Spring Break / Easter 2024

[Allie_W]

I haven't been to Disney in probably 5+ years. My husband has a work trip the last week of March so I thought it would be fun for me and our 3 year old and 20 month old to tag along and do Disney a few days. My parents are also coming down to help. I didn't realize Easter was in March and with March being a Spring Break month, everything I am reading makes it sound like I am going at the absolute worst time. We bought park hopper passes for that Monday the 25th as that is the only day my husband can come as well. He is not really a ride guy and doesn't like lines, he just wanted to see our daughters reaction for her first time to Disney and because I really wanted him to join. Have I made a horrible mistake?! Are we going to be miserable and not get to ride anything because lines are too long? I don't understand the Genie+ yet and I need to do more research. But is it worth it to buy if we aren't going to ride anything that our 3 year old can't ride? She will most likely only be 38 inch or so by then. Will we even park hop around you think? I just need someone to set my exceptions a little higher than they are, haha.

 

[Mango7100]

With only having a 1 day ticket for your husband, I would not bother with park hopping honestly. Just go to MK based on the ages of your kids. As far as Genie Plus, it will save you time and can be used for some character meet and greets as well, not just rides. Mickey, Ariel, Tiana and Rapunzel, Cinderella are all possible lightening lanes. While the rides you would likely go on with a 3 year old and less than 2 year old don’t typically have huge waits during that week a lot of them will be 45-60 minutes. They won’t be as popular to get lightening lanes as Space Mountain and such so you have easier time getting lightening lanes and can modify so return times are usually not that far out. If your husband doesn’t like lines, will he get crabby and complain about a 45 minute wait? If so, just bite the bullet and buy Genie. There’s a ton of rides you could all do—Dumbo, Small World, Magic Carpets, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, maybe some others like Jungle Cruise, Tomorrowland Speedway, Pirates, etc. Others that don’t use lightening lanes would be the Carousel and PeopleMover.

We have been over Presidents Day, Spring Break, Easter and New Years (so all peak times). Yes it will be crowded. But we easily do 8 lightening lanes at MK during those times. Plan to take a break in the middle of the day and let the kids decompress.

 

[Marthasor]

I agree with everything PP posted. I, personally, would buy Genie+. Perhaps consider making a lunch reservation so you can take some time to decompress (maybe Crystal Palace to see some characters?). Make time to see the parade. I also would not park hop - I would just stay at MK. If it gets to be too much, you can ride the monorail or even take a boat over to Ft. W to see the horses and perhaps go on a pony ride?

 

[Shughart]

Shows are fun too, my favorite show in MK is Philharmagic. If they like Monsters Inc they might like the Monsters Laugh Floor. People mover is a great family ride too (one of my favorite MK rides). If you're not looking to do a lot of headliners/thrill rides, and you temper your expectations, you can have a good time. You could still try Genie+ if you want, but are you able to use it/try it out on days before his arrival?

Definitely read up on it if you can. You can stack up a few rides that way and walk into rides you can all do together. You can fill in with shows or shorter standby lines, snack, shopping, or get balloons.

 

[Trixi Mouse]

Great advice given so far.
My input: if you can, get Genie+ for your entire family to hit Magic Kingdom during the day, then see if the grandparents will watch the littles back at your resort while you use Park Hoppers for you and your husband to go on a 'date' at EPCOT. If you are driving, park at the transportation center and you can take the monorail to Magic Kingdom then back again from EPCOT. (If you are staying on property, then that last bit is not a thing to worry about ). I'm speaking as a mom whose 4 year old didn't even make it for the long haul on his first Magic Kingdom trip, and one that's only had about a dozen date nights since the young man was born (10 years ago )