Tips for going in March 09? Don't do it??

[ssmc]

I am planning on going to Disney World & the surrounding parks for the 1st time on my 12 year olds Spring break - March 13 to March 20.
I've been reading about the wisdom of going when the crowds are lighter, but, like a lot of others, have to go when my kiddo's schedule permits.
My question- is it likely the parks will be so very crowded that we'll spend most of our valuable time standing in lines, even if we do utilize fast pass?

To those Disney veterans, based on your experiences, should I try to wait for another year when I could take him in the Summer rather than his Spring break? Thank you.

 

[DISDANCEMOM]

To those Disney veterans, based on your experiences, should I try to wait for another year when I could take him in the Summer rather than his Spring break? Thank you.

IMHO I would never go back to WDW during spring break. It has been a few years since I was there in March but I will never forget those crowds. I would rather take my kids out of school for a week (which I am doing in early Dec 09) than deal with those crowds. Now that being said...Summer is pretty darn busy too...we were there in Aug 08 (not my choice of dates...traveled with dd's dance team for a performance in MK). Now I don't think it was quite as bad as the time we were there during March it was still pretty crowded and there were very long line ups especially for the more popular rides.

It's a personal choice for you...but if you decide to go then just remember to plan ahead and don't think that you will be able to do everything on one trip!!!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

We are only going for a weekend then so I figure it'll be crazed but we'll deal with it.

We've gone during Easter week and wouldn't go back during that time ever again. DH just hated it.

June can be crowded too but we enjoy that time of year.

If you use Fast Pass, you'll do fine. Also get to the parks at rope drop since a ton of people don't arrive until 10 or 11am.

 

[pxydst]

last year we went in the begining of March and it wasn't too bad. I think that if you are prepared for the crowds and think the worst possable crowd level, you wont be disappointed or upset about the crowds. It is all in what you make it!! If that is the only time you can go, then go and enjoy being away from home!

 

[ScoobySMC]

We will be there the last week in march Most school are not on Spring break then and its before easter. I hoping it wont be to bad, but we will have to see! You live and you learn i guess

 

[Belle1962]

This should give you an idea of crowds:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=29505934#post29505934


We have gone in summer and spring break. Weather nicee at spring break.

Be at the parks early. Utilize fastpass and a good touring plan and you will be ok.

 

[kent285]

With Easter being on the late side this year, spring breaks tend to be more spread out since most schools don't want to have their break so late in the year. If you have to take your child during spring break, I think this year's senario is one of the best. It's when Easter falls in March that I think you get the largest crowds coming all at once.

 

[Uno Mas]

My kids aren't on break until the first week of April, so you should be OK as the previous post said - sounds like breaks are more spread out this year. I have never been during spring break and likely won't attempt it - I usually pull my kids out of school for F&W trips in October and an extended Mother's Day weekend, which has always been wonderfully un-crowded. It gives them incentive to get good grades all year long!

 

[pattirjs925]

I would never attempt spring break, but last year I was there the firast week of March and it was great! The weather was perfect (high 70's, low 80's) and the crowds were low (we won dream fastpasses in AK and didn't even have to use them!).
I loved it so much I am doing it again this year!

 

[Mickey's_Girls]

We will be there that same week! I hope it's not too bad!

 

[PoohMom68]

I am planning on going to Disney World & the surrounding parks for the 1st time on my 12 year olds Spring break - March 13 to March 20.
I've been reading about the wisdom of going when the crowds are lighter, but, like a lot of others, have to go when my kiddo's schedule permits.
My question- is it likely the parks will be so very crowded that we'll spend most of our valuable time standing in lines, even if we do utilize fast pass?

To those Disney veterans, based on your experiences, should I try to wait for another year when I could take him in the Summer rather than his Spring break? Thank you.

You may be Ok going in March. I'm a tacher for the NYC school system and our spring break begins on April 9th- 20th. Easter and Passover overlap this year so we are not off in March at all. The crowds might be a little lighter then usual. Good Luck and have fun planning your trip

 

[standleyent1]

You should be fine going that early in March. I have taken my daughter for several spring break trips and I can tell you that the earlier you are and the later that Easter falls you shouldn't really experience the crowds like you are dreading. We have been there the dates you are going and it was a lot better than going the last week of March like ours is going to fall on this year.
Go and have a Great Time!! and don't worry about the crowds remember this is "The Happiest Place On Earth".
Have Fun!!

 

[GoofyCdn]

We are going the same time because it is our March Break in Ontario. There will probably be a LOT of Canadians in the park at this time because of the march breaks in Canada. I find that the U.S. spring breaks are usually 2 - 3 weeks after our breaks here. I went this time 5 years ago and the crowds were not bad at all.

