election Day/end of the first grading period. We’ll be down then because our schools are closed and we are in VA.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Our schools close for Election Day and then Monday and Wednesday are half days. I’m pulling DD out the whole week plus the Friday before. We arrive 11/2.

We are doing this week because we usually go in August and didn’t want to deal with the oppressive heat. Plus we want to see decorations. I’m sure we will miss the low late August crowds but we will deal with it with a good plan.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Just FYI in case you don’t have this on your radar, the Food & Wine Half Marahton weekend is 11/1-11/4. The half itself is on 11/4. That’s a pretty big draw and some stay a few days afterwards.

How bad do you think Epcot will be on 11/4? I have us hopping there in the afternoon and evening after a morning at DHS. KTP has Epcot as a best day on 11/4.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

How bad do you think Epcot will be on 11/4? I have us hopping there in the afternoon and evening after a morning at DHS.

No personal experience on that particular day, so I hesitate to give advice.

But I can tell you exactly where I’d be the afternoon/evening after running 13.1 miles.... at Epcot hydrating!

 

[Gentry2004]

Usually Epcot is a no-no on Friday/Sat/Sun during food & wine. If you just want future world it might be bearable, but I wouldn’t want to be in World Showcase.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

No personal experience on that particular day, so I hesitate to give advice.

But I can tell you exactly where I’d be the afternoon/evening after running 13.1 miles.... at Epcot drinking!

Very true lol.

Our plan is to do lunch at VN and do FW. I plan on avoiding WS since it’s a weekend. We have other weekdays for WS to enjoy F&W.

 

[jerseyjersey]

That week is sort of the perfect storm, with the Wine and Dine races, end of Food and Wine, Jersey Week, beginning of the Christmas parties, low DVC points, and generally really nice weather. Lots of NJ schools have Tuesday off for Election Day, then Th/Fri off for the teacher convention, so many people take the week since it only involves missing 2 days of school. Lots of NJers head down for Jersey Week--last year, every flight from every local-ish airport (EWR, HPN, JFK, LGA, ACY, PHL, ISP) was nearly if not totally full, months in advance.

Jersey Week overall was quite crowded last year, we found it much more crowded than in years past. Not sure how much of that was rescheduled hurricane trips, but we were there in 2014 and 2016 as well, and 2017 felt a lot more crowded.

 

[hereforthechurros]

We originally looked at that exact week because my son also has Election Day off but we couldn’t get the resort we wanted and our TA mentioned that’s now considered a very busy week so we adjusted. But the thing is all weeks seem busy so if it works best for your schedule - go for it!

Disney logic makes me laugh sometimes - our kid has one day off school, better take him out for the entire week and head to WDW

 

[Alison S]

Ugh I never even considered election day (I am not American). Shouldn't you all be out voting so the park is empty (except for us foreigners)? lol.

Going to try to switch. Thanks all.

 

[G719]

Ugh I never even considered election day (I am not American). Shouldn't you all be out voting so the park is empty (except for us foreigners)? lol.

Going to try to switch. Thanks all.

2016 had election day and veterans day in the same week. Our kids in WV also have the day off as many schools are polling places. So we could get a week off by missing 3 days. This was also jersey week.
That week in 2016 was very busy. The hours were extended with 8 am openings at MK. It was so busy at MK that there was a line for the people mover. Plus that's the last week for food and wine. We still had a great trip. One of our best trips actually.

And I did early voting at our courthouse a few weeks before we left.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Jersey week is our favorite week of the year to go. As a PP mentioned, you get GREAT weather, end of F&W, and the start of the Christmas season. Yes the crowds will be high...but totally doable with a good touring plan. Although I definitely recommend avoiding Epcot on the weekends during F&W!

 

[afan]

2016 had election day and veterans day in the same week. Our kids in WV also have the day off as many schools are polling places. So we could get a week off by missing 3 days. This was also jersey week.
That week in 2016 was very busy. The hours were extended with 8 am openings at MK. It was so busy at MK that there was a line for the people mover. Plus that's the last week for food and wine. We still had a great trip. One of our best trips actually.

And I did early voting at our courthouse a few weeks before we left.

I was there that week too and it was busier than I previous early May trip, but with a good plan and going with the flow we thought it was fine and didn't mind the crowd. I think our longest wait was RnR the day it came back up because everyone was doing the same thing.

I vote before I leave, all of WA state is paper ballots through the mail, we don't have polling places any more. We have a special election next week on the 24th, we got our ballots last week and already dropped them in a ballot box. So much easier.

 

[randumb0]

The week before Thanksgiving should be the slowest week if you have the option of choosing when you want to go

 

[JerseyJanice]

I work in the NJ school system, and I’ve never been for “Jersey Week” partly because airfare from Newark is crazy.

Based on the number of people I know and work with who have gone for Jersey Week, I really doubt that the number of NJ visitors that week has much of an impact in the parks. Disney parks can absorb a lot of volume.

That week sounds very good to me. I like that there are only two Cmas parties that week on Thursday, the 8th and Friday, the 9th. The weather that time of year can be really nice and make sure that you pack sweatshirts.

The MK will be fully decorated for Cmas by the 8th for the first party. Holiday decor will be going up throughout that whole week. F&WF will still be happening. What’s not to like?

 

[disneyworldsk]

we switched from late august a few years back when DD went to college and those dates weren't available anymore for our scheduling her to move in to her dorm. So we took our two DS to wdw in november instead, much better weather. Our nj district changed its schedules back and forth every year , sometimes the full week off that week, sometimes 3.5 days off, mix and match. Avoid epcot 11/4. marathon people leave after monday latest. Food and wine crazy in epcot. It is also the beginning of MVMCP that week which draws in some on the first night for sure. I will miss the halloween party in august because I prefer it but that happens. When booking hotels on property second year in a row I booked too late and very limited availability now. I typically have to do a split stay because of it or just wait and c if things open up a bit maybe. It's April and most standard rooms are long gone. zero in WL for example. I think the hurricane season impacted for october, less for november in my opinion. It's busy yes, lots of no fp availability for fp #4 by the end of the day, etc. ADR's book up very fast. DD is going early thanksgiving week probably, leaving before the holidays that week, we'll c the difference. But the weather is just so nice, sometimes we'll do mini golf just to enjoy the weather and stay out of the crowds.

 

[PSUGuy]

Just FYI in case you don’t have this on your radar, the Food & Wine Half Marahton weekend is 11/1-11/4. The half itself is on 11/4. That’s a pretty big draw and some stay a few days afterwards.

We were there 11/2 - 11/11 last year and my failure to factor in the races played more havoc with our park touring plans than anything else, going forward we're going to avoid these events. Just plan to be in parks other than those involved in the races and you'll be fine. As for 'Jersey Week', I've long felt this is way overblown as a crowd creator, been there several times and IMO Columbus Day and the weekend prior are way worse than JW.

Bill From PA

 

[Alison S]

Rebooked for Nov 10-15! Now we can go to the Christmas party too