My wife and I have been battling over this one...

[REJ1167]

Planning trip next year with our three kids (9, 4, 3)
We are trying our best to avoid the big crowds and cannot decide whether to go the 3rd week of March or the end of April. Probably spend most of our time at the Magic Kingdon and MGM. Easter falls on April 12th for what it's worth.
Any advice/suggestions from folks that have been there around these dates.
Thanks a bunch !
RJ

 

[ChristmasElf]

The end of April will have less crowds as most of the country is back in school, Spring Breaks are over and our schools in Orange county don't get out til the end of May so the locals kids will be in school as well.
The weather is nice (not too crazy hot yet) as well.

 

[dzneelvr]

I agree with the first poster. Another option: after new years in mid January is a fabulous time to go. We did this when our kids were in elementary school and it was so wonderful to be able to take on WDW at that paceand get out of the frigid Illinois winter for a week

 

[hmdavid]

We were theer during third week of March this year and crowds were crazy! I have not been in April, but I think it would have to be better. You would not have to worry about Easter or spring break crowds.

 

[karliebug]

When is Easter? The week before,during and after would be crowded as people like to take advantage of the days before and after the holiday. I would vote for the end of April.

 

[of2dbeach]

Planning trip next year with our three kids (9, 4, 3)
We are trying our best to avoid the big crowds and cannot decide whether to go the 3rd week of March or the end of April. Probably spend most of our time at the Magic Kingdon and MGM. Easter falls on April 12th for what it's worth.
Any advice/suggestions from folks that have been there around these dates.
Thanks a bunch !
RJ

here is a good link for planning. http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/weather/whentovisit.asp
it also gives you the holiday from now till 2010!! it has alot of other helpful into on it as well Easter is April 12 2009 March would be better because it is not as rainy . plus it is a bit cooler as far as weather goes. i would suggest whatever you choose get trip insurance. Now we have wildfires all over the place and next mo is the start of hurricane season ( lucky me ) have a great time !

 

[*ashley_b*]

Hey there! I agree with some other posters- I would go in April. I just got back from a trip last month (we went April 17-21) and as far as crowds go, it wasn't bad at all. The weather was great, no rain and not too hot. That's definitely what I recommend, having just been there to experience that time of year!

 

[chcmama]

We were just there the last week of April and first week of May, the crowds weren't bad at all. I've heard March is crazy because of spring break so I would vote for April.

 

[themudd4]

the end of April is nice. Crowds low, weather great!
Stay away from late March and early April. between Spring Break nad Easter the crowds are YIKES!!!!!

 

[snickerboo]

Until this trip, we have always gone the week after Easter week (the week after the week that easter Monday falls in) and it has been a good time to go-great weather, low crowds. The only drawback has been that grad nights start. We didn't find there were too many teens to deal with in the parks but MK does close early the Saturday night of grad nights for the grad party.

 

[stellablue3]

We went April 24 - May 4th, and if we did not use a fast pass, did not have to wait more than maybe 20 min in any given line. With the FP, the longest line was 10 min. The weather was low to mid eighties, no rain. I would definately do this time frame again.

 

[TallyTutter]

Be careful, be VERY careful of the last week in April!!!! We were down April 25 - 30 & the weekend was HORRIBLE!!! Cheerleaders & class trips OMG! FYI, Indiana Jones was where they held their competition so it was off limits. They took over the Studios!

The cheerleaders make life unbearable for everyone, they scream, they cuss, they laugh, they giggle, they jump, they CHEER in line, they pout, they fight, they yell, they talk on their cell phones during shows, they text while walking, they break in line to get with their friends, they run so they can get ahead of you & then stop, they argue with adults! Having spent the weekend with them my biggest complaint is - THEY EXIST!

Then there are the class trips! Read the above again, yes, they do cheer because the cheerleaders teach it to them & then they see who can cheer the loudest!!!! Heaven help you if a ride stops, even for a few minutes. They make it their business to create mischief!

True story. We had been in MK all day, we intentionally went back to our room at POP mid day to take a nap so we would be nice & rested & feel like coming back to watch the fireworks. We watched the time & made our way to the platform w/table & chairs that sit right under Tink's flightline. We had perfect seats, right up front. It was a very pleasant night, nice & quiet with a really nice breeze. I went to ice cream parlour to get my DD & myself an ice cream, we had been waiting all day for the fireworks & the ice cream. No sooner had I gotten back to the table did about 30 teenagers - don't know from what country but they didn't speak English - descend upon us like a swarm of locust! First thing you know they are standing in front of us & pulling any extra chairs away from the tables & sitting at the rails. DH didn't allow any of that, at least in front of us, but others weren't as protective of their spot. The people at the table next to us even had one guy pull a chair out & sit with them!! He just turned the chair around and started talking to his friends. He was even using their table like it was his!! The kids pulled the chairs right up behind us, I mean right behind us, all you could hear was them yelling & chairs scraping. Needless to say, we weren't happy.

The only good thing that came out of it was my daughter saw how rude and obnoxious the kids her age were being and couldn't believe it. She was quite embarrassed.

 

[ImaFunMom]

I'd think almost anytime in March would involve spring break and crowds from some where. Not sure though.....

 

[disneyfan61]

We went 3 times during the last week in April because that is usually when my kids had spring vacation. It is a great time to go. Yes some states have school vacation during that time but we have always had a wonderful time. And hardly no rain & beautiful sunny weather. We had to go end of May this year because my oldest DS is in college & does not have the same vacation as my younger DS.

 

[MichaelH]

We used to go in May alot and the crowds are not that bad. I would vote for going at the end of April, spring break will be over and the crowds should not be bad.

 

[thumperjr9]

We have gone many times at the end of April, beginning of May. It's our favorite time to go.

 

[sunnydaysies]

End of April.

After Easter it should be light until summer vacation. Also, it will be warmer for water fun.

 

[Topo Bella]

Went once in March... never again. I don't know how April is, but some websites have crowd calendars and since our debacle in March, have used these types of resources in planning my trips.

 

[Corjack]

This is exactly what we have been debating and today i decided we are going April30th - May 11th. This year we were there April16-25th and it was nice. NO rain and mild weather. IT was CHILLY at night and after about 6pm swimming was fine until you got out of the water and you FROZE! We are hoping it will be a tad warmer in the evening @ the end of April.

Also the weeks we were there were SB for the New England states(NJ,NY,MA that area) and Canada. TONS of Canadians there.

Jackie

 

[ShellChelle]

Oh no, I hope March won't be too bad! We are planning for March '09, since that's when our kids' spring break is. I was hoping that since Easter is in April in '09, if we went three weeks before Easter the crowds wouldn't be too bad.

We've also gone for the past 3 years for a week in July which includes July 4th. I figure if I can deal with the heat and crowds at that time, March should seem calmer--and if not, at least cooler!