Spring Break Strategies

[Jayhawk75]

Our family of 5 is checking into AOA on 3/23 and out 3/31.

We are very realistic in our expectation about crowd levels, hence my effort to be prepared.

Couple of questions for those who may have been through this:

1. Finding QS in the parks that will offer up the most seating and checkouts - our last trip we struggled to use all of our QS credits and I believe a lot of that had to do with the wait times taking up so much of our day. Any recommendations for a QS strategy for lunches in the parks?

2. We have two days where we have ADRs at resorts before heading to the parks. An 8:35am at Ohanas before MK, and a 9:30am at 1900 Park Fare before HS. How long should we expect to wait to get through security and gates once we get to the parks, given they will have been open a couple of hours already?

3. Epcot kiosks especially those related to Flower & Garden, are wait times pretty bad right now?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

1: Try and eat right when they open or a little later in the afternoon-not right around 11:00-12:30 when most people are going for lunch. We don't eat breakfast so we prefer an early lunch, a midday snack, and a late dinner.

2: This entirely depends on the day you're going, too. A weekend is going to be more crowded than a weekday, bag check is going to take longer than bagless. It shouldn't be awful, though.

3: Again, just plan the times around the most popular eating times and try to avoid the kiosks on a weekend. They aren't as busy as the ones at Food and Wine, but they still get good business.

 

[jade'nsuch]

My family and I try to avoid eating with the masses as well, so sometimes we'll hold off lunch until 1:30 or 2, but nothing can sour a mood like being hangry (I'm guilty of this in my family). We try to pack our park bags with protein bars, gummies, crackers, beef jerky, really anything we think might keep the hanger at bay until we settle on a time to eat. As for seating, the only place I can think of off the top of my head is Pecos Bills in MK; their dining area is kind of massive and fairly empty after the big meal rushes. I'm certain there are more places but I cannot for the life of me think of them right now, but hopefully somebody else can add to the list.

 

[lorenni]

Plan to WAIT to enter MK no matter what time of day you arrive. We arrived at noon yesterday (a Tuesday) and it took us 30 minutes to get in. A scrum for bag check. Another line for the metal detectors. A third line up to tap in. A cast member near us was telling someone else that all of March is like this.

The crowds are the worst I have ever seen them. This is our first and last March visit.

As for QS dining, Columbia Harbour House took a full hour for lunch yesterday, but then Cosmic Ray's was only 30 minutes for dinner. I think part of that is the horrible line design at CHH, but also I suspect lunch is simply busier for QS. We sent one of us ahead to get a table and found a table both times.

On Sunday we did Epcot and found the crowds much more manageable. Some food kiosks had longer lines than others. All were fairly efficient with ordering and getting food out.

 

[IndianaRRT]

We've been there for 2 spring breaks. When the children were younger, I packed a modified sack lunch for them--small peanut butter sandwich, baby carrots, and chips or a granola bar. We would find a shady spot or other nice place to sit and snack. When the lunch rush was over, we would sometimes grab a small bite from one of the QS places. When they were older, we just adjusted our meal times. If your AOA room has a small freezer in the fridge, bring your own Uncrustables or order them from one of the grocery services. Much cheaper and they make a super easy snack. It was crazy packed there both times, but we just went with it. It's spring break in FL! Wishing you a magical vacation!

 

[Cibahwewah]

We're here now. Did Epcot Sat 3/11, MK Sun 3/12. It was very crowded to me. But we did rope drop and maximized our first couple of hours before it was just packed. One nice thing is that the big crowds were anticipated, so all registers and all seating is open at the quick services...they are prepared. We ate at Columbia Harbor House and Pecos Bills and didn't have any issues despite it being busy. Only that we are ALWAYS behind someone who either doesn't understand how the dining plan works or their band won't work.
Went to Hollywood Studios Monday 3/13. Touring plans estimated a 6-7 crowd. It was actually 10. We had an ADR for Sci Fi and I was so glad we did. There were lines for everything. Especially the bathrooms. We did our 3 fast passes, had to skip Movie Ride (never went below 60 min) and Rockin RollerCoaster (105-180 min). Back to the quick service. At 3pm, every single table on Sunset Blvd was occupied. So, no dodging the mealtime crowds there. Get an ADR.
Went to MK yesterday. Arrived at 7am for 8am opening. It was dark. They didn't open Main St until 7:45, so no Starbucks for me. By 9:30, rode 6 rides. The crowds were there by 11am, Peter Pan was at 85 min. By 2pm, no more fast passes were available until 6pm. We did Stitch's Great Escape, saw the parade, then headed back to go swim. About 8:30 or 9, the wait times started to drop. The park was open until midnight. If an early arrival won't work, you could make FP for late afternoon then stay late into the night. No problem eating at Pecos Bills at 12:30 for lunch. All hands were on deck. Hope this helps.