spring(break)time in Disney...

[seamama71]

I'm not seeing many tips or trip plans for people going to Disney at spring break/easter time. My theory about this is that most DIS-ers are too experienced to choose to go at such a crowded time!!

SO, we're getting to go in April 2012, the week before Easter, lots of people's spring break times. Our Grand Gathering family includes a teacher and school-age kids, so this is only the time that everyone would agree to go (personally, I'll take my kids out of school in Sept the next time we get to go with just our little family!).

At least it hopefully won't be terribly hot, since Easter is early April in 2012, and our trip will fall the week of Sun, April 1. We'll be at the highest crowd levels, arriving on a Sunday and starting our full park days on a Monday (so I'm already thinking avoid MK on a Monday?).

I'm going to look up tips for small kids, waiting in lines, large groups, etc -- all things that are relevant to our trip. And if anyone has anything additional to add given our trip-circumstances, feel free!

 

[ryem's mom]

I am also going with my family next Spring Break, too. My daughter and her friend that is going are both in high school, so I can't take them out of school. We figured we will go with the flow. Maybe it won't be too bad because everyone will think everyone else is going and will stay away...

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Karbase8]

I went one day in 2010 during the week before Easter on a Tuesday. I had ambitious plans to visit 3 parks in one day! We started at Animal Kingdom at the beginning of the park opening, we had no wait on the Safari ride and things started looking pretty crowded. We walked around then went to Epcot, I hadn't been to Epcot since 1996 and never had too much of a problem with crowds. We went there next and noticed from the get go the crowds were heavy. By about 11 am most rides had a 120 minute wait. Then we tried to go to Magic Kingdom and it was closed to capacity! We winded up waiting til 5pm and went back into Magic Kingdom and got on about 6-7 attractions with about a 30-45 minute wait. My suggestion is if you are set going that week, it is very busy, probably the busiest of the year, but if you could follow touring plans and go early before rope drop get on the attractions that are most popular and then maybe come back around dinner time you may do ok, but it is very busy, but the weather should be very nice, we went in March and it was 80's during day with low humidity and no rain and cooler at night but not that cool since you are walking quite a bit. Hope this helps, our shuttle bus driver told us the week after Easter is low crowds if you have the option.

 

[DanielleandBrady]

I just went this past Spring Break with my 6yo DS. Just the 2 of us. And we had a great time! We went first thing in the morning when the parks opened (Rope Drop) and even went at 7am during EMH..and stayed until 12. That's when the parks started to get really crazy. We would go back to the GF, swim, eat and rest until 6 or so. Then we would go to another park at night. We followed touring plans which was awesome. We didnt' miss anything we wanted to ride, my son did not have a melt down the entire trip. It was fabulous. The only park we did all day was Animal Kingdom because he did not want to ride the big coaster.

I had no problems, but I honestly think it was because we went really early and left at mid day and went back (or to another park) that night. It was awesome!

Good luck!

 

[mecllap]

Prioritize a couple of things for each day, and know that everybody is not going to be able to see and do everything they hope to do. Concentrate on other things the Parks have to offer besides the "big rides" (get FPs for those that you can, starting with the important one first). Plan to enjoy the resort and pool time. I took DGS last year and we never even made to fireworks in the evening once! -- which is usually one of our favorite things to do. But, we had already had a couple of uses on our APs that year, so we didn't feel pressured about maxing out the Parks (no commando for us that time). Take lots of group Photopass photos -- you will enjoy having those for many years, and have little recollection of which rides you went on.

To get FPs, designate a speedy, careful walker, to take all your tickets (for those who want to go on the first ride) as soon as you get thru the gate, to get the FPs (someone who is familiar with getting FPs). Plan a meeting place for later (don't be reluctant to split up sometimes). Or, (an Epcot example): send people on who are anxious for a ride like Test Track to go off first thing to go on it (mabye using the single rider line), while someone else takes all the tix to get FPs for Soarin'

Be patient, flexible, look for Hidden Mickeys, and have fun!

 

[msminnieears]

We mainly go during our Spring Break but it's in the middle of March and not usually close to Easter Break. During March, the crowds are manageable but the weather is perfect, so you can go all day in the parks without needing a break because of the heat. We love this time of year.

 

[tzolkin]

We had decided on a spring break trip for next year.

We usually take the kids out of school, but my oldest is in HS so its more difficult. DH doesn't want to go in the winter (plus Christmas and Feb break are super busy) so our only options were spring break or Summer.

Our spring break has always been at the end of April so with an earlier Easter next year we thought this would be perfect. We just got the revised academic calendar and, of course, they decided to move our Spring Break to the week following Easter this year.


I just really don't want to deal with crowds and I also find it very hard to justify a trip without a discount (I don't think there's usually anything offered around Easter). Ugh.

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

We are going during spring break to next April. We leave for the Disney cruise on 4/5, so we are spending a few days in the World prior to sailing. I know crowds are going to be crazy, but we are going to try to just make the best of it. I think our plan of attack will be to get to the parks super early, go back to the resort for a mid-day break then venture back to the parks in the early evening.