{"id":51454,"date":"2017-02-16T08:00:20","date_gmt":"2017-02-16T13:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/?p=51454"},"modified":"2022-04-12T13:24:25","modified_gmt":"2022-04-12T17:24:25","slug":"managing-disney-during-spring-break","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/managing-disney-during-spring-break\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips and Tricks for Managing and Enjoying Spring Break in Walt Disney World"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Tips<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Spring break is popular time to visit Walt Disney World<\/a>. \u00a0Most kids have time off from school, weather is warming up and people are ready for some fun and sun. \u00a0With that in mind, crowds can be high during this time, so how can you get the most out of your trip? \u00a0What are ways you can manage the crowds? \u00a0Here are some tips and tricks to tackle Walt Disney World during spring break.<\/p>\n

Plan Ahead<\/h2>\n

There are different levels of planning when it comes to Disney vacations. \u00a0\u00a0I am a spreadsheet, flow chart, schedule type of planner. \u00a0I like to have my ducks in a row before we even leave; however, not everyone likes to or wants to plan their vacation this way. \u00a0When heading down to Walt Disney World during a peak time, whether it is spring break or another peak time, it is important to take some time to plan a few things out. \u00a0The following are a few ways that you can prepare ahead of time to set yourself up for success in the crowds.<\/p>\n

\"MFL<\/p>\n

Planning Sheet Example<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Plan and Educate<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Like I mentioned before, I am an over planner when it comes to Disney vacations. \u00a0I love making my color-coded, laminated plans as much as I love the trip itself. \u00a0Planning makes me happy and makes me feel more prepared as well as educated prior to getting to Disney. \u00a0I know many people would prefer to just show up and see what happens. \u00a0And for many this works out well, however, I would strongly urge you to use a tentative plan when visiting during a peak time of year like spring break.<\/p>\n

    Start by researching to see when Extra Magic Hours<\/a>, fireworks and other shows are scheduled to happen. \u00a0Even if you don\u2019t make an official plan, having this knowledge ahead of time will help you feel less overwhelmed when arriving.<\/p>\n

    If you would like to plan even more in detail, start thinking about items such as dining reservations and FastPass+ reservations. \u00a0These are great ways to make your trip a little less stressful.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Advance Dining Reservations<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Advance Dining Reservations<\/a> is the next step I would suggest in your planning process. \u00a0If you are interested in specific dining experiences such as Be Our Guest or Cinderella\u2019s Royal Table you will want to book these as close to 180s ahead of time (for resort guests) as possible. \u00a0They book up quickly and space and times are limited especially during busy times. \u00a0If these are already filled up, don\u2019t panic. \u00a0Keep looking, calling and following up as reservations are known to pop up even the day of.<\/p>\n

      Still can\u2019t get your favorite restaurant? \u00a0It will be okay. \u00a0Disney has so many amazing choices from relaxed dining to fine dining. \u00a0There is sure to be something that you will love you just need to try something new. \u00a0Also, trying to eat outside the main parks at resorts or even Disney Springs is another great way to grab some amazing dining experiences. \u00a0Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney\u2019s Polynesian Resort have some of our favorite dining experiences of Sanaa, Boma and ‘Ohana.<\/p>\n

      Does this sound stressful to you still? \u00a0Do you not want to plan all your meals ahead of time? \u00a0Then go with the quick service dining method. \u00a0Throughout the parks you can find tons of walk up dining experiences as well with a variety of food choices not just your hot dog and burger. \u00a0If your travel group really doesn\u2019t want to plan, this might be the way to go! \u00a0\u00a0If this is your method of choice, try eating at off times. \u00a0Trying to eat supper at 6:00 p.m. isn’t going to be an unique idea. \u00a0Instead, shoot for earlier or later times with snacks in between.<\/p>\n

      \"MFL<\/p>\n

      Fastpass+ Reservations<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \u00a0Fastpass+<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Along with booking dining, booking FastPass+<\/a> reservations is key to tackling crowds in the Disney parks. \u00a0These work much like a reservation, but are for specific rides, shows and entertainment throughout the four main parks. \u00a0Each guest is able to book three reservations for each day they have a park ticket ahead of their vacation. \u00a0Resort guests are able to book up to 60 days ahead of arrival whereas non-resort guests can book up to 30 days ahead.<\/p>\n

        If your family has some rides that are absolute musts, this is a great way to ensure that you can get that taken care of. \u00a0Also, if you are looking for the headline attractions such as Splash Mountain, Seven Dwarf Mine Train, Frozen Ever After, Rock n\u2019 Roller Coaster, using a FastPass during peak times will greatly reduce or even eliminate your wait time. \u00a0\u00a0Again, just like with Advance Dining Reservations if you can\u2019t find your favorites right way try, try again. \u00a0They often can pop up at last minute.<\/p>\n

        Another amazing tip for peak times is to KEEP BOOKING FastPases while in the parks. \u00a0Once you have used your originally three, you are able to pop on the MyDisneyExperience<\/a> app and book a new one. \u00a0This can allow you to pop from ride to ride with little wait time especially if you don\u2019t care which rides you get to.<\/p>\n

        FastPass+ is a something you will want to take advantage of when visiting during peak times as it will lower your wait time greatly.<\/p>\n

