How busy is spring break?????

[nicki.momof3]

We are booked for the week before Easter (so we will be April 6-13) leaving the day after Easter?

How crazy is it going to be. We have always gone during the "slow times" of the year.

Am I going to go nuts trying to hold on to 3 kids ages 4,5,6 ???

Do the parks hit capacity like I hear they do at Christmas?? Is it even possible to get into the parks in the evening?? We always going early EMH , back to port orleans riverside for a nap and back to the parks inthe evenings.

Thanks for your help

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We are booked for the week before Easter (so we will be April 6-13) leaving the day after Easter?

How crazy is it going to be. We have always gone during the "slow times" of the year.

Am I going to go nuts trying to hold on to 3 kids ages 4,5,6 ???

Do the parks hit capacity like I hear they do at Christmas?? Is it even possible to get into the parks in the evening?? We always going early EMH , back to port orleans riverside for a nap and back to the parks inthe evenings.

Thanks for your help

Unfortunately, the parks and resorts will be packed. They UG crowd calender has those dates as one of the busiest of the entire year. Saturday and Easter Sunday the parks will definitely be at or near capacity levels. If you are wanting to be in a specfic park, especially Magic Kingdom, then you better plan on staying there because there would be a chance you would not get back in later.

 

[soonerlpn]

Our spring break is earlier than Easter this year so I am hoping that it will not be as crowded. We will be going March 13 thru the 20th. Here*s keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

We are going March 15-20, hoping that it isn't too terribly crowded, rainy, or hot.........

 

[PrincessTiffany]

It shouldn't be rainy or hot, but it will be pretty crowded. After the first week of March The UG crowd calender has high crowd numbers through the end of the month. Mid to late March is the height of Spring Break season in the South. Just have to get to the park at opening and use those fastpasses.

 

[cjnix29]

OP...we can be packed in together! We are taking a quick trip from April 5-9. We usually go in September when crowds are really low. We'll just plan, and plan, and just not expect to do everything, and expect to stand in lines. At least the weather should be good!!

 

[nicki.momof3]

What is the CG crowd - where can I see the calendar?

 

[nicki.momof3]

OK now I am stressed . We are going to be there during spring break. We purchased the dining plan and planned to hit all the many different character meals at the theme parks. Because we know how slow disney transportation can be we really want to eat dinner in the theme parks not at the resorts - with 3 kids under 6 the less time on busses the better - less chance of a melt down.

My question is - if we make ADR at say the crystal palace for 5pm on the Saturday before Easter (as you said it is VERY busy). We always go very early to the parks (as kids get up by 7am) go back and nap and back at night. All 3 of our children are under 6 years old so all day is NOT an option (more than 4 hours = MELTDOWN CITY). If we have ADR's and the park is not allowing entry because it is so busy will we be allowed to go in anyway because we have ADR's at that park or will we lose our reservation.

Help please - I am already stressed about trying to get reservations at the 180 mark because of the new ADR system - now this capacity thing.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

What is the CG crowd - where can I see the calendar?

UG stands for The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. You can either view their crowd calender by purchasing the book or you can join their website, touringplans.com for $7.95. You can always view the current month for free.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

My question is - if we make ADR at say the crystal palace for 5pm on the Saturday before Easter (as you said it is VERY busy). We always go very early to the parks (as kids get up by 7am) go back and nap and back at night. All 3 of our children are under 6 years old so all day is NOT an option (more than 4 hours = MELTDOWN CITY). If we have ADR's and the park is not allowing entry because it is so busy will we be allowed to go in anyway because we have ADR's at that park or will we lose our reservation.

Help please - I am already stressed about trying to get reservations at the 180 mark because of the new ADR system - now this capacity thing.

When a park starts reaching capacity levels it is shut down in four different stages. If it is at stage 4 (which usually only happens on Christmas Day, Easter and 4th of July) you will not be let into the park whether you have an ADR or not. I haven't heard of MK closing the day before Easter.

Ya'll should be fine, just be prepared for the crowd levels and get to the parks at opening and use those fastpasses.

Hope ya'll have a magical vacation!

 

[bradisgoofy]

From Good Friday to the weekend after Easter it is always so be prepared. The closer it is to Easter, the more crowded, and as you move away from that day the better it gets. We've been going during Spring Break for many years so we don't know any different.

 

[nicki.momof3]

I am glad to hear from someone that goes at spring break. I keep hearing about the parks reaching capacity and them closing the gates. We will be there the monday before easter - leaving the day after easter. Since we have 3 kids under the age of 3 going all day is not an option. We go at EMH and stay about 4 hours and then return after the kids have napped in the evening.

With the exception of Easter sunday will we be able to get into the parks at say 4pm from your expereinces (April 6-13)??

