Disney World Crowds in 2013: Spring Break 2013
By Dave Shute
DISNEY WORLD SPRING BREAK CROWDS: THE PRINCIPLES
Walt Disney World Spring Break crowds are governed by two and a quarter factors:
- Public school Spring Break calendars, which are still largely framed around Easter
- The demand of snow-belters for a break from winter weather, which peaks in March, and
- The quarter factor, the date of President’s day. Later President’s Days (which can range from February 15 to February 21) tend to make the first part of March better
An early Easter combines the first two factors, making for more than the usual horrible crowds in March but a great April; a late Easter spreads the first two factors out, yielding some good later March and early April weeks.
Easter 2013, on March 31, is early in the possible range. President’s Day 2013, on February 18th, is in the middle of its possible range.
As a result, 2013 Spring Break crowds at Walt Disney World will be fine the last week of February, iffy the first week of March, and bad from March 9 through April 6, with the peak crowds (rated 11 on my 2013 crowd calendar) happening the weeks beginning March 9, March 23, and March 30.
2013 PUBLIC SCHOOL SPRING BREAKS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON WALT DISNEY WORLD CROWDS
Although more and more school districts are moving away from an Easter-centered Spring Break, the plurality of kids still have the week before Easter off, and the next biggest group some or all of the week following Easter.
As a result, the single biggest factor determining better and worse Spring Break weeks at Walt Disney World is the date of Easter–which can range from March 22 to April 25.
A later Easter has a couple of different effects: first, it spreads out the dates of breaks for school districts that don’t frame their breaks around Easter, and second, if particularly late, will push districts that typically take the week after Easter off into the week before Easter instead, to keep from compressing their May academic calendars. We saw this in 2011.
An earlier Easter has the opposite effects. Districts that traditionally try to take the week after Easter off will be able to do so, and districts that don’t base their calendars on Easter will be largely compressed into a couple of March weeks.
(The compression point partly comes from only just so much March to go around, but also from the fact that such school districts don’t like taking the week before the traditional Easter break off, as it will lead into a set of political discussions (“If we could take that week off, why not slip it a week and take before week of Easter off? What do you have against Easter??”) that they don’t want to revisit.)
The date of President’s Day–which can range from February 15 to February 21–also has an effect. Because many districts both have a spring break and also take the week of President’s Day off, the later President’s Day is, the better early March will be–as parents avoid taking their kids out of school the weeks after a long President’s Day break.
The effect of the various dates in 2013 is to compress 2013 school spring breaks into three weeks: those beginning March 9, March 23, and March 30.
ACTUAL 2013 SPRING BREAKS
The chart to the right illuminates this.
It’s based on data from a weighted sample including almost 175 of the largest relevant US public school districts.
(Click it to enlarge it; when it opens, click it again to enlarge it more.)
More kids are on break the week before Easter than any other week; the week after Easter and the week beginning 3/9 are the next highest break weeks. I’ve rated each of these 11/highest crowds in my 2013 crowd calendar.
Next to no kids are on break between the week after President’s Day and March 10. I rate the week beginning February 23 2/lower crowds. This is a recommended week. The week beginning March 2 is rated 7/moderate-plus crowds.
The week beginning March 16 has many fewer kids on break than the three weeks rated highest/11. However, because of the snowbelt effect, I’ve rated it 10/higher crowds. It may turn out better than this…but I wouldn’t bet on it!
153 comments
Hi Carly, see this at the very end of the page: “The week beginning March 16 has many fewer kids on break than the three weeks rated highest/11. However, because of the snowbelt effect, I’ve rated it 10/higher crowds. It may turn out better than this…but I wouldn’t bet on it!”
We will be visiting Clearwater and may consider a day at Disney. Do many people go to the parks Easter Sunday?
Hi Heather! Easter Sunday is one of the 4 or 5 busiest days of the year in the parks…
Well, that’s good to know! We’ll try for April 1st or 2nd. Is one better than the other? Thanks for all your input! You really helped direct our trip last year, too! Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Heather, I’m so glad the site helped, and happy thanksgiving to you, too! Both those days also stink, but either is better than Sunday. I have a slight preference for the 2nd, but it will vary a little depending on which park you intend to go to…for example, Epcot will be better the 1st.
