Are there any UK school holidays which aren't horribly crowded?

[Tinkjon]

Other than Christmas, that is. The Brits Guide suggests the Easter hols (can't remember if it said early or late hols) but is it still awful then? I think all half-terms are pretty dreadful but what about summer holidays - just wondering if the crowds might be more spread out due to it being a longer holiday?

We've always gone in term-time but will soon have to start going in school holidays if at all and I'm dreading it We usually have no more than 10 min wait for rides but if everything is 45 mins in the holidays I couldn't bear it!

 

[HFJohnson]

From the reports I've read, the May half term seems to be the best option as only the UK are on holiday at that time. I'm not talking from personal experience though as I'm afraid I take my children out of school for our Disney trips! I don't think two or three days a year is going to have a serious effect on their education, at least while they're still young but I understand that not everyone is prepared to do the same.

 

[MollyandLucy'sMum]

When we went may half term it was quietish ail week except Thursday which happened to be a french bank holiday! But we were just unlucky that ascension day was that week that year it isn't always.

important thing to check is what other European countries have school holidays at the same time. my friend took her kids out of school but it was still packed as it was French school holidays


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[IsobelJackmummy]

We've been a couple iof times in feb half term. It isnt really quiet but I wouldn't say it was packed either, pretty manageable, no huge queues, except the usual crush etc.

It can be pretty cold, it was -8 when we arrived this feb! The parks looked beautiful frozen though, and we were well wrapped up.

The year before in feb we didn't need coats during the day, so pretty unpredictable time of year!

 

[Ware Bears]

When we went may half term it was quietish ail week except Thursday which happened to be a french bank holiday! But we were just unlucky that ascension day was that week that year it isn't always.

important thing to check is what other European countries have school holidays at the same time. my friend took her kids out of school but it was still packed as it was French school holidays


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We went the same May half-term (before the busy Ascension Day) and were amazed how quiet it was - we'd been at October half-term one year and thought that was quiet compared to August/Christmas! ..... but it was busy compared to May!

 

[ThBa]

Sorry for using this thread but we are going the week before and Easter 2013 (25.03 - 31.03.13) and I do not know if there are any holidays the week before Easter.

I think no French holidays but what about the English holidays at that time.

Not that I do not want to meet you all and standing in line with you but I hope that it will not be that crowdy and full.

 

[Bexx]

Sorry for using this thread but we are going the week before and Easter 2013 (25.03 - 31.03.13) and I do not know if there are any holidays the week before Easter.

I think no French holidays but what about the English holidays at that time.

Not that I do not want to meet you all and standing in line with you but I hope that it will not be that crowdy and full.

Because Easter is pretty early next year, the last day of term (here in Cheshire at least) is Thurs 28th. So you should get a couple of days before the English hordes arrive!

 

[Tinkjon]

Well I am very excited about the possibility of May half-term then! I seemed to remember that the hotels were fully booked last year (though I thought it was June) and so assumed it would be a nightmare. May sounds great then - that's exactly the time of year I was hoping to go as well (we have done winter the last few times there and I am ready for some warmth there now!)

I've always taken my kids out of school for Disney as well but DD is coming towards secondary school age and I am panicking that a secondary won't allow her time off as her primary school does.

 

[MollyandLucy'sMum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThBa

Sorry for using this thread but we are going the week before and Easter 2013 (25.03 - 31.03.13) and I do not know if there are any holidays the week before Easter.

I think no French holidays but what about the English holidays at that time.

Not that I do not want to meet you all and standing in line with you but I hope that it will not be that crowdy and full.

Because Easter is pretty early next year, the last day of term (here in Cheshire at least) is Thurs 28th. So you should get a couple of days before the English hordes arrive!

gloucestershire uk is off from 23rd I'm afraid but still might not be too bad as lots of places don't break up til later


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[Hipster Meg]

Down here in Surrey the Easter holidays start on 28th

 

[DLPDreams]

We went June half term this year and while it was OK there were queues especially towards the end of the week (we did end up with VIP FP for 4 days of it so we managed OK ride wise).

The two biggest issues were there simply weren't enough to staff (particularly in the hotels) to deal with the large numbers of people. Many said that it was because Disney see this time of year as low season and have not yet contracted in many of their casual workers to top up numbers. We noticed it with reception staff, room cleaning staff, breakfast staff, restaurants etc.

Secondly, we found a real lack of characters out and about - very few random ones at all. It did kind of take the magic away a little for us I have to say. Whether this was just a random thing, or again, down to lack of staff, I have no idea as I have never been before at this time of year.

