How bad is springbreak -blossom season?

[mousefan73]

So I booked a trip to Japan with my DH and his friend. we will be in JP from March 22 until April 2nd. The dates were chosen more less due to other committments at home.. It was an afterfact its also blossom season. So we are keeping this in mind and have acceptable that JP might be a mess then. I am a huge Disney fan and the chance to see those parks is the cherry on top.
Now I have read that this is their spring break and that school starts the year second week of April I believe. I have planned to do Disneyland on March 24th and then DisneySea on 31 March... so how bad will it be???

Also been reading on some changes possibily with 01April when it comes to passes? how will this impact? Rumor Fantasy Springs will be open to all?? so wondering if best to avoid DS on 01 April or will it be better on 01 April and maybe move to that day iso of 31 March??? decisions decisions.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I don't have first-hand experience regarding Japan during peak cherry blossom season, but I bet A) It's crazy, and B) It's beautiful!

So your TDR plans would be DL on 3/24 and DS 3/31? Are you planning to stay on-site, perhaps a vacation package? If so, you'll get some perks, including Happy Entry. If you are not and you're just going into the parks for the day, it's probably going to be challenging. I believe your information about 4/1 changes for Fantasy Springs. It sounds like they will not be restricting access as much. So 4/1 is probably going to be a bit crazy with people wanting to see it. But if you don't have the required ticket or pass to get in on 3/31, you won't get to see it either - not sure how important that is. But i will tell you, it's pretty amazing to experience. Not sure this helps you much - but I'd recommend you go to their web site for information about that time period, including FS changes. The site is pretty good. Hope the trip works out well for you - it could be an amazing time of year to visit.

 

[mousefan73]

I don't have first-hand experience regarding Japan during peak cherry blossom season, but I bet A) It's crazy, and B) It's beautiful!

So your TDR plans would be DL on 3/24 and DS 3/31? Are you planning to stay on-site, perhaps a vacation package? If so, you'll get some perks, including Happy Entry. If you are not and you're just going into the parks for the day, it's probably going to be challenging. I believe your information about 4/1 changes for Fantasy Springs. It sounds like they will not be restricting access as much. So 4/1 is probably going to be a bit crazy with people wanting to see it. But if you don't have the required ticket or pass to get in on 3/31, you won't get to see it either - not sure how important that is. But i will tell you, it's pretty amazing to experience. Not sure this helps you much - but I'd recommend you go to their web site for information about that time period, including FS changes. The site is pretty good. Hope the trip works out well for you - it could be an amazing time of year to visit.

We have no package.... was too late in that game... my JP trip was focused on other things which is wierd but makes sense as the kids and my mom are not joining as we are the Disney gang...I am going with DH and a buddy of his... men 60+ so not a really ino disny. My DH has been to Paris ad WDW often and recognizes its worth seeing once so that is why they are coming.

I am getting my expecations in order.... low lol... I am considering this trip more a check the lay of the land and then do a real disney trip with my mom and DD in a year or so....
plan is I do two full days and my DH and buddy join each night with evening pass. been stalking the wait times and noticed in DL, that after 7pm. it seems POC, jungle have normal wait times.. HM would be great for them to experience but lets see. They arent Disney fans.. so simpl walking DS at night and the show will be good enough. and POC a must do for them. I will be doing the crazy in line at crack at dawn.. plan is I go back to hotel - offlsite but two stops on the train away. to chill drop purschases off and then back with them men.

I am actually looking foward to doing most of the Disney part solo.. figure I can do what I want, not waste time with others and dash from ride to ride.... drama free lol

I am actually flexible on what day I do DS or DL.. but it is either the 24th or 31st due to our other travel plans etc....

 

[gelatoni fan]

Spring break last year was relatively tame compared to pre-pandemic but still quite bad if you're not used to Tokyo Disney crowd levels.

If I remember correctly, Soaring was occasionally hitting 3 hour waits and Journey to the Center of the Earth was slightly above 2 hours most of the day. The 24th is likely to have lower crowds of the 2 dates because some schools actually still have some year end stuff on that Monday. Everybody is off school on the 31st. Since DisneySea is more difficult in terms of wait times, you'd probably want to do that one on the 24th. Based on the New Year season, if you don't have Happy Entry, you won't be riding Frozen and it may be challenging to get Standby Pass but Premier Access for Peter Pan and Rapunzel should still be available.

Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the rides with shorter waits and I would expect it to be less than 30 minutes wait by the evening. Just don't wait till too close to park closing because they may cut the queue. You can grab a Priority Pass for Haunted Mansion when entering the park.

 

[mousefan73]

Spring break last year was relatively tame compared to pre-pandemic but still quite bad if you're not used to Tokyo Disney crowd levels.

If I remember correctly, Soaring was occasionally hitting 3 hour waits and Journey to the Center of the Earth was slightly above 2 hours most of the day. The 24th is likely to have lower crowds of the 2 dates because some schools actually still have some year end stuff on that Monday. Everybody is off school on the 31st. Since DisneySea is more difficult in terms of wait times, you'd probably want to do that one on the 24th. Based on the New Year season, if you don't have Happy Entry, you won't be riding Frozen and it may be challenging to get Standby Pass but Premier Access for Peter Pan and Rapunzel should still be available.

Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the rides with shorter waits and I would expect it to be less than 30 minutes wait by the evening. Just don't wait till too close to park closing because they may cut the queue. You can grab a Priority Pass for Haunted Mansion when entering the park.

Thanks for the insight. I’ve been researching when their brakes are and I’ve been really confused on what I’m reading. I had thought they have like the second half of March until school starts in April 3? So if you’re saying the 24th is a better day than the 31st, then I might have to switch some things around. We’ll still be doing these days regardless, but I’m thinking maybe on the 24th of Disneyland on the 31st since that has more options with larger crowd.

 

[nono]

Thanks for the insight. I’ve been researching when their brakes are and I’ve been really confused on what I’m reading. I had thought they have like the second half of March until school starts in April 3? So if you’re saying the 24th is a better day than the 31st, then I might have to switch some things around. We’ll still be doing these days regardless, but I’m thinking maybe on the 24th of Disneyland on the 31st since that has more options with larger crowd.

Not sure if you are from the US, but you know how different regions of the US have different lengths and dates for school breaks? Well, there's some of that in Japan too. That's possibly why you aren't getting a definitive answer. But usually April 5/6ish is when public schools go back. So, one school may only have a week off, another a whole 20 days before the April start date of the new school year. Not all schools in Japan are public and depending on the prefecture, calendars may be slightly differently. You will be competing with domestic tourists as well as international tourists, but only against Disney lovers, as cherry blossom folks will be not at Disney.

 

[dunkindonut]

It's going to be very crowded and there's even a chance you may not see the blossoms. It's always sort of a guess unfortunately, so best of luck!