Spring Break Survival Tips?

[100AcreWood]

We have always been fortunate to visit Disney during the off-seasons. But our oldest is too old to be pulled out of school now (High School) and we are looking at Spring Break as our best option vs. summer heat.

Any advice on Disney during Spring Break - first week in April? We're thinking of going 1/2 week to Disney and the last half of the week going to one of the Gulf Coast beaches like St. Pete's or Anna Marie Island. I'm not sure we could do a full week with the crowds.

 

[maryandthemouse]

Don't let the crowds scare you off! My family has been at 4th of July and Christmas, 2 of the most crowded times, and we have never had any problems. The most important thing is good planning before hand and getting to your park at park opening. If you do those things, you should have no problem at all!

 

[soniam]

Bring multi-weather clothing, ie pants & shorts, short sleeve and long sleeve/hoodie, close-toed shoes/maybe sandals. Use rope drop and AM EMH. Use your FP+. Be flexible. Relax. It's an amusement park, not a military campaign. Those are really for me We loved Spring Break last year and are doing it again this year. Didn't do Easter weeks though. Have a good plan. I particularly like the personalized plans from touringplans.com.

 

[BubblyTrip]

We've done some really high crowd spring break trips. The AM EMH at MK started at 7 and we were at RD by 6:30...probably earlier. It was still dark when we entered the park. We only did rides the first 3-4 hours...no shopping or sit down meals. We brought breakfast in with us. We got a ton done. Then sit down lunch and hit less popular attractions and FPs.

 

[scrappingbuckeye]

Spring break isn't that bad at all because everyone's break is different. The main weeks are the week before and after Easter. If you're one week after that it shouldn't be bad at all.

 

[Nebraska_Disney]

Like others have said, "Spring Break" is at different times all over the country. Our school district used to be late March, but now we are early March. We have been in March 3 times, going back a 4th time this year and we have seen busy days and some very relaxed days. One year it was in the upper 80's and we were at the pool every day, another trip, we had jackets on every morning/evening as it never really was warm, so I do second the idea of having clothes for all types of possibilities.

 

[DisneyMamaof3girls]

We are going the first week in April this year, which is my girls' spring break. Luckily, it is not the same week as Easter. We have been at spring break before and have had great success with getting to the parks before rope drop and scheduling fp+ for the afternoon when crowds are high. We have lucked out with weather on our spring break trips in the past.

 

[king4aday]

I have been to WDW over spring break and never have had any real issues. As long as you take advantage of the fast pass system, and don't mind waiting in other lines you are good. Personally I don't think the crowds during spring break are as bad as summer or christmas season. I am going in March, and I was able to pick out fast passes yesterday. I was able to get pretty early fast passes, so as long as you pick them early you should be able to get what you want. If you are going to be on a dining plan my suggestion would be to make your ADRs as soon as possible because they do fill up fast. My biggest suggestion would be in terms of weather. Make sure you pack for warm weather, AND cool weather. Take hoodies or jackets with you because it will get cooler at night.

 

[Scrappygrrl]

FWIW, I am in a similar boat and actually going the week before Easter, the 19th through the 23rd. I swore I would never go during busy times, but I did my dining and FP yesterday (not at midnight, either!) and had no problems getting anything.
Since we've been 3x in the past 5-6 years, I am hoping that we won't feel the need to try to do everything. Hit rope drop, use our late morning/early pm FP, maybe relax back at room and return for the evening. That's the plan anyway - we always say that we are going to rest or swim in the afternoon but we always hang in there and end up going commando-style!

 

[100AcreWood]

Thanks for the information guys!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

When my oldest hit high school we couldn't pull her anymore either. It is a shock, so be mentally prepared.

Also teenagers need more sleep, don't nap and stay up later. AM EMH's are less crowded than the PM especially if the MK opens at 7. It is harder to get them up earlier than it was when they were younger.

 

[Minnesota!]

We went the week leading up to Easter last year and it wasn't bad. Yes, there were crowds. But, with a little planning, it was just fine. Early morning to the parks, beat the masses to the headliners, and then just coast the rest of the day. Find places to escape the crowds - we absolutely LOVE hanging around Fort Wilderness for a day...beach, tetherball, horse barn, a decent meal, etc.


Or resort hop and sample a beverage or 6.

 

[DSLRuser]

it is not bad at all. Spring Break is just when we have to go because of our schedules for the year.

I get more worried about a random cold snap then crowds. Crowds dont bother us at all.

 

[shrinkydinky]

We're going March 16-22. Little nervous about the crowds. We already have our ADR's set, and some fast passes. Some of us are early birds, so should be able to do rides we want, i hope. Mainly interested in the Flower and Garden Festival, and food.