Easter Week or Thanksgiving Week??

[prisjoyce]

Looking for some advice/comparisons between Easter week and Thanksgiving week. We are locked into the school schedule, and these are the weeks that give us the most time at WDW. We have taken 5 Thanksgiving trips over the years, so we are familiar with that week, but last year was much more crowded than years past, so we're looking at other options.

A distant 3rd option would be the 1st/2nd week in June. That's harder to plan in advance because our school year often gets extended due to snow days.

I'm most concerned with crowds, but info on cost, weather or possible discounts (free dining, % off room) would be welcome as well.

Many thanks, DISer's!!

 

[Alesia]

June would be the least crowded (but just a bit less than thanksgiving.) Easter is, by far, the most crowded.

 

[LisaCM614]

Looking for some advice/comparisons between Easter week and Thanksgiving week. We are locked into the school schedule, and these are the weeks that give us the most time at WDW. We have taken 5 Thanksgiving trips over the years, so we are familiar with that week, but last year was much more crowded than years past, so we're looking at other options.

A distant 3rd option would be the 1st/2nd week in June. That's harder to plan in advance because our school year often gets extended due to snow days.

I'm most concerned with crowds, but info on cost, weather or possible discounts (free dining, % off room) would be welcome as well.

Many thanks, DISer's!!

We have really enjoyed Easter week at WDW. We have gone 3 times during that week. The weather is usually beautiful. Or beautiful compared to the weather we are leaving in CT! The nice thing about this year was that it got 'cold' at night. 50 degrees - so cold by FL standards. That meant that many people left the parks. We walked out of dinner at Tutto Gusto and were prepared for mobs because Illuminations was just about to start. Guess what? The park was empty! We walked right up and had a front row view!
You are used to touring during Thanksgiving and yes you'll need to have touring plans and you'll need to make sure you have ADR's and FP+'s but I'd recommend Easter week over June any day! In June, even early June, you have to walk slow, stay hydrated and get out of the parks at noon time! Easter week - you'll want to leave the park mid day if your kiddos like to swim because it might get a bit chilly later. Here is another great thing about Easter week - you'll be able to catch a Spring Training Game! If you like baseball it is a really fun way to spend an afternoon. My husband and son went to a Braves game at WWOS but could have gone to see the Yankees play the Tigers very nearby. You can take Disney transportation to WWOS and the tickets are fairly inexpensive!
We were able to get a nice discount this past Easter (30% off a deluxe)
Lastly, Flower and Garden at Epcot is a wonderful respite from snow and grey and mud! It is so lovely!

 

[JennyDrake]

I've only been once kinda sorta near Easter and it was packed and miserable. My BFF went Easter week last year and said "never again."

 

[librarymom2007]

From the crowd calendars Thanksgiving looks less crowded than Easter. I feel your pain though, we are looking at the same 3 times because we don't want DD to miss school. We went the 2nd week of June in 2014 and while we weren't miserable (like we were in August this year!), it was still hot and we were just ready to be done with the parks. I don't like that. I'd rather go when the temps are comfortable and I am not in a hurry to leave, or I don't want to watch a parade because it's so stinkin' hot. We are planning Thanksgiving week 2016.

 

[asbyrneva]

We've done both and both are doable as long as you decide that you are willing to get up before dark and hit the parks before rope drop (usually at 8 those weeks rather than the usual 9 am start) If staying on site, morning EMH are your friend. Easter was definitely busier last time we went (3 years ago) but we were in the parks before most people and left by 2 when the crowds were getting unbearable. Resort/ park hop/ Downtown disney and dinner at a resort. We missed the fireworks in the park and DS was in bed early! But we never got in crazy crowds. Personally I think the parks decked out for Christmas makes thanksgiving better.

2 years ago on thanksgiving day they had 7 am EMH and an 8am opening most "early people" didnt get to the park till 10-11. We did pooh, dumbo, peter pan, space mountain, buzz and barnstormer in the first 50 minutes. We did 5-6 other attractions from 8-9. Overall we got more done in the first two hours then most folks did between 11-3.