Have you done Disney the week before Easter? Crowds?

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Sigh . . . my days of going to WDW at an off peak time seem to be over now that my kids are both in school.

Anyway, I can't seem to get search to work for me. My kid's spring break is March 30th - April 8th (which is Easter Sunday) 2007. What were your experiences with visiting the world at Easter time? Can you manage the crowds with some planning?

Any insight is appreciated!

 

[Barb D]

I was JUST coming over to post about our Spring Break poll on the Community Board...

We'll be going the same week, and it looks like that's when most peoples' Spring Break is next year. Sigh.

Here's the poll:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1170107&highlight=spring

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Thanks BarbD, just went over and voted on your poll.

I don't know what to do. I could take the kids out of school for a couple of days in late Jan, but that would mean a short trip (4 days total).

Then it's either Spring Break or wait until they are out of school in the summer. It's hot (to us) then so for better weather I would rather do spring break. It may be a trade off: better weather/bigger crowds or hotter/less crowded?

I guess I should ask how Easter crowds compare to the second week in June.

If we went at Easter time we'd probably arrive March and leave on Friday, 4/6, actually wouldn't be there on Easter weekend.

 

[Julylady]

We did the week before Easter this year (2006). It was very manageable with some planning. Our party ranged in age from 11 to 71. The oldest used an electric scooter. Listed below are some of the things that worked for us.

1. We arrived at each park about 15 minutes before park opening. This was quite an accomplishment with 4 teens! We told them this was "the rule" before we left and they agreed.

2. Upon opening we sent our two fastest movers to get fast passes for the whole group at a premium attraction (Expedition Everest, Soarin, Splash Mountain, and Rockin Rollarcoaster). The rest of the group then met up with them at a 2nd busy attraction (i.e. test track).

3. Before using each fast pass, we sent our runners to get our next set of fast passes. This strategy really worked for us. We used the time waiting for fast passes to become valid experiencing less busy attractions.

4. We took snacks and water into the parks. No time wasted waiting in food lines.

5. In the parks we only ate at Table Service restaurants (with priority seatings). The lines at Counter service looked scary.

6. We left the parks each afternoon to return to the hotel for swimming (teens) and naps (adults). We then had a simple dinner at the condo before returning to the parks for the evening. (You could have dinner at your hotel food court if staying on site.)

7. We did NOT take advantage of Early Entry. Rather we visited the park that had EE the day before. I don't know if this was a good strategy or not.

8. If you have little kids, don't let them wait in line for character autographs. Rather schedule character meals and let them meet the characters there. Waiting in character lines uses up tons of time.

9. We were in Florida for nine days total. We visited all four parks, both water parks, and two days offsite (Kennedy Space Center and Siesta Key Beach). The offsite days were important for recharging our batteries, so to speak.

10. We had each person make a list of "must do" attractions for each park. We skipped all attractions that no one wanted to do. This eliminated the "What do we do next?" discussions each day.

I would definitely plan another Spring Break trip! We had a great time.

I hope this helps.

Donna

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

wow, Julylady that's a great list! Very helpful

I think you're right about not going to the EE park. My kids will be 6 and 10 and we may be visiting without DH this time so I wouldn't have any runners, but it's a good tip to eat at TS with ADR's and character meals also!

 

[MareSINY]

We did the week before Easter in 2005 and the parks were crowded. We spent more time at our rental villa than in the parks. It was one of those "Never again" type trips.

 

[Fly me with Balloons]

We did the week before Easter this year (2006). It was very manageable with some planning. Our party ranged in age from 11 to 71. The oldest used an electric scooter. Listed below are some of the things that worked for us.

1. We arrived at each park about 15 minutes before park opening. This was quite an accomplishment with 4 teens! We told them this was "the rule" before we left and they agreed.

2. Upon opening we sent our two fastest movers to get fast passes for the whole group at a premium attraction (Expedition Everest, Soarin, Splash Mountain, and Rockin Rollarcoaster). The rest of the group then met up with them at a 2nd busy attraction (i.e. test track).

3. Before using each fast pass, we sent our runners to get our next set of fast passes. This strategy really worked for us. We used the time waiting for fast passes to become valid experiencing less busy attractions.

4. We took snacks and water into the parks. No time wasted waiting in food lines.

5. In the parks we only ate at Table Service restaurants (with priority seatings). The lines at Counter service looked scary.

6. We left the parks each afternoon to return to the hotel for swimming (teens) and naps (adults). We then had a simple dinner at the condo before returning to the parks for the evening. (You could have dinner at your hotel food court if staying on site.)

7. We did NOT take advantage of Early Entry. Rather we visited the park that had EE the day before. I don't know if this was a good strategy or not.

8. If you have little kids, don't let them wait in line for character autographs. Rather schedule character meals and let them meet the characters there. Waiting in character lines uses up tons of time.

9. We were in Florida for nine days total. We visited all four parks, both water parks, and two days offsite (Kennedy Space Center and Siesta Key Beach). The offsite days were important for recharging our batteries, so to speak.

10. We had each person make a list of "must do" attractions for each park. We skipped all attractions that no one wanted to do. This eliminated the "What do we do next?" discussions each day.

I would definitely plan another Spring Break trip! We had a great time.

I hope this helps.

Donna

This is, perhaps, the most concise, informative & dead-on-right post I have ever seen.

 

[tinkerbell60]

We also did Spring Break - the week before Easter in 2004. The weather was wonderful but that is where it ended! The crowds were bad - and got worse the closer you got to Good Friday. Animal Kingdom closed to capacity the day we were there. We then went in July of 2005 - and in comparison - the parks seemed empty at times. Yes, it was hot, but DH (who hates heat) and I agree we would take the heat over the crowds any time. We are going in August this year to take advantage of free dining.

You might want to try both then decide.

 

[Stitchfans]

We where there the week of Easter spring 2005. Waking up Easter morning at DW is strange. Doesn't "feel" like Easter. But we managed the crowd with no problems. Saw what we wanted to see and did whatever we wanted to do. Just take you time and enjoy yourselve.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Yikes! I don't know, I'm now thinking since it'll probably just be me and the two young kiddos - that June would be better.

Our school schedule has been all over the place, I don't know why. We've had Fall Break the last 2-3 years and that was great - went to WDW last year for Halloween and the Food and Wine festival. But in 2007 the school board did away with the Fall break and put spring break at Easter - yuck. At least in 2008 our spring break is 2 weeks after Easter - guess when we'll go that year!

Thanks for your opinions and help