Surviving Disney World During Spring Break

Springtime has arrived, finally! The sun is out, the ice has melted, the crowds are back…. Wait oh no. The crowds are back! That’s right. As spring break approaches and schools let out so students can enjoy the sunshine, the crowds return to the theme park. The park that is most affected by this surge in crowds is Disney World. Disney World during spring break is no easy task, there will be heat, crowds, and a general discomfort that tends to outweigh the magic. However, it is still possible to have a good trip. If you are one of the brave ones who decided to make that trip, here are some tips for surviving Disney World during spring break.  

Protect Yourself from the Sun

The first and most important way to survive Disney World during spring break is to protect yourself from the sun. Now that the winter chill has halted, the endless heat returns. It is no secret that Florida is hot. It is beyond hot. Being that Orlando is in the center of the state and gets no sea breeze from the coast, you’ll be met with humid sticky heat. This heat can be detrimental and pierces through each layer of your skin. If you think you can handle it, I advise you to think again. 

My family and I have had our fair share of heat exhaustion, children nearly passing out, and painful sunburns. This is a common occurrence during the spring break and summer at Disney World. To prevent a trip gone wrong, I recommend doing the most when it comes to protecting yourself from the sun. This means periodically applying sunscreen throughout the day and avoiding direct sunlight whenever you can. Though it is not always possible, as you may be waiting in lines in the sunlight, the next best thing would be to wear UV-protectant clothes, and UV-protectant hats. Don’t be afraid to look silly by opening an umbrella for shade. 

On top of physically protecting yourself from the sun, you need to protect the inside of your body too. With all the running around and excitement, it is incredibly easy to forget to eat or drink. Though you are having fun, it is important to know that you are spending about ten hours exercising up on your feet with maybe three-minute sit-down breaks at a time once you get onto the rides. Imagine working out at the gym all day and only drinking a sip of water and a gulp of soda. Remember to drink water frequently to cool yourself down. If you don’t want to buy water bottles, you can get free cups of water from any stand with a fountain. There are also many water fountains throughout the park and ride guests for guests to stay hydrated.

Wake up early and stay late

My strongest tip for surviving Disney World during spring break is to wake up early and stay late! The crowds at Disney during spring break can often be unbearable. If you get into the park late, you will likely find yourself waiting two hours for each two-minute ride. In the end, you’ll only be able to ride four or five rides and will have spent your whole trip waiting in the sun rather than enjoying the many rides Disney has to offer.

To avoid this, it is best to hit the park before the crowd arrives and after they leave. Most families tend to sleep in and arrive two hours after the park opens. That is when the crowd begins. I recommend planning to visit the park exactly when the park opens. This way you can enjoy two hours of a mildly crowded park and be able to do more than most before the day even begins. In the early hours of the park, you’ll be able to ride a majority of the big-name rides with wait times ranging from ten to thirty minutes, the lowest they will be all day. 

Then I recommend staying late. Though you might be tired, the same case goes for the end of the day. By two to three hours before the parks close, families are exhausted, tired, and just want to go home. This is when you will see the masses heading out of the park gates. This is when you want to stay. Again, you will be able to enjoy a majority of rides with moderately low wait times and will be able to do everything you didn’t get to do. As another tip, you can get in line for a ride up to the moment the park closes. While everyone is leaving, you can stay even extra minutes in the park to get your full amount in. 

Use Genie +  

The next tip for surviving Disney World during spring break is to utilize Genie+ and the My Disney Experience app. Though you have already paid a lot for the tickets to the park, you may be hesitant to give Disney any more money. Every time I enter the park with the goal of not spending any more money, I always cave in and buy a genie+ lighting line. The wait times are just too long and the ride you really want to go on will always have an unbearably long wait. 

Plan to use the Genie+ app. Though you may hate to spend any more money on an already overpriced trip, it is always worth it. Using the genie+ lightning lane system allows you to pay to skip the line on certain attractions. There will come a time where you tire from all the waiting but desperate to go on your favorite ride. Genie+ will get you there. 

Also, using the My Disney Experience app in general can be immensely helpful. This way you can plan your day around wait times instead of walking a great distance to a ride to find out the wait is too long. With the My Disney Experience app you can keep track of where you are, what the wait times are, and where to eat. You can also make dining reservations and order food before getting to the restaurant. That way when you are hungry and hangry you can have your food prepared and ready for you by the time you arrive. 

Keep your cool

Lastly, to survive Disney World during spring break, it is important to keep your cool. Do not let the sun, the heat, and the crowd get to you. Remember that you are not alone in your discomfort. Everyone at the park is hot and bothered. Everyone is sweaty with red flushed cheeks. Every child is crying and uncomfortable. Their feet are hurting, their legs are chafing. Everybody goes through the same discomfort as you. Most of all, everyone wants to lash out at each other in from the overstimulation. Please don’t. Don’t lose your cool on any family members or cast members. No one deserves to be yelled at on their magical Disney trip. 

If you need a second to cool down, I recommend taking a step away from everything and finding a nice shady area or a spot with A/C to cool down and relax. One of the best tips I learned is to take a mid-day break. Disney parking is all day, once you have your receipt you can go and come back any time you want. Utilize that park. If you can go back to your hotel and take a nap in the ac. Rest for a bit, and have a snack. Then when you are ready you can head back to the park with new life and new energy, ready to take on all the hustle and bustle. 

Want more tips on how to create a great Disney World vacation? Here is my article on the 5 mistakes that ruin your Disney Vacation and how to prevent them.