Nervous about Spring Break crowds.

[BlueFairy]

We're going on the early end of spring break - 3/12-3/16. That's well before Easter as well as the polls I've seen for most school breaks, but it's still peak pricing. TP calendars say 8-9 crowds. Josh says 6-7. I realize they use different scales to measure crowds.

We have good touring plans. Avoiding EMH parks. For the most part we skip headliners and will not be at MK at all (*gasp*). We'll only use a bus for AK. Trying to stick to Easy WDW recommended parks.

We have a few ADRs, but I find that table service slows us down. Will I regret not having more due to long QS lines? I'd rather not wait 30 min in line to order food either.

My concern is how crowded it feels, not the waiting in line. We last visited in 8/2014. I think it felt more crowded than the reality because of the oppressive heat. Obviously that's a non issue.

So how do Spring Break crowds feel to you?

 

[Robo]

We're going on the early end of spring break - 3/12-3/16...
My concern is how crowded it feels, not the waiting in line. We last visited in 8/2014. I think it felt more crowded than the reality because of the oppressive heat. Obviously that's a non issue.

Hmmmmm...

 

[Jfsag123]

We went the same week last year and loved it. We only really felt the crowds on walkways toward the middle of the day. We did mostly TS for meals, so can't really speak to that, but we did have a QS lunch in the American pavilion at Epcot one day and had the place completely to ourselves at 11:30am. We were literally the only ones in there.

Using rope drop, touring plans, and FP+ we didn't wait in a single line for a ride over 15 minutes, with most being much less than that. As for the weather, you never know. Last year was unseasonably warm and we were in shorts and t-shirts everyday.

 

[Alesia]

We're going on the early end of spring break - 3/12-3/16. That's well before Easter as well as the polls I've seen for most school breaks, but it's still peak pricing. TP calendars say 8-9 crowds. Josh says 6-7. I realize they use different scales to measure crowds.

We have good touring plans. Avoiding EMH parks. For the most part we skip headliners and will not be at MK at all (*gasp*). We'll only use a bus for AK. Trying to stick to Easy WDW recommended parks.

We have a few ADRs, but I find that table service slows us down. Will I regret not having more due to long QS lines? I'd rather not wait 30 min in line to order food either.

My concern is how crowded it feels, not the waiting in line. We last visited in 8/2014. I think it felt more crowded than the reality because of the oppressive heat. Obviously that's a non issue.

So how do Spring Break crowds feel to you?

We have been over spring break and have never waited 30 minutes in line for a quick service meal. Heck, we don't even wait that long for rides.

We only ever eat a table service meal once every 3 days. We would rather spend our time on rides and attractions.

The weather may be pretty warm (or not,) but it will definitely be considerably less hot and humid than August.

As far as how crowded it will "feel" goes, I can't really say because I don't know what your threshold is, but I will say that having a good attitude will make a world of difference. Obsessively worrying about something you have no control over will not.

 

[alliecat523]

We go during spring break every year and don't find it terrible at all. If you have a little bit of a plan and a good attitude, you'll have a great trip!

 

[BaltimoreLauren]

I'll be there 3/13-3/16, but I'm not really worried. I've been in the dead of August and the crowds were very manageable.

 

[buyerbrad]

We went last year at the same time and are going again this year too. The thing that has me worried about this year is that the regular park opening time is 9am, while last year it was 8am. That means a whole lot more people at rope drop and one less hour in the park before crowds start to build around 11am.

 

[BlueFairy]

Thanks guys. That puts my mind at ease. We do not travel to WDW during peak times, ever. So I have no experience to compare it with. It sounds like I will really be fine. @Alesia - not obsessing. Just having that last minute thought that I may have underestimated the crowd issue.

@Robo - are you implying there might be miserable heat? Shorts and T's are fine. Heck - we'd even be happy with tropical. But there is no way that it will feel "surface of the sun" hot like a rain soaked August afternoon in Fantasyland. We are from the deep south, and have always been happy with May weather, so March will be manageable.

 

[loves to dive]

Keep in mind F&G will be going on at Epcot so that might make a few adjustments to your plan necessary. I've been during F&G for many years and don't find it too crowded but I've heard other people say it was for them. I guess it depends on your tolerance level, ours is pretty high since we are pretty laid back type people. We are going the week before that and I plan on only taking capri pants and long and short sleeve shirts, the weather can go up and down this time of year and rain can happen as quick as can be. We are from the south as well (Georgia) so upper 70s/lower 80s is kind of chilly to us.

 

[alliecat523]

It can be hot, but won't be like August.

Also, they may still adjust the park hours to accommodate spring break crowds.

 

[DVCcurious]

you should be nervous!

There will be crowds. There will be sore feet. There will be 45 minute bus waits. There will be minor inconveniences.

 

[Robo]

@Robo - are you implying there might be miserable heat? Shorts and T's are fine. Heck - we'd even be happy with tropical. But there is no way that it will feel "surface of the sun" hot like a rain soaked August afternoon in Fantasyland. We are from the deep south, and have always been happy with May weather, so March will be manageable.[/QUOTE]

HERE are the average (and last year's) temperatures for the Orlando area.

Look at the peaks of May and the peaks of Aug.