Question on crowds

[lauris87]

Planning a 5 night trip.
The only factor i need help with is about the crowds (we have all the other factors covered).

All my choices are during busy times, so im just looking for the best option.

Which week will be the LEAST crowded?

December 18- 23, 2015
The week of Thanksgiving, 2015
Or, Spring Break, 2016

What do you think?

 

[anniemae]

Hmmmmm, I would say it depends on what week you are taking about for spring break, some start in late march, others in May and anywhere in between. I would think that would be least crowded, I always thought the holidays were very busy.

 

[DisMommyTX]

Spring break. No doubt. Everyone has different weeks off, so crowds are not nearly as crazy as Christmas or Thanksgiving. Also weather is warm enough for pools without being insanely hot, usually!

 

[anniemae]

Spring break. No doubt. Everyone has different weeks off, so crowds are not nearly as crazy as Christmas or Thanksgiving. Also weather is warm enough for pools without being insanely hot, usually!

Ah that makes sense. I knew someone smart would weigh in!!!

 

[MermaidMommy]

Spring Break starts the second week in March, and lasts for about 6 weeks. Depending on when your spring break falls, it might be busier than Thanksgiving or the week before Christmas. The weeks before and after Easter are the second busiest time of year, after Christmas/New Year's.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Lots of young people having fun during spring break. I'd go then. People watch.

 

[AndiSlamberg]

I would also go during spring break, but like with any crowded time as long as you have a plan you should be okay. You know what you're getting into so you can make the best of it.

 

[Kathryn777]

Reaaaaally. I'm so surprised by that. Depending on when spring break is you may hit a solid 10 in the crowd calendars for the whole week. I know it was that way on our spring break.

I like easywdw. When is your spring break?

 

[lauris87]

Hmmmmm....I was hoping everyone would say Dec. 18-23rd....lol....

My spring break is the week immediately following Easter Sunday, from March 28-April 1.

 

[lauris87]

Reaaaaally. I'm so surprised by that. Depending on when spring break is you may hit a solid 10 in the crowd calendars for the whole week. I know it was that way on our spring break.

I like easywdw. When is your spring break?

It's March 28- April 1. Immediately following Easter

 

[littleblackegg]

Those weeks in March bring those huge, boisterous groups from Argentina and Brazil (mostly girls celebrating their Quinceanera). These ladies are from a very energetic, soccer-centric culture. You wouldn't think turning 15 has anything to do with soccer or national pride, but they chant, and chant, and sing. Nonstop. In lines. On transport. In restaurants. Sometimes their leader has a bullhorn to lead the next chant. And if they meet up from a group from a "rival" nation, it can be deafening. I am not being insulting or disrespectful of these young ladies or their culture. This is really fun for them! They seem to come during Lent and again during the middle of the summer. I am not talking ten people. Disney could be hosting thousands at one time! So, if crowds are an issue I would not come in March unless you can figure out how to avoid them. They wear matching t shirts so you can see them a mile away!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

If I had to pick among these choices, I would go the week in December.

Your week off in Spring next year will be among the worst weeks of the year because Easter falls so early in the year.

The Thanksgiving week will have crowds about equal to the week in December, but you will not have all of the Christmas decorations and shows available.

All that said - I would skip WDW if these were my only choices. As much as I love WDW, I don't love it enough to deal with those conditions.

 

[heywagners]

We went in December in 2013 and from the 15th until the 19th, it was great. Low crowds, easy lines, etc. On the 20th, which was the start of the week before Christmas, it got nuts. I'm not sure if it would be "worse" than a Spring Break time, but it was pretty busy.

Undercover Tourist says any of those times are between an 8-10 crowd, so if those are your only options, just go for the time that works best for you!

 

[danceintherain]

The two weeks next to Easter are second most crowded after the week between Christmas and New Year's. I'm not sure where the week before Christmas falls, but I expect it would be less crowded earlier in the week and progressing to being more crowded later in the week. It also depends, to some degree, the days of the week. Sometimes there are a few extra days to work with between school getting out and Christmas.
Also, because Easter falls in March, the weeks surrounding it will be more crowded than usual. When it falls in April, it's not quite as bad. Generally speaking, schools seems to plan their spring breaks in one of two ways: its either the same week every year (the school district I grew up in had Spring Break the third week of March every year) or it coincides with Easter.

So anyway...I would probably pick Thanksgiving.

 

[scoobygrl79]

Now knowing when your actual spring break is, I think it's a toss up and you should just pick what sounds good. Spring break had the potential to be least crowded if it was much earlier or later, but yours is right smack in the middle. I'm a huge fan of December. Crowd wise, if you were able to just move it up a smidgen in Dec (...two days, maybe?), it would make a big difference.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

Going in December would be the best time to see everything the world has to offer over the holidays. If you go over thanksgiving you won't be able to do holidays around the world much in Epcot as it doesn't start until Black Friday and it is a zoo in the WS

 

[Tink415]

The week before Christmas will be the least crowded of the 3 in my experience. Have fun!

 

[vanyel]

I would say the December dates. Don't wait until the 23rd to go to MK!

 

[sharonabe]

Crowds are going to be about the same for all three of those weeks. Really, the differences will be minimal. Choose the one that makes the most sense for your family, make a good plan, and have a magical vacation.

 

[momimouse27]

Hmmmmm....I was hoping everyone would say Dec. 18-23rd....lol....

My spring break is the week immediately following Easter Sunday, from March 28-April 1.

If you were one week earlier, you would be golden! But once you hit that week that runs into Christmas Day, it gets steadily worse as the week goes on. Not only crowds, but also the resort prices go sky high. I haven't actually been during Christmas week, but relatives have and others I know. Wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole unless I had to.

I have been during Spring Break. We actually went for one day the day before Easter to MK. It was busy, but nothing like the stories I've heard about Christmas week. My dad went during Thanksgiving week and so did my daughter with her bff. It was a madhouse. I second the Spring Break recommendation.