Crowds at Easter

[lholly]

I am just about to book for April 04 and wondered what the parks are like this time of year - we went previusly in February when the parks were realy quiet and the longest we had to wait even for popular rides was 15mins tops.

I know that there are no US bank holidays at Easter time but the schools do have a spring break - does anyone know when this is?

We are planning on flying over on Easter Saturday so will the parks be really busy on Easter Sunday?

Also, what's the weather like at this time of year?

Thanks

lholly

 

[squitty]

Hi

We went Easter this year.

We flew the Thursday before Good Friday. We went to DTD in the evening and it was the busiest I have seen it. We didnt venture into any of the parks until the 26th April. The queue's for rides were longer than 15mins
The weather was lovely, I think we only had a couple of days rain in the whole 14 days and it was nice and warm.
I am glad that I have been in Easter but TBH I dont think we would go that time again.

I am not 100% but I think Spring Break is the end of March onwards.

 

[Stuartpaul]

We too were there over Easter this year. We deliberately stayed out of the parks over Easter weekend as we'd been warned (via this board!) that it got hectic.

All the parks were busier than the previous time we'd been (May/June 02) with a huge number of teenagers as a result of spring break. Average queues were 45 mins and an hour not unusual, - a definite advert for fast pass!

I'd recommend missing the overlap with spring break if you possibly can, - several thousand hormonal teenagers are to be avoided at all costs (2 are bad enough)!!

It may depend how late Easter is in comparison with spring break. Some research on spring break dates might pay dividends in this respect, - sorry I cant help any further.

Good luck!!

 

[WDWFOREVER]

We went in Easter 2001 as my DS had SATS in May (when we usually go). It was absolutely mobbed and I swore then that I would never go at Easter again, even if it meant not going at all that particular year.

That said, if I got the chance I would probably go WHENEVER as the thought of not going at all is just too sad!

 

[kazzie]

sorry

 

[Mike Jones]

We've done Easter last 3 years. Yes, it's very busy, but the week after Easter sunday is a lot better. We did the parks both weeks, and at the weekends, and got there very early each day, made good use of fast pass and UE... we found that we could do 2 -3 hours without pain then quit the parks for the villa pool. We usually found it ok returning to the parks (poss excepting MK, best at Epcot) in the evening. Go anyway!

 

[lholly]

Thanks for all your advice- i think we were spoiled on our last visit with so little queues that we really want to avoid the crowds again. I think I will take your advice and try and find out when spring break is

Alternatively, I may think about going May/June during spring half term week, as this appears to be quite a favourite from what I've read on these boards.

lholly

 

[The Lost Boy]

We went the 2 weeks before Easter this year, and although the parks were busy there were some plus points -

The weather was fantastic, it only rained once and that was in the evening

Get there EARLY - we always managed to do 4-5 rides without wait in the first hour and a half.

All the parks are open late (MK sometimes to 11.00 PM) and Disney had increased the frequency of shows (ie fantasmic and Electric parade on twice nightly)

Disney knows how to manage crowds, and good use of fastpass reduces waiting a lot.

Dont go at it commando style and be flexible. In saying that I had every day planned to the hour so I really should practice what I preach LOL. I have to say I was really worried about the crowds but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as I thought it would be, plus I think it adds to the atmosphere.

Regards
Macca

 

[juliebro]

We were also there for the 2 weeks before Easter this year. We didn't find the parks too crowded. However, we do arrive as they open, plan what rides we want to do first, and use the fastpasses.

I spoke to a few people from various parts of the US while we were there to try to find out when Spring Break actually is. I was told that it is different all over the US. The more Southern states tend to have their Spring Break earlier than the more Northern states (I guess that's weather-related).

I couldn't get more info than that.

Julie