Spring Break - Kill Me

[ExtinctJenn]

Until last year, whenever we planned a trip we planned it around off-peak season to, not only save money but, to go during more agreeable weather. We lived in FL for nearly 3 years and are very familiar with the temps during the summer months and just aren't a fan.

What changed last year was DS6 starting Kindergarten. Now we no longer have the freedom to just pick a week and go but have to at least try to work around the school's scheduled days off else we risk him being held back.

March has always been one of my favorite times to go (with October being right behind it) and our son's birthday is March 29th. This year his school's spring break starts on 3/29 and then runs for two weeks after. Because of the timing I'm thinking that may be the best time for our next trip but the realization that it'd be during spring break is giving me an ulcer.

I know the dates for Spring Break vary from coast to coast and state to state so I'm wondering if anyone can give me a feel for how nuts those first two weeks of April will be. Does that fall into peak-season pricing or would we be just missing it? Every fiber of my being says "don't do it" but our only other options are summer (NO) and winter break (which I'd love but it's just too crazy).

Help?!? Thanks!

 

[Nemo14]

With Easter falling on March 31, you'll probably have big crowds the first week of April, since many schools plan their Spring break around that. Schools here in RI usually have the 3rd week of April off, if that's any help.

 

[ShookieJones]

We've always taken the kids out of school. I know lots o' folks bug out about that, but to me
1 week out of an entire year? If that's going to make or break my kid, I'm thinking I've got bigger problems.

Especially with your son being so young - I would cut out for a week when it's convenient.
He may miss a week of learning how to glue macaroni to a piece of construction paper or something but otherwise...
I'm kidding of course I know now a days they're just about teaching kids Algebra in Kindergarten...I'm thinking back to my days when it was all naps and scribbling....I think I failed scribbling come to think of it.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

What about prices? When does that spring peak-time start room price wise? I know it's out there somewhere but I can't find it specific to 2012.

We've always taken the kids out of school. I know lots o' folks bug out about that, but to me
1 week out of an entire year? If that's going to make or break my kid, I'm thinking I've got bigger problems.

You make an excellent point... the way this school system works it, parents start getting nasty grams after 1 unexcused absence and then if there are 5 they get a nasty gram from the school board threatening that if there are any more it could hold your child back. I don't like nasty grams so I am just trying to avoid it. Last year we actually did pull him out for 4 days and just told the school "too bad" but I was trying to avoid becoming labeled as "THAT parent" y'know?

 

[Weather_Lady]

With Easter falling on March 31, you'll probably have big crowds the first week of April, since many schools plan their Spring break around that. Schools here in RI usually have the 3rd week of April off, if that's any help.

I agree! Here in upstate NY the one-week break will be the first week in April. If you have a choice, I'd try the second week.

Please, don't panic about visiting at peak season! Every last one of my past WDW trips was over Easter break, and employing a few simple strategies (e.g., using EMH, getting to the parks at rope drop, taking a break from 12-4 when the crowds are heaviest, parkhopping to less crowded parks, making wise use of Fastpasses, etc.), we never had to forego anything we wanted to do or wait in any crazy long lines. (By "crazy long" I mean, "more than 20 minutes"). You may have to stick to a touring plan more than you might otherwise like, but a great time can still be had!

 

[ExtinctJenn]

Please, don't panic about visiting at peak season! Every last one of my past WDW trips was over Easter break, and employing a few simple strategies (e.g., using EMH, getting to the parks at rope drop, taking a break from 12-4 when the crowds are heaviest, parkhopping to less crowded parks, making wise use of Fastpasses, etc.), we never had to forego anything we wanted to do or wait in any crazy long lines. (By "crazy long" I mean, "more than 20 minutes"). You may have to stick to a touring plan more than you might otherwise like, but a great time can still be had!

Ohhhh yeah I know. I probably should've mentioned that I've been many times during holidays and summer and I just prefer how dead things are otherwise. LOL!

 

[maryszhi]

college spring breaks are generally in march, as well as many public schools. others vary based on easter. some give the week before, some after, so i would go mid to late april if possible

 

[ExtinctJenn]

college spring breaks are generally in march, as well as many public schools. others vary based on easter. some give the week before, some after, so i would go mid to late april if possible

Yeah unfortunately again I'm trying to coordinate this with when my son's spring break is so mid-to-late isn't an option.

 

[wiigirl]

With Easter falling on March 31, you'll probably have big crowds the first week of April, since many schools plan their Spring break around that. Schools here in RI usually have the 3rd week of April off, if that's any help.

Yikes...good point!

 

[ShookieJones]

What about prices? When does that spring peak-time start room price wise? I know it's out there somewhere but I can't find it specific to 2012.


You make an excellent point... the way this school system works it, parents start getting nasty grams after 1 unexcused absence and then if there are 5 they get a nasty gram from the school board threatening that if there are any more it could hold your child back. I don't like nasty grams so I am just trying to avoid it. Last year we actually did pull him out for 4 days and just told the school "too bad" but I was trying to avoid becoming labeled as "THAT parent" y'know?

