Exactly HOW bad is the week after Easter?

[DisneyTigers]

Okay, give it to me straight. NEVER thought we'd go during this time, but sometimes the stars align just right!

Are the crowds ridiculous? Do the parks reach capacity and close?

Tell me, tell me!!

 

[ecatesby]

I want to know too! Sometimes, that's just how it goes! Fortunately, we'll be with my little sister, who is a die hard Disney strategist. Still, I'm hoping it won't be TOO awful.

 

[BradyBz12]

Last year was a "perfect storm" year when Easter and the majority of spring breaks all fell at the same time. MK closed 3 days in a row to capacity.

I'm not sure how everything falls in 2010

 

[Muppet_Girl]

I've done it several times. You need to realize that if you've visited at other times, it is a different experience because it is more crowded. However, it is doable. One big suggestion is to take advantage of EMHs. MK had them from 12-3am (really late I know) however the parks were pretty empty. You may want to consider a nonpark day/half day- Disney Quest wasn't too crowded and neither were the water parks. Also take advantage of FastPasses and hit up rides during dinnertime and parade times when less people are doing rides.

 

[grandy w]

I have to say I was there last year during that week and I only remember MK closing due to capacity 1 day,I was there that day and it was a mob scene at midday.I can also tell you first hand that BB was packed to capacity one day we left there by 11 am and went back to the hotel.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Not only did the spring breaks and Easter align last year, but it was too cold for the water parks for a few of those days - so EVERYONE went to the parks and they reached capacity.

There are a few times that I would not go to WDW, and this is one of them. However, any day at WDW is better than a day at work...

 

[growinupdisney]

we were there last year during spring break/easter we actually got there on the Wed after Easter i was alittle scared because I had been reading the parks had been reaching capacity. I hve been to disney over 30 times mostly durng early Dec, May, week after New Years etc. It was crowed but completely doable. We rode everything we wanted which was just about everything including Toystory Mania. They key is to get there at park opening! When extremely crowded this the only way it works. We had MK done by 2pm ended up going back to hotel and swimming and coming back to park later and in all my yearsof Disney have never done that before. We are usually the ones to go on the morning and stay til close, but we finished everything so we left. I have a dd2, dd15 and ds13 so we do it all. They just got a little mad getting up so early but they would quickly get over it when the got to do everything with no wait. It was amazing to see what an hour to 2 hours difference would make, we you get the park noone is there and the all of a sudden its packed. It was also neat to see the pre-opening shows that MK and AK would put on while waiting for rope drop. Planning on going again this year week after Easter so it went so well.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Okay, give it to me straight. NEVER thought we'd go during this time, but sometimes the stars align just right!

Are the crowds ridiculous? Do the parks reach capacity and close?

Tell me, tell me!!

Yes, the crowds are ridiculous and yes, the parks have been know to reach capacity during this timeframe in the past. As the other posters said, get to the parks early, use Fastpass and have a good time.

 

[cmaee]

We were there the week after Easter last year and I didn't think it was bad. The week before Easter was a different story from what I read on the DISboards. I was nervous about it up until we arrived and saw that our touring plan was going to work and we avoided the "masses" quite nicely. We were at rope drop every morning. We avoided pm EMH parks. It was a fantastic trip. We are going again this year the week after Easter. I can't wait!

 

[Iwant2BAprincess]

We accidentaly did the week before on our honeymoon-never again. We had been engaged for a couple of years so we just picked the first saturday in April-didn't plan too well and ended up being there with everyone and their brother-we spent about 2 hours waiting to ride Mr Toad's wild ride. Nope, not for us

 

[DCbride]

We have been the week after Easter the past 3 years. You have to treat it like a hot August day...arrive at rope drop, do everything before lunch, head out of the park, swim, nap, etc, then return at/after dinner to stay until closing. It is doable, but you will definitely need a plan.

 

[soulmates]

We did April ONCE and never again, just like August, NEVER again. April is SO crowded and when we were there, VERY hot. Didn't expect it to be THAT hot in early April. That & the heat were just too much. From here on out, Fall and winter for this family!

 

[Missytara]

I live in DE and our school spring break falls the week after Easter, so I would expect it to be crowded.

 

[MrsLS]

We arrived that Friday last year after Easter and it was INSANE, it was wall to wall people in the parks. I also looked at that week before we left and they closed the parks due to capacity a number of times that week. The next day (Saturday) it was a lot lighter, still crowded but that full week after wasn't too bad. I would advise you to get to the parks at opening & have all of your ADRs if you are doing TS.

 

[Goofy'slady]

Great now I'm even more scared than I was when I booked. I've been going to Disney for years and we've always gone in the months of May, June and September. Never have we been during what for many is "Spring Break". However, now that our oldest is now in middle school we kinda wanted to work our vacation around her Spring Break. We chose 4/11-4/20. She'll still miss 3 school days but 1 of those is a half day where they don't do actual class work - they do their electives and for my daughter her elective is yoga. Yes, from 8-12 with the exception of lunch my daughter does nothing but yoga all day.

Of course hearing a many distressing story on here I know I have to have a plan of attack. We usually have a plan no matter what time of year we go but now I have to go over it again to make sure it's almost fool proof.

Good luck to all who are going during this time of year. My the holy mouse be with us all.

T.

 

[tlh0726]

Anyone have any pics that were taken last Easter. SIL of my friend is taking her daughter arriving Easter Sunday and staying the week. Friend does not believe me on how crowded it is. I tried searching but could not locate the thread.

thanks

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Anyone have any pics that were taken last Easter. SIL of my friend is taking her daughter arriving Easter Sunday and staying the week. Friend does not believe me on how crowded it is. I tried searching but could not locate the thread.

thanks

The Dis Photography Board has a lot of crowd picture threads.

 

[funforfive]

Great now I'm even more scared than I was when I booked. I've been going to Disney for years and we've always gone in the months of May, June and September. Never have we been during what for many is "Spring Break". However, now that our oldest is now in middle school we kinda wanted to work our vacation around her Spring Break. We chose 4/11-4/20. She'll still miss 3 school days but 1 of those is a half day where they don't do actual class work - they do their electives and for my daughter her elective is yoga. Yes, from 8-12 with the exception of lunch my daughter does nothing but yoga all day.

Of course hearing a many distressing story on here I know I have to have a plan of attack. We usually have a plan no matter what time of year we go but now I have to go over it again to make sure it's almost fool proof.

Good luck to all who are going during this time of year. My the holy mouse be with us all.

T.

I'm actually hoping that week will not quite as crazy. We arrive on the 10th--the Sat after Easter, so I'm hoping some of the crowds will be gone

Hope I'm right--or is it wishful thinking

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Yes, from 8-12 with the exception of lunch my daughter does nothing but yoga all day.

Too funny!

 

[Belle1962]

Looking at the unofficial DIS spring break poll the two weeks around Easter have the most # of spring breaks (around the country--except for a week in March??? Not sure where those replies are coming from).

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2274829


That being said--go with a plan, arrive early and bail if it gets too much. Swimming pool, mini golf, downtown disney, there's a lot of stuff to do outside of the parks.