March 2016 -Help me pick a date

[bksomody]

Yes I know it's a year away but I plan on booking through DVC at the 11 month mark and I'm having a hard time deciding when to go. I could use input on which Spring Break week would have a lower crowd level.
I know Spring Break is crazy but is there a difference in the crowd level the week before or the week after Easter? Easter is earlier next year, March 27.

 

[Madame]

I don't have an answer for you, but March 14-18 us Canucks will invade Florida (well those of us who don't winter there ).

 

[PSUGuy]

'Spring Break' is all over the place, different schools breaking at different times. My university and the ones my kids attended took the first week in March so that's when we went. Crowd levels weren't bad but we did notice that as were about to leave, 8 days after arrival, that crowds were building so I'd advise going in the first 10 days, the earlier the better. We don't do that anymore since we prefer Food&Wine and Oct has more reliably warm weather.

Bill From PA

 

[Best Aunt]

"Spring break" usually refers to college vacations. At Disney World I would be more concerned about when the younger kids (grades kindergarten through about 8th grade) were having school vacations. This year Easter is Sunday April 5. The public schools where I live are closed beginning Monday March 30. The kids go back to school on Monday April 6. So if I were planning for 2016 and Easter is Sunday March 27, I would want to be checking out by the 18th.

Also, if you look at the 2016 DVC point charts, the point season changes and the number of points required for a reservation goes up on March 20:

http://advc.disney.go.com/media/dvc...6/dvcresorts/2016-BCV-Pt-Cht-FINAL-121614.pdf

 

[bksomody]

"Spring break" usually refers to college vacations. At Disney World I would be more concerned about when the younger kids (grades kindergarten through about 8th grade) were having school vacations. This year Easter is Sunday April 5. The public schools where I live are closed beginning Monday March 30. The kids go back to school on Monday April 6. So if I were planning for 2016 and Easter is Sunday March 27, I would want to be checking out by the 18th.

Also, if you look at the 2016 DVC point charts, the point season changes and the number of points required for a reservation goes up on March 20:

http://advc.disney.go.com/media/dvc...6/dvcresorts/2016-BCV-Pt-Cht-FINAL-121614.pdf

It looks like the point chart shows a higher rate the week before & after Easter, so I'm starting to think those two weeks aren't going to be a big difference. They're both busy!

 

[bksomody]

'Spring Break' is all over the place, different schools breaking at different times. My university and the ones my kids attended took the first week in March so that's when we went. Crowd levels weren't bad but we did notice that as were about to leave, 8 days after arrival, that crowds were building so I'd advise going in the first 10 days, the earlier the better. We don't do that anymore since we prefer Food&Wine and Oct has more reliably warm weather.

Bill From PA

This was the first year I went in March, the 14th-18th, & loved the weather. It was nice to get away from the cold so I thought I'd give Easter a try because I have that week off.

 

[MermaidMommy]

It looks like the point chart shows a higher rate the week before & after Easter, so I'm starting to think those two weeks aren't going to be a big difference. They're both busy!

The week before and the week after Easter are typically the busiest of the year, after the week between Christmas and New Year's. You can look at the crowd calendars at easyWDW to get an idea of crowd levels, but I don't think there's a significant difference between them. They'll both be very busy.

Disney's Spring Break period (which includes all ages, not just college) lasts about 6 weeks, starting the second week in March. If you can go any time other than the weeks before and after Easter, you'll have lower crowds.

 

[itchin2go]

As others have said, Spring Break is a different week for different people.

My daughter's Spring Break in 2016 is the first week in March, so that's when we're going. I visited WDW Thanksgiving week most recently, and found the crowds to be really manageable. For that reason, I'm no longer as worried about "picking the right week". As they say, having a good touring plan is more important.

 

[Flynnismine]

We'll be arriving on the 26th, which is DD's birthday. Her 2016 spring break runs March 21st-April 1st so we're locked into those dates. I know crowds will be up there during that week but it'll be fun to be at Disney for her birthday, Easter and also F&G.

 

[bksomody]

My dates aren't very flexible either but it's either go when it's busy or don't go at all. I vote for going when it's busy.

 

[senadler]

I think either week is going to have the highest crowds of the year. I would just go with which one is more convenient for your schedule. Last year our kids spring break fell the week before easter, and while it was very busy, we still had a great time. You definitely have to get to the parks at opening, by 11 AM the parks are packed.