worried spring break

[twinkletoesmom]

We are going the first week of April so i understand it will be busier than the first week of Dec. (when we went last time) but I was just told that someone knew someone who went last yr for spring break. They said for the whole day all they got to do was 2 rides and c a few characters. Is that right?! Is that what we can expect? :/

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

No. Use a touring plan, arrive early and use Fp.

 

[AshleeH]

Easter is April 8 and that's one of Disney's busiest times. I agree with the PP - use touring plans and check crowd calendars!

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

Two words of Advice...ROPE DROP!!

 

[twinkletoesmom]

Early start got it thanks. About how long can i expect the lines to be?

 

[Hoosier37]

We went during our spring break last year. We made it to the parks for rope drop and we did everything we wanted to do multiple times. We walked on Buzz, Space Mountain, Expedition Everest and many other popular attractions. We used fast passes to get on others. The longest line we stood in the whole week was the one for Dole Whips

Get up early, use a touring plan and hit big attractions first, use fast passes, take a break in the afternoons, and RELAX. We had a great time and did so much more than we expected even with the crowds.

I just checked touring plans and the week we went, every park was at 9 and 10. Honestly, we stood in line 45 minutes for Dole Whips. We stood in line about 30 minutes for Soarin. Everything else was 15 minutes or less, and a lot of it we walked on. It can be done, you just have to have a plan

 

[Jenny-momof3]

We ONLY go to WDW at peak seasons....Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving or Christmas....parks are a 10 pretty much everyday! And we get to ride everything we want to, multiple times if wanted, we hardly wait in lines. How? We stay AHEAD of the crowds! We get there early, start collecting our FP's and do everything we want in a certain order! We take a break almost everyday to swim and enjoy our resort..my kids enjoy that just as much as the parks! Then we head back in the evenings to use up our FP's, etc.

The only long lines we really wait in are for the bathrooms!

 

[emmabemmainc]

We went last year for Spring Break and honestly, it was once of the most relaxing trips I've had to WDW. The family members I went with did not went to get up early, so we ended up getting to the parks around noon every day. Only the last day we were there (at MK), was it pretty insane. We did, however, get to go on everything we wanted to, and no one was killed in the process! Don't worry--you expect the crowds, so just roll with it!

 

[twinkletoesmom]

Oh Thank You guys! I'm now very excited again! I was considering changing our weeks but that would mean pulling the kids out of school and I own a preschool so I would have to pay a sub for the whole week if we changed dates. You all really put my mind at ease
when you say touring plan does that mean come up with our own plan and know where we are going (which i already do, my DH makes fun of me cause when we come off a ride I already know which way to turn) or is their touring plans already made up that I should look up?

P.S. Happy dance got our tickets from under cover tourist yesterday

 

[I Love Pluto]

We will also be there during the first week in April. Can't wait!!!

We have been to WDW during spring break for the last few years. Trust me, it wasn't even close to the July 4th crowd. It was full - but we got to do everything we wanted.

Enjoy your vacation!!!!!

 

[joenan88]

Oh Thank You guys! I'm now very excited again! I was considering changing our weeks but that would mean pulling the kids out of school and I own a preschool so I would have to pay a sub for the whole week if we changed dates. You all really put my mind at ease
when you say touring plan does that mean come up with our own plan and know where we are going (which i already do, my DH makes fun of me cause when we come off a ride I already know which way to turn) or is their touring plans already made up that I should look up?

P.S. Happy dance got our tickets from under cover tourist yesterday

Don't worry!!!! I went to Disneyland the last 3 years over Christmas week..they closed the park due to max capacity..now that was alot of people ...anyway, it was still doable! We did every ride!! If you get there at rope drop get a fast pass and use them wisely...use single rider lines...and go with an open mind...don't go in stressed..that wont work I am going in April also 4/10-16. My kids are off 4/6-4/15, they are missing one day of school... Schools seem to have different weeks off in April so it will not be anything like what I experienced Christmas week in Disneyland. Crowded yes, crazy no!

 

[mill4023]

Early start got it thanks. About how long can i expect the lines to be?

The weeks before and after Easter are the 2nd busiest times of the whole year.

You can probably expect to see lines of 90 to 120 minutes for the main attractions in the middle of the afternoon.
But you shouldn't be riding the main attractions in the middle of the afternoon. The key to visiting WDW during a peak time is to be at the park gates at least 30 minutes before the park opens and use Fastpass as much as you can.

By arriving early, you can hit the big rides before the lines get long, then move on to the less popular attractions that don't get as long of a wait time.