And yes, our hotel (DLH) was very, very busy. Busier than I have seen it in August even. But again, I am not sure if it was down to lack of staff making it feel that way.

I recall being told the Eurostar direct was sold out months beforehand and hotel rooms were hard to come by too. I needed an extra night at the DLH and waited months to get one - kept being told it was sold out. I only got one about 2 days before we left.

And I know it wasn't just us who felt this way - most people coming back at the same time had the same comments...

I do think June was probably exceptional and also down to the fact it was a long weekend with the Jubilee - people only needed 3 days holiday for a week off. Normal May half term may not be as bad as others have indicated .

 

[MollyandLucy'sMum]

fortunately/unfortunately Disney seem to have got wise to UK may half term this coming year it is mid priced (not sure what the official disney term is) when we went in 2011 it was the lowest tariff for most of the week.

so that may mean they have more staff on.

I agree there are probably less characters walking about than other times of year. I am greatful for this as then I don't have to get involved in character scrums

may half term has less special things going on compared to some of the school holidays/seasons but my husband hates crowds so its best for us.


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[Tinkjon]

I've just had a look at Eurostar prices and they want £800 for 2 adults and 2 children!!! So annoying - I only learned this trip to get our Europstar separately as soon as the dates are released and it saved us a fortune compared to when we always used to get the train through Disney. I was hoping the May dates wouldn't have been released yet but they are and I can't believe the price.

 

[DLPdaft]

Well I am very excited about the possibility of May half-term then! I seemed to remember that the hotels were fully booked last year (though I thought it was June) and so assumed it would be a nightmare. May sounds great then - that's exactly the time of year I was hoping to go as well (we have done winter the last few times there and I am ready for some warmth there now!)

I've always taken my kids out of school for Disney as well but DD is coming towards secondary school age and I am panicking that a secondary won't allow her time off as her primary school does.

its worth remembering that DLP doesn't employ all its staff all year round, including the hotel staff. So even if some hotels are showing unavailable from October through to end of June, doesn't necessarily mean the parks are going to be mega-busy, it just means they are only filling so many rooms, not all of them.

I'm also now restricted (more or less) to school holidays as my DD is now at secondary school, so we've booked for Feb half term as it was a very good deal .

We were there the week after half term in June this year, but offsite (I've never managed to find a deal in my budget for onsite in May/June, even outside of UK school holidays, its always too expensive at that time of year compared with offsite and with annual passes). It wasn't that busy, but then again I have been there when the parks have been a lot quieter (ie around now, midweek, is very quiet typically).

 

[DLPdaft]

I've just had a look at Eurostar prices and they want £800 for 2 adults and 2 children!!! So annoying - I only learned this trip to get our Europstar separately as soon as the dates are released and it saved us a fortune compared to when we always used to get the train through Disney. I was hoping the May dates wouldn't have been released yet but they are and I can't believe the price.

yes, this year Eurostar released a big block of dates for sale, about 3 months ago now, right up to July 2013. Even when they were first released, all the Uk half term holiday dates were fairly expensive fares by Eurostar, I definitely think they have cottoned on.

 

[Isila]

well, we should be lucky then - our trip is just before the crowds hit DLP. I hope it's going to be quiet. we arrive 19th March and leave 26th March.

 

[tracy021083]

Our first trip to disney is next June 2-6 sun-thurs
This is actually my children's school half term but I've been told its a north west thing and most schools only have the 1 week off and go back 3rd June.
I'm expecting it to be fairly quiet, as we're avoiding the weekend and no other international school hols.
Because of this we got a good deal at the disney sequoia lodge - 4 nights 5 days £640 2 adults 2 children

 

[Tinkjon]

Wow, that's a good price - it was almost £800 for the Cheyenne in May

 

[tracy021083]

Wow, that's a good price - it was almost £800 for the Cheyenne in May

We were just lucky really with it technically being term time for most of the uk. If we'd have gone a day before on the sat it was £300 more!
Flights weren't cheap at £440 return for the 4 of us but didn't mind so much.
We could have stayed at the Cheyenne was about £560 - was very tempted!

 

[daiseyirl]

Sorry for using this thread but we are going the week before and Easter 2013 (25.03 - 31.03.13) and I do not know if there are any holidays the week before Easter.

I think no French holidays but what about the English holidays at that time.

Not that I do not want to meet you all and standing in line with you but I hope that it will not be that crowdy and full.

we arrive on the 24th march as our schools break up on the 22nd, were in ireland.