Have you visited during Spring Break?

[Barak's Disney]

I am looking for some posts from families who have traveled to WDW during Spring Break. How did you do it? Where did you stay? Would you do it again? Were you able to manage the crowds by arriving early, fastpass, etc.? Or would you skip Spring Break entirely and travel during the summer? Alternatively, if anyone knows where I can find an existing Spring Break thread - point me in the direction!!! Thanks!

 

[sameyeyam]

We go only during Spring Break. I pull the kids out of school the last week of March and our Spring Break from school is the first week of April. By the end of March we are sick and tired of the rain and cold and ready for some sunshine!

It's a little crowded, but not bad. Now about 3 years ago our Spring Break fell close to Easter. It was beyond crowded and I would not recommend it to anyone. We still had fun, but boy was it crowded.

If your Spring Break is not right at Easter then I would go. The weather is great 80-85, low humidity. Touringplans.com is a good place to start by looking at their crowd calendar for their predictions. Also, take notice of park hours on the Disney website, you can tell when they expect to be crowded because they will stay open late for a couple of weeks during spring break.

 

[stacy6552]

We went during spring break a few years back. At WDW we were great. A little extra planning for meals and stuff helps beat the crowds. Stay with Disney. No question. I will explain more in a sec...

Now this is the only time that I would prefer to drive the 16 hours instead of fly. The airlines were so over booked they were practically spitting on people and challenging them like, WHat are you gonna do?" We also stayed at one of the downtown Disney resorts and were miserable, for the same haggered customer service we found on the airline. Disney just doesnt know how to be rude. Stay with them and drive if you can.

 

[Figments Pal]

We went this last Spring for Spring Break. We had to make ADRs and book a ways in advance (a good idea anytime) but it wasn't bad at all as far as the crowds went. We stayed at POR and the pools, bus stops, etc. were all quite empty as well. We didn't get to the parks terribly early, not at opening at least, and we did make good use of the Fastpass system, especially for Soarin' (the wait time was 150 minutes at one point!). Maybe we hit the right things at the right times, but it was a very fun trip with little waiting!

 

[SkcMom]

What time frame does everyone consider Spring Break to be? Where I live we have no Spring Break. We have like three or four four day week-ends in March and April instead. This is our school systems first year of doing this and I am not too sure that I am going to like it!

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

First off, to SkcMom, I consider Spring Break to be the time around Easter.

Our family only ever goes to Disney over Spring Break. This past year when we went it was DEAD (well, Disney Dead! ) we ran onto POTC (actually walked quickly but there was no line at all) and EE we waited 20 minutes the first time that we went on and 7ish minutes the second time which was amazing especially considering it had just recently opened. We have always stayed offsite because we were always at the parks from open to close so we only needed it to sleep except for a few years when I was much younger and we camped at FW. I love going around this time: good weather and crowds aren't unbearable. I would highly recommed going around this time.

 

[Barak's Disney]

Wow! It sounds like maybe it is not a bad time! I hadn't thought about poor customer service or overcrowding on airplanes though - I had only considered that it would be expensive.

 

[lynlam]

We went this year, last week of march. It was fantastic. We stayed at POP, which was busy, but not overcrowded. The buses were great - SRO at times, but usually not. The only park that I felt overwhelmed by crowds was AK. In truth, I did not enjoy that park at all - even if it wasn't crowded I dont' think I'd really like it. The rest of the parks were just perfect. Yes, used the FP's to our advantage, thats for sure. Planned our days around them. We rode Soarin' twice using FP and childswap in 20 min times when the standby line was over 120min.
The weather was PERFECT...and I do mean PERFECT. Not a drop of rain, was coolish the first day, then gradually heated up, last day we were there it was mid 80's.
The only negative to going over springbreak is that difficulties in travelling. Someone already mentioned the airlines. I can't speak to that, as we drove...and an 18 hour trip took 22 hours thanks to construction and unbelieveable traffic. But it was worth it. It was a perfect trip.
We are already planning next years...booking a pool home this time, though as we are travelling with family and my BIL has two kids under 4, so we think that is a better option this time. I loved POP, though, would do again in a heartbeat.

