Mr.Diamond
New Member
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Haven't been in a long time...
- Thread starter TomHendricks
- Start date
Mr.Diamond
New Member
Nope. Try doing some research online. There are lots of websites that compile spring break statistics (some sites aim at helping students plan their holiday travels.) None of my info is based on personal, subjective observations.
Try doing some research online? I wouldn't have bothered posting unless I already did. Here is a sampling...
Easter 2012, on April 8, is right in the middle of the possible range. President’s Day 2012, on February 20th, as almost as late as it can be.
As a result, 2012 Spring Break crowds at Walt Disney World will be fine the first week of March, but bad from March 10 through April 15, with the peak crowds happening the weeks beginning March 10, March 31, and April 7.
Or this:
Of the top 150 colleges in the US, there will be 1.2 million students on break the week of March 5th. However, the week of March 12th, there are 1.1 million, the week of March 19th, 1.3 million and another half million the week after. Hardly "most schools" will be on break as you stated.
But the colleges don't drive crowds to Disney. K thru 12 students do. And here is the closer.
Of the top 125 largest public school districts in the US, almost NONE are taking the first week of March as spring break. That number jumps significantly starting Monday, March 12th.
If you like, I can send you some links with the data. One of them has a nice chart that shows the spring breaks for those 125 largest school districts.
That is research. I'm disappointed you didn't double check before you repeated yourself. Still standing by "you do realize that the OP gave a date of March 8, which is when most schools will be on spring break"?
JillC LI
Well-Known Member
Cool. Thanks. I plan to be there only one night - December 12th - I wonder if it will be showing then.
Timekeeper
Well-Known Member
Oh boy, here we go...
Where to begin...
Okay, first of all, when I stated "you do realize that the OP gave a date of March 8, which is when most schools will be on spring break. In 2012, the majority of schools will be taking their spring break between March 5 and March 23," I was responding to a comment from surfsupdon, who wrote "Shouldn't be too crowded. Did the same thing myself bak in Jan--first time since '99. No Express Pass needed."
The OP asked about Express Passes, and up until the point of my reply in this thread, no one had addressed the idea that many students will be on spring break. The OP might want to consider the benefits of an Express Pass given this unique travel season during any otherwise slower period of the year. So compared to surfsupdon's experience in January, yes, most schools will be on spring break. I don't know of any schools that take their spring break in January. Besides, if you read my comment, you'll see I acknowledged the similar window of congestion that you seem heavily focused on. If you read everything in context, and see that it was a response to a guest's experience from January, you may understand it better.
Second, we're not talking about Disney, we're talking about Universal; as the OP clearly indicated and inquired as to how to best enjoy the Universal parks.
Third, it would be foolish for anyone to assume that crowds would be "fine" the first week of a notorious spring break month, but "bad" the second week. But again, you were referring to Disney.
Thank you, but I've done enough preliminary research and don't need any additional links. But hey, you could be absolutely right about colleges not driving crowds to Disney. But alas, returning to Universal as the topic at hand, colleges might have more impact on Universal (similar to how K thru 12 impacts Disney, as you suggested). Who knows. I don't think the parks have released their own visitor statistics and I for one don't have time to do a doctoral study on thesis on the matter.
It sounds like you are very confident in the conclusive results of your research. But the fact of the matter is that there are more variables than you'd likely ever be able to conclusively research via the internet when it comes to what drives guest traffic to the Universal parks. We get guests of all ages, from all parts of the world. And no, I don't need the statistics on the number of incoming flights from Brazil during the month of March, but thanks anyway.
The point here is that when the numbers (that you referenced) for weeks during the month of March are high (whether 1.1 million, 1.2 million, 1.3 million, or 1.whatever million), a guest asking for advice on how to best attack the Universal parks may want to consider an Express Pass option. I don't think that he is concerned about the "largest school districts" and all that jazz.
As an aside, it's pretty clear that you don't read member comments in their entirety, or in their appropriate context. I also see that your member status here is "Just Joined" with less than 20 posts. First, welcome to the boards. :wave: With that said, one would be well advised to abstain from engaging others (especially senior members of over 10 years) in semantic dispute. Regardless of intent, it comes off looking like trolling/flaming.
Cheers.
Mr.Diamond
New Member
Oh boy, here we go...
Where to begin...
Okay, first of all, when I stated "you do realize that the OP gave a date of March 8, which is when most schools will be on spring break. In 2012, the majority of schools will be taking their spring break between March 5 and March 23," I was responding to a comment from surfsupdon, who wrote "Shouldn't be too crowded. Did the same thing myself bak in Jan--first time since '99. No Express Pass needed."
The OP asked about Express Passes, and up until the point of my reply in this thread, no one had addressed the idea that many students will be on spring break. The OP might want to consider the benefits of an Express Pass given this unique travel season during any otherwise slower period of the year. So compared to surfsupdon's experience in January, yes, most schools will be on spring break. I don't know of any schools that take their spring break in January. Besides, if you read my comment, you'll see I acknowledged the similar window of congestion that you seem heavily focused on. If you read everything in context, and see that it was a response to a guest's experience from January, you may understand it better.
