Is Spring Break crazy busy

[Kez250]

My son has started school so we're beginning to feel restricted as to when we can take our vacations - we were thinking of coming to WDW for spring break - his is march 11 thru march 19th (I've heard that different areas have different dates - also is this true?)

Are we insane?

 

[ccw]

I am answering this as a mother of 4 sons who are from 16 yrs old to 26 years old ...and as a public school employee: Relax about having your little one miss a few days of school!!!!!!!!

Over the years, we have occasionally taken our kids out of school for family trips (usually only a few days at a time) and I can assure you their success in school was not in jeopardy because we did. Even when our youngest missed two and a half days of 8th grade for a Disney trip with me, and his math teacher pitched a fit, I had NO REGRETS about my decision. (OK...I have to brag...now as a high school junior, his PSAT score will rank him as a National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist and he is a straight A student so, obviously, he recovered from whatever he missed those few days!!!)

So, go during Spring Break if it works for you but, if not, just go when it suits and know that there are lots of "teachable moments" on family trips (especially with a young child!!!)! My guess is that your child's teacher will be happy to work with you (with advance notice) to help your child catch up on anythiing missed in class. I stand ready for the FLAMES from those of you who think it is an unpardonable sin to take a child out of school for a non-emergency trip!

 

[missymagic]

I have to agree don't feel bad about taking them out of school. My oldest is in 3rd grade and the youngest in K. I take them out every year for a couple of days. I get my notarized affidavit return it to school as required. Then I tell the teacher I will gladly keep them up to date with school work they send along. We always make some time before we go to the parks during breakfast time to do the required work. My oldest had pretty much work but the youngest had to draw a pic and a few words about it for everyday in a journal. My oldest id a great student ..mostly A's.

I belive most of the spring breaks for elementary schools are the week before Easter and the week after. Parents do this because they have days off and early dismissals so they feel less guilty.I an in Eastern PA and they start easrly dimiss 4/7-4/12 for conferences and then closed for Easter 4/13-4/18/06. I don't think you would have much problem with crowds in March.

Have a great trip whenever you decide to go.

 

[lisareniff]

My son has started school so we're beginning to feel restricted as to when we can take our vacations - we were thinking of coming to WDW for spring break - his is march 11 thru march 19th (I've heard that different areas have different dates - also is this true?)

Are we insane?

I think as you avoid the Easter weeks it should be OK. We usually go during Pres. Week in Feb. and that is fine as long as you plan things with that in mind. Presidents week is a considered as busy as Thanksgiving week and that was OK. Schools have their breaks at different times. Ours in Rochester are usually Pres. Wk and the 3rd week of April(sometimes shifted slightly to be on Easter).

Doing high crowd level plans really help - MK on the least crowed day, at the gates at opening, break in the middle of the day, on crowded days have scheduled things(like fantasmic dinner pkg), resort days or AK.

We have taken our now 4th grader out for a couple days prior to the vacation week so we could get lower airfare and beat some of the crowds. This has worked well since she only misses 2 or 3 days and one of them usually doesn't have much instruction. This may change in the next year or two as she gets older.

Here is a web site that has the predicted crowd levels from touringplans. Wow I just saw they had Pres. week as 9's! I really don't think it was like that all week last year. It tapered down toward the end of the week.

 

[slp87]

As a teacher in TX, I can't tell you how much pressure is on parents & educators to get kids to school. Our school rankings are partially based on our attendance rates, so I understand your feelings. A lot of TX has their spring break during that time. We will be there that exact week (except we're leaving 2 days early due to cheap airfair) and have been in '02 & '04 during those dates as well. It's definitely busy, but manageable. Just be sure to have a plan, arrive early and use FP. Park hours are pretty good with MK open till 11:00 3 nights. This will allow you to take breaks during the day and head back out in the evenings. The weather can be iffy, but luckily it's been beautiful our last 2 trips with us wearing shorts and swimming everyday.

