Busy at Easter?

[Stuartpaul]

We're there over Easter next year (3 weeks) and wondered if anyone has any hints or tips about how busy it gets over this period and how to avoid the worst. As we've got 3 weeks we're planning to do a few parks and then go down to the Keys for a few days.

I've heard that Easter is horrendous and we were intending to stay out of the parks for the weekend (friday to monday). Does anyone know if its easier before/after or will it be busy for the entire period?

We were there earlier this year so we don't need to do all the parks again, just a favourite few and then use the opportunity to see a bit more of Florida.

Any help appreciated.

Stuart

 

[WDWfan uk]

Hi Stuart This is the time of year we generally go and yes, Easter weekend is one of the busiest in the year - the WDW resorts fill up the weekend before Easter and so from the Saturday before Easter weekend and onwards is a busy week.
If Easter falls later, the crowds tend to fall off quite quickly after Easter, if Easter is early then Spring Breakers remain for a little while.

We have handled it differently, at different times. One year, on the weekend before Easter, we went to see the Easter parade in MK - the park was absolutely mobbed and since there were cameras in Main Street to film the parade, we went over to Frontierland and got a good spot to watch early. After the Easter parade, we made a hasty exit and went off to Epcot.

We have stayed out of the parks that weekend or Easter weekend and found Disney Village Marketplace not overly busy duing the day.

In 2001, I booked an IllumiNations Cruise for the Saturday evening ( the weekend before Easter) and we spent the day enjoying our resort and visiting DVMP. It was wonderful, and we felt so privileged arriving in the boat with a first class view whilst seeing the viewing spots were absolutely thick with people. When the boat arrived back at the Yacht Club, we went over to Beaches and Cream for a meal.

Another time, we booked the earlier performance of Cirque Du Soleil ( it's easier to get a parking space for the earlier performance on a Friday and Saturday) and spent the day at Winter Park.

It is possible to plan your day when the parks are busy to avoid the worst of the crowds - will you be staying on-site at all?

 

[Stuartpaul]

Thanks Shirley,

All useful stuff. We stay off site as we prefer the freedom we feel a villa gives us (family of 5). As Easter is late-ish next year (18 - 21 April) we may be OK, we arrive on th 8th and leave on the 28th. I suspect we'll pick up the tale end of spring break as well (double whammy!!).

It looks as though staying out of the parks might be the best bet for us and head down to the Keys for a couple of days.

As I said earlier we intend to use this trip to do some sightseeing with fewer parks so if we squeeze the parks in before Easter we should make it!

Thanks again,

Stuart