If we are going to be locked out of the parks every evening I am thinking about cancelling my trip - our 100% favorite thing to do is night activities at the parks.

 

[wdwruss]

We went Spring Break 2007, mid March & we have a trip planned for Spring break again the week of March 15, 2009. In 2007 it was about as busy as a July 2005 trip, but it was much cooler! The hot temps in July seem to make the crowds much thicker & larger. So, having temps in the 70’s in March were great. Putting up with crowds was much easier and less stressful than dealing with them in the summer. With our family’s schedules, Spring Breaks & Summer dates are the only ones we can spare 1 full week.
Have a great trip,

 

[Kimmumum]

We went the week after Easter 2006 and it was empty. We kept asking where everyone was. There were no lines, the weather was perfect etc. We told our friends and they planned a trip for Easter 2007. They came back saying it was insane. I guess it just depends on the year.

We had a great time!!!!

 

[nicki.momof3]

I REALLY hope we have a Easter just like your 2006 trip.

 

[Disneychix]

I've never had a problem getting into a park during "easter" break in the evenings. I've never tried to go on the actual day (always hang by the pool) but all the surrounding days have never been a problem.

Growing up the crowds were all I knew! When I starting going off season I was pleasantly surprised. Just don't plan on getting to everything and make a plan for what you do want to see.

 

[nicki.momof3]

Thanks DisneyChix,

I have been the most stressed about getting into the parks in the evenings. We totally know we will not hit everything and we don't need to we have been before and we will be back again but the one MUST SEE for our kids is the night time parades and shows. After a long afternoon nap they are always ready to go see a great evening event.

Thanks

 

[Topo Bella]

I would consider getting the UG since they suggest some great tips for avoiding crowds. They also include a crowd level indicator. You may find that by moving your trip a few days in either direction, you could hit the parks during a less crowded time.

 

[pineycreek]

My children and I went over Easter in 2006...we were there the Thursday before Easter through the following Friday after Easter. I love WDW but never again will I go back during Easter/Spring Break. It was unbelievable!!! It was my children's first trip (DS 10 and DD 6) and I wanted to make it so special for them but it was so packed we did not get to do nearly what they wanted. Patience at that age is a tough lesson to learn and it was an exhausting trip.

To make matters worse, my son became ill with the 24hr stomach virus on Easter Sunday during the egg-hunt at our hotel. He tried to tough it out but he was so sick we ended up staying at the hotel most of the day. We had to cancel our lunch w/ the princesses and our dinner at 'Ohana. For the longest time after the trip all he could remember was the extreme crowds, waiting and being sick.

We are going back in just a few weeks. I decided to pull them out of school this time. I have told them that it will not be as crowded as before and that there are so many attractions we did not see the last time. Plus, they both have to do a journal for school and this has made them more excited.

All I can say is what all the other responses have been saying: PLAN, PLAN and PLAN. Go back to the hotel in the afternoon and have your children play in the pool then take a nap. Take advantage of the EMH: go early and then stay late if at all possible. Bring small hand held games or coloring books or something to keep the children occupied while waiting in line.

No matter what it will still be magical...and just go with the flow. Good luck!

 

[DISNEYRIFFIC]

My children and I went over Easter in 2006...we were there the Thursday before Easter through the following Friday after Easter. I love WDW but never again will I go back during Easter/Spring Break. It was unbelievable!!! It was my children's first trip (DS 10 and DD 6) and I wanted to make it so special for them but it was so packed we did not get to do nearly what they wanted. Patience at that age is a tough lesson to learn and it was an exhausting trip.

To make matters worse, my son became ill with the 24hr stomach virus on Easter Sunday during the egg-hunt at our hotel. He tried to tough it out but he was so sick we ended up staying at the hotel most of the day. We had to cancel our lunch w/ the princesses and our dinner at 'Ohana. For the longest time after the trip all he could remember was the extreme crowds, waiting and being sick.

We are going back in just a few weeks. I decided to pull them out of school this time. I have told them that it will not be as crowded as before and that there are so many attractions we did not see the last time. Plus, they both have to do a journal for school and this has made them more excited.

All I can say is what all the other responses have been saying: PLAN, PLAN and PLAN. Go back to the hotel in the afternoon and have your children play in the pool then take a nap. Take advantage of the EMH: go early and then stay late if at all possible. Bring small hand held games or coloring books or something to keep the children occupied while waiting in line.

No matter what it will still be magical...and just go with the flow. Good luck!

Funny, the last time we went over spring break I said "NEVER AGAIN" and have since pulled kids out of school to avoid the busy season. The best thing I've ever done was change my trips to go in the slow season. It's a whole different experience!!