Summer vs Spring Break....help from those who know!

[DizNee Luver]

We're debating on skipping the annual spring break trip & go during the summer. I've only been once during the summertime & it was during the 50th anniversary & 4th of July.......it was crazy busy.

So my questions are:
Is the summer packed like it is during spring break?
Is there a better time during the summer to go?
Are their advantages/disadvantages during the summer?
Is it possible to do a day trip to San Diego to do Sea World & possibly the zoo all in one day?
Where is the Disney ice cream parlor (somewhere by the El Captain Theatre?) ?

Ok, that's enough to get things rolling.........
We've come up with lots of pros & cons for both times but with the SoCal 2fer deal during the spring break time....we know how crowded it can be and was hoping maybe during the summer.......with all the choices around....maybe, just maybe the crowds would spread out (even a little bit would be great).

Thanx for the help!!!!

 

[sonnyjane]

I wouldn't pretend to know the answers to the summer vs. spring debate, because I can see how it could be more crowded in the spring (everyone trying to cram in a vacation during spring break) or less (not everyone has spring break at the same time).

The only thing I will comment on is the San Diego Sea World/Zoo question. I have annual passes to both SW and the zoo, and while the zoo can be a half-day trip, SW is really a full-day trip, because the shows run on a schedule that doesn't overlap so if you want to get your almost $70's worth, you want to make sure you see all the shows, which will take more than half a day. If you only go to one, go to SW, but don't plan on doing the zoo afterward.

 

[blackjackdelta]

We find that we like the summer(except when the AP's are unblocked) ROA will be drained until June 2 or so. We have day tripped to SW numerous times, real long day since you need to travel early and then late to get the ruduced traffic.The zoo in the same day? NO. Can not possibly see all that we want to see. Summer all the attractions are up and mrunning, wet rides are more enjoyable.

Jack

 

[splash5]

I'm going to go with Spring Break. Summer time is wall to wall people. Ugh!

 

[ILoveJack]

I guess that would really depend on when your spring break is and what part of summer you are planning to go. In Oklahoma our spring break is the middle of March and have gone a couple of times then with no problems. Our school is out before Memorial day and have gone a couple of times the last week of May with no problems. But yes July gets busy and the one time we went the second week of August swore off never to go back in that month again. But you will have a lot of things not running in early spring as opposed to the summer schedule.
We will be there the middle of March ourselves.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Thanx for the info everyone......
Unfortunately our spring break seems to happen during Arizona's & overlaps with the OrangeCounty & LA breaks....so this makes it very crowded.
The only summer time trip we've done was over the 4th of July & it definately was packed. We're thinking the last week of July & the first week of August.....gives time for the 4th of July travelers to be gone & the last minute August trips not to be there yet.....at least that was our thinking....lol

 

[DangerMouse]

Laurie, I would go in the Summer when the local APs are blocked. I think you'll have better crowds at that time and the WoC show crowds hopefully will have died down as well.
JMO!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I was wondering if it was a better time to go when the SoCal AP's are blocked or worse.......sounds like better maybe??

 

[DizNee Luver]

Laurie, I would go in the Summer when the local APs are blocked. I think you'll have better crowds at that time and the WoC show crowds hopefully will have died down as well.
JMO!

We really want to see the World of Color show & I love the Electrical Parade which can be hit & miss (mostly miss...) during our Spring Break trips.

 

[DangerMouse]

I was wondering if it was a better time to go when the SoCal AP's are blocked or worse.......sounds like better maybe??

With the Number of APs over a million and a majority of those AP holders being of the S. Cal variety, the new rule for avoiding crowds for me is always try to go when the local APs are blocked (or when it's raining -- lol!)

The recent crowds in the parks have not been caused by out of town tourists, but by local APs who come for day visits. There are just too many!

 

[HydroGuy]

I was wondering if it was a better time to go when the SoCal AP's are blocked or worse.......sounds like better maybe??

Way better. See "Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

 

[DizNee Luver]

Way better. See "Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

Thank you sooooo much....I found this very useful...... I think we will shoot for the summer!!