Easter Advice

[magical memories]

Any experienced Easter travelers to DW?

Any advice you can give will be helpful. We have been going in September when it is not crowded at all. So I am a bit nervous about Easter in DW. Do you suggest EE or should we avoid the park on that day? Will it be more crowded on the EE days? How about the hours of the parks during Easter. How late are they open? Is MK open late during this week? We are staying at the Dolphin so atleast it will be pretty easy to travel back and forth from parks to hotel. Any recommendations for Easter Day?-Parks? Dinner?

 

[tlynk]

I thinking of going during Easter as well, and I'm pretty nervous. I wonder if there is a website on "How to get the best out of WDW during crowded times"?

 

[kilee]

We did Easter once in 2002. I would never take my first trip during a holiday. However, for families/persons that have been before and will be going again- why not.

First thing, know that it' going to be very crowded. There is no way you'll do it all because lines will be much longer. However, that doesn't mean it won't be fun still. I know when we went by lunchtime most FP's were gone for the day and stand-by's were in the 90-120 minute range for major attractions. We were glad we went early to get some major attractions done. We spent the afternoons doing lots of character greetings, eating, parades, and shopping.

Make all the ADR's you may want. Then cancel the one's you don't. Most likely walk up seating will not be found.

Use FP and EMH to your advantage. As for EMH- if you are early risers, by all means go to the morning EMH's. If you're night owls, then do the evening ones too. However, during peak times reports have been the evening EMH is still pretty crowded. If you don't want to do EMH, then I'd still use it to your advantage by planning to stay away from an EMH park on a given day. Also, try the day after method then. Which is where you go to a park the day after it has an EMH. Supposedly it will have lower crowds then.

Also, at this time of year park hopping may be a really good option to add to your tickets. This way if one park is too crowded, you can try another.

 

[Dorisk3]

If I were you, I'd either buy myself an Unofficial Guide or subscribe to Tour Guide Mike. Either one has great touring plans that will reduce your time waiting in line!

 

[disneyjunkie]

We're taking our second Easter trip next year. The first was in 2004.

I will be on the phone making PS as soon as possible. Last year our trip was the last week of April (regular season) I was surprised to see so many people turned away from table service restaurants.

I plan to take advantage of all evening EMH that are offered during our stay.

The parks will be opened late. You can expect Magic Kingdom to close at 12:00 many nights. During our 2004 trip, MK opened at 7:00am a few mornings.

Use fastpass as much as possible. Have a plan, expect crowds, and you'll be fine.

 

[disneydiz]

We have done Easter week for the past 6-yrs. It is very, very crowded -- however, the parks are open late (MK will have normal closing of midnight, and this past April had an EMH where it was open until 3 am); MK had EMH every day the week before and after Easter; there are always two showings of Spectro (always go to the later one). At MGM, Fantasmic usually has about 3-showings -- be sure to go to the latest show -- the other two have lines about 1.5 hours before. The week before Easter is more crowded than the week after. FastPasses for popular attractions such as Soarin and FastTrack could be gone by 1-2 in the afternoon. DO NOT GO TO THE MK ON EASTER SUNDAY!!!
The waterparks will be filled by 11:00 am so get there early.
I also recommend TourGuideMike for any trip that involves crowds. We followed his advice this past trip and were walking on rides at AK. Make ALL your ADRs as soon as you can.
I noticed a big difference in the crowds at Easter and we also were there in June for a short time. Easter has a lot of older kids and June seemed to have a lot of families with little kids.
Just make a lot of plans and do your research and you will be fine. Good luck.

 

[sweetpeakaris]

We went Easter 2005, and will be there Easter 2006 as well. I was very nervous about going during such a busy time, but while it was crowded at MK, the other parks seemed ok, not as crowded. We were still able to do all the attractions and took advantage of fast pass, I think good planning is the best thing you can do, will make your trip much easier!

