Don't be afraid of weeks around Easter!

[TMJR]

We just returned last night from a magical 9 days as Disney!

We found the crowds to be very managable (4/8-4/16). We hit every ride we wanted to (Soarin' 5 times, Test Track 8 times, Everest 3 times, etc...) without killing ourselves. We were there at opening most days, stayed until 11 or 12, then returned to the Dolphin for a rest/swim. We returned for about 5 evenings in the parks. It was fabulous!

I'd be happy to answer any questions!

 

[Michelle2]

That is so good to know. I always love to hear how people can go at more crowded times and still have a great time! (We might have to eventually do that in the future....) Glad you had a wonderful time!
Did you use TGM?

 

[mshoo1]

I second this post. However, I found, based on my visit last week, that having a plan is crucial when visiting during a busy time of year. For example, I was in the Magic Kingdom on April 10th and walked on virtually everything until lunch. By 12:00, the place was absolutely packed. I used an FP for Splash at 11:45 and the standy-by wait was already 70 minutes. If you do the legwork, you should not be scared away by holiday crowds.

 

[TMJR]

Yes, I used TGM...worked like a charm!

I agree with having a plan. I spoke with a woman yesterday who had been trying to get her family on Soarin' all week with no luck...each day she was coming to Epcot in the late afternoon to try to ride.

By mid-afternoon, lines for the top rides were 90-120 minutes, but we never waited for more than 10 min for anything (and that was because of a long fast pass line on Test Track!)

 

[Nite0wl71]

I have to agree, we were there April6-13, I also used TGM and we hit everything we wanted and even did some new things

We never waited in one stand by line except HM (30 min from start to finish) and POTC-10 minute wait. We got to the shows about 25 minutes ahead, including 8:30 Fantasmic. We sat in the Jafar section 4 rows from the front.

Rode EE, TOT and RNR 3 times and Soarin twice.

 

[zurgswife]

Must hve been just this year. I was there last year for Easter and it was a absoute zoo. I've been during busy times christmas/new years and while I din't mind that much. I will not return at Easter again due to the crowds. While Christmas/New years even with the crowds I'd go back in a heart beat.

 

[tjmouse]

I have heard that the later Easter falls, the better it is crowd-wise. A lot of kids have spring break in March so when Easter falls in March, it's chaos. This year, the spring breaks were so spread out, that probably helped.

 

[robiepro]

What's TGM guys?

 

[firemanx]

I was there april 13-16, and we hit EPCOT friday afternoon just cause we woke up late that day, and it was swamped. 120 minutes for soaring 80 mins for test track, and we didnt get uch done that day. That night we hit MK @ 9:30 with EMH and walked on evrything. Saturday we did AK in the morning went on Everest 3 times in a row with longest wait being 30 minutes. THAT NIGHT WE DID mgm and walked on everything, but fantasmic was packed by 8:05 for the 8:30 show, but we went @ 7:45 sat in pocahontos section about 5 rows up. I thaught it was going to be a horriably crowded trip and was plesently surprised.

 

[Quinn222]

What's TGM guys?

Tour Guide Mike, see the link above. He's fantastic. I put off signing up for ages and finally did a couple of weeks ago. I cannot wait to try out everything I've learned when we go at the end of the month.

 

[MarylandMommy]

Where is the link to TGM?

 

[Disbug]

I think you guys hit the nail on the head as far as how to avoid the crowds. You have to be there before opening and ahead of the incoming throng! My poor parents and Sister went with her family. They are not early morning people and did not make ADR's. They were eating at 10 PM at DTD and only rode 2 rides all weekend long! I felt bad for them, but they did not want to follow my advice... so I hope they still had a good time! Personally, if I'm going to make the effort to go all that way, I think I would want to ride EE, and Tower of Terror at least once!

 

[JESW]

Glad to hear as we will be there TODAY!!! Just waiting for our driver to get us to the airport.

We live in the NE and this is our sping break week. We have gone down the last two years during this week and it wasn't too bad crowd-wise and the weather was so nice. We figured we would get more crowds due to Easter but we will deal with it. I didn't know wether to be excited or not when I saw that the Magic Kingdom was open until midnight all this week.

Jill

 

[makinorlando]

I agree that getting to the parks early is the key.

My DSis and DGreatNephew6 were visiting last week, and I was trying to work around DD9 school schedule as well as a limit of about 10-12 hours being away from the house due to my dogs, therefore when we wanted to do a nighttime event like fireworks, parades we could not be there at opening. Also DSis does not move quickly in the am! Most days we did not get to the parks until mid-afternoon, and while I feel we gave DGN a good taste of the parks there were things that we just didn't have time to do. We chose to wait for Share A Dream and the AK parade, and Spectromagic, Illuminations and Wishes, which took away some ride/attraction time. This was however what he wanted to do.

It amazed me that at 4:30ish on Friday that the FP for Peter Pan were for 9-9:30!!!! We didn't even attempt Soarin' as we only hit EPCOT in the evening for fireworks after AK all day. At 7pm on Friday SOARIN was 80 min and Test Track was 50 min!

We spent some time in each park (2 visits to MK as well as two afternoon/evenings at Sea World, an evening at DTD, and two down days at home over the weekend!)

Here's the link the pics I took during the week.
http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Kiers%20Trip%20April%202006/

I think you guys hit the nail on the head as far as how to avoid the crowds. You have to be there before opening and ahead of the incoming throng! My poor parents and Sister went with her family. They are not early morning people and did not make ADR's. They were eating at 10 PM at DTD and only rode 2 rides all weekend long! I felt bad for them, but they did not want to follow my advice... so I hope they still had a good time! Personally, if I'm going to make the effort to go all that way, I think I would want to ride EE, and Tower of Terror at least once!

 

[robiepro]

Thank you.