Hi Dave,
My husband and I were looking to come March 30- April 5. We have a 6 year old and a 1 year old. I want this is be a great experience with out crowds and lines espically with a baby. Do you see any chance of it possibly being ok or switch the dates? Thanks
Hi Jessica, that is one of the three or four most crowded weeks of 2013. See https://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/09/12/disney-world-crowds-in-2013/ SO I’d switch the dates if you can!
Hello Dave,
I just found your site about a month and it is so helpful!! We have decided to go the week of April the 5th -April 12th. Question, which park would you recommend for which day? It will be my husband and I, our two girls, 3 and 5 years old, and the grandparents. We arrive on the 5th, so no parks that day, thank goodness, since crowds levels are super high!!! Thank you!!
Hi Suzanne, and I’m glad the site is helping!
For kids that age, ypou’d want to focus on MK, and think of half a day at the opther parks, perhaps skipping Epcot entirely. See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/09/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-rides-and-attractions/
The following are parks to avoid by day:
4/6 They will all be crowded. Epcot will be best.
4/7 Avoid MK
4/8 Avoid HK and HS
4/9 Avoid Epcot
4/10 Avoid AK
4/11 Avoid MK
4/12 Avoid Epcot
Group of 5 guys going to Florida, either from the 11th March 2013 for a week ot from the 18th March for a week. Both of these fall in spring break period. How busy should we expect IOA, USF and Bush Gardens to be, should we rethink our dates or will we be ok during this period? Thanks.
Hi Colin! I’m forecasting both weeks to be wildly crowded in all of Florida. I may be wrong the week of the 18th–that may be better than I think–but if you can reschedule, I would…
Hi Dave. I have booked our 2013 Disney World vacation for 2nd April – 16th April. I am quite concerned about the crowds during the first week of our stay and I’m not sure what to expect for the rest of our vacation. How much queuing will we do for rides and how bad will the crowds be around the parks? Thanks.
Hi Beth! I expect crowds will be quite bad through April 6, but will be fine thereafter. For some ideas on how to cope those first few days, see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/12/04/coping-disney-world-holiday-crowds/ It’s written for the Christmas holidays, but applies to any high-crowd period…
March31-april 2 is it going to be as bad as it looks any idea on what park to go to on a specific day
Hi Jerry, yes it will be. The usual point is to avoid parks on days they have extra magic hours. MK has EMH every day, so that’s not much help for it; EMH at the other parks may be added, so it’s a little hard to predict now. No pakr will be good the 31st, but AK and HS will be a little better; the 1st and 2nd will be better at all parks than the 31st, and I’d shoot for MK the 2nd.
Hi Dave
Your website is very interesting and helpful although now I am slightly concerned as me and my Husband have booked our trip for 8th – 20th March 2013 as I wanted to be there to celebrate my 30th Birthday! Would be interested to hear what your predictions are for this period. We are planning on covering the 4 Disney Theme parks, 2 Universal parks, Seaworld and Discovery Cove with a shopping day thrown in. I have been 4 times before but usually in October when the crowds are less….should we brace ourselves?!!!!!!
Hi Carla!
Yup, I’m looking at those weeks as pretty ugly…especially the first one. See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/08/21/march-2013-walt-disney-world/
You should brace yourselves–but it’s a huge help that you know your way around, and know how to manage crowds–to show up before the parks open, to get on the most popular rides first, and then to use FASTPASSES. Plan on taking afternoons off especially at MK and Epcot…
We are taking our 3 year old daughter to Disney for the first time march 1-8, 2013. We will be using the military park hopper which gives us 4 days at the parks. What parks would be best for which days? Thank you so much for your help!
Hi! With a kid that age, you’d want to focus on the Magic Kingdom, skip Epcot, and maybe spend a morning in each of the other two parks, hopping those days back to MK for the afternoon parade and/or evening parade and fireworks.
For MK your best dates will be 3/1, 3/5, 3/6, and 3/8
For Animal Kingdom, the best dates will be 3/5 and 3/7
For Hollywood Studios, the best days will be 3/1, 3/3, and 3/5 through 3/8.
Assuming that you will spend part of each day at MK (some days starting there, and others hopping), this suggests 3/1 at MK, 3/5 begin at AK and hop to MK, and 3/6 and 3/8 be at MK but choose one of these 2 days to begin at HS then hop to MK.
