Another Walt Disney World spring break is in the books for our crew, and here are a few tips to help you survive should you decide to take the plunge.

Dress for Success

“What’s the weather like?” is a popular planning question I receive from guests and see around the message boards. Obviously, the answer affects how you fill your suitcase. Spring is a time of change in Central Florida, as the temperatures are creeping up towards those sometimes oppressive summer numbers. The afternoons can get quite toasty, and as always, there’s that famous Florida humidity. However, the early mornings and evenings can still be a little chilly, so I recommend throwing in a pair of long pants or jeans and maybe even a light jacket. Of course, like any other time of year, you’ll need comfy shoes to tackle the parks. Don’t forget to throw in a pair of flip-flops for the pools, as it’s usually warm enough to take a dip.

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Get Park Wise: You might even consider throwing that light jacket in your park bag or around your waist, as indoor attractions and restaurants can get a little chilly as they try to counteract the warming temperatures outside.

The Crowds

With the typically beautiful weather and a week off school come the crowds. Although not as crazy as summer or Christmas, the spring break season can get busy. Even with the introduction of FastPass+, I still encourage those with a long must-do list to arrive early at the parks. The same advice holds true as it always has. You can get so much done in the first hour or two after rope drop. I’d even venture to say you might get a little more done than in the past because some of those people who used to get up for park opening are now a little more relaxed knowing that they have at least three rides reserved. By the time the late sleepers start arriving, you’re finishing up a great morning in the park. That’ll allow you to spend the afternoon at the pool, explore your resort or enjoy attractions with usually lower wait times. Carousel of Progress, anyone?

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The other side of crowd dodging requires a bit more planning. If you’re not staying at a Walt Disney World resort, definitely avoid the park that has Extra Magic Hours (EMH). Many resort guests may choose to spend their day here to get the most bang for their buck, and those without park hoppers will be stuck there all day. If you have park hoppers and are a resort guest, we have experienced great wait times when hitting the EMH park for the morning EMH and maybe an hour after the park opens to the general public. Then we hop over to another park. I can’t say the same has held true for our crew during the evening EMH. The only time we found that an evening EMH was truly a perk is when Magic Kingdom is open into the morning hours (think 1:00 or 2:00 A.M.). At that point, many of the families with young children have gone back to their hotels, and wait times tend to be low.

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Get Park Wise: Consider taking a look at the park hours and EMH prior to making any dining or experience reservations so you don’t end up in a park where the crowds may be headed, especially if you’re tackling the World with a base ticket.

Odds and Ends

If your spring break falls during Easter week, my apologies. It is one of the busiest weeks of year at Walt Disney World, so you will have to put in some extra planning time to make the most of your vacation. Make sure you pay attention to your booking windows if you are a resort guest, as those dining slots and FastPass+ reservation start filling up quickly.

Water parks occasionally offer PhotoPass services, too!
Water parks occasionally offer PhotoPass services, too!

Spring break is also a great time to check out the Walt Disney World water parks. Both parks are open with Blizzard Beach having typically just finished its annual refurb. We visited both during spring break, and when arriving at park opening, the waits for the slides were literally the same amount of time it took you to walk (or if you’re at Blizzard Beach, ride) to the top. Like the major theme parks, we spent the morning hitting the headliners, then we spent the afternoon relaxing in the lazy river or the wave pools.

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Don’t forget to take extra time to enjoy the Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot. Not only is the park gorgeous with colorful flowers and amazing topiaries throughout, but in the recent years outdoor kitchens have been added to give it a Food and Wine Festival feel. Being fans of Food and Wine Fest, we think the kitchens are a great addition, and they were a highlight in our Epcot days!

Have you visited Walt Disney World during spring break? Would you do it again? What are your tips for a successful trip?

 

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Jessica Ma'ilo
Jessica is a special education teacher by day and blogger and Fairy Godmother Travel agent by evening. When not supervising play dates or sleepovers, she can be found creating, sewing or singing. She loves hitting the Disney Parks, and she and her family escape to the World and Land as often as they can. She can be contacted at [email protected], and you can also check out her family blog, Magic, Memories, Mayhem.