 

[sskem96]

We went the second week of April 2005. I think Easter was the end of March. We chose April because it is the driest month, and it only rained for about 15 minutes the whole week. It was pretty hot already, but not unbearably so. It was crowded, but we avoided the early entry park and used fast pass, so it was manageable. I would do it again.

 

[jetprincess]

We went last Spring Break. We stayed Wednesday to Wednesday, checking out the wed before Easter. It was crowded, very crowded but we stayed on property and took advantage of morning Magic Hours and Fast Passes. At about noon, we were going against the masses of incoming traffic while trying to exit! We were so glad to have already had a great morning. It definitely worked for us.

If you really need ADRs if you are a big dining family. We aren't so I'm not much help there. I do know that that getting ADRs has been narrowed to a science. Certainly worth researching. The Unofficial Guide has tons of ADR info.

The weather is great then which is something that plays a huge factor in how much you enjoy your trip. I would go during Spring Break again in a heartbeat rather than go during the summer! I just cannot do 100+ weather and have a good time!!

 

[stacy6552]

Even though sring break can happen at various times during the spring. the peak "spring break" for travel are the week before and week after Easter, including Easter Sunday. Just an FYI.

 

[LisaMayTX]

We went during our Spring Break in 2003 and we're going in 2007 for Spring Break; however, our break next year is the first week in March. I anticipate some crowds, and perfect weather - which is what we had in 2003.

 

[TENIA66]

we have gone the week before easter or after easter since 02...we love it..it's not excruitatingly hot..we stay onsite, get out to early entry parks, fast pass, hustle, don't miss a thing and have a great time.... we stay onsite 4 or 5 nites, in park 4 or five days and see all and do all we want....

 

[Barak's Disney]

I am really encouraged by these posts! I was wondering if Spring Break was a bad idea, but it sounds better and better to me!

It sounds like many of you left the parks early - how were the crowds at the resort pools in the afternoons? Also, do you remember about what time the parks opened for the day?

I would go during Spring Break again in a heartbeat rather than go during the summer! I just cannot do 100+ weather and have a good time!!

Good to know! We traveled in August once and it was super-hot - I felt like I was melting!

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

We have gone the last two years for Spring Break---almost all of Texas is off in the middle of March--this year it is March 9 through March 18.

The weather is perfect---the crowds are no worse than summer---and the hours are pretty much like summer. I think last year all of the parks opened at 9:00 and closed at 10:00 or even 12:00 some days. (One night MK had EMH in the evening until 3:00 AM!!) Except of course AK closes earlier since it is not open after dark.

The resort pools never seemed overcrowded to me---we stayed at the WL.


Have a fun trip!!! And we are going back for Spring Break in 2007, so I guess it is now officially a tradition---3 years in a row.

 

[ont/ohana]

Hey there guys!! Thanks for all the info!! I just love these DIS boards. Everytime I think of a ? I just look it up and someone has done a post on it. We are in SW Ontario and Our spring break is 9-16 March. We are thinking on going then. I feel better now that everyone said it's not too busy. We will be there in Dec 06 so it's ok if we miss some things. Have a great day!

 

[jetprincess]

Hi again! The parks opened at 7 on somedays and 8 on others. Disney rotates the days that they do Magic Hours amongst the parks to even out crowd flow.

 

[Barak's Disney]

Hi again! The parks opened at 7 on somedays and 8 on others.

Awesome! We are early birds and find that the only bummer about off season vacations is we can't get into the parks soon enough! The news just gets better and better!

 

[Stitchfans]

We always go during Spring break. No problems. Weather is great. Crowd manageable. Can't wait for spring to get here so we can go. We stayed at ASmu the past two times this time we will be staying at ASMO.

 

[codygirl5150]

We're doing spring break 2007 March 17-25th, which, I think, is Orlando spring break too, but not sure if this matters too much. Easter is later next year, in April, so I think March should be good. We are flying, we're getting airfare for $350 per person thru American Airlines, which isn't great but it could be worse. Good flight times too! We have a 4 yr old and a 6 yr old and don't think the 24 hr. drive would work too good ("Are we there yet, are we there yet???"). I was getting nervous about the crowds but you guys have given me hope! Thanks DISers!