Disney at Easter - Huge mistake???

[CinderellyCinderelly]

I'm going too! I went twice before and one time it was TERRIBLE. So terrible that we just spent most of the time at our hotel. 2 years ago was not that bad, so I am crossing my fingers for a similar experience this time. Cya all there!

 

[mericletwins]

Every guide book I've read so far tells me to avoid the parks during it's respective EMH days. Since I have small children - is there A big difference in the crowd level at the parks amongst those with EMH and those without?

In other words, when it's MK EMH should we go to AK that day? And vice versa?

We'll be there March. 18 - 24th.

If you are staying on property and can do the EMH, then get there early, do the EMH and around 10 or 11 hop over to a different park. Park hoppers are worth it!

 

[mericletwins]

So, does anyone have an opinion on whether there's an "advantage" to staying at a resort close to the parks? I originally had two rooms reserved at POP, but after reading this thread (and seeing that I've chosen one of the busiest times of the year to go!), I moved the reservation over to one room at the YC. I was thinking that I could avoid the lines at the bus stops and if the crowds at the parks became unbearable, I could walk (or run, depending on how stressed out I get! ) back to my room for a little R and R....

Has anyone done this and how did it work out?

We have gone the last two years over Easter and stayed at the BC. It was really great. You avoid the busses for Epcot and DHS. We would also walk through Epcot sometimes on our way back from the MK. Take the monorail from MK to Epcot and then just stroll through to the International Gateway and bam.....you are at your resort. We would pick up a snack of some sort or another for the kids and a margarita for DH and I in Mexico and everyone was happy!

 

[becca011906]

We are in the group that is going a little before easter... we will get there thursday this week and leave next thrusday i'm sure as the week goes on it will get more and more crowded but we are hoping to get most stuff done early in the trip...

 

[Poohbear123]

I went around Easter a few years back, and had to leave MK it was SOOOO crowded. This was before Fastpass too. Went over to Epcot and it was a lot calmer over there.

 

[twilly15]

We just got back from our Easter trip and we loved it. We got to the parks early in the morning and by early afternoon we went back to our room to relax before heading back for dinner and nightime shows. We stayed at the dolphin and really enjoyed our trip. We went during Christmas a couple years ago and it seemed more crowded then.

 

[iheartdisney]

We went the week before Easter. If that is peak crowds, boy you East Coasters ar lucky! I was walking through the MK on its EMH day thinking "this is as bad as it gets? This is like Disneyland in early June!"

Very laid back, we were there at rope drop, took a swim break around 2, and headed back around dinner time. We did MK and MGM on EMH days, and the crowds were not nearly as bad as I had anticipated!

 

[Princessbaby]

We just got back from our Easter trip and we loved it. We got to the parks early in the morning and by early afternoon we went back to our room to relax before heading back for dinner and nightime shows. We stayed at the dolphin and really enjoyed our trip. We went during Christmas a couple years ago and it seemed more crowded then.

Glad you had a good time! I can't wait to go for our next visit at Easter!

 

[MiaSRN62]

iheartdisney says : We went the week before Easter. If that is peak crowds, boy you East Coasters ar lucky!

The week before Easter is not too bad at all.........come Fri, Sat, Sun (Easter) and the following week.......that's when it gets bad. Easter weekend is pretty intolerable imho. We spent about 4 hours in the MK on the Sat before Easter and couldn't get on one single ride. We left. But we had arrived the Wed before Easter and Wed and Thurs were quiet in comparison, so a couple days make a difference.

 

[becca011906]

we were there in the parks friday 3/14 til thursday 3/20 crowds the first were end were what we are use to going in late feb/ aug. ect. but when monday - thursday hit was definaly more crowded I think it was like spring break had started i can't imagine how last week was~!

 

[ADisneyQueen]

We had a similiar experience being there the week before Easter 3/16-3/20 (park Days). It was O.K. Sun, M and T. It got a lot worse Weds. and Thurs. We have never used fastpass so much. We left Fri. and I would not have wanted to be there for the weekend. Of course I would have gladly stayed at the hotel or the beach, just didn't want to be in the parks. Sadly, my airline ticket said I had to leave.

 

[annej]

We just returned from our Easter trip and have to say we had a fantastic trip!We hit the parks when they opened, did what we wanted and left for the afternoon. We did everything we wanted and more! to the poster that was in MK the Saturday before Easter, I am sorry you had a bad experience. We were there that same day by 7:45 and rode everything by noon including Space Mountain twice. We were amazed by how much we got done! We used FASTPASS all week and never missed a park opening. We had a fun and relaxing trip!

 

[ols386]

I would never go to Disney at Easter....this year, since Easter is early, I wouldn't even go anytime in April, since many schools are out during that time period. We used to go around Easter when the kids were in school, since that was the week they had off...but now that they are grown, would never go again at Easter. Best time of year is early January (of course that may not be possible if you have children in school). It's still busy then, but out of all the times we've been there (at various different times of the year), that has been the least busy. The weather in January is not always as warm as you might like....this year I think it was down in the 30s for a couple of days. But it can be beautiful.....like in the 70s and sunny.

 

[WiscMomof2]

We were in the parks the Wed-Sat after Easter and had a great time and would go again. Yes it was VERY crowded Wed-Fri but as other posters have said if you get there at park opening you'll be fine. For example, Wed at Epcot got there for rope drop, got FP for Soarin, Waited standby 25 minutes for TT, got FP for MS, went back and rode Soarin and did the Land ride, back to MS with our FP all before 11. We used similar strategy at all the parks and did everything we wanted to do.

 

[Lives4Disney]

The week before Easter is not too bad at all.........come Fri, Sat, Sun (Easter) and the following week.......that's when it gets bad. Easter weekend is pretty intolerable imho. We spent about 4 hours in the MK on the Sat before Easter and couldn't get on one single ride. We left. But we had arrived the Wed before Easter and Wed and Thurs were quiet in comparison, so a couple days make a difference.

I agree...we flew in Tues 3/18 and left 3/26. Crowds were OK until Sat - we were at DHS Sat. We had a FANTASTIC trip - usually do - but getting up at the crack of dawn to run a crazy zigzag thru parks is not my family's idea of a fun or relaxing trip. So we didn't do that. We did what we wanted and spent a lot of hotel time. We have been to WDW a bajillion times so no biggie, but I feel pretty unfulfilled....I need to go back. The good thing was the crowds on Wed 3/26 at MK before we flew home & the 3 broken down monorails that morning made me happy to leave WDW for the time being. No post trip depression here.

Lives4Disney