Scared of Spring Break!

[DisneyTiger]

Has anyone heard of a website you can go to to check spring break times for schools around the country???

I just booked a trip 3/17/10 - 3/24/10 and I'm very nervous about the crowd levels. We are so used to traveling at off times but we want to be there to celebrate my DS's 3rd birthday on the 19th. Anybody know what I should expect???

 

[a1tinkfans]

don't know of a webste, but moms/dads will chime in here for you,
I am in NE and 2010 spring break is actually EARLY next year, our kids will be off the week of 3/29.(M)..........ending 4/4 Sunday

Spring break is BUSY everywhere, whether you chose Disney or Mexico or Cruise based on our experience...the schools though have really changed up the schedule for next year....for us, NOT for the better........

 

[stacy6552]

Its less about dpring break and more about the week before and after Easter. But even if that's when you are going, I wouldn't sweat it. Yes it will be crowded, but a little planning will see you covered. Don't worry we, here on the DIS, will make sure you're prepaired. And one of the benefits to going then is that the parks are all over very late hours so there is plenty of time to do everything you want.

First tip, avoid gate crowds. You can do this by avoiding opening time. Either make and ADR for someplace inside the park well before opening and beat everyone inside, or make it a late morning.

Second tip, relax and remember the late hours. If you become overstressed, take an hour and sit on a bench with ice cream. Or even head back to your resort for a break. Head back around dinner time and play until you drop.

 

[duckybelle]

Last year we went in March, and it wasn't too bad. We are planning on going March 21-27 next year also, and we don't plan on worrying about it. We hit rope drops, and followed tips on Dis, as well as took advantage of fastpasses, and had accomplished MORE than we had planned! This time we are staying onsite and taking advantage of EMH, so it should be even better! Just remember to have FUN!

 

[tinkmom2]

The last three times we have gone have been either during Easter week or the same week you are going and the crowds really weren't that bad. We planned our days around the Extra Magic hours and didn't find the lines long at all.(But we fastpassed everything we could) We are changing it up a bit this year and going in November

 

[msmayor]

There's no real way to tell when will be 'good' or 'bad' as it relates to spring break...so many schools follow different schedules, and its not just public schools. Remember that colleges have spring breaks as well that don't often coincide with Easter.

(my daughter's college spring break is whatever week includes March 17 every year).

Years ago I was told by a CM that Spring Break weeks being right around President's Day (I believe there are some Canadian schools on holiday around that time) and runs until the week after Easter.

A lot of the schools in my area also run their senior class trips to WDW the first and second week of March. My daughter was down there last March and said there were quite a few school groups there.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

My son's BDay is 3/18 and mine is 3/19, and we wouldn't even think of WDW - even for free. Forget it. Crowds will be 8+, with a chance of a 10 on any given day.

 

[DisneyTiger]

Its less about dpring break and more about the week before and after Easter. But even if that's when you are going, I wouldn't sweat it. Yes it will be crowded, but a little planning will see you covered. Don't worry we, here on the DIS, will make sure you're prepaired. And one of the benefits to going then is that the parks are all over very late hours so there is plenty of time to do everything you want.

Awwwww, thank you. Good point about the parks being opened late

First tip, avoid gate crowds. You can do this by avoiding opening time. Either make and ADR for someplace inside the park well before opening and beat everyone inside, or make it a late morning.

Second tip, relax and remember the late hours. If you become overstressed, take an hour and sit on a bench with ice cream. Or even head back to your resort for a break. Head back around dinner time and play until you drop.

Thanks so much for the tips. You know, as many times as we've been, we've never taken advantage of EMH!! And we'll be there for a full week so we'll have the luxury of being able to take our time.

The last three times we have gone have been either during Easter week or the same week you are going and the crowds really weren't that bad. We planned our days around the Extra Magic hours and didn't find the lines long at all.(But we fastpassed everything we could) We are changing it up a bit this year and going in November

What times have you gone to compare to the Easter / Spring Break times? We've always gone at really slow times so I'm just nervous about it. Also, when you say you planned your days around EMH... do you mean that you avoided the parks that had EMH or you used the EMH? I ask that only because I've heard that the parks with EMH tend to be more crowded. Thanks for the input

don't know of a webste, but moms/dads will chime in here for you,
I am in NE and 2010 spring break is actually EARLY next year, our kids will be off the week of 3/29.(M)..........ending 4/4 Sunday

Spring break is BUSY everywhere, whether you chose Disney or Mexico or Cruise based on our experience...the schools though have really changed up the schedule for next year....for us, NOT for the better........

Uhhhh, you're scaring me

Last year we went in March, and it wasn't too bad. We are planning on going March 21-27 next year also, and we don't plan on worrying about it. We hit rope drops, and followed tips on Dis, as well as took advantage of fastpasses, and had accomplished MORE than we had planned! This time we are staying onsite and taking advantage of EMH, so it should be even better! Just remember to have FUN!

That's it! Positive thinking

There's no real way to tell when will be 'good' or 'bad' as it relates to spring break...so many schools follow different schedules, and its not just public schools. Remember that colleges have spring breaks as well that don't often coincide with Easter.

(my daughter's college spring break is whatever week includes March 17 every year).

Years ago I was told by a CM that Spring Break weeks being right around President's Day (I believe there are some Canadian schools on holiday around that time) and runs until the week after Easter.

A lot of the schools in my area also run their senior class trips to WDW the first and second week of March. My daughter was down there last March and said there were quite a few school groups there.

I had no idea how crazy President's day is at Disney. This year, it falls right around Mardi Gras which is usually a great time to go (I'm in South Louisiana) but this year, maybe not so much!

My son's BDay is 3/18 and mine is 3/19, and we wouldn't even think of WDW - even for free. Forget it. Crowds will be 8+, with a chance of a 10 on any given day.

Have you ever been at this time???

Not sure which scares me more, your comments about the crowds or the big "Roll Tide" in your siggy! GEAUX TIGERS!!!!! Sorry, I couldn't resist. Nothing like some innocent SEC ribbing!