YIKES. It’s (3/12) So busy! Planning and FP are so important.

[dreynolds1982]

Honestly, I remember going WAY back to when I used to work in Marketing down at WDW in 2006 that I thought this time of year was BY FAR the busiest of the year, even more so than peak summer, Thanksgiving, and even Christmas to New Years. I know the parks don't necessarily reach capacity during spring break, but I just remember based on my daily experience (commute, crowds in and around resort, etc) that March and April were just bonkers.

I do get that the crowds are worse than ever but I've been recently during busy times (Pres Day weekend this year, week after New Years last year) and I think it just takes more planning than it used to, but they can still be enjoyable. As someone who used to just casually pop over to the parks all the time, I hate that you really can't do that now, at least not like you used to. But still, you just have to plan and know what you're getting into and it will be fine. My gf and I did the Pres Day trip on a complete whim and still managed to have a blast. Visited 3 parks, rode some big name rides and thoroughly enjoyed the Art Fest and Illuminations. Just gotta do the dirty work and think ahead.

 

[limace]

Don't forget to say IMO. I couldn't disagree more. The old system at WDW (which I think is the same that DL currently uses) is horrible IMO. I can get far more done with the existing FP+ system.

That’s not quite accurate. The current system at DL offers two options-paper fastpasses booked the old way, available every two hours or when your first time has started, or whichever comes first. Or Maxpass-$15 pp/day-book in your phone at either park as soon as you’ve entered one park. Every 90 in or as soon as you’ve started your time.

We spent 5 days in DL late last June-incredibly busy. Pixar Pier opened and they unblocked annual passes unexpectedly most of that week. We got through significantly more rides a day even then, with MP, than we have this week at WDW. We had excellent luck booking FP here, we use refresh, AND we paid for EMM for two days. Even counting the rides we did on EMM, we did more per day at DL. We are still having fun, but partly that’s because we had money to spend on EMM and a nice hotel-if you are scrimping to make this trip happen, it’s that much harder, and your experience is probably much worse.

 

[michelepa]

so looking at MDE right now lines are long in all four parks and it's 4:01 wonder how refresh works now?

 

[Early April]

If anyone wants some data to back up the crowds, here is the spring breaks by week for colleges/universities in the US for 2019. Based on the data, this is the craziest spring break week to be there. Who knows what it will be like when all the public schools go on break (maybe some are on break now who knows?).

Row Labels Count of colleges on Break
02/09/2019 to 02/17/2019 2
02/16/2019 to 02/24/2019 7
02/23/2019 to 03/03/2019 10
03/02/2019 to 03/10/2019 183
03/09/2019 to 03/17/2019 407
03/16/2019 to 03/24/2019 216
03/23/2019 to 03/31/2019 95
03/30/2019 to 04/07/2019 24
04/06/2019 to 04/14/2019 6
04/13/2019 to 04/21/2019 12
(blank) 23
Grand Total 985

 

[Early April]

If anyone wants some data to back up the crowds, here is the spring breaks by week for colleges/universities in the US for 2019. Based on the data, this is the craziest spring break week to be there. Who knows what it will be like when all the public schools go on break (maybe some are on break now who knows?).

Row Labels Count of colleges on Break
02/09/2019 to 02/17/2019 2
02/16/2019 to 02/24/2019 7
02/23/2019 to 03/03/2019 10
03/02/2019 to 03/10/2019 183
03/09/2019 to 03/17/2019 407
03/16/2019 to 03/24/2019 216
03/23/2019 to 03/31/2019 95
03/30/2019 to 04/07/2019 24
04/06/2019 to 04/14/2019 6
04/13/2019 to 04/21/2019 12
(blank) 23
Grand Total 985

my formatting didn't work out well but you get the gist. 407 colleges on spring break this week

 

[limace]

my formatting didn't work out well but you get the gist. 407 colleges on spring break this week

Eesh. Wish I’d figured this out before I pulled kids out of school to come this week instead of our regular spring break the end of the month!

 

[Jimminy Cricket 123]

so looking at MDE right now lines are long in all four parks and it's 4:01 wonder how refresh works now?

Wish there was a way to practice it, but our trip starts Saturday and when I go in, it says I've reached my max fastpass allotment. We have annual passes, but have a room booked.

 

[michelepa]

my formatting didn't work out well but you get the gist. 407 colleges on spring break this week

Do you think many college students chose Disney for spring break? I don't between expense and crowds why would they bother unless parents are making them go and footing the bill. And yes before people start disagreeing I know there are always the few that do but on average I don't believe many are choosing to spring break at Disney. My high schooler doesn't even want to be there.

 

[Early April]

Do you think many college students chose Disney for spring break? I don't between expense and crowds why would they bother unless parents are making them go and footing the bill. And yes before people start disagreeing I know there are always the few that do but on average I don't believe many are choosing to spring break at Disney. My high schooler doesn't even want to be there.

That table doesn't include Canadian spring breaks for kids, which are happening right now during March, and also any American schools that I didn't include. Praying for a lower crowds the first week of April when my wife and I go. She hasn't been before and I suggested this trip so hopefully she doesn't hate me for it lol

 

[JETSDAD]

so looking at MDE right now lines are long in all four parks and it's 4:01 wonder how refresh works now?

If people would leave me alone a bit at the office I would have more time to look for FP's lol. Here's a few at MK around the 4:00 time that I found while "working". Saw some later evening FP's as well but these would be decent for a busy day in the late afternoon.

 

[StacyStrong]

so looking at MDE right now lines are long in all four parks and it's 4:01 wonder how refresh works now?

I'm consistently getting things to pop up

 

[StacyStrong]

It's doable.

 

[Jimminy Cricket 123]

StacyStrong, JETSDAD, I love you both

 

[JETSDAD]

Took a look over at AK.

 

[StacyStrong]

Took a look over at AK.

View attachment 387976 View attachment 387977

Man. You're always more successful than me. I got Everest and Dinosaur to pop up, but at later times.

 

[Jimminy Cricket 123]

How can I practice doing that?

 

[JETSDAD]

How can I practice doing that?

We have AP's so can look up to 30 days out (so long as I don't have FP's selected for a planned trip already).

 

[StacyStrong]

How can I practice doing that?

I have an annual pass. If you don't have one, there isn't a way to practice.

 

[michelepa]

Excellent thank you everyone or looking!!

I messed up DS tickets and FP on MDE trying to add his Magic band (long story) so I’m not going to fool around with anything at this point to check today’s FPs using refresh because guest services is probably sick of me.

How many refreshes did it take to get these beauties?

 

[JETSDAD]

And before I go home, a quick look at HS...sorry no SDD right now but these would be ok.