 

[mill4023]

We will also be there during the first week in April. Can't wait!!!

We have been to WDW during spring break for the last few years. Trust me, it wasn't even close to the July 4th crowd. It was full - but we got to do everything we wanted.

Enjoy your vacation!!!!!

There's a big difference between "spring break" and the week before and after Easter. Everything I've ever heard is that the only time more crowded than Easter is the week between Christmas and New Years.

 

[hookedonears]

We are going the first week of April so i understand it will be busier than the first week of Dec. (when we went last time) but I was just told that someone knew someone who went last yr for spring break. They said for the whole day all they got to do was 2 rides and c a few characters. Is that right?! Is that what we can expect? :/

If you want a relaxing vacation, sleep in late, stroll around the parks, this is what you'll get. Disney is NOT a relaxing vacation for most people, especially if you want to have fun during the busier times of year. For us, we need a vacation after we get back from Disney. My advice is, which is the same as many who've posted here before, get to the parks early, use FP's and leave early.

 

[dragonfly08]

I took my girls last year over Spring Break, and while it was busy we had no trouble doing everything we wanted. And that was with leaving the parks by 3:30/4:00 each day, since they're early risers (making RD was huge for getting stuff done) and were pretty well cooked by then. I can only imagine how much more we'd have accomplished if they'd wanted to stay longer.

I agree with a pp...if you're looking for a "sleep late, eat a leisurely breakfast, mosey on over to the parks when you feel like it" kind of vacation, you probably won't get much done. If you're willing to get up early and be organized, you should be just fine. Have fun!

 

[DisneyMim]

We only go during peak times as my husband, and now my daughter, are both teachers. Spring break is different from Easter week. We've done both. Our spring break here in Ma is the third week of April. If it happens to fall during Easter it is a lot more crowded. Because Easter is April 8th this year you will be going at a busy time. Not to worry. We've been Easter week, Christmas to NYE (one of my fav times), summer, etc. and have ALWAYS had a wonderful time. Park hoppers are a good idea. We have APS so we do park hop if we feel that one park is just too crowded. Ressies are also very important for dinner, or lunch, as you will not be able to walk in to restaurants and also a nice dinner is a great break from the parks. We go with the flow and that is my best advice. As I wrote on another thread, the rope drop thread, we are not morning people and never make it to rope drop. And believer it or not, we still have a great time. If you are really worried about not being able to ride your favorite rides you should make a point of getting to the parks, especially MK, early. Funny story. I remember one Easter we were in MK on Easter Sunday. There were tons of people and we were walking over the bridge towards Splash Mountain. I heard my name being yelled at the top of someone lungs. I knew there was only one person I knew with a set of lungs like that and sure enough it turned out to be someone we knew. What were the odds!!! So, the moral is, even though you will be there with tons of other people, there is no hiding!!! LOL!! I wish you and your family the best vacation.

Enjoy The Magic!!

 

[twinkletoesmom]

[By arriving early, you can hit the big rides before the lines get long, then move on to the less popular attractions that don't get as long of a wait time.[/QUOTE]

Ahh see thats a good tip I usually do our plan to make the least amount of walking so rest of the family doesnt get tuckered out. I will be re-doing our plan thanks

 

[twinkletoesmom]

If you want a relaxing vacation, sleep in late, stroll around the parks, this is what you'll get. Disney is NOT a relaxing vacation for most people, especially if you want to have fun during the busier times of year. For us, we need a vacation after we get back from Disney. My advice is, which is the same as many who've posted here before, get to the parks early, use FP's and leave early.

lol we (at least I) are not expecting it be relaxing. Thats why we are going clearwater after our week in orlando for a few days to just sit on the beach ;-)

 

[twinkletoesmom]

There's a big difference between "spring break" and the week before and after Easter. Everything I've ever heard is that the only time more crowded than Easter is the week between Christmas and New Years.

ahh I see. So most of you that responeded that it wasnt that bad durning spring break was that a week surrounding easter?

Looks like i have to learn a little more about how to use the fastpass to get the most out of it.

 

[jmkrat]

When my kid's were younger we could only go to Disney during spring break. We have been there both the week before and the week after Easter. Yes it will be busy, but you still will be able to do all you want. We took advantage of the Extra magic hours ( late and early). The parks were crowded but not impossible. The good thing is that Disney extends park hours during the very busy times. Relax, you will have a great time. When my kid's were little we would go early, come back to our resort to swim and then go off to the parks again later.