Spring Break...

[grover]

Am I crazy to even consider this time of year (end of March/begining of April)..we have always gone Oct or Nov..but times are changing in our household so not sure we can do that for our next vacation.

How busy is it?

What about the end of August--worth it with the crowds/heat??
Or are most kids back to school by then & it is okay??

 

[petbren]

Am I crazy to even consider this time of year (end of March/begining of April)..we have always gone Oct or Nov..but times are changing in our household so not sure we can do that for our next vacation.

How busy is it?

What about the end of August--worth it with the crowds/heat??
Or are most kids back to school by then & it is okay??

We were there August last year, would have been returning home 1 year ago today.
As they say, Disney is great anytime, however, we will never return in August, just because of the heat. We live in Southern Ontario, and have our share of Hot&Humid, but there is no comparison to that
The crowd levels were OK, EMH at MGM, and our last day at MK were bad(eg, the Fast Pass return line for SM was a 50 minute wait.
It rained everyday, although not for long, but your thinking, OK, now it's going to cool off..........not so.
You also risk Hurricanes at that time, one went through our 3rd day there, but didn't amount to anything, but they warned you, and changed the hours around just in case.
DS doesn't do well with heat, and and ended up dehydrating(or mild food poisoning ) and was out for the entire next day.

We will be going this year, Nov10-17, our first trip home as DVC, BWV.
Were there Nov/04, weather was great(mid 70's), only 1 small rain shower, and low crow levels(left the Sat. before US Thanksgiving and the hoards were just arriving as we departed), hoping for the same this year.
As for March Break, we will be going this year '08 staying AKV.
Not real sure what to expect about crowds, but it maybe just me, DS 12, and DD10, so we may just hit things early, and hang out with the animals, by the pool.
Friends of mine went Christmas, March Break and Easter, and said by far Easter was the worst.
This year however, March Break falls the week before Easter, so many people are pulling the kids out of school for the 4 days between March Break and Easter, and getting the full two weeks off.
I'm sure you'll have a great time whenever, but just some info.to help you plan(perhaps too much info, but hey, that's me.)

 

[grover]

I love the fall..Oct/Nov and wish we could go then..sigh.
Our March break falls a full week after easter.
I read that March weather is comparable with Nov..so I think that if crowds are busy both March and August..then I would rather go in March when the weather is better and not quite as hot/humid.

 

[claire_ont]

As for March Break, we will be going this year '08 staying AKV.

We are heading down for our first trip to our DVC "home" AKV, the 9th -16th March 2008 during the March Break for our children. This will be our first time travelling during this period of time. I too am hoping the crowds are not too heavy.

What about the end of August--worth it with the crowds/heat??
Or are most kids back to school by then & it is okay??

We have travelled the last week of August - Disneymoon in 81 - the heat was unbelievable,

Our Favorite times:
week prior to the Christmas break - crowds really low - great time, Christmas decorations up
2nd week in Jan - crowds really low
early Feb - again lower crowds and slightly warmer than Dec, early Jan.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

We just got back from Disney - were there Aug 26 to Sept 1st and it was crowded - but probably b/c of free dining!! The worst part was the heat with all those crowds - heat + crowds + lots of waiting makes for lots of grumps. Would never go in the summer again.

Not sure how March is but i'd rather battle crowds in March then heat in august!!

 

[Nagle]

We have been at March break several times. Now that DS is almost 16 and will probably not be travelling with us quite so much, we will probably not be going during March any more. We have found it quite busy and we just don't feel like dealing with that going forward.

 

[petbren]

[

QUOTE=claire_ont;20628891]We are heading down for our first trip to our DVC "home" AKV, the 9th -16th March 2008 during the March Break for our children. This will be our first time travelling during this period of time. I too am hoping the crowds are not too heavy.

Where in Ontario are you from?
Have you booked flights yet, or waiting for SW to open up those dates(Nov.8--just a day before we leave for BWV).
I'm sure there will be lots of Ont. people there, but should keep an eye out for each other.
Our confirmation says "Dedicated studio Jambo house".

 

[claire_ont]

[

Where in Ontario are you from?
Have you booked flights yet, or waiting for SW to open up those dates(Nov.8--just a day before we leave for BWV).
I'm sure there will be lots of Ont. people there, but should keep an eye out for each other.

Our confirmation says "Dedicated studio Jambo house".

We are from Ottawa and currently planning to drive down, though I may reconsider when SW opens those dates. We are staying in a concierge studio in Jambo House.

Based on what I have read on these boards, there will be a fairly large contingent of individuals from Ontario there for March Break. Maybe we will see you there.

Am I crazy to even consider this time of year (end of March/begining of April
What about the end of August--worth it with the crowds/heat??

Groover, even if it is crowded in March, as others have pointed out, I would still pick March any day over August as the heat is a killer.

 

[b-1]

August is VERY hot and humid. My DH and I went last August and really found it to be too much. We were up early and out to the parks but by noon we were headed back to the hotel. Once the sun went down we would go back out but it was still really hot. Even in Epcot while waiting for illuminations around the lake ( which usually has a bit of a breeze) the air was still and stifling. I think if you went in March and had a really good game plan, the parks would be doable.

 

[grover]

okay..for sure summer is out!
dh and i have talked alot about it the past couple days..
ds is in high school now..and really we want to go in the fall (one year from now) as it is our favorite time and would be less busy than spring break..but not sure about him missing 5 days of school..argghh..what to do!
we have always pulled him out of school without a problem..but just a bit more wary now that it is high school-kwim!