I really need a vacation and can't aford the time off to go very far this year so am thinking about going to Orlando to visit Epcot, Universal Studios, etc., for 2-3 days in Apr or May. I've been to Orlando a couple of times and enjoyed it plus there are new attractions since my last trip 4 years ago. (Not to mention re-visiting the things I really enjoyed such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones.)

I know spring break is one of the busiest times but spring break happens different times at different school districts in my area so I don't know when the busiest time will be in Orlando. I would like to plan to avoid the very worst time as far as crowds. (First time I ever went to Orlando was Thanksgiving week a few years ago....never again!) Is it the entire month of April out? How about May? I normally avoid vacation altogether June-August to avoid the out-of-school crowds but then I don't usually choose a prime kiddy mecca for my vacations either.

We've gone after spring break before school lets out and it's a great time of year-relatively empty at the parks and great weather.

All of April will have school break.

Have been to EPCOT with relatives from mid-west on school break first week in April, it was super crowded, very long lines.

NYC takes off week for Easter. Mass. takes off the week with the third Monday to celebrate Patriot's Day and Boston Marathon. NH takes the following week.

Have been to EPCOT the week before Memorial Day, it was much easier to get around, almost no lines, but incredibly hot and humid.

Swalter, "after spring break before school lets out" is what I'm trying to pin down. I don't have kids but I do know that the schools in Texas don't all take spring break the same week so am assuming spring break time actually lasts for more than one week. Does anyone know if it's really the entire month of April or if I would be safe (meaning missing the worst of the hordes) if I went first or last week of April? From Sandra's post, it sounds like maybe I need to rule out April all together.

Sounds like I may need to look at May but prior to Memorial Day. I'm just mentally used to going on vacation in April for some reason....

Florida public schools have spring break in March. Canadians have to be back in Canada by April 15 to get their socialized health care. Easter is April 11. So after Easter week things will be starting to calm down.

I hope this is somewhat helpful.

Posted below is an interesting link that lists College spring break dates for all schools by state. I think this is more critical than HS spring breaks. Anyway this list indicates virtually all are in March. I would imagine you to be good late in April.

http://interoz.com/springbreak/sbdates.htm

I am an Orlando resident...DO NOT GO WEEKENDS before or after Easter Week. Spring break in town is March (ours 3/12 through 3/21...other counties are week before and after that)...SkIP March...SKIP April until very end...School lets out 3 week of May...Best bet VISIT from April 24 to May 8!

Carroll, sorry I wasn't clear. Officially the last week of SPring Break is the week ends the weekend after Easter-that is when Disney drops its rates from peak rates. We have gone the last week in April (and are again this year) and the first week of May, these were both great times to be there in the past. (And are keeping are fingers crossed that they are again this year. I know many colleges in the midwest have their Spring Break the first week in March this year. The Illinois public schools seem to have theirs the 3rd week in March this year for what it's worth.

All I have to say is don't go the week after Easter. We did a few years ago and it was a big mistake! Never again. Overly crowded.

Great. Thanks all. I think you've helped me pin it down so will look to see what I might be able to arrange for travel sometime between 4/24 and 5/8.

For what it's worth, the Massachsetts public schools have spring break the week of April 19 - which means you could still have a lot of those vacationers still there on the 24h - I imagine they'd leave to fly home by the 25th.

Indeed, plenty of families from Mass. will be heading home from Orlando on the weekend of April 24-25. That's probably the very end of the spring vacationers.

Then you immediately have to start worrying about the kids who live in the South and get out of school early, in May. My niece who lives in West Palm Beach gets out of school for the summer on May 12 -- and they have a Florida-resident Disney pass and visit every few weeks, she'll definitely be there some time later in May.

So I'd have to agree that the very end of April , first week or 2 of May are your best bets.

I agree that early May is the best time, but expect crowds any weekend -- including school groups from Florida, prom nights, etc. And the worst crowd I ever saw at Disney World was on a Mother's Day! But Monday through Thursday the first couple of weeks of May should be great.