Easter or last two weeks of August?

[CAROLINE4]

Hi all in 9 days time i will have our flight money and would really like some advice. The question is in the title.
i would love to go for easter because its only next month but i do not want to regret going as the threads ive read seem to suggest to avoid easter weeks like the plague!!
What are your experiences?
thanks

 

[Laurafoster]

It depends how you are with crowds, this year you have Easter and I believe US spring break at the same time.

I've been at Easter a few times and it can be very very busy. On occasions I've known queues of well over 120 minutes. However it can be do able if you utilise fast passes and extra magic hours. The weather is usually lovely at that time too.

I've never been in August so can't compare.

 

[MEK]

I have never visited during Easter, but I have heard repeatedly that it is the busiest time of the year. I know that the resort prices are very high during that time.

I have, however, visited at the end of August several times. The advantage is its definitely a lower crowd time - especially the last week of August leading up to Labor Day. There is also generally free dining which starts at the end of August.

The trade off - it can be really hot.

Good luck in your decision.

 

[CAROLINE4]

I have never visited during Easter, but I have heard repeatedly that it is the busiest time of the year. I know that the resort prices are very high during that time.

I have, however, visited at the end of August several times. The advantage is its definitely a lower crowd time - especially the last week of August leading up to Labor Day. There is also generally free dining which starts at the end of August.

The trade off - it can be really hot.

Good luck in your decision.

i have read that alot also! i think end of august is looking the better potion, i definitely do not want to be seeing wait times of 2 hours1 this would really spoil our holiday as my boys will be 13, 10 and they will want to be on the rides at all times!

the problem we have now is, i teach so can only go in term time and we have been spoilt up to now as i have always gone during term time! i think the longest we have ever waited was 30 mins!

Thanks for the info about sping break also pp! x

 

[wayneg]

Without doubt I would opt for August.
Easter is very busy.
Of all the trips we do I always struggle to get good prices for hotels at Easter, this year I have paid most I have ever paid for a hotel in Key West (£157/nt), still to book 9 nights in Orlando, crazy prices.
Easter can be very mixed for weather, a couple of times we have had cold, windy weather, this year its early so no idea what it will be like. Saying that August can be too hot for some (not for us its perfect)

 

[Petermgrady]

Been August on our last two visits (2010 & 2012) and both time the crowds were lower and the weather great.

 

[scoobydooby]

I have done both and the two weeks around Christmas. Trust me, Christmas week makes Easter look quiet. That said Easter is NOT quiet it is very busy. Depending whether it falls early or late can influence the weather. We had a few cooler days at Easter but nothing verging on cold. The last week of August is much quieter than Easter and the week preceding that is increasingly quiet. This year Monday 19th will be the day the crowds drop from summer levels so if School dates allow, arrive on 18th and stay until September 1st. The risk with August is rain. I am not talking about the daily rain, that's going to happen. I am talking about weather fronts that bring tropical storms/hurricanes that can give days of solid rain. One year (Tropical Storm Fay I think?) we had 6 days of almost wall to wall rain in August. Still, overall I would choose August after that long answer August is certainly cheaper.

 

[LauraDaveCharlie]

Hi - have been at both Easter and August. August is a lot quieter in the last couple of weeks but it is still fairly busy and you still need to be pretty well planned and organised. August is also cracking-the-flags, oh-my-god-I-can't-walk-to-the-bus-stops hot!! Easter is very pleasant in terms of temp and you can still make plenty of use of the pool and water parks.

The crowds at Easter are busy on the run up to the Easter weekend, over the weekend and a day or so after but both ends of the two week break are much quieter. We didn't feel bothered by the crowds at all. You have to be organised and ready to make the most of the first few hours of each day and well planned enough to make use of fastpasses and knowing which order is good to do the attractions in etc. But it's perfectly doable especially if you have our touring style of get there for opening, tour until around 2pm, leave and go back in the evening for a meal and shows.

The costs may well be higher though due to the flight prices (not that they are cheap in August!) but as it is getting closer you never know if there will be a one off bargain around - you would have to dedicate your life to finding it! Hotel wise, out of WDW, there will still be some reasonable prices around but depends what you want. If you want a villa there will still be some unbooked villas - you just have to find them.

Have fun!

 

[CAROLINE4]

Hi - have been at both Easter and August. August is a lot quieter in the last couple of weeks but it is still fairly busy and you still need to be pretty well planned and organised. August is also cracking-the-flags, oh-my-god-I-can't-walk-to-the-bus-stops hot!! Easter is very pleasant in terms of temp and you can still make plenty of use of the pool and water parks.

The crowds at Easter are busy on the run up to the Easter weekend, over the weekend and a day or so after but both ends of the two week break are much quieter. We didn't feel bothered by the crowds at all. You have to be organised and ready to make the most of the first few hours of each day and well planned enough to make use of fastpasses and knowing which order is good to do the attractions in etc. But it's perfectly doable especially if you have our touring style of get there for opening, tour until around 2pm, leave and go back in the evening for a meal and shows.

The costs may well be higher though due to the flight prices (not that they are cheap in August!) but as it is getting closer you never know if there will be a one off bargain around - you would have to dedicate your life to finding it! Hotel wise, out of WDW, there will still be some reasonable prices around but depends what you want. If you want a villa there will still be some unbooked villas - you just have to find them.

Have fun!

Thank you Laura! i would be ok with the heat but dh would struggle i think! im leaning more and more to august at the min! unless i win the lottery and leave my job id be there in october!! its the best time ever in my opinion! x
the other disney nutter in our family, (LisaX) my little sis, lives in wakefield too, my whole family live in Wakey!

 

[zippy99]

Never been at Easter - but did August last year - yes it was more rainy than usual due to the hurricane but it was still hot and we still enjoyed it.

We paid £480 each for flights last year and we bought these mid April (indirect via Atlanta) I can't buy my flights probably till 24th feb (might be able to do this week if a bargain crops up!) however, I know last year I saw loads of prices under £440 in march so am hoping to get a bargain towards then end of the month.

Good luck with your search - maybe see you there if you I for August !

 

[CAROLINE4]

Never been at Easter - but did August last year - yes it was more rainy than usual due to the hurricane but it was still hot and we still enjoyed it.

We paid £480 each for flights last year and we bought these mid April (indirect via Atlanta) I can't buy my flights probably till 24th feb (might be able to do this week if a bargain crops up!) however, I know last year I saw loads of prices under £440 in march so am hoping to get a bargain towards then end of the month.

Good luck with your search - maybe see you there if you I for August !

yes! im hoping for a bargain myself but will feel better once i know the money is there to go for it! hoping for another sale like the christmas one wayneg put on here!

 

[scoobydooby]

I checked our virgin (direct) flight prices again today. For the same dates they have gone up well over 1.k. I think it was £1,350 more for 3 adult and one 11 year old fare. I hope they do come down for you of course though.

 

[WiganTony]

Another vote for August. We have been five times late July/early August and once at Easter. Have to say that we avoided the Disney Theme parks on our week before Easter, and on one occasion MK had closed it's doors at 10am.

In contrast, our summer visits, with the benefit of planning our park days using the various busy days guides, have seen us rarely having to wait more than 20 minutes for any ride in Disney. Bearing in mind as well that this is the first two weeks of August when some US schools are still on holiday, the end of August should be better. However, it's also worth noting that some parks/attractions may close early from mid-August with the schools restartingh - this is certainly the case with Seaworld.

Also worth noting that you can still book a hotel/ticket package through Disney with free dining for August (need to book by 11th Feb though), whereas free dining is not usually available over Easter.