Boy... I can sure pick 'em (dates, that is)

[Mary2e]

As you may have read, we rented an RV to be set up for us in a preferred site. This is so we can get our 16 month dog used to traveling and being left in the RV. I randomly picked dates, but was surprised at how much the site rental was.

Because we're not sure how often and for how long we can leave him, we did not purchase tickets. That means no fastpasses. We are talking about getting a 2 day ticket to use mid-week and go to the MK & EC for a few hours at a time.

Turns out the week I picked is the week Disney considers the main spring break week. The MK is open until 11. I'm thinking the crowds are going to be significant and we will be wasting our $$$ trying to get same day FPs, or even buying the tickets now and getting them, just in case. I was even willing to buy the After Hours tickets so we didn't need FPs - but alas, no park has it offered our week.

I posted in the tickets forum and got some advice about using the refresh method to get same day.

We haven't been down in March in at least 5 years, and it was either at the start of FPs or still under the old system.

Can anyone offer any advice about whether or not I should bother buying tickets now? I hate to spend a small fortune on tickets only to find we can't get on anything without waiting an hour.

 

[team bradfield]

All i can say is March is extremely busy, if it wasn't the only time my DD gets college break (other than June, too hot and wet) we would choose a different time. we tried to switch dining reservations a few days ago and couldn't find a table between 4pm and 8pm every choice was booked.

 

[Mary2e]

We used to go all the time in March. But we had APs at the time and would get paper FPs and return later to use them. We would go several times a year, so if it was crowded we’d just skip rides and do it the next trip.

I guess we’re going to be hanging around FW a lot. . I checked a crowd calendar site and almost every day of our trip is showing RED for very high crowds.

I did manage to make a few dinner reservations last night, but the times weren’t that great. At least I got something.

 

[cruising spud]

Mary,

We are doing something very similar to you this year. My husband and I are going to Disney this April, another busy time, and we are not buying park tickets until we arrive. Also, I am not making any dining reservations. And, like you, we have been to Disney many times so we both understand what this means. We are going to do some rope drop days, and I am planning to use the Disney app and to try and snag some fastpasses. There are only two of us going, so I am hoping we have some luck. I am also keeping the mindset that if we don't get a chance to do some of our favorites rides...oh well. Let me know how your trip goes. Maybe you can give me some pointers before April. Best wishes.

 

[Teamubr]

I've been down twice for Spring break (the week leading up to Easter) and also in February/March several weeks before Easter. The week right before Easter (this year, April 13-21) will be the 2nd worst week of the year (Christmas-New Years the worst). Outside of that week, the rest of March/April is dependent on school holiday calendars. Some weeks are busier than others, but none will be close to the week right before Easter. After surviving the week immediately before Easter twice, I said never again.

As for getting tickets, going to parks during the super busy times taught us how to enjoy the parks in a different way. We would pick 2 or 3 things we really wanted to do. Rope drop and/or get fastpasses for those 2 things and then spend the rest of the time in the parks doing all the things we passed up or over looked on other trips. Totally different experience and since you weren't competing with the crowds for every ride, we had just as good of a time.

I don't think I could go to the Fort and not hit the parks, even during busy weeks. But I live 1000 miles away.

j

 

[Cosmic]

If you want to hit the parks "for a few hours at a time", go first thing in the morning and/or last thing at night. It also helps to pick out some things ahead of time that you enjoy and will be unlikely to have long lines. You could also get lucky with some decent FPs... you never know!

 

[rideswithchrist]

If you want to hit the parks "for a few hours at a time", go first thing in the morning and/or last thing at night. It also helps to pick out some things ahead of time that you enjoy and will be unlikely to have long lines. You could also get lucky with some decent FPs... you never know!

This is our hopeful strategy-RD with a long mid-day break/nap, then close the parks. We did get some FPs, but none for headliners, I just don't know if our 2 year old can hang, so that will be modified as needed.

 

[jaredjohn4]

You go when you can despite the crowds. DD spring break is first week of March, DS girl friend has the second week, DS has third week, and DW the fourth week. With a two year old and a dog, I would do rope drop and then a go back to the Fort for some rest and dog time. Late afternoon/early evening do a table service somewhere. Explore the Fort and have some relaxing fun.