 

[Lizzybee]

We too went for Spring Break 2005 and it was crowded but we had a blast. We got to ride/do whatever we wanted to do just by planning ahead. This was rumored to be one of the most crowded Spring Breaks because all of the surrounding counties in Florida had the same week off, plus it seemed tons of other schools coincided too.
Here are my best survival tips:
Early EMH is great! We found it especially helpful at MK, and a complete waste of time at AK. During our trip MK had early EMH every morning we were there. It opened for resort guests at 7am and we got everything we wanted to do there done by 2pm. Around 11am-noon it started to get crowded and pretty much stayed crowded. MK was open to the public until Midnight every night we were there and until 3am on the nights they had late EMH. We were not there for a late EMH but considering the park re-opened 4 hours later, I would think the best day to go to MK would be the morning after late EMH there. As for my opinion of AK, everyone makes a mad dash for the Safari or It's Tough to be a Bug and it makes it kind of pointless to go early just to have to FP the Safari ride anyway (IMHO). We did not go to MGM or Epcot for EMH so I can't comment.

If you want to eat in a restaurant, have an ADR. I wouldn't recommend too many ADR's though you want to keep your plans flexible in case you have to park hop to somewhere less crowded.

Take advantage of park hopping. I don't think I'd consider it optional when the parks are crowded. If it's bad in one place, hop elsewhere.

Fast passes can be your best friend. Use them if you need them.

If it's warm enough for a waterpark day and you want to go, go first thing or you may not get to go at all (capacity).

If you want a good seat for a parade/fireworks/show, find a place 45-60 mins before the start time. Get a snack and eat it, find a curb or something to sit on and take that time as a time to rest your feet.

Bring a jacket, sometimes it was kind of cool out, especially at night.

Bring a good, positive attitude. That will get you through more trying times and frustrations than a park hopper or awesome ADR. Planning is good, over planning can be stressful. Pace yourself, schedule time to look for hidden Mickey's in bushes and always remember that you are all so lucky to be at the Happiest Place on Earth, whether it's crowded, hot, or rainy.
Have fun!

 

[JESW]

Just to add to it...in 2006 our spring break is around Easter, as is most of the Northeast.

We will be going down the tuesday after Easter and staying for a week.

Jill

 

[DisneyMim]

We've been during Easter a few times. It is a very crowded time. As JESW said Easter 2006 falls during Ma spring break vacation so this will just add to the crowds. Don't want to discourage you just make you aware. We go often so I would not hesitate to go again during Easter, but if you are a less frequent traveler and like to do commando and see and do it all you may become very fustrated. I would say just go with the flow, the weather usually is great and the parks are opened later. If you can stay late (we do) this can be a less crowded time. Use fastpass whenever you can. You will be fine if you go with the right attitude.

ENJOY!!

 

[Suzyq9241]

We went during Easter about 1 1/2 years ago....

NEVER again!

So many people!

We accually are going back to Thanksgiving again (leaving on 11/15)

Good Luck if you are going during Easter!

 

[Daisy06492]

oH MY gOSH....we will be at the Dolphin too for Easter Week! We are going with another family and will are gonna have a blast! Who cares if it is crowded or not, we will BE IN DISNEY! hI kAR!

 

[magical memories]

Thanks so much for your advice. I know we will have a blast. Traveling with another family. Where do I find Tourguide Mike?

We have done Easter week for the past 6-yrs. It is very, very crowded -- however, the parks are open late (MK will have normal closing of midnight, and this past April had an EMH where it was open until 3 am); MK had EMH every day the week before and after Easter; there are always two showings of Spectro (always go to the later one). At MGM, Fantasmic usually has about 3-showings -- be sure to go to the latest show -- the other two have lines about 1.5 hours before. The week before Easter is more crowded than the week after. FastPasses for popular attractions such as Soarin and FastTrack could be gone by 1-2 in the afternoon. DO NOT GO TO THE MK ON EASTER SUNDAY!!!
The waterparks will be filled by 11:00 am so get there early.
I also recommend TourGuideMike for any trip that involves crowds. We followed his advice this past trip and were walking on rides at AK. Make ALL your ADRs as soon as you can.
I noticed a big difference in the crowds at Easter and we also were there in June for a short time. Easter has a lot of older kids and June seemed to have a lot of families with little kids.
Just make a lot of plans and do your research and you will be fine. Good luck.

