Disney the Week after Easter - Need some feedback

[maryrm]

Hi all,

We last went to disney about 2 hrs ago the week after thanksgiving. It was blissful and I got such amazing advice from this board. So now we want to go back and were thinking about going the week after easter (4/5 - 4/10/10) b/c of my daughter's school break. so here are the questions...How bad are the crowds the week after easter? Also, we last stayed at the Polynesian but it is booked for that week so we have a choice between, Port Orleans, Animal Kingdom or Carribean Beach..which would you choose? We loved the animal kingdom but again I'm afraid the crowds will be too much accessing the bus, etc.

Thank you so much for any advice.

Mary

 

[starbox]

Hi all,

We last went to disney about 2 hrs ago the week after thanksgiving. It was blissful and I got such amazing advice from this board. So now we want to go back and were thinking about going the week after easter (4/5 - 4/10/10) b/c of my daughter's school break. so here are the questions...How bad are the crowds the week after easter?

Mary

The fact that Poly is already sold out - and that's at a non-discounted & peak time period - should be a big tip-off!

Week after Easter should be extremely crowded this year, as it coincides with metro Atlanta (and much of Georgia's) spring break. When Georgia and/or Florida have spring breaks that line up one either side of Easter - watch out!

If you can swing a deluxe, I'd try for BWI or BC/YC - or even Swan or Dolphin. Walking to Epcot is a huge plus since it often feels the least crowded and will have F&G - plus there are good pools and the option of mini-golf all within walking distance.

I'd rather be able to walk to Epcot/DHS than be on the monorail loop.

 

[G's mommy]

Crowds will be huge that week, we are in GA and practically the whole state is on Spring Break as well as some counties in FL. I would go last week in April or first week in May if you have any flexibility. Otherwise, plan all your dining before you get there, make plans to get to the parks at rope drop, and have a plan of what attractions are most important to you. We stayed at AKL last June and enjoyed it very much. Bus service was not bad, but be aware that since the Kidani village has opened, buses make both stops before heading to the parks. It does add some time to the trip.

 

[TummyGummi]

The fact that Poly is already sold out - and that's at a non-discounted & peak time period - should be a big tip-off!

Indeed... if it is one of the few times a year you can go, odds are it will be very crowded.

 

[GovieMom]

The weeks before and after Easter Sunday are always jam-packed. Spring weather plus school holidays equal enormous CROWDS!!

 

[MinnieGirl33]

The weeks on either side of Easter are the second busiest weeks of the year. with the week between Christmas & NYE being the first.

 

[IZHAYMAMA]

We were at WDW two weeks after Easter '09 and in my pre-trip planning I recall reading reports that the parks closed to certain levels during Easter week. Just be sure to have a plan and like a previous poster replied, try to get there early and do rope drop if at all possible every day. We were just there the week between Christmas and New Years and even the most crowded days we were able to get a lot done just by getting at the parks at rope drop! The crowds really start to appear at around 11:00 each day.

 

[Momof626x3]

We were there the week after Easter last year. We made sure to arrive at the parks 30 - 40 minutes before opening every day. MK had EMH every morning that week but they were letting everyone in early (we stayed off site but were let in at 7:30 am). In the first 2 -3 hours that the parks were opened we were able to do a LOT with very minimal crowds. We would leave the parks between 11 - 12 and had to fight the crowds coming IN so we could get OUT. We would take the afternoon off, eat, swim, nap, and return for the evening. Evenings were crowded but not nearly as bad as the afternoons...we were still able to have a great time. We got to see and do everything we wanted but getting there first thing in the morning is key!

 

[madalex]

We went for the Easter break in 2008 and are going again this year. The crowds were huge, but the parks were operating at peak capacity as a result. For example, MK was open at 7:00 am every morning for on-site guests. Just plan accordingly and be prepared to deal with huge crowds and you will be fine.

 

[annej]

We have been the week before and the week after Easter respectively the last two years. We thought the week before was way more crowded than the week after. However, both trips were great! We followed all the peak time tips. We got to the parks at opening, ate early, left in the afternoon and returned at night. If the prices were not so high - for everything from flights to food - we would do it again because the weather is beautiful and the parks have long hours. We also used TGM and he has never let us down.

 

[maryrm]

Thank you all so much for all your helpful information. I think we are going to forego the trip this time and perhaps go at another time. we have a 3 yo and 7yo so it may be more difficult implementing all the peak-park tips with a 3 yo so rather than ruin our "fond memories" and "joy" of disney we are going to pass...

thanks again. your feedback was very helpful

mary