Easter Week Strategies?

[Pinkzeppe]

We are going to be in the Orlando area from 3/20-3/28. I know the crowds are going to be insane, I am prepared for that. I have a touring plans account and looked at the historical Easter crowds and levels were far lower on Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday - yet, touring plans has both days at a 9. We are going to MK one day and HS another day. There are other days earlier in the week where those parks are at a 9. What do you think is my best bet? Do you have a strategy for this week in these parks? We will certainly get there 45 minutes prior to rope drop, probably leave the park mid-day for a while, then come back until closing. Our fast passes will be late morning/early afternoon. We'll also pack snacks in case the food lines are insane at peak times (which I am sure they will be!).

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

Even during the busiest weeks, I find getting there at park opening to be a worthwhile strategy. Eating at off hours and taking a break midafternoon when the crowds are at their worst is a great idea too. We've been in MK on Easter Sunday and I feel like the crowd gets in a little later than usual. We got a lot of riding done early, watched the noon parade near the park entrance and then left for a nice Easter meal at the GF (where the Easter eggs are on display) and went to another park later. That worked well for us. We had neighbors who were there the same week who didn't get to MK until the afternoon that day and they complained about how horribly crowded it was.

Laurie

 

[need2travel]

You've got the right strategy planned already. We always go Easter Week (no kids but DH is a teacher) & we get to the parks for rope drop & tour until it gets crowded around lunchtime then head back to our resort for a nap/swim or whatever. We then go out for a nice sit down dinner later that evening, usually at one of the resorts. We've never been to Disney at a "quiet" time of year so I really don't think the Easter crowds are all that crazy. One thing we always do though is make Easter Sunday our non-park day, DH golfs & I hit the pool for a nice relaxing day. Remember, being at DW in the crowds is better than not being at DW at all

 

[GPC0321]

I thought I had Easter Sunday at MK all figured out, but the closer we get, the less confidence I have. I was banking on 7am EMH (we're onsite), seeing the Welcome show, getting through one or two attractions before our BOG breakfast at 8:30, then doing some FP+ after breakfast, catching the early FoF/Easter pre-parade, and then getting out of there to either hop to Epcot or go back to the resort to chill for a bit before doing whatever we feel like that evening.

But so far they've not changed the hours for Easter (still 9am when the rest of that week has changed to 8am), no added EMH, and no mention of an Easter pre-parade at all much less an early run (11:45/12noon) on Easter Sunday.

It's like the holiday that WDW forgot. I'm hoping it will all change and what I was expecting will happen. If not, we won't see the Welcome show, we won't be able to ride anything before breakfast, and we will have to stick around for the later FoF, which, if I had known, I would've gotten a FP+ for instead of one of the rides.

Meh. It's no biggie, but it is kind of annoying that I've literally done everything: trip paid in full, 1 ADR set, online check-in complete, FP+ done, Magic Bands on the way, BOG breakfast pre-order done....but I'm still not sure when MK will open on Easter.

 

[Minniesgal]

Our strategy for Easter is 3 FP+ and then done. Might go back in the evening for fireworks but apart from that we are going to do other things.