Help Please! Truth about going at Easter and the week after

[welovedisneyx4]

We have always gone to WDW in the fall and taken our DD out of school. (She was in 2nd grade when we last went) We are planning a trip for 2005 or 2006 and DH doesn't want to take DD out of school then b/c she will be in the 4th grade and he thinks she will be missing too much since she is getting into higher grades. (DS will be in Kindergarden, so DH isn't worried so much about him missing school.) I don't see a problem w/ the kids being out of school, but I don't think DH is going to bend a lot on this, so I am resigned to going during some part of a school break. We don't want to go in the summer--way too hot! We were first looking at Thanksgiving break, the kids would have to miss 3 1/2 days and DH isn't thrilled about that. (I do think they wont be doing a lot of "heavy" work that week, so it wouldn't be as bad as missing 3 "regular" days.) We got the final schedule for next year last night and DH was noticing that they have Good Friday and the whole week for Easter next April. Good Friday could possibly be used as a make-up day, but none of the week after Easter would be used for make-up days, so DH was thinking about that week. Easter would also give me more time to accumulate more vacation time at work and give us time to save more $$.

I would like to hear from people who have gone over Easter. Was it totally miserable the whole week? I have checked the UG and the projection for next Easter's crowds doesn't look good. Did the crowds go down in the days following Easter Sunday? One thing I think would be nice it that the temps shouldn't be too bad (like as in summer). I am sure it will probably be warm, but probably not 95-100? Also, do the parks have late hours? We would be more inclined to stay late rather than go early, but would we have a problem w/ the parks closing due reaching capicity? I realize we would do better being there at opening, but I don't know that I could get DH to do that. I am thinking that w/ the extended hours we could still be able to do everything we want. I do know that we wouldn't be wanting to do absolutly everything. For example, at MGM we wouldn't do Indiana Jones, WWTBAM?, and Star Tours. At EPCOT, we won't be crushed if we can't do Mission:Space and we aren't worried about a lot of the shows at the World Showcase Countries. Hopefully AK wouldn't be too bad to get everything done (we aren't too worried about the Rapids). We would want to try to get to everything in the MK, but would be willing to devote 2 days to do that. I am also thinking about purchasing 6 or 7 day passes instead of just 5 days. With the new MYW passes, it won't cost much more to add the extra days and we could use that to see parades or fireworks or other things like that.

I realize this is really long, (Pop Daddy, are you around here? I am real sexy for this one!!) but I appreciate any help and advice anyone can give me.

 

[ashley081500]

We went the week before Easter last year (which was our Spring Break) with my dd who was 3 1/2 and my ds who was almost 2. The lines were long, the crowds were big, and they even ended up closing some of the water parks. I wouldn't go back at that time again.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

Shameless bump for myself.

Any other thoughts? I am also thinking that we can make the best of it, after all, it is Disney!

Another thought I had is w/ it being longer before we went, maybe we could even stay-gasp-on property!!! (more time to save more $) That would help us w/ being able to get into the parks if they close to off-site guests.

 

[rmontgo892]

Our touring plans have changed over the years! Once upon a time I swore we would "never" go over the summer. I would never want to go during holidays.

Never say never...

Easter is crowded but we had a fantastic time even though we had went during the "low seasons" and cooler months. So, we definitely had comparisons. We have also been there for Christmas!

If the only way you see yourself and family enjoying your vacation at WDW with cooler temps and lower crowds then maybe their needs to be more discussion???

Why not give it a try and if it's THAT bad you have learned from it?

I would suggest a different touring "plan" and "attitude" for sure like you already are! More resort time? Maybe one early day for the MK cause it gets packed regardless anymore, imo and arriving early can help during the first few hours! I think the EMH evening can have potential.

Do we prefer cooler months and less crowds? Sure. We still want to head to WDW and since our son has gotten older things have changed but we still have a wonderful WDW vacation during the summer and holidays.

Good luck!

 

[FAMECITY]

We actually like it during peak times better. The extra hours are great if your kids can stay up. We generally do the early open, go pretty hard until the park starts to fill up, get lunch, go back to the pool or take a nap and then go back later at night when the crowds thin out. If you have a good plan and utilize the fastpass the crowds usually dont bother us.

 

[rmontgo892]

Shameless bump for myself.

Any other thoughts? I am also thinking that we can make the best of it, after all, it is Disney!

Another thought I had is w/ it being longer before we went, maybe we could even stay-gasp-on property!!! (more time to save more $) That would help us w/ being able to get into the parks if they close to off-site guests.

My bad, didn't know you weren't "onsite" which can change a few things! I still say go and try it out since you seem to want a WDW vacation regardless!

Good Luck and sure...use it as a good opportunity to save more money and stay onsite. It makes life easier to whisk the kids to a park early while DH relaxes back at the resort!!

 

[welovedisneyx4]

Those are all good points! I was also thinking if we go and it is really bad, maybe DH will rethink going during the fall!! LOL!

Our kids are night owls and w/ a nap, they would make it staying up late.

It would be a great incentive for staying on site!!

 

[jlaspoq]

We have been several times the week after Easter, including this year, and we love it. You do need to plan a bit, and be willing to go early in our case.... maybe in yours staying late would work too. We had a great trip this year - did it all, and had a blast. STayed on site, got 7 day hoppers, loved it all!

 

[RumpleMom]

I would not suggest going at a peak time to someone who has never been to WDW, but you have been there and are willing to adjust your plans accordingly. So go, plan carefully, have one ps a day for a meal, enjoy the spring weather. We didn't take our kids out of school and have made wonderful Disney memories in the summer, Christmas and Easter.

 

[The Warden]

I am married to a teacher - so we always go during Spring break. He would never set a bad example and take a day off, although he is letting me take our son out for a few days in Oct for a Mom and son trip!

