Easter Week Crowds - Just How Bad is It???

[pennyplanner]

I am trying to sneak in one more trip before one of my DSs heads off to college.

Am thinking about Easter week 2007.

All our previous trips as a family have been in November around Thanksgiving so we do know how crowded it can be. However, we have never been there when the park crowds are maxed out every day.

I visited solo the last week in April in 2004 so I have an idea of the weather, much warmer than November!

What kind of experiences have all you veterans have?

Thanks,
penny

 

[wendy1974]

BAD!!! I have been during almost every time of the year and never again will I go around Spring Break/Easter. I have never seen lines so long. Starting an hour after park opening Splash Mountain had no less thana 2 hour wait for the rest of the day. Wall to wall people...literally couldn't walk without touching someone in certain parks.

 

[TMJR]

This will be our 3rd consecutive Easter at Disney. Truthfully, it is very crowded. However, with good planning (i.e. being at the parks early) it is very managable. We have always been able to see and do all that we wanted to. I'm a teacher, so our travel times are limited...spring break is just the easiest time for us.

If it was miserable, we wouldn't do it again...but we're booked!

 

[pennyplanner]

TMJR,

Tell me more!

When do you arrive? How long is your stay at WDW? Where do you normally stay?

Thanks!

-penny

 

[Daryl]

Yes TMJR, please tell us more about your planning, I'll probably be there on 4/7-4/17 and I'm starting to get cold feet

 

[wildernessfamily]

Having a DD at college, I say GO! WHENEVER YOU CAN. Just know that it will be crowded, make your dinner reservations, and since you have been before you know not to try and squeeze everything in.(you can't and that is why we all go back right?) But make those memories while you can.

 

[pennyplanner]

Anyone else care to weigh in on this one?

How does it compare to Christmas week?

--penny

 

[klmall]

Our first Easter trip was my first "crowd" visit ever at WDW and I wasn't psychologically prepared despite all I read. It was rough but tolerable. We too had always been at November or early December as a family before so it was really hard for me since I tend towards the "commando style".

But we went again, spring 2005 and really enjoyed ourselves. We made only 1 meal reservation ahead of time but managed to also snag several last minute meal reservations at Epcot (Rose and Crown and Chefs de France) and meals at the Poly and Contemporary. We just made sure to use EE and get up and do all the rides we really wanted and then relax midday and then eat and shop the rest of the day.

We found walking around in the parks okay until early afternoon. Sometimes we would go back and find our resort almost deserted which was very pleasant for swimming, laundry, snacking, and enjoying the water activities.

We're educators who had a high schooler and couldn't travel except then so we made the best of it. I would never advise a first time trip at Easter but the weather and late hours for experienced visitors ended up mading a great trip.

Be sure to make the extra effort to get up early. Use FastPass and make meal reservations if special meals are important to you. Then be flexible. Try making a priority list of rides and activities everyone "wants to do" and do those! Anything else is slush.

It was our last family trip before our son went to college too!

I say go for it!

 

[pennyplanner]

Kathy,

What sage advice! Having been with the kids three times before, we no longer have the "must get it all done" attitude. While that is very hard for someone like me who is a big planner and semi-commando style visitor, it makes for a more relaxed trip.

Thanksgiving of 2005 found us up early (no small feat with two teenage DSs! ) and leaving the parks soon after lunch. Then it was swim in the afternoon and dinner in the evening. Anything that we might have enjoyed in the evening at the parks or at a resort was just "gravy." Often, we would come back to the WL and the kids would swim again.

I was waffling before, but I think you have tipped the scales in favor of that Easter trip. It would be a Disney send-off for my son and a celebration of my 50th birthday. Now if we can only convince DH to come along!

Thanks for your input,
penny