Disney at Easter - Huge mistake???

[SuzieQ811]

Hey all of you Disney Lovers - Is it a huge mistake to go over Easter? If you have kids (as most of you do), other than summer or Christmas or Thanksgiving, when can you go? I was kind of hoping that because Easter is so early this year and many of the school districts (at least in our parts) are denying Easter exists and are instead proclaiming a "Spring Break" in April , maybe Disney would not be quite as crowded. We're all set to go anyway, but would love to hear some thoughts! Thanks!

 

[Pat]

We have gone at spring break, but not Easter. This year we will be there March 20-30. That includes Easter. We are hoping, like you, that some of the spring breaks will fall at a later time.

 

[enyaj40]

our 01' trip we arrived the day before easter

i was scatterbrained that year and we didn't have a tour plan and we didn't enjoy the trip as much because it was very crowded

i would go at anytime of the year with a plan

 

[jel0511]

I've gone the past two EAster Breaks and will be there again this year. We go because we love the weather, but the parks are SO crowded it makes the summer look empty!! The wait on Soarin' was over 3 hours just to give you an idea. You really do have to hit everything early, or plan on waiting a ton to get on anything. Think human traffic jam in Fantasyland, and you'll see what goes on. I think this will probably be our last Spring Break, due to crowding. I guess we're into self torture, as we'll be there right after Christmas as well this year. I don't think we're going next year (we'll see how long that lasts).

 

[Rock'n Robin]

This will be our first spring break. All of the schools around here for once are on break the same week--but up here in Ohio we don't have "winter break" or anything like that. I promised the kids we could go to Florida this year since we have the same vacation (finally!) but why go anywhere else in Florida than WDW?
We've done June, July, August, and 4 days between Christmas and NY (NYE is madness!). We know it will be crowded. We plan on hitting every park at open at least once, and have 2 days planned without any of the 4 main parks--just water parks, or DQ/DD, or just hotel hanging out. The way we look at it, if we don't get to do something, so what? We've done it already. (exception of course is rehabbed HM and Spaceship Earth). A plan is essential. Even when we went on NYE, we went right to Test track, got FPs and rode MS standby and were done with both by 10--this is pre-Soarin'. If you have a priority, get a FP early.
I see from our tickers I'll be down there same as some of you, although I think mine is one day off due to a flight change--we will be there March 20-27 at the YC.
Robin M.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We went over Easter only once.....and will never again.
Summer can be bad.....but it doesn't touch Easter. That Easter weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun and even into Mon) is particularily bad. We had actually arrived the Tues before Easter, and Tues, Wed and Thurs were not to bad at all.

 

[madalex]

We are going at Easter this year. I don't really have a choice for a variety of reasons, so we just hope to make the best of things with the crowds. We will be there 9 days, including arriving the Wed before Easter and staying until the Friday after Easter. Hopefully, that will give us a couple days without the full on Easter crush being in effect.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Stay far far away from Disney at Easter. Just my opinion of course. It was worse than Christmas. 3 hour waits for rides. Parks closed due to capacity overload. No way ever again.

 

[MomofCKJ]

It's a gonna be packed!

I've heard week before and week after Easter (think March 16-30) are the two BIG weeks. We are going March 10-16 and hoping to be getting out of dodge as the crowds roll in. Like anything I think if you have a plan you can be one step ahead of those that don't and have a more enjoyable time.

Allyson

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

We've gone to Disney for Easter each year for the past 3 (this year we're skipping because Easter is so early) and have enjoyed it each time. Yes, it is crowded--no joke. However, if you use fastpass and stay on-site to use the Extra Magic Hours, you'll do fine.

We visit at Christmas and Easter and have visited Disney 50+ times usually in the summer so I've never known a 'low' season.

 

[What are we doing?]

That Easter weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun and even into Mon) is particularily bad. We had actually arrived the Tues before Easter, and Tues, Wed and Thurs were not to bad at all.

It's a gonna be packed!

I've heard week before and week after Easter (think March 16-30) are the two BIG weeks.

This is the first year that Hubby's university break is also the week before Easter. That tells me that WDW will be absolutely jammed. You have the combination of spring breakers and Easter week vacations.

Unless you like crowds, I'd stay far, far away.

 

[corinascot]

It's not so bad. We went last year Easter Week and Easter Week 2005. In 2005, we arrived the Monday after Easter. It was crazy the first few days, but was less busy as the week went on. Last year I think we arrived on Thursday and stayed til Monday. Ds missed one day of school. The weekend after Easter was very nice. I like arriving a couple days after Easter.

We'd get there early and leave around noon and come back to the parks in the evening. The park hours are so long. One of the years, MK had EMH everyday and opened at 7am for resort guests. Combined with EMH at night til 2 am...doesn't leave much time to sleep!!

But the weather has been lovely. So nice to get away from Ohio weather in Mach. I have to say the crowds in 2005, when Easter was in March seemed heavier than the crowds in 2007, when it was in April.

 

[LeahA]

Well, we go over Spring Break every year. It is always crowded. We went over Easter a few years ago when our spring break coincided with that time, and it was CRAZY CROWDED! I mean, claustraphobic crowded at the MK over the weekend.

Am I returning this year? Yes
Does our Spring Break coincide with Easter again? Yes
Am I crazy? Probably

We plan to take advantage of all of our Extra Magic Hours. We plan to high tail it out of the parks after lunch and go back to the hotel Mid day for a relaxing swim.

My number 1 tip is get to the parks as early as you can, because after lunch it will get very crowded. My number 2 tip, people will line up earlier than normal to get a spot for a parade, so if this is something you want to do, line up, or have 1 person hold your spot at least an hour and a half before parade start time.

Relax, breathe, have fun!

 

[GovieMom]

As the others have said, the two weeks surrounding Easter Sunday will be crowded, CROWDED, CROWDED!

 

[Disney Spaz]

We haven't gone during Easter since 2005 but are going this year. DH and I budgeted for 14 days so we can get everything in we want.

 

[stitchlover]

We go in March each year and unfortunately it is an early Easter this year. We arrive on the 13th and leave on the 22nd (Easter is the 23rd). We are going to try to get as much as possible done by Wednesday and know that the further we get into the week the more crowded it will be. I think we plan on hitting all the parks and getting the WE HAVE TO RIDE this list done by Monday the 17th. If we hang at the resort more this year than so be it. There is always next year.

 

[raider97]

Our Spring Break week ends the weekend of Easter.

 

[dpayne1969]

we are going March 12-19 so hoping to miss the majority of the crowds.
I have never been during Easter but I hope with my dates it wont be too terribly bad.

 

[CindyandBrice]

We wil be there March 20-27 at ALL STAR SPORTS. Plan, make ADR now if you have not already. Get to parks early, use fast pass. We go to Epcot on Easter. WE have gone the last 2 years, this will be the third. Thy have had activities for the kids (egg roll, egg hunt, spoon races) in the front part of Epcot by Sorin. Check it out.

 

[princessesrule4]

Our kids Spring Break is always Easter weekend and the week after Easter. I won't lie to you - it is as bad as Christmas!

We went twice the week after Easter and we just refuse to go at that time anymore! We got to Vero Beach and because the crowds are so bad we have no temptation to go to WDW! Even with FP's, staying late, going early, EMH,etc. ,it's still insane! Just our experience!