Am I crazy? Spring Break 2018

[biochemgirl]

My 40th birthday is March 30, the Friday before Easter, 2018. If I could turn 40 anywhere, I'd want it to be DL or MK. Since I'm a west coaster, DL is the best option for time and finances. I can fly on points with JetBlue and that makes all the difference.

TouringPlans has that week as 9/10. That is probably wall to wall people, right? I'm imagining what it was like to walk around the park for nighttime parade/fireworks on a marathon weekend (my only previous experience with packed crowds). How bad is a 10 day? Can you still enjoy the park when it is that full?

I could always go in the summer and call it a birthday celebration, right?

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I went several times during spring break this year. It was really crowded. I still enjoyed myself. That said, there were times I said to myself "Note to self: avoid spring break next year!" I think park hoppers are key so if one park is getting crowded you can try the other. I think if you go into expecting crowds you will still have a good time. By the way, I'm turning 40 in a few weeks. Wish I could go to DL to celebrate but my AP is blocked

 

[Davin_Felth]

I did my 39th birthday at DL, I wish I could have done my 40th there as well.

We did Spring Break 2016 at DL (our spring break was a full week after Easter) and it was crowded, but it was still enjoyable. It was no where near as bad as when I've been there for July 4th or New Years. It helped that we stayed at the PPH and got in an hour early each day though.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

With both of the lower level So Cal passes blocked that week and even the Deluxe pass blocked on 3/30 and 3/31, I think you will have a great time! Not to say that the crowds will be non-existent, but they should be pretty manageable.

 

[figment_jii]

DLR does appear to be expecting the peak Spring Break crowds to visit the week before and after Easter, but it's hard to say what the crowd patterns will be like next year. A number of Dis'ers commented that the parks actually seemed less busy during the two-week period when the APs were blocked out and the special ticket deal tickets couldn't be used. I was there the weekend after Easter this year (which also happened to be Dapper Day) and it was markedly less crowded than I had expected; it was still busy, not no where as busy as I had thought it would be. Although, to be fair, Easter was really late this year, so that probably impacts tourist crowds. I'd been the weekend before Easter several years ago and it was markedly more crowded, so I do think Spring Break season crowds are impacted by the timing of Easter and how it interacts with Spring school breaks.

I think it's still possible to have a good time even when it's crowded, you just have to go with the right expectations. As long as you're prepared for crowds and long lines, I think it's still fun. Summer probably will be just as busy, unless you're going pretty early on (before the peak crowds arrive).

 

[Winnowill]

We were there the week after Easter this year, and it wasn't terrible... however, I honestly don't know what "terrible" feels like, because we always go during times of high crowds and always have a great time, ride everything, and rarely wait longer than 20 minutes for anything. There are probably people who were there that week who think it was insanely crowded.

 

[michelle1177]

We were there in the beginning of April for our Spring Break this year and it was really crowded. Disney is my happy place but the crowds were testing me a bit. We usually go in August and Spring Break felt a lot more crowded. I came home saying that Disney will never see the whites of my eyes during Spring Break again! Honestly though, Disneyland is amazing and if you go into it knowing that it will be busy, it should be fine. You'll be celebrating in the Happiest Place on Earth!

 

[disneydadazut2]

Everyone has their own opinion. I don't think there is such as thing as a horrible Disney trip, because you set your own experience and attitude. That said, I won't go back during Spring Break. Haven't tried it since April 2012.

 

[Whistlebee]

I was there Easter Day this year and the following 2 days. Easter Day felt very empty to me with Monday and Tuesday being busy but extremely manageable. We went at the end of February this year mid-week and that was way more crowded. Again, Easter was very late this year and I'm sure that played a part in the lower crowds. I think crowd patterns are getting very hard to predict.

 

[Aurora_Australis]

I was there Easter Day this year and the following 2 days. Easter Day felt very empty to me with Monday and Tuesday being busy but extremely manageable. We went at the end of February this year mid-week and that was way more crowded. Again, Easter was very late this year and I'm sure that played a part in the lower crowds. I think crowd patterns are getting very hard to predict.

We were there on the exact same days this year and had exactly the same impression. We got through so much of our to do list for DL on Easter Sunday that we actively left thi gs out so we'd have something to do on the Tuesday.

Last time we went was during the days before and weekend of a dapper day in Sept 2015 and it was way more busy.

 

[YukonMommy]

We were there over spring break 2017 and pulling FP and expecting crowds to be heavy made all the difference. We have always gone at low seasons before (except the one time just after the new year to see all the Xmas stuff) Yes it was crowded, yes the lines were long, but its Disney,,,,,, I loved it, my kids loved it, even my hubby said he would go back (and he is anti social and hates crowds!).....so we are Spring Break 2018! its all about attitude and expectation! Happy early 40th!

 

[jerseyjersey]

We were at DL for spring break last year, and it was definitely very crowded, but we tried to keep our expectations realistic and we had fun. We arrived before rope drop each day, tried to get our favorites in first thing, and did our best to make the best use of FP.

I think the days we were there were 9/10-it definitely felt crowded, and some areas/places were more solidly packed than others, but it was possible to find less packed areas at both parks when we needed a breather.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

Keep in mind that "Spring Break" in 2017 encompassed about 5-6 weeks this past year because different school districts have breaks at different times. I was technically at Disneyland for a few days of the larger spring break (3/30-4/1) with my daughter's middle school band. We weren't thinking of it as spring break because our district's break wasn't for another couple of weeks. And it was busy at that time, but not Thanksgiving or Christmas busy at all. Not even close. From everything I read during April, the days leading up to Easter were very light.

 

[l4dyj8]

I have never been on Good Friday/Easter weekend. But have been during spring break season. Like mentioned above, Schools take their spring break on different weeks and not necessarily related to Easter. A lot is going on. Add that other schools also have cheer competition crowds in the spring.

We went the Friday 2 weeks before Easter this year and it was surprisingly light. But 2 weeks before that, heavy in crowds... not dependent on the Easter holiday.

If you aren't limited to when you can go and take off, I just wouldn't do spring break.

 

[biochemgirl]

I'm leaning towards booking. Being able to get good flights for low points will be the deciding factor for me. My fingers are crossed for tomorrow when JB extends it's calendar! Even with the crowds, I think it'll still be magical to be at my happy place for the big 40.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

I'm leaning towards booking. Being able to get good flights for low points will be the deciding factor for me. My fingers are crossed for tomorrow when JB extends it's calendar! Even with the crowds, I think it'll still be magical to be at my happy place for the big 40.

I spent my 40th at DLR and it is magical!!!