Timing Nowadays

[nicolewi]

I am still in the very early stages of starting to think about maybe trying to do Disney next spring. Last time we went, we went first week in March, and I thought that worked out really well. My kids’ spring break is the last week of March, but I’m assuming that would be ridiculously crowded, is that right? Are crowd calendars and the like still a thing, or now that you have to make reservations for parks is it pretty consistent all the time? Everything has changed since I planned our last trip in 2019!

[mrsslocombe]

It's definitely been more crowded overall throughout the year since late 2021. Whether that dies down once the 50th Anniversary wraps up or the post-pandemic craze is over, remains to be seen.

But there's still times when it's worse than others. Looking at things like Genie+ selling out, average wait times, etc the past two weeks have been absolutely crazy. The first week of April this year (Easter Week) has limited park reservations available. If you don't have to travel during spring break or Easter week, I would personally choose another time.

I'm going Mid-May this year which is a new time of year for me, so I will be curious to see how it is.

[Patsy Baloney]

I’ve been in mid-May in the past and it was fine. My mom and DD went for her spring break in late March last year, it was also fine.

I feel like Disney is always crowded, but I’ve never been there when it was bumper-to-bumper, even when everyone swears it’s sooooo crowded, like race weekends and Jersey week and whatnot.

[curbsideprophet]

Spring Break covers multiple weeks but the two busiest are typically the week before and the week after Easter. So, yes, I would think the last week of March 2024 would be one of busiest of the year. Touring plans still puts out crowd predictions and adjusts them as you get closer to the date, so I would say crowd calendars are still a thing.

We have been over Easter before, it is busy but I would go again at that time. However we are not park open to park close type people. We will bail on a park and go swimming if need be.

[krystee]

Yes, last week of March would be crazy crowded. We have done the week before President’s Day and the first week of March, and both were good! Definitely not empty—it never seems to be—but doable. September tends to be lighter crowds, but it’s also hard to take off school then. I have really loved the first week of December too.

[roo54]

The crowd calendars are still a thing, but they haven't been as accurate as in years past. Ever since covid it's been all up in the air. Around Easter has been two of the busiest weeks though, so if possible I'd try to avoid that.