Christmas or Easter?

[Family Fun Mom]

I am aware that Christmas and Easter are the two busiest time of year, and the most expensive. However, we cannot pull our kids out of school so it's school vacations or nothing for us. We are timidly considering going to WDW next Easter or Chistmas, instead of summer. Mostly because of the heat and humidity we dealt with when we went in August. I think I could handle crowds better than the intense heat and daily rain showers of summer.

Which one would you do? Why? Why not?

 

[Mr. Stitch]

Easter, the weather is great and it was not too busy.

 

[Prissymouse]

Christmas, because the decorations are so pretty,and I love the Osbourne lights at DHS

 

[PrincessNoelle'sMom]

Although I think both times have their pros and cons. I agree that Easter is better weather wise. Disney at Christmas is a beautiful experience, but having school aged kids myself, I feel that they enjoy the winter festivities at home - the anticipation of getting the tree, Santa, etc.. We chose Easter vacation again this year and are looking forward to escaping the cold! Also another reason why going at Easter is our choice.

Good Luck with your decision.

 

[Justin M]

Although I think both times have their pros and cons. I agree that Easter is better weather wise. Disney at Christmas is a beautiful experience, but having school aged kids myself, I feel that they enjoy the winter festivities at home - the anticipation of getting the tree, Santa, etc.. We chose Easter vacation again this year and are looking forward to escaping the cold! Also another reason why going at Easter is our choice.

Good Luck with your decision.

Good logic on that one! I love to escape the cold as well - especially with Easter so early this year. However, (probably partly because I don't have kids yet) I can't vote against the magic of being in WDW during Christmas. Wow! So, my vote is for Christmas - just for the feeling. No logic behind it at all!

http://www.dreamcmo.com/justin

 

[purpliequeen]

Christmastime! If we're going to be stuck in crowds, I'd rather it be in slightly cooler weather with decorations to distract me. Good luck with your decision!

 

[MinMouse]

I voted for Easter because of the weather. Although it can be cold (like it was a few of the days we were there during Easter week last year) but for the most part it is beautiful weather-wise. And as the previous poster mentioned it is just easier with the girls to be away during Easter. We have been to Disney during December but never over Christmas. The decorations are terrific.

 

[christa112]

I would say Christmas too. I have never been during either time, but I can just imagine what it looks like during Christmas

 

[Shir Kahn]

Easter for me, I like the warmer weather and I really see too much real snow to be excited about fake snow!

 

[MissyDVC]

Never been at Easter but LOVE it at Christmas time. Unique things that you can't see/experience at any other time of the year.

 

[Metro West]

Christmas, because the decorations are so pretty,and I love the Osbourne lights at DHS

Very true...but the crowds are NUTS!

Easter, the weather is great and it was not too busy.

I would say Easter...for the same reasons...weather is great and while busy, the crowds do not compare with Christmas.

 

[cudworth]

Voted Easter as we enjoy the warmer weather being from Saskatchewan.

 

[Shir Kahn]

Voted Easter as we enjoy the warmer weather being from Saskatchewan.

Gappers!

 

[Family Fun Mom]

Thanks for all of the replies so far. It's providing valuable insight. I'm still torn. I'd love to see the Christmas decorations, but I also think smaller crowds (even if it's just a little smaller) and escape from cold at Easter would be great. I might be leaning more towards Easter.

Anyone else have input? I'd love to hear it!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

I've been during Easter week and it wasn't all that bad. It was crowded, but manageable. We went to EPCOT on Easter and the park was practically empty! The weather was great too.

 

[dvc guy]

We have been over Christmas for the last 7 of 8 years( booked for this Christmas). Make no mistake it is the most packed time of the year.

You need a good plan and ADR 's booked as soon as possible. Having said that ,it is doable if you are willing to get up and going early. If the park opens at 8 AM you need to be there for rope drop. Do not expect to stroll in at 11 AM and get on many rides. We are DVC members so we know what to hit and when. There is plenty of other things to do and see if the rides are not a proprity.

The weather is a wild card. We have seen it in the daytime from 80 to 55 and night time can be down right cold ( think hat scarf and gloves).

If gets a little more tricky if you are staying off premise as parks will close. We love the energy of Disney at that time of the year, and always know that if we miss it, we will be back the next year.

Park hours are super long with MK having EMH from 8 AM till 3 AM some days.

This year for the first time my kids 15 & 12 are thinking about getting to the park at 6PM for dinner and staying till 2 or 3 AM.

 

[4forMe]

I voted for Easter. The weather is usually very nice. I also didn't find the crowds to be as bad as expected.

 

[WVParkfan]

There really aren't as many Christmas decorations as you think. It's not like you walk into "Christmas Wonderland." It is still the MK, or AK, or Epcot, and they still have the same rides and shows. The decorations are beautiful, but they do not dominate the parks. And they are not worth planning a trip over.

Easter time is crowded, but nothing like Christmas. We did not enjoy our Christmas visit nearly as much as ANY other trip. The crowds at Christmas are absolutely prohibitive.

We are once-again visiting for Easter this year, and looking forward to it. Florida is spectacular in the spring.

 

[Dimaline312000]

Never been at Easter but I can tell you that Christmas is busy, weather is not bad during December in Florida. Would like to go in Easter though.

 

[xApril]

Christmas decorations I've heard are good.
Easter temperatures may be good to some people, but to me.. after living in FL all my life, 70-80 degrees is not 'good', it's HOT to me.
Around the end of December, you're lucky if the temperatures stay below 70 degrees for many days, it's almost always in the 60s-mid 70s. If Easter is when I think it is, it usually rains in the spring. ;/
I'd go with Christmas, but I've never actually went during either of those times since it'd only be a daytrip and we don't enjoy waiting hours in line.