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We plan on being there from (Booked) Match 8-13th . . . From what I’ve read it’s going to be really packed =( Would we be better off going the weekend before??? This will be our first time so any recommendations on which parks etc. for a 2 yr old (boy) 10 yr old (boy) 12 yr old (girl) . . . We are staying at the Mystic Dunes Resort hopefully its a decent place . . . I hate booking some where I’ve never been . . . Any advice is helpful Thanks!!!!!
Hi Tammy, I think the week before will be much better—see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/08/21/march-2013-walt-disney-world/
I’m sorry but I don’t track hotels off site, so don’t know anything about the Mystic Dunes…
Let me know your final dates and I’ll advise on which parks to hit which days!
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We have a 13yo, 11yo, and 18 month old twins. Been to Disney many times but first with our twins. Our spring break is march 11-14, however we are thinking about booking around feb 28-march 4 and taking older kids out of school. Do you think the change of dates would be worth it since we will have little toddlers with us as well.? And is the weather war, enough for swimming? Thanks for your help!!
Hi Jillian, the earlier week will be much less crowded! So I’d go then for sure… Weather is variable that time of the year–see this https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/08/21/march-2013-walt-disney-world/
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Thank you!!
You bet, and have fun!
Great info! Less crowds Feb 24-March1, or March2-8….notable difference?
Thanks Tim! I’m seeing the earlier week as much less crowded. See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/09/12/disney-world-crowds-in-2013/
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I am looking to take my boys (9 & 12) to DW on April 2nd to April 7th. In one of your responses back in oct. 2012 to mom who asked if it would horrible busy during this time you stated YES and you said prices sky rocket at this time and there are no deals. Currently there is a spring deal starting April 2nd for 30% off some resorts does this mean it wont be as busy as expected due to their having this deal right after EASTER(march 31st) ?
Hi Sam, that’s a great question. It will still be wildly busy that week. What’s happening is some families have Easter Monday off, so are checking out Monday or Tuesday. That yields rooms that are otherwise hard to fill, so you get the discount beginning April 2. Families that check in before Then can’t use it…
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Why are the character meals and nice restaurants booked during low crowd times? Seems like its hard to get a good time even off season…. Thanks
Hey Tim, that’s because “low crowd” is relative–there’s still more than a hundred thousand people around even on the low crowd days…
Hi Dave—great web site! Wish I would have come across it before I booked our trip, but luckily, our week of 4/13 is #12 on your list of recommended weeks. Below is what we are planning for the week. Staying at Disney Beach Club Resorts (Club Level). Spoke with the concierge, and she said our plan is good but wanted to see if you have any suggestions. Traveling with a 4 1/2 year old. All meal reservations are character meals (we have the Disney Meal Plan & hopper passes).
4/12 – Arrive in afternoon (settle in, dinner at resort)
4/13 – Hollywood Studios (lunch reserved)
4/14 – MK (dinner reserved) – Concierge said Sun, Mon, and Tues are best to visit MK
4/15 – stay at resort (break between park days)/miniature golf
4/16 – AK (lunch reserved)
4/17 – Epcot/WaterPark/or anything else we missed (since our resort is right next to Epcot, I figure we can go there during evenings so won’t need to spend a full day there) – Dinner reservation
4/18 – home
Well, Mary…in general the most crowded days at MK are Sat-Mon, and the best days are Tues and Weds, and in general you want to avoid parks on days they have extra magic hours, unless you plan to hop to (for the evening EMH) or hop away (from the am EMH)…so I guess I disagree with your concierge! So at minimum I’d flip your HS and MK days, and ideally I’d advise AK the 13th, HS the 14th and MK the 16th…
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Hey Dave,
So it looks like we can only go to Orlando on March 31st through April 6th. We are looking at spending 1 day at Islands of Adventure and 1-day at Seaworld and the rest at WDW. Do you have any suggestions on timing with the days and the crowds. We were looking at Islands of adventure and Seaworld at the beginning or end of vacation.
Hi Doug, I don’t have any great ideas to share. All the parks will be wildly crowded almost all the time you are there, with the 31st and 1st being the worst days. You want to avoid the Disney parks on days they have extra magic hours–but MK may have them every day…. See this for some other thoughts–not about Easter, but the same principles apply: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/12/04/coping-disney-world-holiday-crowds/
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