Honest opinions on crowds and weather at Easter please

[FaerieFire]

We went over spring break last year, arriving a day before Easter. It was not quite as bad as spring break was described to me, but it was definitely crowded, and we avoided taking any buses after a disaster on our first night. Given the choice, I would avoid spring break or Easter (and the two are basically the same for us). That's one reason why we're doing a fall trip this time.

°o° Lace — Planning our second WDW adventure, 11/1-12 AoA-LM (Sent from my iPad using DISBoards)

 

[TJA]

My post will sound kind of funny compared to others' opinions above, but we were there this year for the week of Easter through 4 days after Easter and we did a split stay and were upgraded at both resorts due to "loads of empty rooms" as told by one CM. Both resort CM's told us they were "as empty as in the slow months." All of us figured it was due to blackout of discounts.

We visited all the parks a few times each and we consistenty found MK to be very crowded each time right around 1:00/2:00. However, mornings were fine for us. Evenings were also fine. We had no crowd issues with the other 3 parks.

No park closed due to full capacity this year as in previous years at Easter time.

We went to Epcot on Easter Day and were pleasantly surprised as to how dead it was. We did 3 egg hunts and several rides and then had a nice walk-up meal in Norway.

 

[DizGirl20]

Due to kids schedules, we have been going during Easter/Spring Break the last few years (and have plans to go again this year). I am fanatical about making ADRs at 180 days out and sticking to some sort of touring plan. We always see everything we want to see and manage to fit in some pool time as well. I believe it is very important to get to the parks within an hour of opening... See you there!

 

[mom2aandj]

the park is very manageable with light crowds and wonderful weather (80 degrees and sunny!).

the crowds will not be light. As others have pointed out, it is the second most crowded time of the year, after Christmas. I would expect MK to reach capacity and close at least once, as it usually does when Easter falls during a busy spring break week. I agree, the weather will probably be wonderful!

 

[graceesmom]

It is definitely crowded, but longer hours at the parks help. As an earlier poster mentioned, MK generally opens everyday at 7 a.m. If you are an early riser, then that works great b/c you can get more done b/t 7-10 am than many people do all day.

Or if you are a night person, you can do pretty well in the last hours before the parks close.

During the mid-day, it can be just down right CHAOS. But we have had fabulous trips at Easter despite the crowds.

 

[softballmom3]

We went in '07 when our spring break followed Easter Sunday as I believe it will happen for us next year too. When I say it's crowded I mean wow it's crowded!! If you decide to go I would say to consider following some kind of touring plan because that could make all the difference in the world. We use touring plans dot con. It has always been great. As for the weather it can be hit and miss. The beginning of the week it was unseasonably cold so we wore sweatshirts and jeans. By the end of the week we were in tanks and shorts. So... Go prepared for any kind of weather . We had a blast but I was prepared with my handy dandy touring plan .

 

[Hasil72]

We just had to postpone our November trip until Easter. Do you think Easter will be manageable staying offsite?

 

[SaraJayne]

We just had to postpone our November trip until Easter. Do you think Easter will be manageable staying offsite?

Since you are staying off-site, I would recommend getting there at least one hour prior to opening and do not leave the park if you intend on coming back that same day.

 

[kylmac]

Julie-we are doing the exact thing with our dd13 and ds10. Can't take them out of school so we go during Spring Break and Easter. DD13 will get up early for Disney and that's about it! We do let her sleep in if needed but she usually wants to get going like the rest of us. Glad I am not the only mom of a dd13 who is hard to get out of bed!
Elizabeth

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Hi
We have been to Florida 5 times now and have always avoided any main holidays!! This year however we are having to think about Easter as we cant take the children out of school anymore So whats peoples honest opinions of easter what should we be expecting?

Thanks all
Louise x

How crowded Easter week is depends upon whether it coincides with spring break or not. If Easter is early and the same week as the biggest spring break week, it can be as crowded as crowded gets. If it is late and Easter doesn't coincide with many a spring break, it's still crowded, but not as much.

 

[laceemouse]

School and college spring breaks vary wildly, they can be any time in March or April. Easter moves around every year too. BUT the week before Easter and the week after Easter are always the most crowded spring break weeks. All you have to do is look at rack rate pricing for the resorts to see that prices are higher the weeks around Easter. They know they will be full!
People always think that whatever their school district does is what every school district does. NOT true at all.

