Surviving Spring Break at Walt Disney Worldby Kelly K. | More from this Blogger 22 Mar 2006 04:39 AM Though the weather may not be the best indicator, spring is finally here. Soon, school will be letting out for a brief break before the rush to summer vacation begins. For many families, this means that a Walt Disney World spring break vacation will soon be upon them. Of course, you may notice a particular word in that last sentence: many. That's right. Your family won't be the only one cruising down South for the spring vacation. Nope. You and a thousand other families. Not to mention teenagers and college students who are making their own spring break memories within the Resort. This is one of Disney's "peak seasons" and, as such, tends to be a little more than crowded. However, do not dismay. Here, I present a few tips for surviving the crowds and getting the most out of Disney. Arrive EarlyI know, I know. Who wants to think about getting up early and getting the kids ready during your vacation? However, arriving at the park before it's posted opening time will allow you to hit the heavy traffic attractions before the post-10:00 a.m. crowd emerges from their hotel rooms. Eat a quick, light breakfast and head out to the park gate. Sometimes, they even begin letting guests in before the posted opening time, so be there with mouse-ears on and you'll get some good attraction time in before the crowds really hit. Take Advantage of Magic HoursIf you're a guest of a Disney owned property, you can take advantage of "Magic Hours." Magic Hours occur on select dates an hour before opening or an hour after closing, allowing resort guests to enjoy the park a little earlier or later than the rest of the masses. Present your room keycard for a wristband that will allow you into the park and to enjoy the attractions. Be warned, however, that FastPasses are not given during these times. Ah, that's another point... Fastpass, Fastpass, FastpassUse Fastpasses! I'm still amazed at how many guests forsake Fastpasses and stand in the stand-by line for hours. Fastpasses are tickets given to resort guests that ensure them a spot on the ride or inside the theatre for a specific attraction. These tickets are given for heavy traffic attractions at a nearby kiosk in which you insert your park pass and receive a voucher for a certain frame in which you can return to the ride/attraction. These time intervals range for about an hour and literally cut hours of waiting time off your park visit. While waiting for your Fastpass time to arrive, you can visit other attractions, shop, eat, or even venture into the stand-by line of another attraction as you can only hold one Fastpass at a time. Some attractions receive so much traffic that Fastpasses disappear for these attractions around midday so be sure to get your Fastpasses early for these attractions. Such attractions you might want to arrive early for are: Magic Kingdom:
Epcot:
Disney-MGM Studios:
Animal Kingdom:
Obviously, you won't be able to do all these in the early morning, but if there's one that's definitely on your to-do list, head in the direction of that attraction first thing, grab your Fastpass and ensure that you're able to experience the ride. Make Lunch and Dinner Reservations If PossibleThere's nothing more frustrating than finding a restaurant that sounds enticing when you're hungry only to find out that there is a two hour wait to be seated. The easy way to avoid this problem is by making priority seating reservations by calling 407-WDW-DINE. Reservations are free and can be made up to 180 days in advance of your stay. Scope Out Parade Spots EarlyWith large crowds, prime locations for parade viewing will be grabbed early, so make sure you grab your own an hour or more before parade time. In a previous article, I listed a number of tips to make parade viewing easy and enjoyable. Parades brilliantly showcase the trademark Disney Magic and having a good view of the festivities makes the experience even more magical. Above all, don't stress and enjoy your time at the Walt Disney World Resort. Bring lots of film or your digital camera and make memories that will last a lifetime with your family. With a little bit of work and preparation, you'll experience a vacation that will bring a smile to your face for years to come. Relevantdisney tags User Comments  WordsAplenty (4029) 22 Mar 2006 04:39 PMKelly, I've never been to Disney, but I enjoy your writing anyway. I hope to go some day and I'm sure your tips will come in handy.  Kelly K. (2277) 22 Mar 2006 06:16 PMThanks! It's a great place to vacation. Obviously, it's one of my favorites. :-) Community Tags crowds, disney world, vacation Discuss this article
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