Am I crazy to go the week after Easter???

[lori123]

We have been to Disneyland numerous times, at different times of year, but have never braved the spring break season in March/April. I know there are positives to going in the busy times with later hours and rides at full capacity. Are we crazy to even try it? For those that have been there in slower times and busier times, what are your thoughts?

 

[sherilaine]

My only experience with DLR when it's busy is weekends - and I have been there when it's dead because it's raining and a little cold - and the rain won! So far our trips have not been bad during the week days but I think it's just busier all the time now, so we are just expecting more crowds regardless of when we go this year. Now I do think I know enough about DLR to manage a busy time there if we did pick spring break or summertime. So if I were to going during Easter, I'd stay onsite, I'd be at the gate a half hour before EMH begins and I would get a tonne done in the morning. Then I'd take a break when all the lazy people show up and relax and let them slug it out. I'd then return in the evening to enjoy the shows and just put up with the crowds at that part of the day. But I have yet to have to go during that time but I am sure one day we will.

The problem with spring break this year is there is a large portion of DL that is offline for over a full year. Normally by the time spring break comes they make every effort to have most of the attractions up and running so as to absorb as many people as possible. So I think this year, with the ROA and the railroad down, it will be even more crowded. But only time will tell.

If you are a patient person, who does not need a lot of personal space and you can get up early and make use of your morning hours then you will likely have a great time. If you won't get there until 11 each day and hate it when people are in your space, you might end up being a little crazy before you leave.

 

[aj6502]

So if I were to going during Easter, I'd stay onsite, I'd be at the gate a half hour before EMH begins and I would get a tonne done in the morning. Then I'd take a break when all the lazy people show up and relax and let them slug it out. I'd then return in the evening to enjoy the shows and just put up with the crowds at that part of the day. But I have yet to have to go during that time but I am sure one day we will.

The problem with spring break this year is there is a large portion of DL that is offline for over a full year. Normally by the time spring break comes they make every effort to have most of the attractions up and running so as to absorb as many people as possible. So I think this year, with the ROA and the railroad down, it will be even more crowded. But only time will tell.

If you are a patient person, who does not need a lot of personal space and you can get up early and make use of your morning hours then you will likely have a great time. If you won't get there until 11 each day and hate it when people are in your space, you might end up being a little crazy before you leave.

We went last year at spring break due to vacation time restrictions. It was busy and crowded but tolerable to us. We stayed off site and used ART for transit. It made for very long days. The trip back and forth to the hotel would take about an hour so we stayed in the parks all day. We are going back this year and staying on site to better enjoy our time. The early mornings are the best we were able to get in more rides early and watched shows like the Red Trolley and Disney Jr. during the busy times. The fastpasses make it way better. Use parkhopper and a runner to keep fastpasses for both parks. It's not for everybody.

 

[calilou]

We have gone the last two spring breaks (specifically week after Easter). Yes, it is busy, but we enjoyed our time very much! We did stay onsite at DLH both times. Staying onsite does significantly enhance your trip when going during busy times, I think. Our touring style is most always to get in the parks early, take a break for a nap and then return at night. This works well during busy times and is even easier to accomplish when staying onsite. As long as you go expecting crowds and planning around them, I say go for it!

 

[Bud Ice]

Yes, totally crazy, we're talking deep-end crazy. But that's Disneyland. =D

Most weekend are pretty busy in any case. The sweet spot is Tue-Thu if you really wanna get around the Park.
Calendars floating around here can help on what's better when it comes to weekends. But really a lot do go
on the weekend. Plus with the new Star Wars stuff, it has brought many into the Park.

 

[figment_jii]

I've been to the parks at various times throughout the year and I think it's possible to have fun whenever you go. As long as you're prepared for crowds, I think you can still have a really good time. I would try to be at the parks for rope drop and make use of FPs, along with just allowing more time for everything (including dining).

 

[Winnowill]

If you have a decent plan and utilize park-hopping and fastpasses judiciously, a high crowd level is not a problem. We were there last year when crowds were at level 9, and we didn't wait longer than 15 minutes for anything unless we chose to (and we chose to sometimes if we didn't have anything else we particularly wanted to do at that time).

 

[lori123]

Thanks for all the recommendations! I would love to stay onsite - but we would be paying double or triple for it. We did it once and it was amazing though!!! We will stay withing walking distance so going back during the day is an option. We are pretty seasoned - going 3+ times a year for the past few years - I was just scared to try spring break We like to go "off-season" (not that there is much of one anymore) but we have high schoolers now and it's hard to pull them out of school - they just miss so much. If anyone else has experience for this time of year please keep sharing

 

[ewasilau]

We're going to tackle Easter and the Monday and Tues after. No DLR experience here, but we've done WDW in "off season" and summer crowds. Liked off season a little better, but we were well-prepared for summer and still found mornings to be awesome, plus the longer hours were fun. We are good at FP (haven't been to WDW on the new system, we only know the paper FP system" and are hoping to take advantage of those plus getting there before opening. And going to the park without EMH each day. (Since we are staying offsite - onsite cost WAY too much - but are staying right across the street). I've seen some say that offsite across the street is just as close as onsite if you are at Paradise Pier. We will also make dining reservations (today!) and we're excited about the trip!

 

[tkradtke]

If you're crazy... we're crazy too! We'll be arriving Easter evening and staying that whole week. It's just me and my daughter this trip and we were there last June on a weekend. We managed that crowd pretty well, so I think we'll do okay. She's a teen too and I think that helps with dealing with the crowds. She's good with getting up early for rope drop and can make it until closing. She's pretty flexible on what we do while we're there and excited to do some of the non-ride things. She's all about stuff, so when things get busy, we're going to pin trade, hunt down pressed pennies, find the fortune teller machines, etc. in addition to seeing shows and just going back to the hotel to take a break. We hoping to take a lunch break trip over to the Anaheim Packing House one day for a change scenery.

 

[MandNCC]

Sign me up!! We also arrive on Easter. We are staying the whole week and its our first time traveling with a kiddo! We plan on going at his pace and not having much in the form of expectations. We are going to do all the pressed pennies so that we are forced to kind of walk around everywhere and take lots of breaks. We only ever get to travel at peak times because I work in a school and do not get vacation days other than the normal set breaks so at least we don't know any better

 

[Vala]

Going easter as well. I'm not a ride person. Give me characters and entertainment and I am happy.

 

[mommamonster]

If you're crazy, then I am too I'm taking my 2 boys that week following Easter. I've never been for a Spring Break trip, but I did go for one day in 2014 in the week either before or after (I honestly am drawing a blank right now!) Easter and it was not terribly crowded. My threshold for crowds is very high, I managed a weekend in December during the 60th, and feel like nothing will ever be that crowded (and still did a lot and had a ton of fun). I do rope drop/Early Entry until about noon and then we take a couple of hour break in either DTD or the hotel, then come back for dinner then do the rest of the night until closing. I feel like we miss a lot of the super crowds during that time frame we are on a break. I hope for all our sake that it won't be terribly busy that week! Enjoy your trip!!

 

[bigb83]

What about the week after the week after easter? Slower?

 

[kateandy08096]

I am traveling March 30th til April 9th. Will be in the parks April 3rd to 7th. Hopefully not too crowded since harry potter openes that week.

 

[lori123]

Glad we aren't the only crazy ones