Spring break or summer break?

[Sammy Cat]

I am in the early stages of planning our trip for next year and I am trying to determine which time will be better to visit for our family. We have school-aged children so we really only have break times as options. Heat and crowds are both an issue for us, but as I understand it, DL is milder than WDW in the summer, so I will take the heat if the crowds will be lighter. So my question is, when is DL more crowded? Late March or July?

I would prefer late March for the milder weather alone, but I will go in July and chance the heat if you can say for sure it will be less crowded than March.

Any helpful advice is appreciated.

 

[pixiewings71]

Crowds are high during Spring and Summer, they just are because that's when most people can take vacations.

It is "milder" in So Cal but it's still hot!! In CA we don't have the humidity that they have in FL so that's a major factor.

 

[coaches24]

I've only been once in July and that was in 05. We went on a Fri, Sat, Sun. Fri was very busy but still doable. Sat was (surprise to us do to poor planning) the 50th anniversary of the parks so it was beyond crowded. Then Sun wasn't bad at all (of course after Sat our judgment on crowds might have changed).

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Summer crowds are spread over 3 months. Spring break is concentrated over several weeks. And the peak of the spring break crowds are the week before and after Easter (late March 2013).

 

[cindyland]

We did Spring Break at DL a few years ago. It rained and rained and rained. Not light sprinkles, torrential downpour. Cold, miserable rain. We thought at first it would be great because it would clear out the park, but we got so soaked at Small World (that "waterfall" of an entrance did us in) that we were also forced to leave the park and I couldn't talk anyone into going back until it stopped raining.

I love summer at DL. EVERYTHING is open, lots of entertainment options, beautiful weather. And if you get a little warm there's Splash Mtn and ice cream bars. It's just a wonderful experience. I don't really mind the crowds because we go with a plan and do what we want to do.

Personally I love fall at DL the best, the overlapping Halloween and Christmas seasons.

 

[skiingfast]

I would prefer late March for the milder weather alone, but I will go in July and chance the heat if you can say for sure it will be less crowded than March.

If you go during midweek in July after the week of the 4th it's quite manageable. That is one reason I prefer mid Summer.

During Spring I like the fireworks show better than the Summer offer.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

I am in the early stages of planning our trip for next year and I am trying to determine which time will be better to visit for our family. We have school-aged children so we really only have break times as options. Heat and crowds are both an issue for us, but as I understand it, DL is milder than WDW in the summer, so I will take the heat if the crowds will be lighter. So my question is, when is DL more crowded? Late March or July?

I would prefer late March for the milder weather alone, but I will go in July and chance the heat if you can say for sure it will be less crowded than March.

Any helpful advice is appreciated.

I just need to clarify something...you cant go in with the thought that DL is going to be milder than wdw EVER!!! The differences between space are HUGE...wdw is very spread out and compared to DL crowds and what they can be its really nothing....because DL is so small and compact, its going to feel really jam packed and literally there are areas ie Adventureland where you are not going to be moving at all through there...I tend to avoid AL at all costs after the morning or until after the last F! is over for the night...so whether you go at spring break or in summer you are going to deal with crowds...you will understand what I mean once you've gone..when I went to wdw over the holidays I never for one minute thought it was crowded except for Main St. at MVMCP and even then, it seemed normal to me because thats what DL is like alot of the time anymore...just go prepared for crowds either way and you wont be let down

 

[skiingfast]

I just need to clarify something...you cant go in with the thought that DL is going to be milder than wdw EVER!!!

Mild is a very correct word to use when comparing weather.

The differences between space are HUGE...wdw is very spread out and compared to DL crowds and what they can be its really nothing....because DL is so small and compact, its going to feel really jam packed and literally there are areas ie Adventureland where you are not going to be moving at all through there

This has a couple problems.

Talking about Adventureland is an extreme example and not indicative of the resort as a whole. Walt Disney knew that Adventureland was a pinch point as soon as crowds formed in Disneyland. It was the prime reason Disney has avoided this mistake it made in the 50's.

While DL and a WDW park may have the same attendance on a given day, which is more crowded can be looked at in two ways. Is it WDW with less attractions and longer lines? Or is it DL with narrower walking areas, that get worse on crowded days as the outdoor queues expand into them?

 

[Sammy Cat]

Thanks for your thoughtful responses. You've given me a lot to consider. It sounds, though, like it might be equally busy and that I should avoid holiday (Easter, 4th of July) weeks if I want to avoid the craziness.

 

[Chereya]

I was starting to look at dates for 2013 also. My kids have the week of President's day off so I was thinking about a Tuesday to Sat or Sun starting the day after the actual holiday. Or doing their spring break which will be the 3rd week of April.

Any thoughts about the potential cost difference and crowds?

 

[AC7179]

We have been during both Spring Break and summer, and enjoy summer more. Longer hours, everything running, and it seems like smaller crowds. Last year we stopped at Disneyland one day in March before our cruise and it was the most crowded I have ever seen it, beyond the fourth of July, even! Miserable!

 

[Sammy Cat]

We have been during both Spring Break and summer, and enjoy summer more. Longer hours, everything running, and it seems like smaller crowds. Last year we stopped at Disneyland one day in March before our cruise and it was the most crowded I have ever seen it, beyond the fourth of July, even! Miserable!

Well that's convinced me! Summer it is!