Help! DH is freaking out....

[southtexasmom]

If you get to the parks early and plan your fast passes carefully, you should not have any problems.

One year we were there over the 4th of July and managed to do everything, just takes a little advanced planning.

 

[Jenfrog79]

Google "unofficial guide crowd calendar" and the website will come up. You're not allowed to post it on Disboards for some reason. They list crowd calendar for free for the next 30 days- any more in advance, and you pay a small fee. It is worth the money - there is lots of great planning advice.

As for the UG being "wrong" this year because Easter is early, I guarantee you that is wishful thinking at best. The UG people do a TON of research before they create those calendars--taking into account holidays, school vacation calendars all over the country, WDW events, and actual crowd counts.

There is a very interesting section in the book and website about how they come up with their crowd calculations. It is totally scientific, and in my experiences, has always been accurate.

That said, Omma, if you can change your dates, do it. I agree with your husband. I feel a trip to WDW (unless you go all the time) is very special, costs a lot of money, and you should get the most out of it as possible. We plan our trips around the crowd calendar and only go when crowds are low. (Yup, we pull our kids out of school, too!) But we only go once every 2 years, so it's easy to do that.

Good luck with your planning!

i thought she meant the unofficial from the book the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. I thought touring plans gave different info. from what i've read that week is going to be a 6 or 7 which doesn't sound bad. no need to worry....you're in disney world!

 

[DonnaDuck]

I highly recommend TGM! Follow his advice and you'll be fine.

Have a great trip!!

Also gotta agree with this. I have used TGM the last 4 trips and counting...I will never make another trip without using his plans & advice!! Good Luck!

 

[kvogel11202]

I took our Cub Scouts to Disney in April 2006 - it was school vacation AND Easter week. I actually got a call from Disney telling me they were anticipating it to be the second busiest week of the year for them. I can only tell you I had nightmares for weeks- I have huge issues with crowded noisy places- I actually have panic attacks- but with longer park hours we found it to be totally manageable. Not a lot of long lines, as we arrived early, took a midday break, and returned for late evenings. No worries- as long as you have the right attitude, it will all fall into place- you planned like crazy, and you'll be "in the know"!

 

[luvindisneyworld]

Can you change it till in the beginning of May to Mid May?
We Love Love going during that time of the year it is not bad at all.
OMG the one time we went in April they were closing parks down due to being at capacity,it was MK and the water parks .Yep that was in 2002 and we have never ever been back during that time and we never plan on it,but we might have to one day but I will know next time what to expect.
We have been so many times in May and it is just Wonderful.

Good Luck on whatever you decide.

 

[kileybeth]

Is it just me or does it seem to anyone else that the unofficial guides crowd calendar doesn't take into consideration utilizing EMH mornings or late night EMH evenings? I know you need to have hopper passes to hop once things get hairy but it is sooo worth it for us to use that first hour in the parks to do the headliners and then maybe one or two more things and then clear out (usually by 11am) and go to where ever UG has suggested as best park for day? If we decide to nap/swim midday then we can also pick up some great ride time with no lines second half of Evening EMH too? Anyone know what I mean? Does this work for anyone else?

 

[Cee]

I'm sorry to say, I'm with your DH. I don't like standing in lines either. He can
enjoy a Turkey Leg or a Dole Whip while the rest of you stand in line.

 

[Boncho]

I just sat down and went over my current plan for our trip April 19th through the 25th and showed my husband the UG crowd calendar predictions and he freaked out! LOL! And I quote, "WHAT? Where is the magic is standing in line all day? Do people really do this? I don't want to spend thousands of dollars and stand in line all day." Um...sorry to break this to you sweetheart but from what I have been reading April is going to be more crowded than normal!

I just got the, "I don't want to go if we are going to be standing in line an hour or more for each ride. Heck, I don't want to stand in line for a half an hour w/ the kids. We'll go bonkers. So figure out how to make it shorter or I don't want to go." WHAT? I have put SOOOO much time, effort and EXCITEMENT into planning this trip. Are you kidding me?! I guess he'd better make a heck of a lot more this year so he can rent the whole place for himself!

What do I do now? Anyone have spouses who "don't get it"? How do you handle that???

I leave him home!!! My son and I go with one of my sisters.

 

[jjohnson]

Disney extended the dining hours for the week we will all be there. It's definitely going to be busy.

 

[Maine-iac]

Vermont,Maine, Massachusets,NH, RI, and CT all have either the 3rd or 4th week in April. If you are trying to avoid the majority of crowds think time of day, not time of year. If you are staying on property think extra magic hours. If the park you want has early monrning hours go then, the lines are much smaller, also better for early risers.

Yep we will be there the 17-25 and plan on going to most of the morning EMHs and leaving when the parks start getting crowded.

 

[jjohnson]

Yep we will be there the 17-25 and plan on going to most of the morning EMHs and leaving when the parks start getting crowded.

I tried that last June and the EMH mornings seemed mobbed to me. I'm going to try doing the opposite this trip & see how it goes.

 

[goofy53073]

Since Easter & Passover are so far apart this year it makes for a very weird calendar! Most school districts here on LI took a long weekend break for Easter and saved their week long break for April (21-25). I think it will be very crowded in March & April unfortunately

 

[Maine-iac]

I took our Cub Scouts to Disney in April 2006 - it was school vacation AND Easter week. I actually got a call from Disney telling me they were anticipating it to be the second busiest week of the year for them. I can only tell you I had nightmares for weeks- I have huge issues with crowded noisy places- I actually have panic attacks- but with longer park hours we found it to be totally manageable. Not a lot of long lines, as we arrived early, took a midday break, and returned for late evenings. No worries- as long as you have the right attitude, it will all fall into place- you planned like crazy, and you'll be "in the know"!

