First timer needs advice about these crowd levels - going in 6 days

[mermaidwannabe]

Wow, I REALLY tried to be upbeat and positive about my crowd level going from a 3 to a 7/8, but I'm worried. I purposely picked the last week of April so it wouldn't be too crowded. I really can't see my DH waiting in long lines (who knows about my 3 DDs). I know about FP, but does anyone else recommend anything else? I've read some good things about Tour Guide Mike, but I already have my PSs set for next week in each of the parks, so changing days wouldn't work too great - but maybe I should do it anyways? Does anyone have any advice??

 

[FrostyFriend80]

My family went the last week of April in 2001. Crowds were tolerable, minimal waits on most rides and attractions. We walked onto a lot of them without any wait. That is what influenced us to pick this week for our trip this year.
Leave in 4 days. Not to worried other than Grad night on Apr 23. We won't arrive until that day so I'm hoping the crowds will die down after then. Enjoy your trip and try to use fastpass whenever possible.

 

[lck33]

Pixie dust and alot of patience... Seriously, we are leaving on Thursday and I am a little worried about the crowd level also. But I am keeping my plans the way they are and will just adjust them accordingly if need be. After all, I will be at the most happiest place on earth so crowds or no crowds I plan on having a great time with my family.

Have a great trip!!!

3 days to go and time just can't go by fast enough...

 

[bengalbelle]

Hi

First, I want to say I hope you have a magical trip!

Just my opinion, but if you don't have a copy of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, I would recommend it. I've been to WDW multiple times and I still use their touring plans when we go for a short stay during peak times, and want to maximize park time.
The last time I used the plans was April 2004, the week after Easter when it was very crowded. They worked beautifully.

Other than that I would recommend hitting the headliner attractions in each park first and getting fastpasses for the headliners that have long wait times. It is possible to ride everything without waiting more than 20-30 minutes. If you're staying on site, use the EMH (especially the morning hours).

Don't try to do everything in one trip. Pick the most important things and do them first. Anything else will be a bonus.

 

[bengalbelle]

I just wanted to add:

I don't know how ya'll will end up touring, and I haven't been to WDW since they started the evening EMH's, but I wanted to tell you what has worked well for us at MK.

We've usually spent more than one day at MK so we watch the parades one day and ride during the parades and Wishes on another. Also, when the crowd levels would be really high they would often leave MK open until midnight. We rode rides until they closed and had Fantasyland almost all to ourselves. DS was 3 at the time of our last 2 visits, and we did this both times (his choice, not ours).

 

[Gary M]

Get to the parks when they first open and go on the most popular rides first. In the MK go to Fantasyland first. We have found the crowds start picking-up about 1 1/2 hours after the parks open.

 

[imfortune8]

We just returned from the most magical place on earth Friday. We were in MK on Thursday it was perfect! We rode most rides multiple times. We had very minimal wait and only used fast pass once during the day. I think the longest line I saw was for Splash Mountian of 25 min. Now I know that isn't this upcoming week, but I just thought I would let you know that there have been some very, very good days lately. For sure get there at opening, if you have little ones, go to Fantasyland first. If there is a day that it is cloudy or looks like a bit of rain, go! Most of the local crowds stay away and the parks are excellent!

Have a wonderful time!

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Thanks everyone! We are going to get to the parks early (which will be extremely hard the first morning as it will feel like 2 hours earlier to us!!) and we are doing the EMH. I don't mind waiting 20 minutes for a ride - more than that, ooh, my DH will be grumbling. I'm trying to calm myself; we're staying at the Poly afterall. We can always go use the pool. We didn't buy the park hopper option, but I think we will when we get down there.

I'll be interested to see how long wait times are this week since next week is supposed to be about the same!!

 

[Selket]

I think April is usually less crowded but many Northeastern schools have a spring break that last week of April - Passover is later this year. And there are grad night that close the the MK a couple of nights then too I think.

That being said I think you'll be fine. I really do like the TGM site and I highly recommend it for your trip. Even if you don't want to move your PS's (assuming he recommends not going to a park the day you have a PS for dinner there or something) at least you will know and can plan for higher crowds. Or you might be able to switch a few PS's. We are arriving on April 30th and I have had no problems moving my PS's around.

Considering how many thousands you are probably spending on the trip the TGM would be worth it. If you sign up and don't like his site you can always cancel and get all your money back.

Have a great trip!

 

[RC Fan]

I feel the same way about the crowd levels. We are not going until the 6th of May, but I believe the crowd levels are estimated to be the same.

I have read a couple of threads today about the crowd levels in the next couple of weeks, and it seems people are getting quite worried. I guess we need to keep in mind that the crowd levels are projected/estimated. As some other posters have said, they are not always accurate.

I hope we all have great trips!

 

[leahannpen]

Eek! I hope the crowds are too bad. Though I'm sure we'll make the best of it. Have a nice trip!

 

[shellybaxter]

We just got back today. From Sat 4/9 - Thrus. 4/14 the lines were almost non-existent and the parks were pretty empty. You had plenty of room to walk, I doubt we needed most of our PS and could make same day PS if we wanted. I had read all the threads about spring breaks and when they were in certain parts of the country and never saw our week as being listed. However the last two weeks of April seemed to be spring break for a lot of families in the north east. Starting on Fri 4/15 things got busier. Saturday was so busy we didn't really even go into the parks. Sunday (our last day) we headed to AK. The morning was fine, rode Dino ride twice as a walk on. Rode Primevil whirl with almost no wait. Walked onto the tri-spin ride three times in a row. This was all about 10:00AM (we got kind of a late start and then had ECV problems). We went to Rain Forest for lunch and then headed to the bird show. No problem getting into the show, but a heck of a time getting accross the park through the people. By the time we went over to the safari (had done it earlier in the week, were trying to get to the new things for us first) it had a 45 min wait (about 2:00PM) and Fast Pass distribution was down. Some cast members were giving out fast passes but they were for 4:35 and we had to be back at the hotel to catch our town car by then. We had been used to not needing fast pass or getting them for an hour out. It appears the last two weeks will be a bit busier then the second week. My advice would be to get there EARLY everyday to the parks, and avoid the EMH parks (except maybe MK for the morning one, go for the EMH stay till about 10:30 then bail to another park).