Disney World during Spring Break, how crowded is it?

[eepunk]

We are considering a trip to Disney World during my kid's spring break (mid March) next year. Are the parks really crowded? Does anyone know how it compares to crowd level in May?

 

[MinMouse]

I think the busiest time in the spring are the two weeks surrounding Easter (week before and after Easter). We've been for the week following Easter twice and it is very crowded. We still have a good time. We just go to the parks early to ride, return to the hotel to swim and return to the parks in the evening to walk around and enjoy the atmosphere. It was much less crowded when we've been in May.

 

[beccasmom]

Very crowded. So much so that we avoid that time. When we did go (in 2000), the weather was pretty good (chilly in the evenings). But it took us hours to get our room at the CR and the lobby was mobbed with travelers and their bags. I would never advise a first-time visitor to travel at that time. The long lines for everything can be discouraging. We had a good time (we are veteran WDW'ers!!), but we shared it with many other folks!

 

[mnasmom3]

oh yes...way crowded. If you can do May instead, I'd recommend that time. Friends of ours were actually turned away from MK on Easter day some years back because they were at capacity.

 

[bgbodnar]

When my kids were growing up, we went Spring Break every other year, and it is crowed, but that was the only time we could with school (summer too hot)...but I would rather go when it crowed then not go.

 

[Imgoingwdw]

Since Easter is so early this year. How do you think the first week of April will be. Do you think it would be any worse than July or August. According to Disney's calendar the first week of April is classified as a wonderful week of Disney, isn't that supposed to me lower crowds?

 

[ajtux]

We go the 1st of March for 2 weeks....what should we expect?

 

[TMB1203]

UGH, it is crowded!
The weather was great, but the lines were insane!

I am still trying to find the "perfect time" to go (I know anytime at WDW is perfect)
We usually went in the summer, but I decided it was too hot...we went in March...too crowded...we went in Feb...this was perfect...now we are going in Nov...we'll see how early Nov rates
Right now Feb has my vote.

 

[ajtux]

Oh, say it ain't so. The first 2 weeks were crowded? Birnbaum's says the third week is the crowded week. I figure where Easter is at the end of March going at the beginning would beat the crowds. We can only hope.

 

[nitaworm]

I went in March and yes it is crowded but I heard it is even more crowded in the summer time. Since you are going to be there 2 weeks pace yourself, even stay at the beach a couple of days so you can truly relax. I prefer going the week before Thanksgiving and staying through Thanksgiving week because you get 2 holiday's for the price of one. Wonderful Thanksgiving dinner's and holiday decorations, parade's and cheer.

 

[thejackattack21]

I have no idea when Easter is this year, but that week is EXTREMELY crowded (as much so as peak times during the summer). The week before and after is pretty bad too. Any other time in the spring is more crowded then, say, February, but not nearly as bad as June or July (plus, the weather's beautiful).

As for May, late May is starting to get crowded (Florida schools normally get out for the summer around May 21st, and Memorial Day Weekend is VERY crowded), but early May (the first week or so) has nice weather and isn't very crowded.

 

[xipetotec]

We are considering a trip to Disney World during my kid's spring break (mid March) next year. Are the parks really crowded? Does anyone know how it compares to crowd level in May?

Well our spring break is usually the first week of March and it never seems TOO crowded. I mean it was less crowded when we went last September the 27th, for example. But no ride ( well okay, maybe Soarin' and Expedition Everest last year, but they were NEW rides ) had a wait of more than 30 minutes. And with fast pass you're laughing.

 

[ajtux]

x, I like your answer, I can put up with lines. I just don't want to be part of a Packed house. 30 minutes and good weather will suit us just fine.

 

[xipetotec]

x, I like your answer, I can put up with lines. I just don't want to be part of a Packed house. 30 minutes and good weather will suit us just fine.

Well actually you might find that towards the 10th there, it starts to get crowded. Typically we're leaving by then, but I have noticed that it starts to get pretty crowded somewhere into the second week.

That being said, this will be our 4th trip going in March since 2002, and we've always had nothing but a blast. ( Get a fast pass for Soarin and Everest! )

 

[ajtux]

WE've been going at various times in the Winter for 5 years now. We bought into the DVC. As long as we have the first week relatively crowd free. I can handle crowds the second week as we would have already done the things we like. Fast Passes are the best.

 

[klmall]

Here's a thread on "crowd pictures":

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1358599&highlight=crowded+pictures

On page 4, post # 58 you'll find my picture of March 29th, spring break.

And here's another one of the same spring break but nowhere near as busy:

 

[jpeka65844]

We were there March 17-25, 2007 and we said "never again on Spring Break" It was WAY too crowded for us. Now, if you don't mind strategizing your plan of attack, making sure you're waiting at rope drops every morning at every park, maybe you'll be fine. We're not like that and it was such a bummer to see FP's gone by 11 AM and 210 minute waits for popular rides. BLECH.

After Spectro at MK (which we didn't watch, we rode rides instead)we got caught in a crowd on the bridge b/t Tomorrowland and the Castle and I've never been so scared of a crowd in my life. It was ridiculous! And of course, you've got someone yelling "let me through, I have somewhere to be" Yeah pal, we all have somewhere to be!

Easter is over our Spring Break this year and DH and I will NEVER attempt to go at Easter so that takes care of that for us. DH and I are going Nov 30-Dec 4 and then we're taking the extended fam May 30-June 6. Most sources say that's a good time to go to miss the summer crush. But if needed, we'll be bad parents and take our kids out of school (and I'll call in "sick"; I'm a teacher) before we go over Spring Break again.....

Sorry to be so "down" about it but I'm just sharing my experience!




Denice T.
Olathe, KS