April 2017 check in thread, come in and chat!

[DISnewjersey]

Hi everybody! We'll be the LA area for the week of Easter and plan to spend two days at DL/DCA. Originally we planned to go Tuesday April 18 and Wednesday April 19th. However, we're now realizing it would make a lot more sense for our trip if we went to the parks on Easter Sunday and Monday April 17th.

We have lunch dining reservations at Blue Bayou and Carthay (WOC package) to take mid day breaks. We know the crowds will be bad and have dealt with busy days at WDW.

Our question that hopefully you can answer: will the crowd levels on Easter Sunday/Monday 17th be significantly different than crowd levels on Tues 18th / Wed 19th?

If it's not a drastic difference than maybe we'll go with Easter Sunday.

 

[Aladora]

Hi everybody! We'll be the LA area for the week of Easter and plan to spend two days at DL/DCA. Originally we planned to go Tuesday April 18 and Wednesday April 19th. However, we're now realizing it would make a lot more sense for our trip if we went to the parks on Easter Sunday and Monday April 17th.

We have lunch dining reservations at Blue Bayou and Carthay (WOC package) to take mid day breaks. We know the crowds will be bad and have dealt with busy days at WDW.

Our question that hopefully you can answer: will the crowd levels on Easter Sunday/Monday 17th be significantly different than crowd levels on Tues 18th / Wed 19th?

If it's not a drastic difference than maybe we'll go with Easter Sunday.

No one can say for certain but since Sunday is a day off school for kids and a day off work for many people, I would bet that Sunday will be busier than a week day. If going to the Food and Wine Festival is on your must-do list, then you will have to go on the 16th since that is the last day.

 

[seacruise]

We are betting on Easter weekend being busier so not starting at the parks until Mon. 4/17. In reality it probably won't matter as both those weeks on either side of Easter are going to be slammed due to school spring breaks.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

They finally got the last day of our trip up and it says that there's a Magic Morning on Friday (along with the EMH). Whaaaaaat?

I saw this too. It must be a mistake.

While it could be a mistake, Disneyland often has early entry at both parks when they anticipate crowds. When my family went the Thanksgiving before last, they had early entry at both parks all week long.

 

[Tinkerbellkate]

Hi all, we just decided (this morning) to plan a quasi - last minute trip to Disneyland (April 13-16). We are staying at the Sheraton and are going to be in the parks for 2 days. I've never been so any helpful tips and tricks would be appreciated! So excited!

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I saw this too. It must be a mistake.

I was thinking that too. Didn't check again. I HOPE it's not another one. I hope they meant that for saturday.

 

[Aladora]

Hi all, we just decided (this morning) to plan a quasi - last minute trip to Disneyland (April 13-16). We are staying at the Sheraton and are going to be in the parks for 2 days. I've never been so any helpful tips and tricks would be appreciated! So excited!

Welcome to the thread, I've added you to the list!

How many people are in your group, what ages are they and do you have parkhoppers?

 

[Tinkerbellkate]

Welcome to the thread, I've added you to the list!

How many people are in your group, what ages are they and do you have parkhoppers?

Thanks for the add! There are only 2 of us and we are both in our early 30's. We will definitely be doing park hoppers. We fly in on Thursday mid-afternoon so we are trying to figure out if it is worth it to buy the 3rd day or if we should just do Downtown Disney and start fresh on Friday.

 

[vinotinto]

You might want to look at getting your tickets in advance, you can get them cheaper than gate price going through various vendors. Last Minute Travel Club is one that we have used and it saved us a decent amount. Just be aware that LMTC can take up to a week to send you the vouchers so I would not wait too long.

Great meal choices choices! Napa Rose and Carthay Circle are my two favourite restaurants and we just loved the WoC dessert party when we did it last September.

I'm not a huge fan of the Cajun and Creole food and I hated our one meal we had at Cafe Orleans but we usually eat at French Market once per trip. I can take or leave Blue Bayou but our last meal we had there was good.

We love the fried chicken at Plaza Inn, the skewers at Bengal BBQ and the sandwiches at Jolly Holiday on the DL side. DCA side has Carthay Circle Lounge, Alfresco Tasting Terrace, Cove Bar and Flo's. We have enjoyed all of our meals at Wine Country Trattoria but given the choice be between there or Carthay, Carthay always wins.

Hope that helps a bit!

Yes, very helpful! How hard is it to get a seat at the Alfresco Tasting Terrace?

