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
Super helpful info. We are in Tampa for a conference and only have Friday, 3/29 available to visit Disney World. Do you think the crowds will be so bad that we should NOT do it? We can also go Saturday, 3/30 – but I suspect that will be worse….and only plan to spend one day.
Ted, given the cost of the tickets and the poor value you’ll get because of the crowds–which are all week long–I would skip it and save the money for a longer trip at a better time…while Friday will be better than Saturday, both will be just horrible.
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We are planning to visit Orlando from April 2 to 9. Do you think the crowds will be bad? Thanks!
Jet, yes, that will be one of the three or four most crowded weeks of the year, becasue mnay kids have the week after Easter off…
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Thanks, Dave! Do you think it would be better to go on April 7 (Sunday) instead of April 4 or 5? Thanks, again! You’ve been very helpful!
Thanks, Jet! Yes crowds will be way down as of April 7!
Hi Dave,
Do you expect the crowds to be bad from March 21 -24? I see that you have these dates ranked very low in the weekly rankings.
Thanks,
Scott
Scott, I have that period rated as 10/high on my crowd calendar here https://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/09/12/disney-world-crowds-in-2013/ That’s a tricky week to predcit, though, and it may be a little better, especially Thursday and Friday.
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Hi Dave! Omg, I don’t know where to start,
after soooo many years me and my family are returning to Orlando for vacations, we will be arriving on march 24th, and leaving april 1st, i’m sooo excited, we’re traveling with my two sons (age 20 +) and my two nephews (age 12-19) i’m sure it’s gonna be amazing, we’re all super excited, but i don’t know how crowded it will be that week. It’s sunday trough sunday, what i’m trying to say is: does it get crowded even if its week days, not weekends??
And what about the weather?? We were thinking of paking really light because we want to go shopping too….. I hope you can help me 🙂 thanks so much.
Well, Patty, I’m sorry to say that the week before Easter is one of the most crowded weeks of the year. I’ve got some thought son owe to cope here: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/03/14/the-common-sense-guide-to-easter-week-at-walt-disney-world/
Late March weather can be all over the place, so I would pack for cooler evenings…see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/when-to-go/next-best-dates/weather-and-when-to-go/high-temperatures-year-round/
We are planning in going in 2014 after taxes come back. We have been to wdw two times already at the last week of march and the first week of April. I don’t think it was bad but I don’t know if it was large or low crowds. So Easter is April 20 in 2014. Should we plan to go the week of April 6th? Or a week or two after Easter? I want to avoid spring break, heavy Easter crowds and rain season. Suggestions??
Hi Dana, see the week ranked #13 here: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/10/15/2014-weeks-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-order/
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We are going to Disney World.. Yacht and Beach Club between April 12th and April 19th.. it looks like looking at your information and chart that it may be okay as far as crowds.. we have been to Disney before.. always in May and Disney is busy no matter what.. but it looks like April 12th thru the 19th may be okay… you agree??
Mike I agree, it’ll be fine then! See also https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/09/18/april-2013-walt-disney-world/
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Hi thanks for your advice here! My family is going April 20-28. Does this seem like a good week to you? Crowd levels?
Hi Kay! Yup, I have that as crowd level of 2/lower… see https://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/09/12/disney-world-crowds-in-2013/
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Oh and also I’ve read Sunday is a light crowd day. Do you recommend Sunday for our MK day Le a day later in the week?
Kay, Sunday is not a light crowd day, and is typically especially packed at MK.
The weekends (and Monday) are the busiest days at WDW because both short and long trips typically include them, and, other than Monday, they’re also the easiest days for locals to go. And MK typically has evening extra magic hour son Sundays–as it does your week–making it even more packed.
Your week Tuesday and Wednesday are the best choices–take a look at this for how I’d advise your week unfolding: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/basic-itinerary/alternative-itineraries/itineraries-for-the-rest-of-the-year/v2-of-2009-autumn-winter-spring-itinerary/
Hope this helps!
