Euro Disney - UK Feb Half Term, are we mad?

[dietqueen]

Figgy girl has given some great advice.

We have decided to go Feb half term ie Mon 21st Feb for 4 days.

Is it going to be heaving?

Hi,
The TA forum is currently down with site maintenance, so I am replying here.
The French are on holiday 12th Feb to 28th Feb, so many people will go to Disneyland. I would expect it to be much busier at Easter though because of the warmer weather.
There are no special celebrations in Feb to attract people especially ( like Halloween and Christmas holidays)so I would not expect it to be heaving.
The French do not have a holiday in May though - They are off 9th April to 26th April for Easter, then not again until 2nd July for the summer.
Our May half term week is from Monday 30th to 3rd June, and I cannot see any Public Holidays in France that week either, so that should be fairly quiet.Not as cold as February either.
I have not checked the Spanish school holidays, which is worth doing, as DLP is a popular destination for them.
For Fantillusion parade and fireworks every night, you have to go for Christmas celebrations or in the summer holidays.
The first week in August was not too busy this year, but the second week ( 9th to 13th ) was extremely crowded.

thanks Figgy again!

If at a push we could go early Feb say 2-5th do you think this would be quieter? Im not too bothered about weather as it is to celebrate a Feb birthday.

Definitely less busy if outside school holidays. Wednesday pm may be busier as some schools have weds afternoon off. The parks are usually quietest at the beginning of the week, Monday, then gradually get busier towards the weekend.If you check with Disney, they usually offer free extra nights on some arrival dates in Jan Feb or march.
Looking in the brochure for Feb 2011, these dates are 1st, 5th,6th,7th,8th so arrive on one of these days for 2 days and nights free.
I have now replied to your question on TA as well.
If you are booking a Disney hotel, tell them it is for a bithday, and confirm this with reception when you arrive. They will put balloons and a card in your room.
You can also arrange for a birthday cake to be brought to your table in a restaurant, and they will sing Happy Birthday, but if you want Characters there, it has to be part of a Character meal, like in Cafe Mickey, Auberge De Cendrillon, Inventions ( dinner only ), or maybe Lucky Nugget Saloon.( lunch only).
Take a large ' It's my birthday ' badge to wear in the parks, and CM's will say Happy Birthday when they see it. I don't think you can get birthday badges there, I have never seen any.

Not sure if they are still offering the free nights - you may need to have booked before 30th Sept. They are still offering 40% off until end of November though.
Phone Disney on 08448 003 003 or 08448 008 111 to book or check if any free nights available.

Figgy thank you so it' best to call disney then rather than book on line.

I will do this shortly,

Have been in Feb half term - it wasn't heaving - except on the Saturday (but that is to be expected), but it was bitterly cold.

Yes, the winter months can be freezing cold, and last year it snowed in December which was very pretty, but some outdoor rides had to close.

dietqueen, I always book over the phone, as I find it easier to ask prices for different dates, and different Disney hotels, as they can vary a lot. If they are offering 40% off a Moderate hotel,( like the Sequoia or Newport Bay) it can be cheaper than 30% off a budget hotel ( Cheyenne or Santa Fe).Prices go by arrival dates, so different days and weeks make a difference as well.
The Disney operator can also add on Half Board, and anything extra like Character Meals.
You can book a hotel package with or without transport included, and park tickets will be included for every day, including arrival and departure days.( so arrive early and leave late for maximum benefit.)
You can also book Character Meals and restaurants yourself by phoning Dining Reservations from about 2 months ahead.
+33 (0) 160 30 40 50

Disney now offering 30% off bookings for arrivals 6th April to 7th November 2011. Kids under 7 or 12 Stay and Play Free. Book before 31st January.
Also 15% off arrivals between 3rd and 23rd July, combinable with other offers for same dates.
The 40% offer is still on until 30th November 2010 for arrivals before 5th April 2011.Kids under 12 Stay and Play Free.
Proof of kids ages required at hotel check in.

we went last year Summer half term and it was fine

Yes, I checked the Spanish school holidays, and they don't have any in May either, so I would not expect our May half term week to be very busy.

Avoid weekends if you can, friend working at park tells us that every hotel is full to capacity every weekend of year - consider that at Newport Bay this is 3500 guests in one hotel.

Liz,
With 6 Disney owned hotels and 5 preferred non Disney hotels, I doubt very much that they are all full every weekend of the year. Possibly at peak times, but not during the quieter months.
Your figures for Newport Bay are not quite right - you are forgetting that you can have 4 guests in standard rooms, and 5 in family rooms and suites.
The Sequoia Lodge is smaller than the NBC, and if it was full, could have over 5,000 guests. Counting up the rooms, I make it 5240.