Crowds: Can this really be true?

[missypie]

1. I've heard that Spring Break crowds are larger than the crowds in early summer. Would mid-March (not near Easter) really be more crowded than right after Memorial Day?

2. I've also heard that weekdays can be just as crowded as weekends. True?

 

[dclwdwlover]

Neither in my experience.

 

[Disneylovers]

We usually go the last week of March, but our last trip was the first week of June. The crowds were about the same, maybe a little less crowded in June, but the heat in March was more tolerable, and there was MUCH less rain to deal with!!!!

 

[Alice28]

We were there Feb 27- March 9 this year. We found the crowds to be extremely light, except for the last day, and even then it was more than manageable. It happened to be Mardi Gras week as well, so I think some of the crowds were from that. I think as long as Easter isn't happening when you are planning, and it isn't the last full week in March (often Spring Break week for college students) you should be good.

 

[Simba0319]

The week before Easter was a nightmare I would never go that time again!! I t was hard to even walk around!

 

[JulesMom]

We have been March 8-16 twice and will never go at that time again. We thought the parks were very crowded.

We had a much better time in early June and even at Christmas-because of the longer park hours.

 

[jmommy]

We went a couple of years ago (3/15-3/24). Lots of Spring Breakers, and Easter was not until the middle of April. It was pretty darned crowded, if you want to know the truth.

 

[missypie]

It's so hard to decide. I guess what has me leaning toward late May/early June is the warmer weather and the chance to really use the pool (if I'm going to pay for YC, I want to be able to use SAB)... but then June has more rain...but then a better chance of a lower rate in June.... the decisions one has to make once one is bound by the school calendar!

 

[treesinger]

I went the third week of March and the first week of June this year and the crowds were about equal. But the HEAT is much heavier in June of course.
Be careful going to WDW late May. If you go around Memorial Day weekend, you could still be in the thick of the crowds.

 

[missypie]

Are the crowds for Mem. Day just Sat., Sun. and Mon., or do they spill over later in the week?

 

[treesinger]

Dunno. anybody else?

 

[S. C.]

We were at WDW just once during spring break, that was in 1996 & it was packed. We didn't know till after the trip that it was spring break.

 

[missypie]

Maybe this trip will be just in the planning stages forever. With the school calendar the choices are:

Thanksgiving Week
Right after Christmas
Spring Break (but not around Easter)
Summer (as early as May 27th)

heat...rain...crowds...how to decide on a week?

Taking the kids out of school is not an option. The eldest is old enough to have serious homework and exams.

 

[jcemom]

Wow...tough choices if you're looking for lower crowds.
Week after Christmas would definitely be out.
Ditto for Thanksgiving.
May 27 would be heading straight into Memorial Day weekend...Memorial Day is May 31 next year.

So...Spring Break or the first week of June are your available choices? Kind of a toss-up.

I would probably go with the Spring break. Here's why (readily admitting that I might be wrong...lol):
It should be plenty warm enough in March for swimming.
Spring breaks are staggered over a couple of months (not everyone gets out at the same time).
Even early June can get "too hot" in my opinion -- depends on your heat tolerance.
Most schools are out for summer by the end of June.

That being said...everyone has a different opinion, and crowds can be as unpredictable as the Florida weather. LOL Relax, and have fun whenever you choose to go. After all, being at Disney will still be better than being anywhere else!

 

[jcemom]

Oh...and www.touringplans.com has an interactive "Best Days" planner that lets you know the best days to visit your chosen park(s) according to the season. You might want to check it out.

 

[dijid]

Originally posted by missypie
Are the crowds for Mem. Day just Sat., Sun. and Mon., or do they spill over later in the week?

We were there this past Memorial Day for the whole week and found it took til at least Wed for them to calm down. Thursday that week they were clearly down.

 

[Nikole]

I was in wdw during Memorial Day weekend I guess 2 years ago now?! It was suprisingly NOT crowded! To be fair we were there mid week prior (probably around tues- sat) and it was not bad at all.

No matter what time of year I've gone, weekends always seem to be more crowded than weekdays. The ony time that may not be true is over a holiday...if it is a weekday.

I would avoid Easter time and if possible avoid spring break time. I've heard that Spring can be great as long as you avoid those things.

Personally......fall is still my favorite time!

 

[MrsMud]

When you say Thanksgiving week, do you mean the week leading up to, or after the actual holiday? Either way, I think I would choose this time over your other options. I have read that only the Fri, Sat and Sun following Thanksgiving are very crowded, as most people only have off these days. Compared to week after Christmas (everyone has vaca the whole week), or Spring Break, I think this would be your best bet, crowd-wise.
Plus, if you will be there after Thanksgiving, all the Christmas decorations are up!
And as for weather, no question! We don't really like the heat and humidity, so the other times (except Christmas) would be out for us. JMHO.

 

[califred]

We're going to during our Spring Break but there is a thread here somewhere and the Spring Breaks are SO spread outl, ours is the first week of March and the range from then til the end of April.

Also this year EAster is in April which may help.


There is another therad about this on another board and the weird thing is almost everyone on that thread said it was nice in March and almost everyone on this thread says stay away, how weird.

It very well may be warm enough to swim in March and June will already be dreadfully hot and humid in Florida.

Oh and the cheerleaders will be around I think the dates posted were 3/12-3/16.

 

[missypie]

Ooh...I think the cheerleaders coincide with our break.

Ideally, I'd like to buy APs, and go right after school is out (arriving something like the 27th of May) and stay the whole week after Mem. Day, then come back the weekend before Thanksgiving and visit the parks Sat-Wed. and maybe stick around the next few days to see the decorations and eat a neat meal.

Of course, that is in the land in which money is no object....