Spring Break Eek!

[1nfrequent]

I've just discovered that I'll be at the Parks during a spring break period for a number of colleges in March. A large number of colleges. Does anyone have experience of being at WDW during spring break? Should I be worried about park lines and booking my restaurants? Does anyone have any general strategy tips and hints to fire at me?

(FWIW I'm British, so spring break is an alien concept to me and I didn't realise it was so early).

Thanks in advance.

1F

 

[jimandami]

We went last year the second week of March for our anniversary and found it to be fairly crowded....certainly the most crowded we have ever seen it, but we tend to travel in Jan, Oct, or Nov. I would certainly expect crowd levels around 7-8 every day, so I would plan your park days using easy WDW crowd calendar, because it really does make a difference which park you visit each day. If you haven't made dining reservations, then yes, I would definitely start looking at those, especially if you have must-do restaurants...many people have been booking those for a few months already. Are you staying on property? If so, I would definitely start looking at crowd calendars and planning your days so you are ready to book FP+ at the 60 day mark. I also can't stress enough how important rope drop is if you want to get the most band for your buck.

 

[MermaidMommy]

Spring break dates vary around the country, and many school districts have their spring breaks in March - not just colleges. For example, I live in Texas, and pretty much all public schools in the state are off the second week in March. If you're going then, you'll see a LOT of Texans in the parks.

Crowds won't be as bad as Christmas or Easter, but they will be summer-level starting around March 7. (The first week of March will be less crowded.) The good news is that you won't have the summer heat to go with the crowds. As PP said, make your ADR's ASAP, plan on rope drop, and make good use of your FP's.

 

[SeilerBird]

WDW is very crowded almost every day. As crowd calendars become more popular people are learning to come during the lighter days and avoid the heavier days, thus evening things out.

 

[bababear_50]

Our March Break (Spring Break) is a bit later this year
March 16-20, 2015.
I go every March Break and love it.
I will admit if I was a first timer it would not be my choice of a travel time.
Epcot Flower And Garden Festival is a big draw for me,nothing like smelling the roses after a long winter.

Disney Food Blog Link
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2014/...-garden-plus-food-festival-details-announced/


Epcot Flower and Garden Festival info link
http://www.themouseforless.com/tripplanning/wdwparks/annual/flowerandgarden.shtml


Almost all of March crowd calendar is a 7-8 crowd (the first week being the exception--4-5-6)
The last three days of March are 9.
Link here
http://www.easywdw.com/calendar/march-2015-walt-disney-world-crowd-calendar/



I would get all your ducks in a row

Make a few Advance Dining Reservations (ADR)
Consider a special activity
such as "Wishes Dessert Party
"Cruise"
" Epcot illuminations Dessert Party"

Review the Flower Power Concert schedule.Epcot.
Pack a variety of clothing .

I am an early riser even on holidays.
I always do EMH (extra Magic Hours) and rope drop.
I can usually get everything I want done by 11:00 am and then take a break for brunch.

I always book a dinner at raglan road for St Patricks Day celebration,I love the atmosphere in DTD (Downtown Disney).
Yes I know it's busy but I find the crowds just add to the celebration.
Remember to pack something green.

Link to info here
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/downtown-disney/st-patricks-day/

Pack all your patience and think happy thoughts.
Have A Wonderful Trip!
Hugs Mel

 

[1nfrequent]

jimandami:
I would definitely start looking at those, especially if you have must-do restaurants...many people have been booking those for a few months already. Are you staying on property? If so, I would definitely start looking at crowd calendars and planning your days so you are ready to book FP+ at the 60 day mark. I also can't stress enough how important rope drop is if you want to get the most band for your buck.

Many thanks for this (and also to MermaidMommy, SeilerBird and bababear_50). I have taken your collective advice and booked my restaurants (I wouldn't have thought to do that till you said it). Quite surprised at how limited the choices were even this far out but I managed to get everywhere I wanted. I've marked my 60 day FP day in my calendar so I can get on that as well. I'm a solo traveller so I can work around high crowd levels and making rope drop and EMH shouldn't be an issue unless jet lag suddenly hits me.

I get that it's crowded but do students tend to be rowdy in the Parks? (I'm not saying that to criticise US students of any age, it's just that all I've seen about spring break has been on film and TV where it looks like kids really cut loose and booze it up).

I'm staying at Beach Club so I'm hoping I'm not going to be subjected to any loud groups or massive parties.

Cheers to all and best wishes for Christmas and New Year!

1F

 

[MermaidMommy]

Many thanks for this (and also to MermaidMommy, SeilerBird and bababear_50). I have taken your collective advice and booked my restaurants (I wouldn't have thought to do that till you said it). Quite surprised at how limited the choices were even this far out but I managed to get everywhere I wanted. I've marked my 60 day FP day in my calendar so I can get on that as well. I'm a solo traveller so I can work around high crowd levels and making rope drop and EMH shouldn't be an issue unless jet lag suddenly hits me. I get that it's crowded but do students tend to be rowdy in the Parks? (I'm not saying that to criticise US students of any age, it's just that all I've seen about spring break has been on film and TV where it looks like kids really cut loose and booze it up). I'm staying at Beach Club so I'm hoping I'm not going to be subjected to any loud groups or massive parties. Cheers to all and best wishes for Christmas and New Year! 1F

You shouldn't have any problems with spring break-type rowdiness. That primarily happens at beaches, and WDW is much more of a family destination. On our spring break trips, the crowds have been just like you'd expect in summer or any other busy time. We've stayed at deluxe. mod, and value, and have never had any issues with rowdy kids.

 

[Ronda93]

Agree with the pp. The spring breaks you mention are colleges. but what drives the Disney crowds are the breaks for younger kids. They all cluster in mid March. Spring break craziness is usually confined to the coasts.

 

[1nfrequent]

Brilliant - thanks all!

1F

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If you want the very popular restaurants you porbably should have booked them a couple of months ago.

A bunch of college kids generally can't afford to booze it up at WDW. You may see some around the parks. You won't see the eponymous college spring breakers. They'll go to the beach.

 

[soniam]

Spring break dates vary around the country, and many school districts have their spring breaks in March - not just colleges. For example, I live in Texas, and pretty much all public schools in the state are off the second week in March. If you're going then, you'll see a LOT of Texans in the parks

That's funny. Most schools in Austin are doing it 3/16-20 to coincide with the SouthxSouthwest music events. The town gets crazy, and it's nice to leave.