How bad is April Spring Break at WDW?

[NY Pirate Princess]

We just got back on May 10th from a wonderful 6 night 7 day trip at WDW, myself, my 5 year old, and my husband. The high temps convinced us that summer touring is OUT. I am looking at our school calendar for 2015, looking forward to 2016 when she will be in second grade.

Our spring break is the first week of April in 2015. I watched these boards through April prior to our trip, and spring break time looked horrible for crowds and lines. Anyone have personal experience?

I know this has been debated to death and I have asked many people IRL, but I just don't want to take her out of school to go to Disney. Thanks!

 

[staceyrhood]

So glad you had a great trip! You went at a perfect time! Much better than Spring Break,it is horribly crazy crowded...not much fun in my opinion. We went over to the parks the last week of March this year, and did not stay long...way to busy. March-April, Christmas week, June-August, marathon weeks, are all just so busy, and lot of October now. Spring all depends on when Easter is also, the crowds get lower starting after Easter most years.

 

[mom2travel]

We've been a few times over our spring break, and while yes, there were some crowds, we didn't find it too bad. That said, I have no recollection of where our spring break fell compared to when Easter was each of those years. Our schools run spring break at about the last week of March. I think our spring break trips were in 2009, 2011 & 2012

 

[kmv]

Never again for my family! We had been in February, May, July, September, and October. We had avoided April break like the plague but 3 years ago my sister convinced me that it wasn't too crowded and to go with her and her family that week. It was HORRIBLE compared to the other times we had gone. We will never go during March or April!

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

Easter and Passover both fall in the first five days of April 2015, so it's a pretty safe bet that week will be among the two or three most crowded weeks of the year at WDW.

I'm not saying you can't have a good time with big crowds, but if crowds are an issue you should definitely pick a different week!

Have fun whatever you decide!

 

[lucyem]

It all depends on Easter. Our spring vacation is the third week of April. Normally a wonderful time to visit. But on a late Easter years the crowds are high, though not as high as Easter weeks in March. You have schools tied into March spring breaks and schools tied to Easter spring breaks. When they come together crowds are worse. Also the week after Easter tends to be slightly less crowded.

So basically the first week of April will have some leftover spring break people but should not be too bad. But if it is an Easter week then crowds will be bad.

 

[Moniqu17]

We went this year the week before easter and it was crowded but doable. We got to the parks close to rope drop and did the rides we really wanted first. In the early morning lines weren't bad. Late morning and afternoon they get long. Peter Pan was 2 hour wait and dumbo was over 40 min yikes. We also planned all FP for after lunch which worked great. We also did the less crowded attractions after lunch to fill the time. But there is definitely a lot of people at this time of year.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

We were just there April 12-21 and it was very crowded. If we didn't FP the more popular rides, we wouldn't have gotten on them. Toy Story ride line was over 2 hours one day.

 

[Cadets74]

I know Spring Breaks change, but we went the first week of April and I though the crowds were fine (our spring break was the 3rd week)... We also had perfect weather, not a drop of rain the entire week...

 

[NY Pirate Princess]

Thank you everyone! Lots to consider. Our spring break is tied to testing schedules. I am getting the feeling that if it is Easter week we should skip and if not have an excellent plan and we should be okay. Crowds don't bother us as much as the heat AND crowds did!

 

[SweetMissy]

We arrive at disney on Sunday and I'm a little worried about the heat too but we've been having nice weather here too...been mid 80s, so I think we're a little prepared. Last year we went in April...for some reason our spring break last year was a week after most everyone else, so it wasn't too bad. The heat was insane...was about 90 the whole time....but coming from NY, it was cooler here still so it was a shock. So it can be hot in April...just FYI. Glad you all had a good time!

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

Having been at the busiest time of spring break both in 2013 and 2014, I ca honestly say it isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be. The weather isn't horrible and if you plan correctly crowds are not miserable. Yes, it is packed and busy and there are people everywhere. However my suggestion: embrace it. You will have to wait in long lines. There isn't avoiding it. But just remember you're at Disney and any day at Disney is better than any day at home! 30 minutes line for Buzz Lightyear? Hop right in! We found the Peoplemover worked great when we had nothing to do.

FastPass is your friend. Even though you only get 3, it still definitely helped. We utilized late night EMH and that was absolutely wonderful for us-it was the only time we got on Peter Pan! So yes, it's going to be crowded and blech, but if you take everything in good spirit it won't be that bad.

 

[dpswift]

We went a few years ago for our spring break. It was crowded but we were ok with our plan. The things that bothered me was that you could never find seats at POPs food court because of the amount of big groups there, and a group of kids that went running through the park and jumped over DS then 6.

I would love to go for a few days next year but it is Easter weekend so I am not sure. 2 years ago we went to Universal over Easter weekend and it was not bad.

 

[Karenj2]

Thank you everyone! Lots to consider. Our spring break is tied to testing schedules. I am getting the feeling that if it is Easter week we should skip and if not have an excellent plan and we should be okay. Crowds don't bother us as much as the heat AND crowds did!

LOL - I'm the opposite - the crowds bother me WAY more than the heat... We're going in early September for that very reason - it'll be hotter than blazes, but the crowd levels should be WAY down since school just started pretty much everywhere.

That being said, I remember going to WDW as a kid during spring break in March, and it wasn't bad at all!