This drives me absolutley bat cr*p. I LOVE AND APPRECIATE everything that teachers and all others involved in the school system do. It's often a very thankless job...and to be honest I don't ever WANT to be THAT parent either!
HOWEVER getting an accusatory note when you're taking your kid out of school is freakin' ridiculous.

If my kid is failing or being an a-hole in school that's on me. I don't blame anyone for that.

My wife and I keep on our kids a$$es to keep their grades in line - no easy task I tell you -- so if I want to
take my kids out for a week here of there so I can take a MUCH NEEDED family vacation without dealing with the incredibly stressful crowds..that's on me.
You worry about the teaching I'll worry about the learning.

Alright enough from this peanut gallery.

 

[Mukta]

What about prices? When does that spring peak-time start room price wise? I know it's out there somewhere but I can't find it specific to 2012.

Here are the room seasons/rack rates for 2013
http://www.mousesavers.com/2013-walt-disney-world-resort-room-rates-season-dates/

 

[Mukta]

Until last year, whenever we planned a trip we planned it around off-peak season to, not only save money but, to go during more agreeable weather. We lived in FL for nearly 3 years and are very familiar with the temps during the summer months and just aren't a fan.

What changed last year was DS6 starting Kindergarten. Now we no longer have the freedom to just pick a week and go but have to at least try to work around the school's scheduled days off else we risk him being held back.

March has always been one of my favorite times to go (with October being right behind it) and our son's birthday is March 29th. This year his school's spring break starts on 3/29 and then runs for two weeks after. Because of the timing I'm thinking that may be the best time for our next trip but the realization that it'd be during spring break is giving me an ulcer.

I know the dates for Spring Break vary from coast to coast and state to state so I'm wondering if anyone can give me a feel for how nuts those first two weeks of April will be. Does that fall into peak-season pricing or would we be just missing it? Every fiber of my being says "don't do it" but our only other options are summer (NO) and winter break (which I'd love but it's just too crazy).

Help?!? Thanks!

His spring break starts on 3/29 and he goes back to school on 4/15?
According to touringplans.com, the second week of his break will have smaller crowds than the first week.

 

[Britt]

We went the first week of April last year and the crowds were TERRIBLE. Seriously, 2 hour rides for most everything and it was sooo hard to walk around. We loved being there at ALL, but the crowds were so bad that we'd never go again. I think we rode maybe 4 things all day most of the time due to just SUPER long waits! Trying to walk around stores was a pain in the butt or waiting at the QS counters.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

Around the Baltimore area public schools are either the last week of March or first week of April. My niece is a senior in high school this year and she really wants one more big family vacation with her fun relatives before as she says "has to grow up" so about 10 of us are going first week of April. Try to do what we are planning, enjoying being there and being with each other, getting to ride our favorite rides are icing on the cake.

 

[ParentsOf4]

The first few days immediately after Easter should be extremely crowded. After that crowds should drop off to more moderate levels. If you can manage it, the second week of April should be much better than the first.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

Ugh... I was afraid of all this. I guess I have to really start thinking about pulling him out of school if I don't want to deal with the insanity.

 

[Todd L]

AVOID SPRING BREAK AT ALL COST..Its Awful.

October is so much Nicer

I have two kids a 17 year old daughter and a 6 year old son. We always Took my Daughter out during school weeks so we could be at Wdw on slow weeks. Shes was always very smart and was able to get way ahead od her schedule so she never got behind and there was No risk of it having a negative effect on her Grades.

My Son is Ad and we pulled him out for one week in 1st grade and will never do it again. He is very bright but being out of the classroom for 5 days was murder on my wife and I trying to get him caught up.

It really depends on the Kid and The schools policies. Good Luck.

 

[Tomi-Rocket]

My advice, take your son out of school for a week. While, no, it's not all about construction paper and gluing, he won't miss out on that much. And I do speak from experience. We took out our kids for each trip when one was in 3rd, 5th, 7th & 9th grade and the other in 1st, 3rd & 5th grade. No problems from the teachers or with their grades. The biggest problem came from the absent days and that didn't even really post a problem till last year but that was mostly from my mistake of forgetting to send in notes a couple of times when my son was sick.

Go when you want now and then decide when he gets older about taking him out. I would say you don't even need to really worry about 1st grade either. You can take a cue from his teachers too. I was lucky to have understanding teachers not that having someone freak out on me would have changed my mind or anything.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

Thanks for the additional thoughts. Something I hadn't really thought of until now is we won't be able to go until March at the earliest and by then the school year is nearly over anyway. Last year was different. We pulled him out in September, 2 weeks after school started, so the entire rest of the year I was concerned what would happen if we had to pull him out again unexcused. This year, since we won't even have a shot at going until March, and that's 3 months before the end of the year, the pit in my stomach re: him having unexcused days out would be much less!

 

[luv]

Spring Break is pretty crowded. Better weather than summer, though. Even if it is hot, you don't have that oppressive humidity to slog through.

And if you are lucky, you'll be there for F&G, which is so pretty!!!

It'll be good. You'll have fun.