Does anyone know the answer to this one?

[Cindie-rella]

I just read on another thread that one woman questioned why noone ever mentioned about the Europeans invading WDW in April. She said she was there last April and the world was packed with many Europeans. Is there a special that they receive at that time of year or something that draws them there all at once? Can someone tell me what this woman might have been talking about and about what time frame in April might this happen?
Now I'm once again planning to move my dates...only problem is will I be able to change my air travel to another week or will I have to pay a charge to do that?

 

[lmhall2000]

a CM who works there would be better to tell you...but when my college roommate did the Disney U program there she found that February was a big month for Brazilians and other months had loads of foreign visitors...the key surrounds their breaks in school....it just may be that April is their big break...many schools go year round now and have 2-3 big breaks throughout the year...I know in September that there is a British invasion...I actually love going that time because I love their accent!

HTH!
Tara

 

[jjarman]

I really can't address April but when we were there in June, 2002 we ran into quite a few people from Great Britain. I must say they were the nicest of all of the kids we saw there. Very polite and well mannered. We spent one evening at Planet Hollywood waiting for our table, about an hour and a half, and visited with a nice family from England.

 

[Cindie-rella]

I was told by my cousin (he's been to the WDW 14 times since the 80's) that once he was there at the same time the Brazilians were and he said it was awful. They were pushy rude and obnoxious! I guess this is what I was actually concerned with when the woman mentioned the Europeans. He said they would travel in large groups and practially bowl you over. He complained to the resort serveral times and was told there was nothing they could do but apologize. He said that was THE worse time he had ever encountered at WDW. It practially ruined his entire trip.
I just do not want to deal with outrageous crowds. A little crowded okay, extremely crowded...no way !

 

[missyc]

Hey, you better watch out....I see trouble brewing!

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

April is the Easter break in Europe, it moves about every year and this year it hit April. Us brits have 2 weeks off at school for easter and I know the other European countries have some time off, but I cant't remeber if they get the same as us, although Easter is a really big celebration in places like Germany, Switzerland and Italy. Hope this answers your question.

 

[safetymom]

Most airlines are going to charge you to change your tickets. Also may charge you the difference in fares. Check with your airline before you make any plans.

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Originally posted by Cindie-rella
I just read on another thread that one woman questioned why noone ever mentioned about the Europeans invading WDW in April.

I am going to assume that you didn't mean to come off sounding prejudiced or hostile.......

That said.....the "foreigners" that are being refered to are tourists, just like you and I. And as with Americans, you will find that most of them are kind, polite folks, just trying to enjoy a vacation. True, some of them don't speak English as well as others, and may not understand fully the "ways of WDW".....but that doesn't necessarily make them rude, pushy, or "above the rules"....certainly nothing to change your vacation plans over, IMO.

Of course you will always run across obnoxious jerks, but they come in ALL nationalites........

 

[WDW2000]

I was in WDW in April of last year and also noticed the large number of European families. Most of them were very rude, very pushy and very loud. I'm not sure if it was just a coincidence or if April is a popular month due to Spring Break or Marketing. I wouldn't say it ruined my vacation by any means, so I wouldn't worry to much about it, but I noticed a definite difference in cultures when it comes to respecting personal space and politeness. The same thing goes for many Asian families. Also very pushy. That's part of what makes WDW so great though, is that you have a chance to experience so many different cultures and people from all over, so I just choose to embrace it and be patient.

 

[Rhonna]

September and October are big months for special priced packages for the British - we've run into a number of them on our fall trips.

Chatted a while with one man who told us that was the time of year the travel agents and companies in Britain offered specials for WDW.

 

[NCDisneyMom]

Originally posted by Rhonna
September and October are big months for special priced packages for the British - we've run into a number of them on our fall trips.

Chatted a while with one man who told us that was the time of year the travel agents and companies in Britain offered specials for WDW.

We just got back a week ago, and my dh and I both noticed that there were a lot of British folks there...we could only tell by their accents, which I love listening to. We kidded around with each other, though, that there must have been some great airfare from Britain that week, and I guess we weren't too far off from the truth!