        Researching, Advance Dining Reservations and FastPass+ reservations are all ways to help make your spring break vacation a little less stressful. \u00a0However, if you are still not convinced you need to plan or you just aren\u2019t that type of vacationer, here are some more ways to make the most out of your vacation.<\/p>\n

        Breathe<\/h2>\n

        \"MFL<\/p>\n

        Remember to not panic<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

        The first thing you need to remember to do whether you have planned down to the minute or you are going to wing it, is to breathe. \u00a0It is not going to go perfectly. \u00a0Things will change. \u00a0Rides will break down. \u00a0Kids will meltdown. \u00a0Mom might meltdown.\u00a0 Make sure when these things happen you take a step back and breathe. \u00a0It is okay. \u00a0When these things happen, take into consideration some of these ideas.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Be flexible<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          If you aren\u2019t going to plan, make sure you are willing to be flexible. \u00a0When visiting during peak times, be willing to adjust on the fly. \u00a0This could mean adjusting when and where you are going to eat. \u00a0It could mean taking an unplanned break. \u00a0It could mean heading to a totally different park than originally planned. \u00a0\u00a0When things take an unexpected turn, don\u2019t be frustrated just go with it. \u00a0Even if you have planned, same thoughts apply, make sure you are flexible in your plans. \u00a0Be willing to adjust those snacks, bathroom breaks and even bedtimes. \u00a0You can not plan ahead for everything, trust me I try, so you need to be willing to adjust and in doing so you might find a new favorite.<\/p>\n

          \"MFL<\/p>\n

          Loving the play are at Splash Mountain<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. \u00a0\u00a0Enjoy the lesser known<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            If you don’t want to plan Advance Dining Reservations or FastPasses, there will still be so much for you to do and enjoy while visiting Disney. \u00a0Just realize that you might not get to the e-ticket attractions, but you instead can take in all the lesser known fun throughout Disney. \u00a0Watch the street shows, join a dance party or visit that ride or show you never heard of.\u00a0 Always stop and get an entertainment guide to see what is happening around the park throughout the day.<\/p>\n

            Each park has so much to see and do outside the main rides that you can keep yourself busy and entertained easily.\u00a0 Epcot has Kidcots in each country where kids can color Duffy the Bear and learn a little about the country. \u00a0In Magic Kingdom, you could spend time on Tom Sawyer\u2019s island exploring. \u00a0The big attractions at the parks will get busy during spring break. \u00a0Major ride can have hour long waits but that doesn’t mean you have to spend your time waiting in line during your trip. \u00a0Visiting the lesser known attractions or just enjoying being in the park surrounded by Disney can be a great way to enjoy yourself.<\/p>\n

              \n
            1. \u00a0Take in some shows<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              There are many shows and rides in each park that seat many guests at a time and these are great options when visiting during peak times. \u00a0Look for those big theaters such as Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage at Hollywood Studios or Finding Nemo: The Musical and Festival of the Lion King at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. \u00a0Epcot has numerous shows throughout the World Showcase that are sure to amaze and don\u2019t need FastPasses and sometimes even have room for walk up seating. \u00a0Magic Kingdom has dance parties and parades going on it seems like all the time. \u00a0Although you are able to get FastPasses to some of these shows, you don’t always need them if you aren’t set on the perfect seat. \u00a0During busy times these are great options that normally don’t have long waits.<\/p>\n

              \"MFL<\/p>\n

              Daughter enjoying castle show that wasn’t on our plans<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

                \n
              1. Enjoy the Magic<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                This is the \u201cstop and smell the roses\u201d idea. \u00a0Walt Disney World is full of magical experiences everyday. \u00a0From the street vendors who have bubble makers to the smells of the popcorn on main street, magic seems to be everywhere. \u00a0Take time to stop and just enjoy. \u00a0Enjoy the music at the different countries in Epcot, enjoy the grassy area in front of the castle, watch some animals in Animal Kingdom. \u00a0Yes it will be busy around you but the magic will be as well.<\/p>\n

                \"MFL<\/p>\n

                Naps are great<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. Take breaks<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  When visiting during peak times, it is so important to plan breaks. \u00a0Being in the parks during spring break time with so many people can be draining so it is a great idea to take time for breaks. \u00a0They don\u2019t have to be long. \u00a0They don\u2019t have to be at the resort. \u00a0Just take time to sit and relax. \u00a0Grab a snack and people watch. \u00a0Allow your body and your brain to just relax is a great way to re-energize before your next adventure starts. \u00a0If you are taking kids, make sure you allow for rest time. \u00a0It doesn\u2019t matter how young or old they are, they will need some time to decompress and afternoon breaks are great ways to do that.<\/p>\n

                  Visiting Walt Disney World during spring break is a wonderful time to visit, but there will be crowds. \u00a0With \u00a0little planning, a little breathing, and a little patience you are sure to still have a magical trip.<\/p>\n

                  What tips do you have for someone looking to take a spring break vacation to Walt Disney World? Share in the comments.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                    Spring break is popular time to visit Walt Disney World. \u00a0Most kids have time off from school, weather is warming up and people are ready for some fun and sun. \u00a0With that in mind, crowds can be high during this time, so how can you get the most out of your trip? \u00a0What are…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":72,"featured_media":51459,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1695],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-theme-parks"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51454","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/72"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51454"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51454\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56578,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51454\/revisions\/56578"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51459"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}