Thanks!!! Would you recommend doing islands of adventure Sunday instead? Or just as crowded?
Kay, Sunday is a great day for Universal! See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/07/31/the-best-and-worst-days-of-the-week-to-see-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter/
Also since you have that week of 4/20 pretty low crowd wise do you think we would be ok Sunday anyway especially since we are experienced Disney goers and know exactly what we do and don’t want to do?
Oh, good point. Kay. I’d go to MK on a Sunday myself with no hesitation–I’d be at the turnstiles 30 mins before opening, see first the rides that develop long lines, use FASTPASSES, and see lower-wait rides in the afternoon…
My adult daughter & I are going 4-21-26. We plan on Epcot 4-21, Hollywood Studios 4-22 amd MK 4-23. Does this sound like good planning? Will crowds be manageable?
Hi Clairee! Crowds overall will be low then. But I’d flip Epcot and HS. Epcot is good either day, but, because of extra magic hours, HS will be more crowded the 22nd than it will be the 21st!
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Hi again Dave. I’ve downloaded a wait time app and have been watching the wait times and see no discernible difference between today Tuesday and yesterday or Sunday. It seems so busy o me there still and I’m getting nervous!
Kay, it’s not remotely as busy as it was last week. Disney World is always busy–it’s just some times are much more busy than others!
Dave I’m going to drive you crazy! 🙂 my kids have once again changed their minds and are now lookin at Sea World. We haven’t been there yet (we are a Disney family ) do you have a suggested day?
Kay, see this–it says Harry Potter but is true for all the non-Disney parks: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/07/31/the-best-and-worst-days-of-the-week-to-see-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter/
Hey Dave,
Looking at a Disney trip on Friday, April 26th. We will have park hopper tickets. What two parks would you recommend for AM and PM? We love them all so are really not partial, just looking for the best experience with the least crowds. Many Thanks.
Ruby, any park but Epcot would be a good choice. I’m not keen on two parks in a day–the ticket plus park hopper will cost you a ton, and by the time you get to the second park, lines will be long and fastpass return times will be late in the day…
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Well we just returned from our April 20-28 Disney trip and I’m dismayed at how wrong all the trip advisers have gotten the crowd level estimates. The parks were all packed all week. Wall to wall. LONG waits, LOTS of foreigners LOTS of rude people with strollers and on scooters. One man screamed at his baby to shut up and go to sleep. We shuffled through crowds at snails pace. Standing room only on monorails and buses. I have gone every couple of years for most of my life and can’t recall so many foreigners and rude people and horrendous crowds this time of year. We have discussed going in September next time and if that is also miserable we won’t be returning to Disney unfortunately. I’m sorry but Disney needs to limit the foreigners. I doubt this is what Walt had in mind when he designed the parks for Anerican families. The foreigners are HORRIBLE. They mob the rides, hold them up, barrel through crowds with strollers and stop mid walk way and refuse to move. Also the elderly people can be just as bad. Numerous times my children were sidelined by elderly people trying to get seats on rides and monorails. Very sad. 🙁
Kay see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/09/18/april-2013-walt-disney-world/#comment-396817
I know this is 11 months early, but I’m planning my Disney trip for next year. I’d like to go in March or April (we’re flexible). Easter is 4/20/14. Which week do you think would be the best to go? We don’t want to go when it’s crowded (definitely not during Spring break!) and we love a great deal. Thanks!
Hi,
If we plan to go ONE day over our spring break from March 15- 21st, are we better off choosing a weekend day like Sat. March 15th or Sun. March 16th versus a weekday starting on March 17th? I was just curious if there was a difference and if weekends were traditionally worse or better than a spring break weekday!
Thanks!!
Katie, that will be a horrible week all throughout, but a mid-week day, like Tuesday or Wednesday, would be a little better than a weekend day…
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