Does this indicate less crowds?

[waynesgirl]

My DH and I are ending up in WDW on April 21st-25th. Right in the heart of Easter and Spring Break!!!

Does the fact that I got an ADR yesterday for Le Cellier on a Friday night mean that the crowds might not be so bad?

I got Akershus for a breakfast on Sat. (don't ask why- never tried it).

We also got a fabulous room deal at BWI and was told there are many deluxe resorts open still. Some of the higher end hotels around town, the Wyndham chains and some Embassy Suites, are telling me that they have availability during that time frame as well.

One can hope it won't be a 10 every day, right?

 

[imthatgirl]

We booked this trip just a few weeks ago and had no problem getting all our dining for the exact times we wanted.

This means one of two things....1. it's not going to be as crowded as they think. Or 2. people don't get the dining plan anymore unless it's free, there for all the counter services will be PACKED!

 

[imthatgirl]

Oh and as for the hotels, I think I would call around to the comfort inns and such. Since this is a big family time of year I would bet they would not be staying so highend.

 

[chartle]

This Spring Break/Easter Season is a little odd because of the lateness of Easter.

So the crowds are a little more spread out. Also there have been reports that schools that would normally have their spring break around Easter are scheduling it earlier.

As for Le Cellier I'm not sure if anyone has looked into whether or not dinner resies are down and lunch are up since the the change to two credit signature for dinner.

 

[waynesgirl]

We booked this trip just a few weeks ago and had no problem getting all our dining for the exact times we wanted.

This means one of two things....1. it's not going to be as crowded as they think. Or 2. people don't get the dining plan anymore unless it's free, there for all the counter services will be PACKED!

I don't do DPs, so I am not sure. We prefer CS. I personally don't see all the hype about Le Cellier, either, but DH wants it (but that's another thread altogether)
I am hoping that it will not be as packed-no matter how selfish that sounds. It looks, from all the other posts that the beginning of April is going to be the worst as far as April goes- my kids are also out of school that timeframe. Hopefully, it will be smooth sailing for us. At this point, it looks as though we might have to cancel the around the world trip and add days at WDW.

 

[imthatgirl]

As for Le Cellier I'm not sure if anyone has looked into whether or not dinner resies are down and lunch are up since the the change to two credit signature for dinner.

Very true. Not only did they up it to 2 credits, they raised all the prices. Personally I was very unimpressed with it and would have never returned at the lower prices...forget about now. I don't know that it kept it's demand for a table over the last 2 years.

 

[waynesgirl]

This Spring Break/Easter Season is a little odd because of the lateness of Easter.

So the crowds are a little more spread out. Also there have been reports that schools that would normally have their spring break around Easter are scheduling it earlier.

As for Le Cellier I'm not sure if anyone has looked into whether or not dinner resies are down and lunch are up since the the change to two credit signature for dinner.

I am kinda curious about this. I might do some investigating while I am down there. I like to talk to the CMs about things, so I might do an impromptu survey about what they think and know, like:

1. Crowds heavier now or beginning of month?
2. Dining credits at Le Cellier- any effect?
3. I will also call my peers at the Clarion Waterpark, the Comfort, and Ramada and see what they see as the historic and current occupancy levels. That might be some nice info for those of us going at various time frames..
4. Wait times and TP numbers- I will compare to what it really is...

Man, this isn't so much like a vacay anymore!!!

 

[LaurenT]

I would still go expecting normous crowds - if it winds up being anything less you can be excited...

 

[imthatgirl]

I just checked for some rooms in WDW and the surrounding area. I'm staying at Wilderness and for the dates I am there none of the views are sold out. I also checked a few other onsite resorts and found nothing sold out. I then checked a few area hotels and had no issue getting any type of room I was desiring.

When picking a week I choose the 10th-16 because it seemed to have the fewest springbreakers. I know we aren't on until the next week.

So lets hope that we don't see the huge crowds that week. Of course I would expect 10's for the week going into Easter, but they are predicting 8's for the week I have scheduled. Lets hope they're wrong!