Diana

 

[TXMommy]

I am going to assume that you didn't mean to come off sounding prejudiced or hostile.....That said.....the "foreigners" that are being refered to are tourists, just like you and I...

I don't think the OP intended anything prejudiced - and no one used the word "foreigners". This is the same delicate situation as "Gay Days" - everyone wants to know when they're going to be there, either because they want to avoid them personally or they want to avoid the crowds. It is a legitimate concern - if one knows that a large group is going to be converging on the parks - whether they be gays, foreigners, cheerleaders, Spring Breakers, whatever - they may want to plan around the crowds. I see nothing wrong with asking about these things on these boards - that's what they're here for!

 

[Cindie-rella]

You are absolutely right! I am by no means a prejudice person!
I didn't ask this because I don't want to be around "Europeans" for goodness sake! I have quite a few British friends. Love them! Love that accent! My grandfather came right off the boat from England. I am actually trying to avoid crowds if at all possible only for my DH's sake...that's all. I've asked a few questions on here about trying to avoid "spring-breakers". I hope noone would take offense to that either.
I know I did mention about a problem my cousin told me about when he encountered Brazilians in large numbers. He told me they were very rude and many many others that were there at the same time were also upset with thier behavior. I was not there, so I do not know exactly what was going on. I believe it was in the early 90's? But believe me when I tell you, I did not mean anything offensive. Not even to any Brazilians,I promise. It's just when I read the other womans reply to a thread she had mentioned how unbearable the crowds were at that time and there were many Europeans. I was just wondering if she was talking about the same type of problems my cousin ran into. She has PM'd me since and clarified that she was just complaining about it being extra crowded and alot were Euro's. Just as people complain about Easter crowds, Christmas, Spring breaks etc.
Please forgive me if I have offended anyone. And for the sake of saving my reputation here I am going to admit something that will make me look like a real dummy...I wasn't thinking when I started this thread...but I thought Brazil was in Europe I guess you can say I'm not real good at my Geography.
Thanks for all the replies...

 

[Azune]

Hailing from England as I do I can confirm that alot of the holiday companies and guides that are published in the Sun newspaper here twice a year suggest going in April or September/October. Consequently thats when we all rush over and enjoy the american hospitality When I was over during Jeanne there seemed to be a super adundance of british people and few others (no lines on anything) this was because alot of the British holiday companies operated a "you cancel you lose your money" policy so everyone had to chance everything being shut or lose their holiday!

 

[webmomom]

We have gone almost every month to Disney. We have found that not matter what month there is ALWAYS large amounts of foreigners there. Some are rude as are alot of Americans and other are a sweet as can be as are alot of Americans. I just take it with a grain of salt and go on. I am not going to let anything ruin my vacation. I am sure you have run into some very rude people when you are shopping at your own shopping mall and you still shop. what I am trying to say is: you make your vacation basically what it is, and if you let some people ruin it for you that is a shame. People who are rude don't think anything is wrong with themselves, this is they way they have been raised and probably will never change.

go, have a great time with your family and don't worry about this, you will run into it not matter wear you go or when you go.

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Originally posted by Cindie-rella
You are absolutely right! I am by no means a prejudice person!
I didn't ask this because I don't want to be around "Europeans" for goodness sake!

And I didn't mean to come across as self-righteous or accusing! Sorry it sounded that way! re-reading my post, I realize what I had written could seem rather harsh.

We always assume that April is going to be one of the busier months....so far we've avoided it.... I do know that early May however has been fabulous from our experience! Too early for for most schools to be "out" for the summer, and to LATE for most folks to take their kids out of school for a week! Maybe the same is true for the last week of April?

 

[dgaston]

This is interesting. When Easter occurs in March (as in 2005) what we have discovered in WDW are all the other people from New England who have the third week in April off. Guess where we'll be on April 17th? Checking into our 1 bedroom at the Boardwalk Villas (first time as DVC owners).

So I think you have to watch out for those East Coast types!!!