Are Easter crowds really awful?

[loriwvu]

We have been to WDW twice in early May and this past October during the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. We are contemplating going the week after Easter. Are the crowds really bad? We would most likely skip MK and just be going to Epcot, MGM and a waterpark if warm enough. We really want to take a trip over my son's Spring Break and WDW is just the perfect place for us. We thought it was quite busy this past October during the F & W festival, in fact busier than our May trips. Is Easter week busier than peak summer time?

Lori

 

[LindaR]

I haven't been during that time before. We are going during Easter week this year. We have gone starting Memorial weekend for the past two years. I think it will be pretty darn crowded. You just need to plan well.

For us, since we are not first-timers, we are planning a much more leisurely trip. No big expectations, except having a good time! Use fastpasses, make PS to eat, arrive early at the parks, and be patient!

Have fun!

 

[sunny04]

Easter is supposed to be as bad as Christmas, so it will be very crowded. However, I have been twice at Christmas and have never had problems because I EXPECTED it. Make sure you plan for the crowds and are fully aware of them. Then, you can enjoy your trip anyway!

 

[kilee]

I have been for the week after Easter (2002). It was very, very crowded. Not to discourage anyone-- I personally would never do it again. HOWEVER, I have become spoiled with mid-low season and like to stick with that.

With the right planning, even the busiest times can be enjoyable and you can accomplish a lot!!! It's more than possible. Use EMH and FP to your advantage. They will become very handy in doing some of the major rides/attractions. Also, make sure you have PS's made. Walk-up's at sit downs are near impossible if not impossible to get. Plan wisely w/ flexibility.

Knowing ahead of time that the odds are it will be crowded will help in making your trip fun. You'll be prepared. In the past there have been several days around Easter that the MK will close to off-site guests. So if you're off-site and you want to go to the MK plan to get there early.

 

[eeyore0062]

It is very crowded both weeks surrounding Easter Any other time before in March and after in April will be crowded, but not at bad... more like summer. If you plan well, don't mind crowds, getting up and being at the parks very early and staying very late, using Fastpasses to your advantage, it is doable. You will want to make a "must do" list for your family, depending on the size of your family choosing approximately 2 attractions each that you "have to do". Also make your PS ASAP! Lines for counter service will be very long. Snack counters, will be as well, so you may want to pack provisions for throughout the day. With good planning, use of EMH and FP, you should be OK, but if you don't enjoy crowds, this may not be the best time to go.

 

[TracyK]

My advice would be don't do it. If you can choose another time then do. We will never do Easter again.

Tracy

 

[jlaspoq]

We've done Spring Break week several times (always the week after Easter) and it can be very enjoyable! The key is definitely to plan ahead. Have some idea where you want to go each day, and go at park opening as often as you can. I agree with the above post that suggests you get a couple of main ideas from each person in your group.... I always ask for top 3 attractions and top 2 or 3 characters. These are the things that they'll be disappointed if they come home without doing them. Then I do my very best to plan those items. Everything else is icing on the cake! If you skip MK, that will help. You might also try AK. The key is to adjust your expectations.... we have always been pleasantly surprised at how much we've been able to do! Have a wonderful time!

ps.... I'm a Lori too!

 

[agotta]

I have worked both MK and MGM during Easter and it is INSANE. Def not as busy as Christmas. Sometimes the parks will close due to high volume of people. I always tell people not to plan too much. Start early and then go back to the hotel or DTD or something. Then come back at 4ish. With the parks being open so late, this leaves plenty of time to do what you want. Be prepared for pushing, shoving and crankiness.

Amanda

 

[dvcgirl]

The parks are very, very crowded the week before and after Easter. It's much worse than May and October at F&W. While it may feel a bit crowded during food and wine (particularly this past year), Easter weeks are a whole different ballgame.

Lots and lots of people will tell you that you can have fun anyway...and it can be done. Well, I think it really depends on the kind of person you are. If you're very laid-back, don't tend to get easily riled, and don't have an ambitious commando style touring plan, you may enjoy yourselves.

The main thing is to understand what you're in for. MK will be absolutely packed all week. And by packed I don't just mean 100-120 minutes for Splash and Space, I mean "difficult to move around" packed. That's why we don't venture over to the parks then (we live here). Because we've done the rides a million times and sometimes just go over to walk around. I just can't take the swarms of people. Epcot will be a better bet because the crowds aren't felt as badly there. But the water parks will be very crowded. You'll need a P.S. to even have a shot to eat at a full-service restaurant, and even then you'll probably wait.

Sorry if I sound negative, but I routinely read reports where people come down for Christmas and Easter and seem shocked at the crowd levels. Maybe that's because they read those reports where others have said, "it's crowded, but do-able....or it's crowded but you can still have a great time." And you *can* have a good time, but only if you're not plannng on accomplishing much in way of riding attractions and can handle large groups of people.

 

[Soupermom]

If Easter is in April (next year), how bad will 3rd week of March be....compared to early-mid June?!

 

[jennymouse]

I've gone the week before Easter before and it was very crowded but it was such a magical trip. I would go if I were you, just know going in that it will be crowded and plan accordingly. The weather, while hot, wasn't very humid and was enjoyable. I can handle crowds better when it's not sweltering. When we went we avoided the extra magic hour parks and showed up at the gate before opening. We toured until it started to get too crowded then left and spent time at the pool, then went back to the parks at night.

Although I prefer non peak times, I would go during spring break again if I had to.

 

[sunny04]

agotta, did you say it's NOT as bad as Christmas?

 

[kimber-lilly]

What can we anticipate for crowds the second week of March, 2005?

We will only be visiting the MK on Friday of that week.......


I'm skeered!

 

[kilee]

That will be the essesntial start of Spring Break season. However, it's not usually Holiday crowded. Most of March (pretty much starting w/ the second weekend) will be busy. Not close the park busy though. We went during March last year at that time. We did have to pick and choose what we really wanted to do, however plan and use FP and you'll be fine.

 

[TinkOhio]

We have been there the last couple of Easters and had a great time! Expect a crowd, plan accordingly, and enjoy! We tried to get to the parks as erly as possible and use as many fastpasses as posssible. Early in the morning, you can get lots of rides under your belt before the parks crowd up. Know that the middle of the day will be crowded and expect to go slowly, or just go somewhere else for a while. ( We love to hop a monorail to the resorts and do a lunch, shop, rent a boat, etc., then head back to the parks for dinner and the evening.) Try to see the later showings of parades and fireworks--they will be MUCH less crowded!

Oh, and we think that this past Christmas seemed way more crowded than last Easter! (And we absolutely FROZE on some days!)

 

[Mich Mouse]

If crowds make you nutso, definitely reconsider an Easter visit. You will stand in huge lines for every single thing.....Even a visit to the ladies room will require a 15 minute wait.

We did visit during Easter week, and have decided that we will never visit the parks during Easter week again. I would go to WDW during Easter and swim, play tennis, enjoy the resort and eat at my favorite restaurants, but I would never go to a park during Easter week.