 

[Phillygrl23]

We will be there April 17-23. Am I expecting crowds? YES Are they going to be anywhere near Christmas/New Years? NO

It all depends on what "crowded" means to you. To me, crowded is waiting more than an hour for the big rides and not be able to walk through the park. To someone else, crowded could be waiting 30 minutes for the big rides (as opposed to walk on).

I am a teacher so its really the only time we could go. Summer is a no for us because the heat can be really bad and its still crowded then too.

If you have a plan, and can take advantage of EMH, then you will be fine. A lot of schools around here only have off Good Friday to the Monday after Easter (my school district has off the whole week ). Also, ALL the colleges up here had off/have off in March.

Since Easter is late, I am expecting the crowds to be tolerable.

 

[mlittig]

Another teacher here so I am also locked into my time But I cannot wait

 

[waynesgirl]

I am not worried about crowds anyway, but I generally don't base my expectations on TPs, or TGM, or other sources like that. I base it on the hotel and onsite resort occ %, the ADRs that I can get when I generally can't (I didn't know about the TS being 2 credits until this morning, so that's good to know), and the ride times while I am there. But sometimes that can be flawed, due to changes in menus, and the fact that TSM seems to always have a wait time of 120 minutes.

I have been during Spring Break, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and even Labor Day holidays. I have seen Peter Pan with over a 200 minute wait, so I do not underestimate the crowds. What I do underestimate is the civility of people- sometimes it flies out the window in heat, waiting in lines, or just overall frustration.


I like to read the posts while people are in the parks- of ride times and park closures. That helps me when I am there decide which park I will go to. We don't mind waiting but I would rather go during the EMH's to ride and go to another park and stroll. Not in the mood to stand in line with people who get crabby- 'cause I am one of those, too. It's easier to ride and leave and go to EP or AK and stroll.

 

[MelissathePooh]

I wouldn't every guestimate park attendance by the ability to secure a "signature" dining reservation. Le Cellier (while popular before the dining plan) was generally viewed as a good use of a credit - especially at 1 credit. Now that dinner is 2 credits and less appealing to use a TS credit at lunch (if you're trying to gain the most value out of it), you'll likely see more open seatings there in general. 'Ohana is most likely booked solid that week - still a 1 credit.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

My DH and I are ending up in WDW on April 21st-25th. Right in the heart of Easter and Spring Break!!!

Does the fact that I got an ADR yesterday for Le Cellier on a Friday night mean that the crowds might not be so bad?

I got Akershus for a breakfast on Sat. (don't ask why- never tried it).

We also got a fabulous room deal at BWI and was told there are many deluxe resorts open still. Some of the higher end hotels around town, the Wyndham chains and some Embassy Suites, are telling me that they have availability during that time frame as well.

One can hope it won't be a 10 every day, right?

No, it's going to be busy. During Easter Week, Christmas Week, July 4th week, a lot more people stay off-site because Disney doesn't typically give discounts during those weeks.

Be prepared, it's Easter week, it is going to be quite crowded.

 

[GovieMom]

Be prepared, it's Easter week, it is going to be quite crowded.

That is certainly true. The best indicator of expected crowd levels at WDW is the posted hours at the parks; i.e., MK opening at 8:00 a.m. and closing at 12:00 or 1:00 a.m. With extra showings of MSEP, Fantasmic, etc.

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

I'm don't think any indicators are completely accurate. We just got back from visiting my daughter for spring break. She is working in the college program. She requested the time off and got it. The crowds were HUGE. There is NO way she would have had the time off if "they" had anticipated the crowds.

There were EMH on Sunday until 3AM. The kids stayed but didn't ride Peter Pan because they didn't want to wait in line for 40 minutes. While 40 minutes would be great during a regular day, at 2AM, it says a lot about the crowds.

Like others have said, anticipate 10's and be pleasantly surprised if it is less.

So far, my daughter has been told to anticipate very large crowds Easter Week, but who knows.

 

[lovebug33]

I'm going at the same time, too. I'm hoping my Unofficial Guide will get me to everything without horrific waits!