Are the Easter crowds worse than New Year's???Help please

[3mousehouse]

First of all, let me say these boards are great! We just got back from our first family trip from Disney (my 1st trip in 5 years) and I used these boards extensively during our planning. We had such a blast that I must start planning the next trip. My kids spring break for next year ends with Easter weekend so I wanted to know if we should try for a New Year's trip instead (Dec. 26- Jan. 2).

Anybody been during both of these times that could compare the expected crowd size? I heard that on New Years the crowds are REALLY bad only on New Year's Eve itself. I'm assuming Easter weekend is crowded all weekend long. Any help?

 

[civileng68]

First of all, let me say these boards are great! We just got back from our first family trip from Disney (my 1st trip in 5 years) and I used these boards extensively during our planning. We had such a blast that I must start planning the next trip. My kids spring break for next year ends with Easter weekend so I wanted to know if we should try for a New Year's trip instead (Dec. 26- Jan. 2).

Anybody been during both of these times that could compare the expected crowd size? I heard that on New Years the crowds are REALLY bad only on New Year's Eve itself. I'm assuming Easter weekend is crowded all weekend long. Any help?

The crowds during Easter week are super heavy but no, not as heavy as New Year's.

However, it's all relative. No matter when one is more crowded than the other, it gets to a point where it all feels the same.

During Easter week, expect super heavy crowds, and very long ride lines.

To do popular attractions, do them very early or late in the day.

During heaviest times during that week, you can expect wait times on things like Splash and Space Mtn around 2 hours.

However, I can tell you that if you dont want to do things very early, generally park hours are open late when it's very crowded (which I like late nights at MK!). During these times, even with as crowded as it is, you can hit rides like Splash, HM, BTMRR and Space Mtn. with less than a 20 minute wait (and many times around 5-10 mins) if you go during the last hour of the park being open.

 

[3mousehouse]

Thanks for the info. I'm curious to see the posts coming up after this Easter holiday about the crowds. It sounds like Easter week/ spring break is a better bet crowd wise than New Year's. Any other opinions?

 

[pooh2001]

from: http://allearsnet.com/aa/aa011606.htm#ques5
Anita Answers...

Madame Leota has once again loaned me her crystal ball so that I may divine the Secrets of the Level of Spring Break and Easter Crowds. Here's what the crystal ball predicts:

Beginning in early March, crowds will begin to build steadily, but will still be manageable until the last week of March. During that week, the crowds will become thicker, but will still only be at Kinda Nutz level until the second week of April. In the second week of April, crowds will reach the This Is Nutz! level and will stay there until the last week of April, when they return to manageable levels again. Most of the month of May will be at moderate levels until the last weekend, which is Memorial Day. Memorial Day Weekend will be at Kinda Nutz level

Anita's Crowd Level Key:

Kinda Nutz Level is when the crowds are thick, but if you plan correctly, use Extra Magic Hour and Fastpass to your advantage, you won't totally lose your sanity.

This Is Nutz! Level is when the parks are at peak attendance and guests are elbow-to-elbow no matter where you go. The restaurants are full and the lines for the attractions are unbelievably long. It is imperative to use Extra Magic Hour and Fastpass, or you will lose your sanity completely. Don't worry; this is only temporary. It will come back once you get home again.

If you go into your trip knowing that it will be Nutz!, and that you can't possibly do everything you want to do during your time there, it will make for a more pleasant trip. Do your homework here at All Ears Net® before you go, and understand that you will not be able to do much Commando Touring.

Some tips for handling This is Nutz!: Choose what is most important to see or do and plan to do those first. Use Fastpass (where available) for these attractions. Get to the parks when they open, or use Extra Magic Hour (available to Disney resort guests only) to get in early or stay late. Peak arrival time for the parks is between 10 a.m. and noon. You will be pleasantly surprised at how much you can accomplish before the bulk of the crowds hit during this period. In the afternoons, go back to your resort for a rest or a swim and return refreshed and recharged at dinnertime.