 

[magical memories]

Hey, that was a surprise to read a quote from you. Yeah we are going to have a BLAAAAAAAAAAST!

oH MY gOSH....we will be at the Dolphin too for Easter Week! We are going with another family and will are gonna have a blast! Who cares if it is crowded or not, we will BE IN DISNEY! hI kAR!

 

[Suzyq9241]

Look I am not saying thats it bad....

I am saying thats it is crowed than.....

None of my family liked it than....

So we just switched....

I am sorry if I said the wrong thing...

 

[tlynk]

Look I am not saying thats it bad....

I am saying thats it is crowed than.....

None of my family liked it than....

So we just switched....

I am sorry if I said the wrong thing...

You didn't say the wrong thing. If I had my choice I wouldn't go during Easter either, but that is the only time I can go in 2006. I went to Disneyland last year during Christmas- WOW- it was packed. Since I live within driving distance- I probably wouldn't do that again! We are doing a very inexpensive cruise leaving out of Tampa, so I'll have to get my Disney World fix while I'm in Florida or I'll go nuts!

 

[corinascot]

We went the week after Easter this year. It was crowded, but doable. The worst AND best part of the week is that the parks are open early and late. MK was open 8-midnight all week with EMH EVERYDAY. For MK, the EMH was well worth it. Not crowded at all. BUT we'd leave POFQ at 6:15 to get there before 7. A couple nights, MK had evening EMH from 12-3. We talked to some folks on the bus who'd been at the park til 2 AM and were headed back to the park at 7. Talk about a lack of sleep!
We had a great week, but we were organized and on the go alot. We'd get to the parks early, go for lunch (all PS) at noon and go back to POFQ til evening and go back to the park. We did go to AK after 3 one day and found that was a great time to visit AK...everyone leaves after the parade.

On Tues, MK closed at 11:30 b/c the park was full. Get there early!

If you go to the water parks, go early or late. We went to BB after 3 and everyone was heading home. Had the place to ourselves for the last hour.

The one place we found to pretty unbearable was DTD during the evening. It was just too crowded.

We went to the second showing of Fantasmic (there were 3 most nights) and we had no problem getting in.

If you want to eat in a sit down restaurant, make PS (or reservations, or whatever they're called now) ahead of time. The restaurants were full.

Epcot was always fine. Only crowded by Mission Space and Test Track.

You'll have a great trip!! Don't worry!

 

[Lizzybee]

Oh I forgot to mention that we made Easter day a non park day. We decided to have a lovely and very tasty breakfast at POR's Boatwrights and then walked to POFQ for family events, including Minnie and Mickey in their Easter Sunday attire, Minnie looked fab. It was the only time we got to see her. We were too late for the Easter egg hunt but we did take a nice swim in the POFQ pool. Then took the boat back to POR, got my dad and took the boat to DTD. I had a surprise in store for the kids for that evening, after shopping dinner at Earl of Sandwich (yum) we went to WL to catch our Wishes Cruise, which was the perfect way to cap off a pretty nice and relaxing day. Hope that helps. Again, planning (but not OVERplanning to the point of stress) and a positive attitude should be just what it takes to manage the Spring Break Easter crowds. I was worried too, but we loved it. In fact, if anyone sees any cheap rates from Chicago/Milwaukee area to Orlando over spring break...PM me

 

[wilderness01]

We are going the last week of March until mid week the first week of April. Easter is not until April 16. Do you think the crowds will be as heavy when we are going or will the crowds be heavier around Easter? Just wondering.

 

[wilderness01]

Bumping. Anyone?