Question/Advice Please!

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

hello, well looks like we have to postpone our trip because of scheduling conflicts. Here is my question, would it be crazy of us to go the last week of March which is our kids spring break? I've seen what it's like at WDW during this time, is Universal just as bad?
The advice part is, because of guard(hubby) and our kids playing sports, the only times we could really go now would be end of March or a weekend in Aug. right before going back to school, which would you recommend?
Thank-you, trying so hard to make it this year as DS(12) really wants to go!

 

[heidijanesmith]

hello, well looks like we have to postpone our trip because of scheduling conflicts. Here is my question, would it be crazy of us to go the last week of March which is our kids spring break? I've seen what it's like at WDW during this time, is Universal just as bad?
The advice part is, because of guard(hubby) and our kids playing sports, the only times we could really go now would be end of March or a weekend in Aug. right before going back to school, which would you recommend?
Thank-you, trying so hard to make it this year as DS(12) really wants to go!

I have not been to US during spring break, but a friend of mine and her family went last year. She said US was "crazy busy", she did purchase the EP as they stayed off site and was very glad.

We have gone to US on August. The later in Aug you go, the less busy it was for us. We did not notice huge crowds for anything other than WWoHP. The problem for us in August is the heat. The heat is intense! We would take daily breaks and tour early AM and sundown.

For crowds I like going in August. For heat issues, I would tour in March and stay on site if possible or get an EP.

Please thank your husband for his service. My son is a Marine and I appreciate his service to our country.

 

[Metro West]

hello, well looks like we have to postpone our trip because of scheduling conflicts. Here is my question, would it be crazy of us to go the last week of March which is our kids spring break? I've seen what it's like at WDW during this time, is Universal just as bad?
The advice part is, because of guard(hubby) and our kids playing sports, the only times we could really go now would be end of March or a weekend in Aug. right before going back to school, which would you recommend?
Thank-you, trying so hard to make it this year as DS(12) really wants to go!

Spring Break is bad at all the local parks so you can expect long lines and heavy crowds during that time. I did once...never again.

I don't think a weekend in August would be great this year because of the crowds Diagon Alley will bring. You might be better off going in March but it's going to be busy regardless of when you visit.

 

[RMulieri]

Spring break means very heavy crowds
August before school WAS slow.This year with Diagon Alley opening, it will not be slow .Personally , March would probably be better

 

[macraven]

i went during spring break one time.


won't repeat that mistake ever again.


you have the express lines to use for less line waits but you still have to deal with the crowds in the park for restrooms, stores and eateries, plus just walking around.

 

[sandyplayer]

We went in 2012.....2 nights at Hard Rock.....it was busy but if you do hope drop (we did both days,IoA opened at 8, we got there at 7:15 with hotel pass, US opened at 9, we got there for an 8 opening by mistake so we did mini golf, then hit parks by 9:15.....both were awesome until 12/1.....we went back to pool, went back to parks one night, did city walk another.....never felt that crowded.....
I had made reservations for dinner at margaritaville and mythos, without them the wait would have been about 90 min, luckily for us we had reservations.

We went Monday after Palm Sunday to Wednesday....listed online as highest crowd levels. Maybe it worse Easter weekend?

Hard rock pool was outrageously crowded. For some reason we loved the chaos.

I would not go spring break and stay off site. Our express passes were amazing. We did some rides over and over without a line. And the ability to walk back for a break when the crowds hit was perfect.

 

[glocon]

If it were me- I'd pick august since Diagon Alley should be open by then ( wouldn't want to miss that). Something to consider even if u r not Harry Potter fans since it should be a state of the art kind of ride!!!!

 

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

Thank-you all for your input, a lot to consider! heidijanesmith , thank your son as well!!

 

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

think I'm leaning for Aug. I realize that Diagon Alley will be opening and risk more crowds, but hopefully staying onsite will help with that, but I just feel that it would be more crowded during spring break..
Was also thinking of Cabana, but rom what I've read they won't be offering the Express Line so guess it will be the Royal!

 

[macraven]

both hotels have early entry.
Cbay does not include the free unlimited usage of the express lines but rph does.

 

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

both hotels have early entry.
Cbay does not include the free unlimited usage of the express lines but rph does.

exactly, which is why I think it will rph.. so much going through my mind and I keep going back in forth with it... sometimes I think hmm maybe the last week of March won't be to bad, I could do a few days of Disney then 2 days of Universal.. I've looked at the crowd levels and some places just say moderate crowds, but maybe with FP and Express Lines it would be doable plus I noticed for some reason that hotels are higher in Aug. Just so worried I'll wait and something will come up with schedules,lol I really have a lot to think about, going crazy...