 

[NYTiz]

we went to disney in 2008 from march 14-21. i dont think we will ever be doing that again. it was overwhelmingly crowded and almost as bad as around christmas! it got to the point that it was over a 2-hour wait for our favorites like test track. in epcot we really only went to the finding nemo ride b/c everything else was over a 1-hour wait. if your going around then i would not recomend it.
were going in feb. and hoping this will be better, and from what we've read it seems like it will be [[knock on wood]]

 

[Jax]

Last year Easter was at the end of March so I think that would have impacted the crowds.

With Easter being in the middle of April this year I am hoping the March crowds won't be as bad (wishful thinking since I will be there from the 19-26)

 

[kardut]

We went last Easter week, which I was dreading because I HATE crowds. We used TourGuide Mike's suggestions and it really wasn't too bad at all. We got to ride all of our favorite rides (including TT, Soaring, RNRC, EE and SM) at least 2-3 times with no/minimal wait. Really, the parks didn't really get crazy busy until afternoon, by which time we were pretty done with rides.

We did think about going during the summer as well, but really, either way you're going to have crowds, and I would rather have crowds in relatively cool weather than hot, humid, buggy weather!

 

[Razorback]

We have been to Disney the past 4 spring bre aks and this March will be our
5th Spring Break in 5 years.

Yes Spring Break is obviously more crowded than February and October becuase the kids are out of school. That being said we have never had a problem getting on rides. You just take advantage of EMH and Fastpasses. We even rode Tower of Terror 6 times and Rock and Roller Coaster 4 times.

Last year was the most croweded due to Easter falling in March and obviously way more Spring Crowds around Easter.

We just go with the knowledge that many of us have to travel when the kids are out of school and have a little patience.

 

[bettyann29]

Ive been to WDW 2 times over Spring Break and honestly I would go again.. The first time I dont remember too well as it was back in 2000 and my first visit, so I was on sensory overload.. but I do remember not waiting more than 15-20 minutes in any line except Test Track.. and we had a fastpass for this ride and still waited over 1 1/2 hours in line.. .. We did utilize fastpass as much as possible and while we didnt ride everything, we rode alot..

I think it was 2 years ago when I took my 3 kids during Spring Break for a week and we had a great time.. again we utilized fastpass and did the EMH at that time.. We didnt wait more than 15 minutes Id say..

Yes the parks were busy, but you have to understand that before you go that you wont get to do everything and concentrate on the things you really want to do and go with that..

The weather was perfect! it was a little chilly in the morning and at night but beautiful during the day..

I would go again in a heartbeat over Spring Break.. it was actually one of my favorite times so far..

 

[Greenfield1984]

Tough call i'd say. So best advice i could give you is to ask lots of questions in order to get informed as much as you can and then apply that knowledge to your own preferences to make a decision....this much is probably a given. So i'll give you what i know and what i'd personally do.

If you think your only going to be able to go to disney once in a very long time i personally would wait until the quieter times to go. The reasoning behind this is because the park will in all likelyhood be stupid busy when you go. This, in my opinion, isn't to big a deal when it comes to lines (just show up at park opening and use fastpass to the max, i've gone during the busiest times of the year and have yet to have to deal with long lines) but is more of a problem when it comes to park atmosphere. You really lose alot of the atmosphere that is disney. I mean how can you enjoy it when you feel like your being herded like cattle? You might pick up a bit of that magic in the early morning but it quickly goes away. That magical feeling is what makes many of us fall in love with disney and i wouldn't want you miss out on that.

However...
if you do plan on making return trips then I would definately go. The key point of going during the peak times is not to stress about doing everything. Heck even during non crowded times it'll be impossible to cover everything that disney has to offer. I might even take the crazy busy times to take a day off from the parks and just hop on the disney transportation and visit all the other resorts, just check out the pictures. They are spectacular. Although you do have a 12 yo...not sure if that age is good for site seeing. But dont worry if its the rides you want to do. Even during peak times you can hit all of the big ones and that in itself is a good part of the disney magic.

So.....
If you can't stand feeling like your being herded like cattle, if you think you'll be stressed out about having to do everything, are not a morning person (if you can't wake up for park opening definately going to be rough), then wait. If however you are quite flexible and patient I would definately say go. Your 12 year old, while would definately apreciate it, probably won't require the atmosphere. In all likelyhood the rides themselves will blow your 12 year old away. Whats key is understanding your own preferences and educating yourself about the situation.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

I would personally rather my child miss a few days of school rather than spend a ton of money for a Disney Trip and stand in lines the whole time. Spring Break is usually very crowded, from past experience, and I'd prefer to wait until a slower time. Good luck whenever you decide to go!!