Another crowd ? (sorry)

[FINFAN]

We are thinking about going either this Xmas (12/17-12/25) or Easter (3/24-4/3) We have not been in the parks at either time before, but have been there for the 4th of July. Like everyone else, looking for the more maneagable time to attend. Any helpers? Also, I know the parks stay open late for Xmas between 12/24 and 12/31...do they do the same at Easter, or just for the week starting with Easter Sunday?
TIA,
Pam

 

[tci1212]

I have never been at this time but I have heard from others who have been there during Christmas. They said it is very crowded . I assume Easter is just as crowded because of all the schools being closed.

 

[tinkerbella22]

Easter and CHristmas are more crowded then the summer. One reason is that kids are off from school. Another is (at least at Christmas) people are not at the pool or the water parks...so the other parks are more crowded.

More crowded then summer...............no exteme heat.

 

[WDSearcher]

If those two time periods are your only options, choose the week before Christmas. The Christmas crowds really start getting bad on December 23-24, so the week before is busy, but not crazy. Easter is more concentrated because it tends to be only one weekend, not an entire "season."

 

[disneyjunkie]

We were there this year for Easter break. (We left on Easter Sunday) The parks were packed! If you didn't get to the parks when they opened, you could expect to stand in line for at least 75 minutes.

Most nights, MK was open until midnight. Spectromagic was done twice each night. A few days the afternoon parade was done twice. Wishes was performed each night. Fantasmic was done twice a night.

A few times we got to the parks after opening and paid the price.

Most days we were at the parks at opening and were able to stay ahead of the crowds.

Since I won't pull my son out of school for Disney trips, we can only travel during heavy crowd times. It takes a lot of planning on my part but it's worth it.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

My cousin and her DD's (11 & 3) went last Christmas. They hated it, as it was just too crowded to enjoy.

If you can deal with crowds, you'll be okay, but if not, I'd say go earlier in DEC. The decorations are still up and MVMCP happens.

 

[Donnainnj]

Pam,
My guess is that Easter would be the better option. We have gone then for the last couple of years or so and although crowded, we still had fun. It will be easier if it is a longer trip, and you have been pretty recently. We have had pretty good weather that time of year (Christmas can be cold), and with the Easter so early next year it should spread out the crowds. A lot of districts are on set schedules that don't consider when Easter is so those kids will be at school then. We have also received upsell rates during Easter week.
Good luck and have fun planning!
Donna

 

[ellenmiele]

We were also there for Easter this year but we ARRIVED Easter Sunday and stayed 7 nights. The crowds were NOT bad. We had heard about how things were the week before and I got a little concerned -- especially since this was our first time going during a holiday week. But what we found out from talking to several CMs while we were there is that the week leading up to Easter is always very crowded, while the week after Easter is never as bad. In fact one of the CMs told us that they always see a very noticable drop in crowd numbers the Monday after Easter. So this year we're going to arrive on Good Friday and again stay 7 nights. I expect our first 3 days will be crwded but I hope we see an improvement in that for the second half of our trip. Only other thing -- I don't know how the timing of Easter this year (i.e. Easter is much earlier this year) is going to affect this strategy. But last ime it worked out so well that I'll hope for a repeat!!
And...........the explanation for the week before/week after Easter difference seems to be that across the US there are more schools that have off the week just before Easter than there are those who are off the week right after (I guess that makes us the lucky ones)!!!

 

[MrsJ Henry]

For me I think I would pick Christmas because I hate the hot humid weather. I like to go when It is a bit cooler. The thought of crowds AND HEAT...... YUCK
But everyone is different. that's just me.