Spring break crowds the 4th week in April?

[CeruleanMoon]

My son's elementary school has their 2018 spring break scheduled for the last full week in April. Since joining this site, I've become aware that many schools don't have their spring breaks this late, but I'm not sure on how unusual we may be. I had pretty much nixed this week originally since I assumed it would be a common spring break time, but now I'm reconsidering. We were originally thinking about going to Disney in May, so moving it to April wouldn't be too far off, and then my son wouldn't have to miss school.

The crowd calendars I've checked seem to indicate that it would be a moderate crowd time. I want to believe them but I'm nervous. For those of you who have been during this time frame, what was your experience?

Is there anything else I need to know about this week in April? Would it still be an ok time to visit the water parks?

 

[CAS239]

Spring breaks will be all over the place March-April, but with last week of April, I think you'll avoid majority of spring breakers

If you want to see more insight of when others around the country are on spring break next year, there was a thread made: https://www.disboards.com/threads/spring-break-2018-when-is-yours.3592869/

 

[maltdizzy]

Easter is April 1st, 2018 (ha!), with the two busiest Spring Break weeks typically being the week before and after Easter. Most non-Easter-anchored SB's cover early-March to mid-April.

I wouldn't expect crowds for a late April 2018 trip to be anything more than moderate, probably similar to May. Your mileage may vary.

 

[CeruleanMoon]

Spring breaks will be all over the place March-April, but with last week of April, I think you'll avoid majority of spring breakers

If you want to see more insight of when others around the country are on spring break next year, there was a thread made: https://www.disboards.com/threads/spring-break-2018-when-is-yours.3592869/

Thanks for the link! This is a useful thread.

 

[CeruleanMoon]

So I see there is a Star Wars Half Marathon weekend going on April 19-22 2018. I've checked their website, but I don't understand where the running is taking place. How will this affect the parks?

 

[maltdizzy]

So I see there is a Star Wars Half Marathon weekend going on April 19-22 2018. I've checked their website, but I don't understand where the running is taking place. How will this affect the parks?

RunDisney events tend to bring a lot of people in for the weekends. Disney found they were a great way to bolster normally slow times of year. There are typicality races for two or three consecutive mornings, plus their other events like packet pick-up, an expo, and a pre-race dinner. But most of it is focused on the weekends.

 

[CeruleanMoon]

RunDisney events tend to bring a lot of people in for the weekends. Disney found they were a great way to bolster normally slow times of year. There are typicality races for two or three consecutive mornings, plus their other events like packet pick-up, an expo, and a pre-race dinner. But most of it is focused on the weekends.

So they run through the parks themselves? If we go that week in April, we'll be looking to attend a park on that Sunday, so I'm wondering what park they'd all be running through.

 

[maltdizzy]

So they run through the parks themselves? If we go that week in April, we'll be looking to attend a park on that Sunday, so I'm wondering what park they'd all be running through.

From 2016, routes change often, this was the Half (3 parks), the 10K would be the day before and have a different route...

 

[CeruleanMoon]

Thanks for the map! I never would have known about having to plan around these sort of events if it weren't for this site! Sounds like a fun time (I love Star Wars) but I'm not sure we would want to be in the thick of things either. So many decisions!

 

[L_MD]

Thanks for the map! I never would have known about having to plan around these sort of events if it weren't for this site! Sounds like a fun time (I love Star Wars) but I'm not sure we would want to be in the thick of things either. So many decisions!

I've never been for a runDisney race, but looking at the website this past year the 10k and the half-marathon started at 5:30am and the 5k at 6am. By the time you got to the parks, most people would probably (?) be done. But I don't know how the runners affect the parks after the race is over.

 

[hsmamato2]

interesting question..... I checked the thread..... we are,for the first time in our lives booking a trip for my nephews spring break schedule! No choice, mom is a teacher and that's it- we are going the 3rd week of April,should I just assume it's going to be really busy? Never been on a school break time before, my own kids were homeschooled!

 

[maltdizzy]

I've never been for a runDisney race, but looking at the website this past year the 10k and the half-marathon started at 5:30am and the 5k at 6am. By the time you got to the parks, most people would probably (?) be done. But I don't know how the runners affect the parks after the race is over.

I don't either, but the half marathon "starts" at 5:30. They release runners in waves ("corrals"), based on estimated finish times so they don 't all bunch up; faster runners are corralled first so that they won't run into slower runner traffic. I've heard they are still releasing corrals when the first one is finishing the race.

 

[L_MD]

I don't either, but the half marathon "starts" at 5:30. They release runners in waves ("corrals"), based on estimated finish times so they don 't all bunch up; faster runners are corralled first so that they won't run into slower runner traffic. If heard they are still releasing corrals when the first one is finishing the race.

That makes sense, and it also seems like Disney races move a lot slower than typical half-marathons. I guess, if any advice, expect delays!

 

[maltdizzy]

That makes sense, and it also seems like Disney races move a lot slower than typical half-marathons. I guess, if any advice, expect delays!

Yes, it's become a major revenue stream for them and has popularity as a "first race" to train for. But in general, it'll have a LOT more runners with a lot slower "qualifying" pace than a formal marathon or half. As much a s RunDisney wants to promote them a serious marathon, and it can be a qualifier for higher profile marathons like Boston, serious runners have experienced being stuck in/by slower corrals, races being cancelled, finish times being nullified, etc. too often to do them for anything more than fun.

I don't run (unless chasing/being chased) but my DW does.

 

[klmall]

We went the last full week of April this year and it was very busy. It was also somewhat hotter than normal with every day over 95 and very humid. I've seen lower crowds and cooler temps the first week of June than during that particular week in April.

We could get 1 but never more than 2 FP+s after our original 3. Rope drop made things a bit easier especially at the MK but AK (and this was before Pandora) was very very hot and FPs unavailable. And I wouldn't go by any crowd predictions anymore. Our 'moderate time' was definitely higher than that.

Disney's additional parties, festivals and last minute park hour changes make planning much more difficult than in years past. If you're ready for anything just go that week and plan for crowds and high temps. If they don't happen consider yourself lucky!

 

[North of Mouse]

My son's elementary school has their 2018 spring break scheduled for the last full week in April. Since joining this site, I've become aware that many schools don't have their spring breaks this late, but I'm not sure on how unusual we may be. I had pretty much nixed this week originally since I assumed it would be a common spring break time, but now I'm reconsidering. We were originally thinking about going to Disney in May, so moving it to April wouldn't be too far off, and then my son wouldn't have to miss school.

The crowd calendars I've checked seem to indicate that it would be a moderate crowd time. I want to believe them but I'm nervous. For those of you who have been during this time frame, what was your experience?

Is there anything else I need to know about this week in April? Would it still be an ok time to visit the water parks?

We were there this past Apr. 25 - May 6 and we were able to SB Frozen and Soarin' at 15 min. twice and 25 min. twice - probably could have gone on them more. We haven't done rope drops in quite a few years even though we do go early, so we were pleased with the crowd levels (no really slow times anymore).

At HS, we also did SB twice between 20-35min. Got extra FP there in late morning, also one for Frozen one day. The weather was pretty hot a couple days, but the others not that bad. It was before the rains started, so we were very lucky!