Easter Crowds

[DVCLiz]

Does anyone have any experience with the crowds before and after Easter? I'm wondering if the crowd levels will be the same, or if one of those weeks will be far more crowded than the other. I'm arriving on Saturday before Easter and staying through the following Friday or Saturday. I know the weekend will be jammed, but what about the week after? Thanks!

 

[DVCLiz]

bump!

 

[jlaspoq]

There are several similar threads on this, most saying that the Easter crowds are very big, but do-able if you plan. Most say the week before is slightly busier than the week after, but both are crowded. We've had great trips the week after Easter, but I do plan quite a bit. Look at the bottom of this screen, hopefully you will see some of the similar threads you can read through if you don't get a lot of response. Have fun planning and have a great trip! We'll be there again this year!

 

[disneydiz]

The week before is busier than the week after -- but both are busy! Make all your PS -- I have heard all Fantasmic packages are already sold out. If there are two showings of Spectro, Fantasmic, go to the later show. The water parks are usually filled by 11:00 am (assuming the weather cooperates). Plan, plan, plan, and use Fastpass (never be without a Fastpass). We also go every year at Easter (week after), and even though its crowded I really enjoy the parks being open late and we always have a plan.

 

[disneyfan219]

Our previous two Disney trips ('99 and '03) were the week before Easter, and some people there said it was too crowded. I didn't think it was bad at all, so I guess it depends a little on your expectations. We had no problems making dinner/show reservations either.

But, for our trip this March we will arrive the week before Easter and depart the week after. We did seem to have more trouble getting the dinner/show reservations this time, especially for the week after Easter. While this is not really enough information to determine if it will be more crowded the week after, I am certainly lowering my expectations a bit so that we are not disappointed.

Jeff

 

[drusba]

Both are extremely crowded; neither is really more crowded than other. They are among the three most crowded weeks of the year-- Christmas is the other one. As to your weekend assumption: Epcot, AK and MGM actually have their lightest days of the holiday season on Easter Sunday and day before (that has to do partly with many traveling in and out on those days and not going to the parks and partly with MK being a focus for most those days). That is relative though, since "light" at that time simply means the difference between crowded and extremely crowded.

MK is bad the entire time (think 2 hour plus lines all day all night for the popular attractions; even the Treehouse gets to over an hour) but Easter Sunday and day after are its worst. Everybody seems to go to MK on Sunday. Many of those believe something special happens there on that day that you cannot see other days of the week. That is a false assumption since nothing goes on at MK on Easter Sunday that you cannot see other days of the week. If you want a sit-down dinner in the evening in the parks, you must make a PS; walk-ups are often told there is nothing available at all for the entire night. Even counter service places get 30 minute or longer lines during meal times. PS's are needed at most resort restaurants too although you can often get them by calling a day or two before.

Best times to actually get on things without fastpass (which for popular rides run out for entire day before noon) are early morning and the following: (a) MK 4 to 8 p.m. for some things other than mountains, Pooh, Peter Pan, Dumbo which are always extremely crowded; also during a parade you may be able to even get on a mountain with only a 30 to 40 minute line (b) Epcot after 3 except for Test Track and Mars (Test Track actually gets to 3 hour lines); (C) MGM after 4 except for TOT and RnR and those have possibilities during the first Fanatasmic when they have two a night; (d) AK sometimes during last two hours park is opened it can be fairly easy to get on the popular attractions. Most crowded times in any park are 10 to 3.

Waterparks fill to capacity by 11 to 11:30, except on cool days, and then open up again after 2; however, the early birds take all the seats. Because it is usually warm and huge numbers go to the waterparks the risk of a theme park filling to capacity is less that time of year than Christmas but it might happen, particularly for MK. If there are two Fantasmics go to the second one because it never fills to capacity -- for first one you either do the dinner package or get there at least 70 minutes early if you want to get in. People start claiming curbside and other ideal spots for parades at MK two hours before; simplest is just to find an elevated area like the steps of Town Hall shortly before if you don't want to wait. Parks usually have longer hours (like MK to 11 or 12) during that time and early entry may be suspended simply because they will often open parks an hour earlier to everyone.

Also note that when Easter falls end of March like this year, Easter-time is usually worse than otherwise. Majority of schools still have their spring break either week before or week of Easter but a large minority simply have them every year last week of March or first week of April. Thus, you get the combined crowds when Easter falls during that time.

 

[ssdeverell]

drusba - do you know if Jungle Cruise is one of the FP's that run out quickly? My plans do not get me over to that area until after the 3:00 parade.

 

[laurabelle]

We went last year, the week leading up to Easter. It was crowded, but I used TourGuide Mike, followed his advice pretty closely and had minimal waits - and no I'm not exagerrating! Having said all that, I've been to WDW many times, and was not trying to see and do it all that trip (like you ever could!) though I did get to do everything I set out to!

 

[corinascot]

We're going the week after Easter. It'll be crowded, but I think the week after Easter is a bit less crowded than the week before. I have family who work at the park and that's what they told me. Plus, I check hours for last year and MK was open til midnight the week before Easter until Easter and til 11 the week after Easter. Many of the schools in NEng seem to have spring break in mid April this year. Still, there are many school with spring break during Easter week, so I expect it'll be very crowded.

 

[dtheboys]

Ok, I have no choice......we have to travel at Easter every year.....
The four letter word for Easter is BUSY.............
Until a few years ago, I alway's took the kids out of school, and traveled to Disney, but now my kids are in High School and I'm unable to take them out. Therefore we travel at EASTER, and it is CROWDED, very crowded..... The pools are at max, the parks all close very early, can't find a chair near the pool, etc. Hey, I'm telling it the way it is..........Just go w/ an open mind and don't be in a hurry to do anything....
With all that said.....I still want to be at Disney...we love it, and wouldn't think about missing a year at Disney!!! I just wish that we didn't have to travel to Disneyt at Easter break.......