Spring weather is nice though

 

[butsy113]

This may seem silly, but how do you know when "spring break" is going to be for most people? Our school district does it in conjunction with Easter every year.

 

[laughinplace199]

Julie-we are doing the exact thing with our dd13 and ds10. Can't take them out of school so we go during Spring Break and Easter. DD13 will get up early for Disney and that's about it! We do let her sleep in if needed but she usually wants to get going like the rest of us. Glad I am not the only mom of a dd13 who is hard to get out of bed!
Elizabeth

 

[GreenCntryGirl]

This may seem silly, but how do you know when "spring break" is going to be for most people? Our school district does it in conjunction with Easter every year.

School districts in our area do not have their spring breaks coincide with Easter.

 

[QueenElinor]

School and college spring breaks vary wildly, they can be any time in March or April. Easter moves around every year too. BUT the week before Easter and the week after Easter are always the most crowded spring break weeks. All you have to do is look at rack rate pricing for the resorts to see that prices are higher the weeks around Easter. They know they will be full!
People always think that whatever their school district does is what every school district does. NOT true at all.

Spring weather is nice though

Right. A lot of parochial schools schedule spring break during Holy Week, which ends on Easter. If most Catholic schools in the country are out that week, it's a lot of kids. We finally gave up going then and my son is going to have to miss some school instead.

 

[Couchy]

I love Easter. I have been 8 times at Easter.

Yes.. it is crowded! Ride rides early. The weather is Perfect Seriously, we have seen rain maybe 3 days in 8 - 7 night stays. Lots of pool time, lots of rides, you just have to manage your time. I love it though

 

[Mammaz]

Are there special things to do on Easter? Someone mentioned an Easter egg hunt...

 

[DisneyMim]

My husband and now my daughter are both teachers. We've been going to WDW forever and have always gone during "peak" times. Easter is not as crowded as Christmas, but still crowded. When people say spring break (or as least when I say it) it usually means our break up north which is always the third week of April. Next year Easter will be early, late March so it will not be during spring break for a lot of the country. If you go with the right attitude and plan on being flexible you will be fine. I would avoid MK on Easter although I have been known to ignore my own advice!! In fact a good rule of thumb that we have learned over the years is to avoid MK on any major holiday unless you have been tons of times, know what you are doing and have park hoppers. The weather is usually great (and coming from the UK it will be better than there! I went for the first time this past April. LOVE London, but the weather UGH!!) I know everyone says to get there early and this is wonderful advice although we never do!! Are you sensing I don't really go with the crowds, ironic I know since we are talking about crowds! At the end of the day I hate to discourage people from going when they can and try to think positive. We have never gone during an "empty" time so don't know what's that like. Everyone goes to Disney when they can and makes the best of it. Again my best advice is to go with the flow, be flexible, made dinner and or lunch ressies in advance and have a great time. We will be there again for New Year's Eve. Very very crowded, but LOVE Disney on NYE!!

Enjoy The Magic!!

 

[Jen12573]

We are going for Easter for the first time in a long time. Mom is treating the family to celebrate her retirement. My brother is a teacher so we decided this would be the best time to go. DH and I were in WDW at Christmas in 2011 and we did just fine. It was crowded, yes, but we followed touring plans, slowed our pace in the afternoon and just treated it as an experience.

We utilized the 7am openings for MK and did everything we wanted, and even had a photo in front of the castle that was void of people. We couldn't believe it. We used all the morning EMH parks too, and we rode everything we wanted, 2-3 times, and that was Christmas week. Much like a previous poster, we did Epcot ON the actual holiday (crowded, but more space to move around) and we did alright in World Showcase. We got to the park around 1pm since we arrived on 12/25, so we didn't hit many rides that day.

I'm curious how crazy it will be this year with parochial schools mainly off the week before and many public schools (at least in our area) having spring break the week before because it is Easter week and Passover.

Either way, we're excited and we'll manage the crowds just fine I'm sure. Heck, we've managed to get every ADR we wanted at the times we wanted with no trouble. Have fun!! "See" you there!