I was there at that time too and was surprised that it was not as crowded as I was expecting. I have been that week many times before (Maine and Mass always have that week off because they celebrate Patriot Day and make that their vacation week) and felt it was not much more crowded than usual. My group did not stay late at the parks, most nights we prefer hanging out at the pool or hot tub and getting to bed around 11 and getting up for morning EMHs. Worked out great for my group. We saw and did everything we wanted to.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

I just sat down and went over my current plan for our trip April 19th through the 25th and showed my husband the UG crowd calendar predictions and he freaked out! LOL! And I quote, "WHAT? Where is the magic is standing in line all day? Do people really do this? I don't want to spend thousands of dollars and stand in line all day." Um...sorry to break this to you sweetheart but from what I have been reading April is going to be more crowded than normal!

I just got the, "I don't want to go if we are going to be standing in line an hour or more for each ride. Heck, I don't want to stand in line for a half an hour w/ the kids. We'll go bonkers. So figure out how to make it shorter or I don't want to go." WHAT? I have put SOOOO much time, effort and EXCITEMENT into planning this trip. Are you kidding me?! I guess he'd better make a heck of a lot more this year so he can rent the whole place for himself!

What do I do now? Anyone have spouses who "don't get it"? How do you handle that???

My Wife thinks I'm over planning and expecting too much as well. But you know what....she's right! This is not my vacation, it's a family vacation. If she isnt excited about trying to get in as many rides as possible, then that isnt what we should be doing.

So I am not making touring plans at all, however I am gathering (and memorizing) all the information that I can, so that when we're there we can make informed decisions.

The only thing I'm going to try to push, is to let me plan the first hour after rope drop.

 

[Maine-iac]

Hi! Are you in FtC too? I'm considering changing to May as well. I picked that specific week in April because the kids would only miss 3 days of school. In May I'm running into ballet recital issues. I'm starting to think my best friend who homeschools has the right idea. I'm glad I haven't told the kids we are going yet!

And yes - 70 degrees on Sat was HEAVENLY! I wish it would last all week!

I really think you can go in April and avoid lines.

Get up and go to as many morning EMHs as you can. Use fastpasses!! Remember that when you get a FP look at the time on the back of your pass that says when you can get another FP (even if you haven't used the first FP yet) and try to get another. Like someone else said have your DH do the running around to get the FPs as it will keep him busy. When the park starts filling up at around 11am-noon, get lunch and/or head back to your resort so the kids (and DH) can nap or swim for some down time. You can head to a park in the evening and watch the fireworks and/or parades and shop. You can do the stage shows and stunt shows since they hold a lot of people and any other attraction that does not have large lines. Get the kids back and to bed at decent time so they will be up and ready to go early.
How about the Pirate and Princess Party on the 23rd? Your family may enjoy that with the short lines. It could be a late night but you could sleep in and take it easy the next day.

 

[TxMickeyLover]

We will also be there April 19-26. I had the same thoughts everyone else did. Even researched Florida Board of Education site for Spring Break weeks....never thought to check other places too.

Luckily, I have the most patient DH in the world. Much more patient than I. His attitude is that as long as we're together, and we're at WDW, lines and crowds are just a distant second. Hey, it's still better than being at work! Also, we don't have children. If we did, I would probably be more concerned about the lines and crowds.

 

[n2mm]

I think April too is going to "the best kept secret this year." With Easter in March, you will not have the Holiday crowd and usually all the crowds go home after Easter and the last 2 weeks in April, usually are not busy. I think the UG is wrong this year.

I sure hope you're right, but I don't think so. There are lots of folks who are having their spring breaks the 3rd week of April. There is very little availability for most of April. Passover is April 20th and folks are off for that. Back when I made my April reservations, there was little to choose from in terms of DVC resorts. Lucky for me we choose April 27th to start our trip. I have tried and tried to help folks find AP discounts for resorts for most of April to find hardly anything available. While I don't think it will be Christmas/Easter or June/July busy, I think it will still be at the moderate level with weekends unbearable. This is my 14th late April/early May trip in a row, so nothing will surprise me.

 

[Maine-iac]

I tried that last June and the EMH mornings seemed mobbed to me. I'm going to try doing the opposite this trip & see how it goes.

Everyone is different. The evening EMHs might just work out for you. Have fun!!

 

[Nicoleclaw]

I think April too is going to "the best kept secret this year." With Easter in March, you will not have the Holiday crowd and usually all the crowds go home after Easter and the last 2 weeks in April, usually are not busy. I think the UG is wrong this year.

lol I totally agree, especially since that is when I am going too! Easter so far before, and according to the poll previously done, only 12 percent (I think) of people reported having a spring break that week. College Spring breaks are long over by then!
Even when went in July, we used the little knowledge I had and fast pass, and the only ride we waited for was Dumbo. Had I know dh was going to insist riding, we would have gone on that earlier and avoided the line!

 

[Nicoleclaw]

Been to WDW over 25 times. I hate to scare you, but the one time we ever went in April, we experienced the WORST crowds I've ever seen. Vowed to NEVER go at that time again. FYI - Schools in the northeast are closed that week in April for Passover/Spring break. Most schools are only closed for a long weekend for Easter in March.

Alot of the schools in New Jersey are actually not closed that week.