Just how bad will crowds be during April school vacation? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Just how bad will crowds be during April school vacation?
I would love to go in October, but Im nervous about taking all that time off (Im a teacher). The North East school vaca in 2014 does not abut Easter, so not all states will be on vaca this week with us. How bad are the crowds?
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Oct. 31-Nov. 5, 2014 BWV with DH and DS, Nov.9-17, 2013 BCV with DH, DS (7), my parents and sister, October 2013 WL with just DH
Dec. 10-15, 2010 POR with DH, DS (4) Ddad(60)
DS on his first trip! January 2008 Windsor Hills
TR http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...irst-trip.html
In 2008 we went with my parents and stayed at their timeshare (outside of Disney). We arrived the day before Easter so of course on Sunday we wanted to do MK. Big, big mistake!!! We came into the park in the middle of the Easter Day Parade and we should have turned around and gone to another park. We were in the park for 8 to 9 hours and we literally got 4 rides done, it was insane.
That being said, the week following Easter was busy, but not insane. We didn't encounter wait times like that again. Yes, the lines were long, but again, it was do-able. That being said, we do get to Disney just about every year and we've really started going with the attitude that if we don't get everything done, we'll be back the following year. We have our favorites that we make sure we do at least once, after that everything is just icing on the cake.
We've traveled several times in March (not sure exactly when you're going) and we've encountered different crowd levels depending on when Easter is. I think anything leading up to or just after Easter is going to be crowded.
Also, not sure where you are in the North East, we're in MD. Our school district has a break in January 2013 where we're off on a Monday for Martin Luther King Jr, then we're off Tuesday and Wednesday for teacher planning. I've heard it can be crazy during President's Day but I've never heard anything about MKLJR. Do you have anything like that? We also have a few teacher planning days in November which is when we are going so the kids are only missing 3 days as opposed to a full week. Our other option was that week in January where they'd only miss 2 days. We've taken dd during that *break* in January where we made it more like a long weekend so she didn't miss any school and I know January isn't ideal weather wise, but if your school does something like that it could be another option. We were there for just 5 days that year and we had weather fluctuations from wearing jeans and jackets to wearing bathing suits and swimming. Personally, I'd rather go in January and wear a jacket than go in July and melt away, but that's me.
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Me ~ Christina; DH ~ '92; DD ~ '99; DS ~ '06
My reasons for breathing!!! MGM Studios October 2007
We have gone twice in April (I'm also a teacher and also in the Northeast). In each case, our break was distanced from Easter by a week. In my experience, the crowds were not bad and very managable. I also follow a "best days" calendar when we tour. Don't be afraid of going at that time.
Easter is early this year. Most schools in NE are off the 3rd or 4th week in April. (I pull together all school vacation periods in the northeast for work)
It will be busy, but manageable. Plan early with touring plans and use fastpass.
We went this year for spring break (we're in CT) and Easter was the Sunday before we arrived on Friday night. The first weekend was a bit busy, but it slowed down as the week went on. We used FPs, but never felt like it was overwhelming!
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I would love to go in October, but Im nervous about taking all that time off (Im a teacher). The North East school vaca in 2014 does not abut Easter, so not all states will be on vaca this week with us. How bad are the crowds?
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We were in the park for 8 to 9 hours and we literally got 4 rides done, it was insane.
MGM Studios October 2007
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