How Crowded is it Mid-March (Toronto Area Spring Break)?

[mloren]

Just came back from a trip at the end of April and it was wonderful!

Want to go back, but not sure I want to pull the kids out of school for a week next time.

Has anyone ever gone during Toronto area Spring Break (mid-March, about 3 weeks before Easter)? I know it will be more expensive then, but how are the crowds?

Thanks!

 

[robsawatsky]

We were there March 16-28 this year. The crowds varied. We went to EPCOT the first Sat/Sun we weree there and it was quite light, almost deserted the evening we stayed late for the Illuminations and parade. Magic Kingdom was quite crowded about a week later. MGM was busy but not overwhelming. Animal Kingdom was also only moderate.

The biggest thing is to go early in the day, get in the BIG attractions, then check out the less in demand attractions later. USE FAST PASS where it seems reasonable to beat a line up and plan you day ahead at least a bit.

We had 7-day park hoppers and spent 2 days at each park except Animal Kingdom, which is easily done in one day.

 

[e_cr]

My husband, myself and two boys went to Orlando during the March break 1999. We will never do it again! The crowds were terrible, Parking awful and traffic impossible! Our other trips have been in either October or November. In fact, we're going for 10 days in October 2001. The weather has always been wonderful and the crowds are at least half. I'm also concerned about taking them away from school but we've always felt that they will soon grow up and not want to take vacations with their parents. (they are 12 and 13). We work with the teachers and make sure that they have plenty of homework. If we drive they do reports on each state that we drive through. In the end, we feel that we gain a great deal in spending time together as a family

 

[mloren]

Oooh. That doesn't sound too good about the crowds.

I am actually willing to pull the kids out of school for a week -- just not in April/May again. They are always in school plays then, there are the provincial standardized tests, projects due, ...

Anybody ever tried the week right before Spring Break
(second week in March)? Maybe that would be less crowded, and it would have less school impact since we could return during March break and catch up any missed work then.

Anybody ever tried the second week in January (the first week they should have been back in school after Winter break). Again, they probably wouldn't miss much in the way of school. Are the crowds still heavy from Christmas then?

 

[e_cr]

We actually went during the week of the March break and the week after the March break. We stayed away from the parks the first week; thinking that the crowds would be less after the March break. We coudn't have been more wrong. Spring break in the US varies depending on the state and lasts for most of March. So eventhough we missed most of the Canadian crowds, we had to contend with all the US visitors. We still had a wonderful time but we have enjoyed our vacations in Florida during October and November much better. (Everything seems to be less expensive too)