Spring Break crowds following DIS poll??

[djk]

I know the DIS "When is your Spring Break 2011" poll is by no means a scientific study.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2493224&highlight=spring+break

Still, I am curious... Have the Spring Break crowds been matching up with the results of the poll at all?

Have any of you visited the parks during more than one of the "Spring Break weeks" or been keeping an eye on wait times online, etc. that you might be in a position to compare one week to another, and let us know how well the poll results mirror reality?

 

[skiingfast]

I have a feeling the poll is fairly accurate. More and more people are wondering why it's crowded because they already had their spring break. And Disney has the Dining Deal for the week of the second peak on the poll suggesting they expect it to be very busy that week in particular.

 

[abouley]

We were there the week of March 21st which was anticipated to be the busiest. BUT, it rained a lot that week and crowds were not terrible. A friend of mine was there the week before and said it was very, very crowded. The one completely sunny day while I was there was definitely busy even first thing in the morning (it was a early entry day with a 9:00 regular park opening).

I found the patterns to be different than other times I've been there during crowded times....fairly long lines for even rides like small world and pirates but not crazy crowded in the walkways and for shows. I wondered if it had to do with less locals/AP people but more tourists. I also thought that overall DCA seemed busier than I'm used to seeing (even on the rainy days)....Although we got onto screamin with 5-10 minutes waits when it was rainy!

Our next trip is July and I'm definitely a bit worried about those crowds...can't remember the last time I did a summer trip!

 

[cloudconnected1039]

I took a half day trip yesterday with a friend and I found it to be pretty crowded. Lines for nearly all major attractions were 50 minutes minimum. But, we were able to fit in all of the major rides from when we arrived at 1 pm until it closed at midnight. We only FP'd two rides and we also got to watch the fireworks as well as The Magic, The Memories and You. So it's all VERY possible to accomplish!! Here's a list of the rides we did:

Space Mountain
Haunted Mansion
Pirates of the Caribbean
Indiana Jones (FP)
It's a Small World
Matterhorn
Big Thunder
Jungle Cruise
Buzz Lightyear
California Screamin' (FP)
Toy Story Midway Mania
Tower of Terror
Soarin' Over California

and about an hour and a half worth of time waiting for the fireworks and eating/buying food

Goes to show that a busy Spring Break day is not the end of the world

 

[JH87]

yes, i went the week of March 14th to March 18th which right now is at the highest with 95 votes, and yes it was crazy busy. FP ran out for major rides like ToT and Space before 2pm some days, and all the big rides had lines of over an hr by noon, and some close to 2 hrs. Lots of people and crowds, the line for TSMM was nuts!!!! We didn't even attempt that.

Although I love DLR at any time of year, (because it's DLR! ) I don't think I will ever go back during Spring Break. I just didn't enjoy the atmosphere as much. Lots of teens/young kids messing around without parents & being disrespectful.

I think it was busier than my early Aug trip last year, and I would say it was pretty equal to the Saturday/Sunday trip in mid-October that I took last year.

 

[mama2dutchies]

I know the DIS "When is your Spring Break 2011" poll is by no means a scientific study.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2493224&highlight=spring+break

Still, I am curious... Have the Spring Break crowds been matching up with the results of the poll at all?

Have any of you visited the parks during more than one of the "Spring Break weeks" or been keeping an eye on wait times online, etc. that you might be in a position to compare one week to another, and let us know how well the poll results mirror reality?

It seems like all of us up in sacramento etc has it the week of the 18th

 

[Krissy Marissy]

We have been going once or twice a week since mid march. It wasn't bad in march except the 22nd was very crowded! Was also one of the few nice days in a while so I'm sure that didn't help. Last week we went twice, once on thursday and then again on saturday. It was not bad thursday which is why we went back saturday, which was a bit more crowded at times but understandable for a weekend. Nothing that made me regret going. We went yesterday and it was nice, great comfortable weather and crowds honestly felt the same they have been for the last few weeks.

We will be heading back on tuesday or wednesday and I'm hoping the crowds are either the same as they've been or slightly smaller. It's been busy but not overly crowded. Lines have been moving at a good pace and people seem to be nice and friendly, which really helps when you are in large crowds. I will say 2 weeks ago I saw the longest line I have ever seen for the carousel! But it thankfully moves very quickly.

BTW did you know they let 5 ride in a peter pan pirate ship? When we were there on saturday they told everyone in line that small groups of five are allowed to ride together. And we did. So that was nice. Just hadn't done that before Nice to know that we can.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

yes, i went the week of March 14th to March 18th which right now is at the highest with 95 votes, and yes it was crazy busy. FP ran out for major rides like ToT and Space before 2pm some days, and all the big rides had lines of over an hr by noon, and some close to 2 hrs. Lots of people and crowds, the line for TSMM was nuts!!!! We didn't even attempt that.

Although I love DLR at any time of year, (because it's DLR! ) I don't think I will ever go back during Spring Break. I just didn't enjoy the atmosphere as much. Lots of teens/young kids messing around without parents & being disrespectful.

I think it was busier than my early Aug trip last year, and I would say it was pretty equal to the Saturday/Sunday trip in mid-October that I took last year.

I wanted to agree that I have seen a LOT more young groups of kids without parents around. I had to tell a group of young boys on the riverboat that spitting over the back was not okay. I told them to stop spitting and one had the nerve to ask "why?" So I said, it's gross and not cool. lol They stopped but yeah, lots of kids without being watched makes for an interesting day for me.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Well, the Southern California AP is blocked out April 17-30. This would be the first sign to me of busy times expected.

- Dreams