Second, we're not talking about Disney, we're talking about Universal; as the OP clearly indicated and inquired as to how to best enjoy the Universal parks.
Third, it would be foolish for anyone to assume that crowds would be "fine" the first week of a notorious spring break month, but "bad" the second week. But again, you were referring to Disney.
Thank you, but I've done enough preliminary research and don't need any additional links. But hey, you could be absolutely right about colleges not driving crowds to Disney. But alas, returning to Universal as the topic at hand, colleges might have more impact on Universal (similar to how K thru 12 impacts Disney, as you suggested). Who knows. I don't think the parks have released their own visitor statistics and I for one don't have time to do a doctoral study on thesis on the matter.
It sounds like you are very confident in the conclusive results of your research. But the fact of the matter is that there are more variables than you'd likely ever be able to conclusively research via the internet when it comes to what drives guest traffic to the Universal parks. We get guests of all ages, from all parts of the world. And no, I don't need the statistics on the number of incoming flights from Brazil during the month of March, but thanks anyway.
The point here is that when the numbers (that you referenced) for weeks during the month of March are high (whether 1.1 million, 1.2 million, 1.3 million, or 1.whatever million), a guest asking for advice on how to best attack the Universal parks may want to consider an Express Pass option. I don't think that he is concerned about the "largest school districts" and all that jazz.
As an aside, it's pretty clear that you don't read member comments in their entirety, or in their appropriate context. I also see that your member status here is "Just Joined" with less than 20 posts. First, welcome to the boards. :wave: With that said, one would be well advised to abstain from engaging others (especially senior members of over 10 years) in semantic dispute. Regardless of intent, it comes off looking like trolling/flaming.
Cheers.
You are right, I just joined...in 2009. However, I made the mistake of bothering to offer an opposing viewpoint, with facts, and when this is done, I will go back to not wasting my time. My post number will not grow.
I am always amused by the measurement that the number of posts equates to knowledge or superior insight. It just means you spend a lot of time on boards. Congratulations Professor.
My point, which I thought I made and stayed on, was directly addressing the statement you made that most schools are on break March 8th. I countered by saying that was not true, colleges or schools districts. I thought additional information that anyone, OP or otherwise, could use would be a benefit.
I won't threaten your standing in the schoolyard again.
Wound up purchasing the Express Pass for two parks just before going in. While it was needed in Island of Adventure, several EP attractions had long waits. It was totally not needed at Universal Studios.
Millionaire2K
Active Member
You will not need the EP. If you start your day at the Studios and finish at IOA you will be fine. Most people go to IOA to start because of WWOHP. By going to the Studios first you will avoid a LOT of lines. Go counter clockwise in the park. Avoid Rocket and Mummy early if you are not there at opening. You can ride both mid day when heading to IOA.
Then mid day make your way to IOA. Go counter clockwise in the park and the lines will be low. Mid day all the peeps that started in IOA either went home or are now at the Studios.
I’ve been to Universal about 30 times at all different times of the year. Only once did I not get to ride everything. That was during Spring Break in early April. I have NEVER used an EP.
PS: ANY DEBATE OVER WHEN SPRING BREAK IS CAN BE SOLVED BY LOOKING AT HOTEL RATES FOR BOTH UNIVERSAL AND DISNEY. RATES ARE ALWAYS HIGH DURING MOST BUSY DAYS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE RATES YOU WILL NOTICE DISNEY AND UNIVERSAL HAVE THE HIGHEST RATES FOR Apr 1- 14 AND Dec 24-31. AND Mar 1- 31 FALLS IN LINE WITH 100 OTHER DAYS AS 2ND HIGHEST.
MARCH IS BUSY!! BUT START OF APRIL IS A LOT WORST. ITS ON PAR WITH X-MAS.
This is also reflected in the DVC Points chart.
Lowest:
Jan 1-31
Sep 1-30
Dec 1-14
Low:
Oct 1-31
Nov 1-20
Nov 24-30
Dec 15-23
Normal:
Feb 1-15
May 1-31
June 1-10
Aug 16-31
Moderate:
Feb 16-29
Mar 1- 31
Apr 15- 30
June 11-30
July 1-31
Aug 1-15
Nov 21-23
High:
Apr 1- 14
Dec 24-31
So I wound up purchasing the Express Pass for both parks. While it was absolutely needed in IOA, it was not needed at US at all. It was very, very busy at IOA and especially in the Harry Potter Land. So overall I think it was worth it. However by comparison, Universal Studios was a ghost town. It was surreal, almost no one in that park.
ParentsOf4
Well-Known Member
With the opening of WWOHP, most guests head to IOA upon arrival and then slowly work their way to OS. As a result, IOA is crowded in the morning and afternoon but significantly less so at night. Which park did you go to first?
Millionaire2K
Active Member
100 percent correct. anyone doing both parks should ALWAYS go to the Studios first.
We started in IOA because we had very short time at Universal and didn't want to miss anything in Harry Potter. With that said we got to do all the rides but was unable to try the butter beer because the lines were wayyyyyy to long.
Millionaire2K
Active Member
You would have been safe to start at the studios. It would have given you more time without the extra cost of the EP.