 

[Kez250]

To those who suggest taking them out of school - no flames here - in fact we're already doing that for the last week in January - which is why we were planning WDW for Spring break - I don't want him to miss too much - his teacher is very helpful in planning work and giving us topics to cover while we are away. This was never really an issue in the UK when I was growing up - in fact I was amazed to find out that your child can fail a year for being absent too many times - I'm sure that things there have changed now too - but it all seemed so easy when I was younger - no course work grades just exams at the end of the year

But anyway since we also have a 2 yo we are very used to taking things easy and napping in the middle of the day - there are still a large number of rides etc that they are not able to go on - so I think we'll take our chances and take it easy - after all as far as I know everything will still be there next time we get to go.

Thanks for your advice

 

[Jen D]

I think the worst is Easter week... that is when our Spring Break is here in NYC.

 

[SueOKW]

I am going that same time as you (OP) and i expect crowds - but nothing compared to what will be happening in the weeks surrounding Easter.. and I agree Easter seems the worse.

Last year we were lucky enough to go 2 weeks after Easter and the crowds were so so low! I had hoped to do that again this year - but alas!

 

[thelionqueen]

I've read other posts and agree that Easter will be busy. But Spring Break is absolutely crazy!

My parent have a time share that we had Spring Break week and have gone the last 6 years. After having gone last year in May & October, I can officially say that absolutely YES, Spring Break is extremely crowded.

I also agree with other posters about it being OK to take your kids out of school for a couple of days. We take my oldest son out of school an average of 5-9 days per year for our vacations. Some teachers gripe, some think it's wonderful. I think it's fine. Maybe once he gets older, I may change my mind, but for now it works great for us. Have fun!!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

My kids have their break the week of April 2nd, so far the hours at the parks have not been adjusted too much. However, they've extended the hours further during the weeks of April 9th & 16th...so it looks like that's when the even larger crowds will hit. I share the OP's concerns as this is the first time we have ever traveled during peak season and I think we've been spoiled by the short lines during our normal travel times. Plus, there's going to be eight of us and one of them is a first-timer, so I'm really hoping the trip goes well.

 

[spiceycat]

here is the Florida calender.
http://www.fldoe.org/districtcalendar/

the ones close enough to make a difference are Orange, Osceola and Lake - they surround WDW.

I wish other states would make the listing this easy.

I can also give you Henry County in Ga - if you want it....
http://www.henry.k12.ga.us/398Calendars.htm

here is UAB - college in Birmingham
https://studentaffairs.sass.uab.edu/calendar/search.asp

the problem is you don't know how many people actually go to WDW on their spring break. Lots of kids go to the beaches in florida instead.

 

[spiceycat]

on because of Spicey I stay offsite alot.

many of the local hotels are filled. Disney still has rooms. but even some of their resorts are sold out.

WDW has not closed early for spring break since the 1990's - this year they may be closing...

 

[spiceycat]

on because of Spicey I stay offsite alot.

many of the local hotels are filled. Disney still has rooms. but even some of their resorts are sold out.

WDW has not closed early for spring break since the 1990's - this year they may be closing...

 

[Kez250]

Thanks Spiceycat,

the 3 closest to WDW all have spring break at different times - so who knows.

I do have a question though - why do different school districts/counties/states take spring break at different times - is it so that the entire country isn't on vacation at the same time? or in some places because it's still to cold to really be classed as spring? or something else entirely - is there even really an answer to it?

 

[spiceycat]

each school break is determined by the school board of directors,districts, county - what ever you call it.

they determine when THEIR school(s) will have off.

the state or federal has no control.

even the state universities set their own schedule.

so there is a wide variety.

Disney does a hotel survey - around 2 or 3 weeks before - and they adjust their schedules accordingly.

so the schedule could change again between now and March.

if the hours go down - WDW is expecting less people. If the hours go up Disney is expecting more people.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Have a plan and an alternate plan. If you wake late, try something other than a park. Resort hopping, parasailing, mice rental, etc.