Anyone ever go to WDW the week before Easter?

[mickman1962]

I have always gone to WDW in Sept. or Oct. with my family to avoid the crowds. It has always been great. My DW's family has now planned a mini reunion from April 7-16 2006. DW's family has never been and always hear us talking about how great it is. Are they/we in for a major dissapointment with the crowds? Any advantages to going at this time?

 

[parrothead365]

We have been several times during that time frame. Crowds may be up a tad but the weather should be great. Hot enough to enjoy the pools but not brutal enough to burn you to a crisp in 2 minutes. Rain is always a chance but hey, Mickey needs to sell those ponchoes Have a great time.

 

[Christine]

Many schools have their Easter break the week before Easter (our public school system does). I doubt you will find that week less crowded than Easter week.

 

[swilphil]

The closer you get to Easter, the larger the crowds will get. It is a little bit less crowded than the week after Easter. We were there this year the week before and if you plan accordingly, you can still get lots done. It does help if you stay at a deluxe, so you don't have to worry about transporation as much.

The nice thing is the park hours are long. Plan pool breaks, trips to Downtown Disney, and sit-down meals for the afternoon, so you are out of the parks during the busiest time. This year they had 7 a.m. Early Magic Hours for Magic Kingdom EVERYDAY that week and the next. We were able to get so much done in the morning before the crowds rolled in. We stayed at the Contemporary, so we just walked over to MK in about 10 minutes. Use fast pass as much as possible.

 

[mickman1962]

we've always been a family that gets there when the park opens and goes back to the resort at lunch time and then return at night. It's amazing how much you can do before the crowds show up however I can't see DW's family doing that. Guess I'll just have to make the best of it. At least I'll be at Disney. Always went every 2 years but haven't been back since Oct. 2002 so I am way overdue. Does anyone know if both waterparks are open at that time?

 

[dvcgirl]

I have always gone to WDW in Sept. or Oct. with my family to avoid the crowds. It has always been great. My DW's family has now planned a mini reunion from April 7-16 2006. DW's family has never been and always hear us talking about how great it is. Are they/we in for a major dissapointment with the crowds? Any advantages to going at this time?

Yes, it will be very busy that week, not like October, and not even close to the low crowds of September. Plan on arriving at the parks about 30 minutes before they open. You'll get a lot accomplished in those first two hours. It's not like September when you can sleep in and stroll into MK at 11am and walk on everything. A trip the week before Easter will definitely require more planning on your part.

 

[Lebjwb]

Last year we went the week before Easter, actually went home on Easter Sunday. Stayed at AKL. The parks were packed. The weather was beautiful. Dining was next to impossible. I don't think we had dinner any night before 9 p.m.. We missed going on a moderate amount of rides due to the wait or Fast Pass simply sold out for the day. We did alot of things that didn't require lines....Tom Sawyers Island, the Riverboat, World Show case, trails around the Tree of Life, Fantasmic, etc

If you go, make dining reservations as soon as you are able. We are open ended in our plans (8 year old...nuff said?) and that isn't practicle for our family.

Did we have a good time?---You bet!

Would we ever go the week before Easter again?---Not a chance.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

We went for 5 days traveling home on Easter Sunday 2004. Previously we went in October for most of our trips.

Yes it was crowded, but like you said, go early, take a pool break and rest, go back to the parks. We had PS for every dinner so that helped a lot. And we went with a plan. We knew we couldn't do it all so made a list of "Must do's" for each family member and made sure they happened.

When we went in 2004 both water parks were open. And the water must be heated because even though it was cool in the morning, we could go on the slides.

Would I go at Easter again? Sure.

 

[mickman1962]

Thanks all!