Hi Chelsea, and welcome to planDisney! Early February is one of my favorite times of the year to visit Disney World because of the cooler weather, and my family is always celebrating a few birthdays. So let’s chat about finding the practically perfect week for your vacation!
It’s hard to predict crowds, but I’d be happy to share my experience being at Disney World earlier this year while the cheer and dance competitions were going on. The events bring many students and their families to Disney World, so it can get crowded at times in the theme parks. But I didn’t think it was as busy as Spring Break or the holidays. I also found the weekdays to be less crowded than the weekends (especially Tuesday through Thursday, since some of the students stay an extra day or two after the event is over), so I wouldn’t personally avoid that week. Also, you’ll find that there are lots of high school and college competitions on weekends throughout the year at Disney World, so there’s always a good chance that a special event is happening while you’re there.
Now, on to your trip! Since you’re staying at
Wilderness Lodge, I wanted to highlight a few perks that can help beat the crowds! Definitely take advantage of
Early Theme Park Entry, where Disney Resort hotel guests can get into all four theme parks 30 minutes before regular park opening each day! My family loves to knock out a few rides with lower wait times before heading back to the resort for a pool break (around the time when the parks start to get busier). And Wilderness Lodge is one of my favorite resorts for a midday break because
Geyser Point Bar & Grill is such a relaxing place to eat lunch by the water!
Also, as an extra bonus, you’ll get access to
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours for guests staying at a Deluxe Resort or Deluxe Villa Resort. You can check the
Hours & Events Calendar closer to your trip to see which days and parks have the extra evening hours (in the past, it’s typically been two nights a week).
And finally, if you’re planning to buy
Lightning Lane Passes, Disney Resort hotel guests can make their selections up to seven days before check-in for their entire stay (up to 14 days). This really helps with snagging popular attractions like
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and
Slinky Dog Dash.
I’m wishing you the most magical stay at Wilderness Lodge next year! And if you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to visit us again at planDisney.
JoAnna