Easter/Spring break or Christmas-help me decide

[jerseypixie]

have a cruise planned for August 08 but I am thinking about a trip to the World for either Christmas 07 or Easter/Spring Break 08...my questions are

1) which is the lesser of 2 "evils" crowd wise (we have never been during the holidays)?

2) how's the weather for swimming?

3) which resorts have the best activities for both holidays?

4) how's the Easter service (not the mass) at the Contemporary ballroom?

Sorry for all the questions but thanks for your help in advance. There will be 6 of us (two kids - ages 6 & 7).

 

[MisMikiNikiLynne]

Crowds are tremendous both holidays! There is Mickeys very merry Christmas Party that is amazing and very enjoyable at Christmas time, but I don't know much for Easter. The weather (IMO being from the mid west) is always perfect for swimming! Book now if you are planning on either holiday as I believe your choices will be limited even this far out!

 

[beccasmom]

My guess would be that the crowds are equally huge at both times, with maybe an edge to spring break time. We visited at that time once and we waited many hours just to get into our room at the CR! There were people everywhere! But Christmas is very busy too. The early part of December is lovely....a great time to visit. We time our visits for then and have never been at WDW Christmas week, although we have been tempted.

The weather in December is changeable....we've experienced both freezing (literally!) temperatures and quite lovely 80's-type weather. No guarantees on that, unfortunately.

 

[jerseypixie]

Thank you for the reponses. I am really leaning toward going for Easter/Spring Break with the understanding that the crowds will be HUGE

I'm thinking since my DS is a night owl like me we can swim all day and then head to the parks around dinner time without the large crowds...is that feasible? How's the weather in late March?

 

[LeahA]

We always go during spring break, and your right the crowds are extremely high. Spring Break 2008 coincides with Easter so the crowds will be even higher. If you go with a plan, and realize the crowds will be high, you'll make it through. We always swim when we go on vacation and usually the weather is fine. 2 years ago was probably the only year I can remember it being chilly, we still swam, we're from Illinois so 60 degrees is beautiful! Usually the weather is in the low to mid 80's.

Have fun!

 

[spiceycat]

I would stay close to Epcot - it handles the crowds better than the other parks.

so you generally at least get in.

remember that the parks will close due to the crowds.

so go early then leave then it gets too crowded and come back that night.

always ask at the front desk or concierge when the opening hours of whatever park you are going to tomorrow will be.

sometimes the park is schedule to open at 9 - but due to crowds opens at 8 - so EMH really starts at 6:30 to 7 am.

 

[jel0511]

I've been during both Easter and Christmas, and nothing compares to the crowds at Christmas, it makes Easter look uncrowded, which is difficult, since it's still completely mobbed. Just realize you'll see 3 HR+ waits on the more popluar attractions. Christmas time is beautiful and it was nice to go, we're thinking of going next year again, just to enjoy WDW in all of it's holiday glory. The only thing we don't like about Christmas is that the weather can be too cold for swimming,

 

[jerseypixie]

plan to arrive march 21 - 27. plan is book a studio w/ my sister at either Boardwalk or Beach club...spend 3 days at the parks...MK, MGM & AK.

really want to try Beachclub...worried because my DS cannot swim I can swim but hate to tread water always just stay in shallow end. thought I read on another site that SAB goes up to 8 feet and they do not allow lifevests on the "big" slideis this true? if so than leaning toward Boardwalk for Easter/Spring break or whatever is available at this point.

how are the Easter activities at the resorts?

 

[dvc guy]

9 years christmas veterans.
As to the weather it can be anything from 80 to 50 and everything in between.
We have seen it all. Generally it is warm during the day low 70's and then drop as soon as the sun goes down. You really need to plan for everything.

Parks are filled to capacity. Good news is that they are open very late, but you still need to start early to do most rides. From 25-31 MK will generally be open till 2 or 3 AM. If you are thinking who goes to the park at that time we have seen many teens and young adults heading into the park as we left at 11 PM, my guess is that the rides are pretty empty, but after having been in the park since 7 AM I have never seen it in person.

 

[spiceycat]

plan to arrive march 21 - 27. plan is book a studio w/ my sister at either Boardwalk or Beach club...spend 3 days at the parks...MK, MGM & AK.

really want to try Beachclub...worried because my DS cannot swim I can swim but hate to tread water always just stay in shallow end. thought I read on another site that SAB goes up to 8 feet and they do not allow lifevests on the "big" slideis this true? if so than leaning toward Boardwalk for Easter/Spring break or whatever is available at this point.

how are the Easter activities at the resorts?

the points are cheaper at BWV-standard view is fine. If you stay at BWV then you can't do SAB.

there is 8' deep area - but this is not near the slide. the slide pool depth is 3' to 4' (might be less?). the big slide don't think lifevests are allowed on that one. always ask the lifeguard.

how tall is he?

the 8' area is over in the lazy river area I think - and they have inner tubes for that part of the pool.

 

[HopperFan]

I was there Dec 30 - Jan 7th and I was there all of spring break - first week in April.

December is crowded but do-able. April was awful, worse I have ever seen, and we ended up doing short park days because it was miserable. I never take short park days.

December was cooler but we swam every single day. April obviously was swim weather.

December was decorated and the extra holiday activity was nice. Spring break, I don't recall anything related to Easter, not even commercially......unless because of the crowds I just couldn't see it. I heard of no activities.

 

[RacingPrincess]

Thanks for all all the interesting info, we are going after christmas and I have been following all these threads closley, I am a bit nervous over how crowded it will be.

 

[jel0511]

the points are cheaper at BWV-standard view is fine. If you stay at BWV then you can't do SAB.

Standard View is already gone at BW for Spring Break. We originally wanted to stay there in standard view to save points for us to go for Christmas next year, but already gone. We've been getting AKV day by day for our stay....

Thanks for all all the interesting info, we are going after christmas and I have been following all these threads closley, I am a bit nervous over how crowded it will be.

We were there Christmas 2001, and it was BAD!!! I've never seen it as crowded as that. I have to tell you , it scared us into never going at Christmas for a long time. We're going to try again next year, so I'm going in expecting high crowds, and human traffic jams.....