When is Spring Break? How does it affect DCL?

[dthogue]

We don't have "Spring Break" around here, just Easter vacation. We were thinking of switching our 5/1 Eastern to 4/24 Western, but I don't know how full the ship and the islands will be. Any information on crowds this time of year would be greatly appreciated. I'm assuming there won't be any great difference in the weather from one week to the other?

Thanks,
Tammy

 

[my3kids]

If that is the week before or after Easter, the rate would be much higer than the first week of May. The holiday rates are always higher on DCL. When your kids are out of school, so are everyone else's.

On www.disneycruise.com you can select "get a quote" to compare prices from week to week.

 

[Little Twin Stars]

I am from Canada and I would also like to know when Spring Break begins in the States.

I realize that different schools have different dates for the Break but does anyone have any idea when is usually the earliest Spring Break?

 

[AnnMorin]

In MA. (or at least in western MA.) spring break is always the week that starts with patriots day. It is always around easter but the actual week off is dependant on patriots day. This year patriots day falls on April 19 which is I beleive like a week after easter.

 

[Jules1]

Spring break for my kids (high school and middle school) is March 13-20.

 

[Padre Disney]

Our spring break is March 22 - 26 2004. We took a March spring break trip in 2003 and noticed that our cruise rate was not much more then some of the summer rates. We thought it was worth the little extra money so the kids didn't miss school. We booked our 2004 cruise and noticed the rate was still reasonable. BUT looking at the 2005 rates YIKES!
Guess we will have to go back to cruising in the off season.

 

[my3kids]

Padre Disney: I was looking at general time frame for 2005 also. That is one of the weeks adjacent to Easter.

 

[Little Twin Stars]

Originally posted by Jules1
Spring break for my kids (high school and middle school) is March 13-20.

I am surprised that Spreak Break begins so early. Hi Jules, would you mind telling me whcih state are you from?

 

[IrishCowboy]

Most Alabama schools will have Spring Break March 22-26

 

[Jules1]

I live in Utah. My kids go to private school, and they coordinate their spring break time with the University of Utah. So, March 13-21 is also spring break for the U of U. Works out great for us, my husband is a professor at the U of U. Yes, we're going on our 2nd Disney cruise that week. Nice to see relatively low rates (at least they were when we booked) for our spring break. Altho, I'm amazed that the rates have gone up $2211 since we booked (same travel agency, same category cabin).

 

[Padre Disney]

Spring break rates for the last 2 years on DCL have started out great unlike spring break weeks in March 2005. In fact our 2003 cruise rate dropped after we booked it. But our 2004 rate has went up a bunch since we booked. It is almost double.

 

[ElaineMc]

Our spring break here in southern California is the week of April 11th I believe. I don't know how many from the west coast fly to Florida for spring break but it sounds good to me.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Many Chicago area schools have Spring Break toward the end of March. In 2004, our Spring Break will begin at the end of the school day on Friday, March 26. The school holidays are March 29 through April 2.

As this thread shows, there's no such thing as a Sping Break week that all US schools observe. It seems that some schools base their Spring Break on Easter, observing either the week before or after. Other schools schedule Spring Break to fall neatly between school quarters. Still other schools just have a set formula, such as "3rd full week of March."

From the standpoint of crowds on the ship, I really don't think it makes any difference. I assume that all March and April sailings go out with close to 100% of the staterooms occupied, and with a similar mix of adults and children. The ship is designed to handle full occupancy, so crowds should not be an problem.

It's just that the folks who are sailing right aound Easter are paying more, regardless of whether they are using DVC points or paying cash.

 

[Little Twin Stars]

Originally posted by Jules1
Yes, we're going on our 2nd Disney cruise that week. Nice to see relatively low rates (at least they were when we booked) for our spring break. Altho, I'm amazed that the rates have gone up $2211 since we booked (same travel agency, same category cabin).

So Jules, are you going on the 7-day or the 4-day cruise?
Coz' I am going on the 4-day Wonder on March 14. Just wondering.

 

[mike2beach]

Spring break for Jacksonville, Florida schools next year starts March 13th.

 

[Daria]

In the Seattle area our Spring Break is always the week of April, 15th. And the last two years they have been during the same week as Easter, next year also.

As to people flying to the East Coast for Spring Break, and Mid-Winter break in Febuary, it is when many people around here make there long distance trips, Florida, Hawaii, Mexico, etc. Mostly because summers is the time we have to do our outdoor activities

 

[AKB]

Spring Break in Edmond, Oklahoma is March 13 - 21 in 2004. In 2005 spring break will be March 12 - 20. We will be sailing with DCL 2005 spring break. Didn't realize that prices were up so much compared to years past. We did compare 2004 prices and 2005 prices in Sept 2003 before we booked 2005 in Oct.

 

[mcnuss]

I don't think there's any consistency in when Spring Break occurs around the country. Our kids have a winter break in February, then another vacation the last week of April. I think what affects DCL is Easter. I've heard that the weeks immediately before and after Easter Sunday are 2 of the busiest of the year. When I priced out April '05 for the 3 of us, same room as last year at Thanksgiving, the price was about half! For once I was very happy for that oddly timed vacation period.

 

[HLFDZN]

I also live in the Chicagoland area and we have Spring Break from March 20-26. We are sailing on the Wonder which I booked more than a year in advance. Since I have booked the price has nearly doubled!!! Best to book early for this time I think. I am so glad I booked early since I would never be able to afford it at the prices it is right now!!! I am hoping that being on a cruise ship, crowds won't really be an issue. Who am I to say though? This is our first Disney Cruise. Have fun!!!

 

[sillysmom]

We live on Long Island, our spring break starts April 5, and ends April 15. I certainly don't remember being in school and having as many days off! From what I found, the week of our cruise is among the 3 or 4 highest priced times of the year, but it looks like when the kids are out of school the prices are higher. Unfortunately, I didn't feel like taking a 3rd grader out of school for a week was a good idea, so SPRING BREAK 2004 here we come!!!!!!! Linda Jerry Gina