10 Spring Break Tips for Walt Disney World

Spring Break at Walt Disney World doesn’t have to be stressful-it can still be magical and fun! Many families enjoy a Spring Break getaway to Walt Disney World.  Although it can be crowded, it can really vary as well.  Spring Break season seems to be mid March through early April~that makes it so hard to tell what the crowds will be like! With the tips below, you can have an enjoyable Spring Break at Walt Disney World!

I am of the mindset that a good park plan-and patience-can outweigh the crowds at Disney any day! Plus, with the amazing theming of the resorts, that can be a destination of itself!  You can easily make a fun Spring Break at Walt Disney World by adding in resort time during your stay, and with a well laid plan for the theme parks. With these 10 Spring Break Tips for Walt Disney World, your family will be enjoying the Florida sunshine with less stress and more magic!

10 Spring Break Tips for Walt Disney World:

1.  Arrive at the parks before they open.  This in “Disney” terms is known as Rope Drop.  Guests of onsite Walt Disney World resorts have the perk of early entry. Currently they can enter the theme parks 30-minutes before the opening for the general public. Thirty minutes may not seem like a lot, but if you plan well, you can enjoy a lot of the theme park in those 30-minutes. AND you are ahead of the pack.

Arriving at the parks about 45 minutes before they open is key, if you are on or offsite.  In the first hour you are in the parks, you can enjoy a lot of great attractions!  Concentrate on one area of the park at a time as well.  This will save you a lot of time running from one attraction at one end of the park to another!

2. Schedule your Disney Genie Plus times for later in the afternoon or evening.  If you can follow the first step, and arrive at Rope Drop, your day will be off to a great start!  And you can relax, knowing you have some Disney Genie Plus return times to look forward to while others are waiting in lines in the afternoon!  It is good to try and schedule them between 11AM-2PM.  This is peak time when the parks start to get busy. 

3.  Make your dining reservations for “off” meal times.  Plan on enjoying many attractions during the prime dinner and lunch times.  Then, you can take a break from the heat of the day while you enjoy a nice meal and character interaction after getting in several attractions in the morning and while everyone else is eating! This goes along with booking your Disney Genie Plus attractions late morning/early afternoon.  Then, you can eat while watching the Festival of Fantasy parade, or plan on an early dinner.

4. Make time to take a break from the Disney parks.  If you made it to park opening in the morning, chances are shortly after lunch, you and your kids will be ready for a rest.  Planning some non park time is the secret key to everyone having a great time. This is the perfect time to return to your Disney resort and recharge during the afternoon.  

Then, you can return to the park in the evening for some more fun. Your Disney resort is a destination as well!  Use the pools, enjoy the fun activities exclusive to your resort, and watch the movies. You will be glad that you enjoyed some resort time.

5.  Visit the popular attractions during parades and fireworks shows.  I’m not saying to miss out on the parades or fireworks.  But, I can also tell you from experience, that being in Fantasyland or Tomorrowland during the afternoon parade is fabulous!  The wait times are low since the majority of the crowds are hanging out along the parade route! Planning at least two days at Magic Kingdom is ideal, and allows you to take advantage of the parade and/or evening show time to enjoy the attractions.

6.  Watch Disney’s Enchantment from the Plaza Garden.  The best way to catch Enchantment while having a great seat is from the Plaza Garden area at Magic Kingdom. An even better idea is to book a Plaza Garden Dessert Party. This guarantees you a seat, gives you a buffet of yummy desserts, and you have a great view of Cinderella’s Castle for the show. 

7.  Choose a counter service location with ample seating.  This will cut down on your waits, and you’ll easily find a place to sit.  Also, if possible, have one adult get the meals while the other sits with the kids.  Perfect!  Cosmic Ray’s at Magic Kingdom, Sunshine Seasons at EPCOT, and Flame Tree BBQ at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park come to mind as great examples.

8.  Consider buying park hoppers instead of base tickets.  There are some wonderful benefits to Park Hopper tickets, and during peak travel times park hoppers will be worth it.  With it being a more crowded time in general, it’s a good idea to have the flexibility to go from park to park. It also gives you the option to book more flexible dining times and locations.

9.  Be patient with your family and with others.  If there is one crucial thing to pack for a Spring Break trip to Disney, it is your patience.  Be patient and be prepared for others to “be in your way”.  Also, your children will need a little extra patience from you.  Waiting in line is difficult.  Be sure to have bubbles, gum, snacks, and maybe even some portable gaming systems.

10.  Come prepared to wait in line. There is always a line for something at Walt Disney World. However, if you come prepared, some of them are easily manageable. Pack some snacks and water in your park bag. Having some fun games to play is a good idea, as well. Headbandz, the classic I SPY, and even having a Mad Libs in your park bag will help pass the time!

Will you be visiting Walt Disney World during Spring Break? If so, what tips do you have to share?