2012-2013 Spring Break

[Magnod]

Hey all,

We are relatively new owners of DVC points and used our points to visit DL for the first time a few weeks ago. It was my 4 year old son's first time, and my wife and I haven't been there in decades. We had an awesome time. The weather was nice, the crowds were smaller than we expected (although it picked up on our last couple of days), and my son had a blast.

We are so excited about going back (we live in Hawaii) and my son wants to see Carsland so we decided to use our points for another 3-4 days next spring break.

Our plan is to fly in and go to San Diego for a few days to see the Zoo, Sea World, Lego Land, etc. Then drive back up to DL to spend another 3-4 days.

We were wondering if anyone knew when the peak crowds would be coming in for Spring Break next year. This year, we went during the second week in March and just missed the Spring Break crowd. Is Spring Break generally the last week of March? Any one have suggestions for this type of trip?

Thanks

 

[skiingfast]

Spring Break roughly follows when Easter falls but more so when school ends.

I would go again at the same time or the 3rd week. The 4th week and first couple weeks of April will be the worst.

 

[Minnie Loves Mickey]

Our Spring Break is always the 2nd week in April, regardless of when Easter falls.

 

[Magnod]

Spring Break roughly follows when Easter falls but more so when school ends.

I would go again at the same time or the 3rd week. The 4th week and first couple weeks of April will be the worst.

Is the majority of Spring Break crowd from the Anaheim area? I found the Orange County school calendar and I believe that their 2012-13 break starts in April.

Does California share spring breaks (for example, the entire Hawaii public school system has their break at the same time)?

Thanks

 

[CamoMama]

Not at all. In fact the school districts often have vastly different school calendars altogether. My kids are out this week for spring break and the last day of school for them this year is May 31st. Not only is northern California practically a different country, but even districts right next to each other can be very different.

 

[skiingfast]

even districts right next to each other can be very different.

True, usually a district determines its schools' schedules. While it doesn't make much difference even within districts can be schools on non traditional schedule that have a different break period but those school are a small minority.

 

[Magnod]

True, usually a district determines its schools' schedules. While it doesn't make much difference even within districts can be schools on non traditional schedule that have a different break period but those school are a small minority.

Thanks
So from what I am hearing, it sounds like most Spring Breaks for nearby schools are from the last week of March to early April. I guess we will be shooting for mid-early March.

 

[mrs.ariel]

We were just there....Saturday and Sunday (march 31-apr 1) were not really too busy (AP were blocked) BUT monday and tuesday were PACKED!!
Just an FYI

 

[Magnod]

We were just there....Saturday and Sunday (march 31-apr 1) were not really too busy (AP were blocked) BUT monday and tuesday were PACKED!!
Just an FYI

Thanks.
Right now we are looking at March 21-26.

Does anyone have suggestions on when we should go to San Diego and when to go to DL?

For example, I know DL will be crowded on the weekends, so I'd rather go weekday during MM periods. So that would mean visiting San Diego (Lego land, Sea World, San Diego zoo) over the weekend period. Are those places better to visit during the weekdays?

 

[skiingfast]

Does anyone have suggestions on when we should go to San Diego and when to go to DL?

For example, I know DL will be crowded on the weekends, so I'd rather go weekday during MM periods. So that would mean visiting San Diego (Lego land, Sea World, San Diego zoo) over the weekend period. Are those places better to visit during the weekdays?

It's 6 one way, half a dozen the other. Everywhere gets busier on the weekends because of the giants supply of locals who get weekends off.

Depending on how you travel, if you are starting in LA you could do DL a day and then down to SD, and finish you DL days. If starting in SD, SD first DL second. As long as you finish at DL.

I will point out the SW and the Zoo are better on weekends. Not because there is less crowds then. At the Zoo you do a lot of walk through attractions, rather than waiting to ride. So at least you keep moving. At SW, there are a few walk through things, and lots of shows. So at SW you wait a while for shows to cycle anyway. It's noon, show starts at 1pm, you wait an hour wether 5 or 500 people are waiting with you.

 

[llump41]

Spring break at the DLR is roughly a 6 week event. 4 weeks before and 2 weeks after Easter with the worse crowds the week before and after. The closer you are to Easter the bigger the crowds level will be.

As for the SD area, I can tell you that this last week, the parking lot at the zoo was full by 10.

 

[Magnod]

Thanks.

My wife and I are both teachers with our Spring Breaks at different times (hers the second to the last week and mine the last week in March.)

So right now from the info you shared, it seems like we will be shooting for weekdays at DL and weekends at SW/Zoo. Not sure which one will come first, I guess it will depend on the airfares for Honolulu to SD or Orange County/LAX.