 

[macraven]

you could do a room only reservation now for March in order to get a room in advance.

if you later decide to make your trip in august instead, cancel the March ressie and switch to the summer dates.
have the deposit for the new dates instead of a refund.

as long as you cancel on the 6th day out from arrival, your deposit is 100% refundable.

 

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

you could do a room only reservation now for March in order to get a room in advance.

if you later decide to make your trip in august instead, cancel the March ressie and switch to the summer dates.
have the deposit for the new dates instead of a refund.

as long as you cancel on the 6th day out from arrival, your deposit is 100% refundable.

good idea, might do that! thx

 

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

ok so we did figure out that the only weekend before school starts we could go in Aug is 15-17, still debating, either way from what every says we'll be dealing with crowds. So it looks like either Mar. 26-28 or Aug 15-17 ?? Decisions, decisions, *sigh...

 

[mrsabbott]

We will be there for Spring Break the following week. We will arrive on March 29th.

Truthfully, I'm a little nervous about crowds but my thoughts (hopes??) are that a lot of people will put off going until summer so they can experience Diagon Alley. Also, different spring breaks fall during different weeks, so perhaps that will disperse the crowds as well.

I did find THIS CROWD CALENDAR that estimates the different crowd levels at different times. During the week you are going the crowds are said to be MODERATE..

I'm also expecting it to be considerably less humid during Spring Break then in August.. another thing to consider.

Ideally, we would take our vacations in February when it is the off season, but with 3 kiddos in school.. you gotta do what you gotta do! Sometimes, I wish I homeschooled just so we could have more flexibility! LOL!

 

[rowan555]

We went around then last year. The heat was brutal, even for us coming from New Orleans where the humidity approaches 100% on a regular basis, lol. The crowds were moderate, but lines got really long in the afternoon - lots of European visitors, since I believe school begins later for them. I'd go with March when it may be crowded, but the weather will be much nicer.

 

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

We will be there for Spring Break the following week. We will arrive on March 29th.

Truthfully, I'm a little nervous about crowds but my thoughts (hopes??) are that a lot of people will put off going until summer so they can experience Diagon Alley. Also, different spring breaks fall during different weeks, so perhaps that will disperse the crowds as well.

I did find THIS CROWD CALENDAR that estimates the different crowd levels at different times. During the week you are going the crowds are said to be MODERATE..

I'm also expecting it to be considerably less humid during Spring Break then in August.. another thing to consider.

Ideally, we would take our vacations in February when it is the off season, but with 3 kiddos in school.. you gotta do what you gotta do! Sometimes, I wish I homeschooled just so we could have more flexibility! LOL!

believe me I understand, trying to do it around school, guard and the kids playing ball is difficult. As far as heat/humidity, we're not to worried with it, used to it as we live in the panhandle of FL and out in it all summer anyway with DD playing travel ball
my main worry is doing my best to go when I think it may be less crowded and more tolerable with the express lines...DH can be quite the grump with crowds,lol...

 

[mrsabbott]

We went around then last year. The heat was brutal, even for us coming from New Orleans where the humidity approaches 100% on a regular basis, lol. The crowds were moderate, but lines got really long in the afternoon - lots of European visitors, since I believe school begins later for them. I'd go with March when it may be crowded, but the weather will be much nicer.

We lived in Ft. Polk for about 4 years and I HATED summers there! The humidity would just steal my breath away.. I always felt like I was suffocating! But the weather was awesome in the spring!!

 

[mrsabbott]

believe me I understand, trying to do it around school, guard and the kids playing ball is difficult. As far as heat/humidity, we're not to worried with it, used to it as we live in the panhandle of FL and out in it all summer anyway with DD playing travel ball
my main worry is doing my best to go when I think it may be less crowded and more tolerable with the express lines...DH can be quite the grump with crowds,lol...

Well, the crowd calendar for nearly the entire month of August says it will be busy.. I would personally shoot for Spring Break.. especially with Diagon Alley opening this summer. I mean, even with the express passes.. it will still just be CROWDED!

My Hubs isn't a fan of crowds either..

 

[rowan555]

We lived in Ft. Polk for about 4 years and I HATED summers there! The humidity would just steal my breath away.. I always felt like I was suffocating! But the weather was awesome in the spring!!

I'm hoping it's still halfway decent which we hit Orlando mid-May!