 

[Aladora]

Thanks for the add! There are only 2 of us and we are both in our early 30's. We will definitely be doing park hoppers. We fly in on Thursday mid-afternoon so we are trying to figure out if it is worth it to buy the 3rd day or if we should just do Downtown Disney and start fresh on Friday.

For me it would depend on how many hours you would have on your arrival day, how early you had to wake up that day (we have often taken a flight that requires us to wake at 3:45 am!) and also the cost to add the extra day.

Other than that advice, I would look at the rides in each park and make a list of the ones you absolutely have to do. Make those your priority and be sure you get and use fastpasses. There are some rides that will always run out of FP such as RSR and HSM so be sure you grab those! Keep an eye on the app and if you see the FP time getting near to park close, go grab one!

Yes, very helpful! How hard is it to get a seat at the Alfresco Tasting Terrace?

We have been twice and have never had any problem getting a table. it does not open until 2:00pm so it was perfect for us the day we did the WoC dessert party. We had a light late lunch - early dinner and that was enough to tide us over until the dessert party food.

 

[MFMont]

April 8th to the 15th here. Stay at VGC that I booked 7 months out. Not sure what to expect however we certainly expect it to be crowded. We have been to WDW some of the biggest weeks of the year including Christmas and several Easter weeks so we are prepared. I would consider us WDW pro's but extreme novices when it comes to DL. We have 3 park days with hoppers planned. We may add a 4th on the 14th. Going to do a coast day and a desert day. I have ressie booking including Napa Rose and Blue Byou. I forget the other two at the moment. Wife has celiac so I am hoping DL is as good as WDW for food alergies. I guess at some point here in the next week that we will likely look at some sort of a touring plan. I usually don't plan to much past dinners and included FP's at WDW so we are not huge planners. I think we will really need a strong plan to see everything in 3 or 4 days though this time around. Wish us luck.

 

[seacruise]

The beauty of DLR is that it doesn't require near the advanced planning as WDW. We typically plan what fast pass we are going to grab first and what rides we are going to do standby in the first few hours before the crowds build. After that we use the app to see what the fast pass return times are looking like and pretty much play it by ear. In our experience DL can feel way more crowded than MK on a busy day because of the smaller size and narrow walkways through the park (especially the west side). CA has much wider walkways and doesn't usually have that same crushing overcrowded feel. You can see most of both parks in 3 days. However, it doesn't cost much more to add a 4th day so I would definitely look into that if you have the time.

 

[Aladora]

The Egg-stravaganza is back April 1-16!


https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...r-hunt-returns-to-disneyland-resort-in-april/

Sadly, we are missing this by one day but I am still hoping that if they have some left over that they will extend this!

 

[amyg1975]

Last year they did extend the hunt for about a week (I think), so I would think it might go longer this year too. It all depends if there are maps and eggs left.

 

[otten]

Last year they did extend the hunt for about a week (I think), so I would think it might go longer this year too. It all depends if there are maps and eggs left.

Good to know thanks.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I'm starting to get nervous about crowds. I dunno why I picked April. I had read somewhere that the estimate for the week after Easter would be a little less crowded. I'm beginning to think that's not gonna be the case haha. Oh well. It's hard to NOT have a good time in Disney anyway

 

[amyg1975]

I'm starting to get nervous about crowds. I dunno why I picked April. I had read somewhere that the estimate for the week after Easter would be a little less crowded. I'm beginning to think that's not gonna be the case haha. Oh well. It's hard to NOT have a good time in Disney anyway

That's the spirit! We always go when it is crowded, we expect it. We get excited when it seems slower than we expected.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

That's the spirit! We always go when it is crowded, we expect it. We get excited when it seems slower than we expected.

That's what I'm gonna do. I'm pretty glass half empty for this reason. I like being pleasantly surprised HAHAHA

 

[WestWind]

We will be there in April - for my birthday! We will get there April 16 - staying at Best Western Stovalls until the 20th when we are moving to the Grand - returning home the 24th. It is a trip for Dapper Day and had to add a few more days. Driving from BC, Canada to Seattle then fly. Getting excited now.

 

[Aladora]

We will be there in April - for my birthday! We will get there April 16 - staying at Best Western Stovalls until the 20th when we are moving to the Grand - returning home the 24th. It is a trip for Dapper Day and had to add a few more days. Driving from BC, Canada to Seattle then fly. Getting excited now.

I love seeing so many British Columbians here, and what a lovely long trip you have planned! Do you guys have APs?