Our April vacation has coincided with the week after Easter a few times. We have found the parks to be crowded (most recently last year), but have always been able to do what we want. The information you can find on the DIS boards or in the UG or TourGuide Mike virtually guarantee a great time (some exceptions). I will agree with a previous poster - we were there at park opening and heading back to our resort by 1 for a nap and dip in the pool. We also stayed away from the park with EMH, even when staying on site. When talking with other guests we heard horror stories about their days in the park, but we did not have the same experience at the parks we visited the same day. Careful planning and smart use of Fastpass definitely paid off!

Go for it - and have fun!

 

[mermaidlady]

just went this year at Easter, actually arrived on Easter Sunday. With planning it is doable but take advantage of everything like fast passes, EMH, and definately get park hoppers. The crowds were biggest at MK so we went early there then went to Epcot the rest of the day. Parks were open late, till 3AM at MK one day and they all had EMH that week. Take advantage either early or late. We went to BB at park opening and had no problems getting in, although the lines were a little long for some slides. I would go again at this time but 5 days didn't seem like enough. I would try to go longer if I could.

 

[jl3614]

We have never been the week after Easter, but have been the week leading up to Easter. It was very crowded - AK closed the day we went. You can do it, but need to be flexible. You will enjoy late hours at most parks - MK will probably be open until 11:00 or 12:00, and if you go on EMH evening you could be up until 2 or 3 AM if you wish.

By chance have you checked your Christmas vacation dates? Our kids are off 12/23 - 01/08. So we are considering 01/01 - 01/08. That time should be less crowded than Easter week.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

Thanks for the advice and if anyone has more, feel free to post it. I am getting excited about it even w/ the crowds and I am really feeling the urge to go all out and stay at the CR or Poly to be on the monorail.

The late hours sound good and like I said before, it is Disney!!

Their Christmas break isn't a long one this year. They have to go back Jan 2.

 

[LoveBuzz2]

Well, we went during the week of Easter in 2002. Honestly, it was very crowded. This is all hind sight though. I have been in the summer, the heat of August, also. In 2003, we went in October. We could not believe the difference. Looking back, I cannot believe we did it. But at the time, we didn't know any better and still had a great time. I probably won't go back during Easter/Spring Break again, but it was still magical. It was my kids first trip and we even managed to snag a seating at CRT for breakfast with the Princesses!! Better to be in Disney when it's busy then not there at all.

 

[jackp]

We were at WDW this year the week after Easter. It was crowded but we had a great time. I don't think the crowds thinned out at all during the week. I think the crowds are worth it to take advantage of the weather. We have roasted in the summer and froze in December so I'll take the crowds and nice weather.

We went to the last Fantasmic which was at 10:00 (the last of three) and it was only about 2/3 full so there was no wait. Also enjoyed the late parade at MK. Don't try to leave right after the parade though, I understand that's gridlock. Better to try a few more attractions. So with planning - it works out.

We drove down from Ohio. That's one think I might not do again. I-95 was real pain.

 

[DisneyWisher]

Personally I would rather take the kids out of school and go during a slower time. We've gone in Jan, Mar, April so far this year. Jan we walked onto everything and that was right after New Years. March and April had more crowds. The difference between the week after Easter (peak Season) and lets say Sept and beginning of December besides that its the slowest time of the year, is the price of the resorts. The saving on rack rate is $75 a night and up. Thats savings! A standard view at Poly is $304 a night Value and $419 a night Peak. Tower at CR is $450 Peak and $345 Value. With AP the saving is more. I got Poly GVC for $295 a night last Sept. and CR Wings $161 including Tax the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

I know everyone has different opinions about taking the kids out of school but I just think about when my daughter is older and she remembers going with my niece, her husband, their 4 yr old son, and myself when she was 11. How everything at Disney was decorated for Christmas. Mainly the "snow" on Main Street during the MVMCP. A week out of school is worth it. My niece was 24 when we went and when she saw the castle changing colors while we were eating at Ohana's, well lets just say the look on her face was priceless. I took my niece to Disney for the first time when she was 8.
IMHO I would do it all over again.

Shirley

 

[corinascot]

We went the week after Easter this year. It was crowded but do-able and we had a good time. The problem was that the opening hours were so long that you had to get up very, very early or stay up very, very late to make use of EM hours.

I don't think I'd go Easter week without staying on site. On the Tues after Easter, they closed MK at 9:30 AM to all but resort guest and AP holders. Epcot never seemed that crowded. MGM was crowded, but not too bad except for the area around ToT and RnR coaster. That was a madhouse. There were 3 shows of Fantasmic each night. We went to the 2nd show and didn't have a problem. We went to AK during the afternoon. After the 4 PM parade, most folks went home. It was very pleasant til closing. Same with BB. We arrived around 3 and stayed til closing. That wouldn't work at MK, however.

One place I did not enjoy was DTD. It was too, too crowded.

Ds is in 4th grade, too and we won't pull him out of school for more than a day or 2 anymore. We went in June last year right after school let out and we think we'd do June again over Easter. Still, we had a wonderful time over Easter. With fastpasses and getting there early, it was fine. One morning we arrived at MK at 7am (EMH opening) and we did most of the rides in Fantasyland, Buzz 3 times, and SM before the regular opening at 8.

 

[taximomfor4]

We arrived for a full week onsite on Easter Sunday this year. We had such a good time! We DID join Tour Guide Mike, and I was only really insistent the Fantasyland morning of MK. We got there for the 7am EE opening at 7:45 (still beat the public, right? ) We finished Fantasyland (even Mickeys Philharmagic) with little to NO wait, before the crowds got terrible. We did leave after the 12:30 parade. I LOVED the extended hours at the parks. I went back, just me and stepmom, a couple weeks later, and even though it was not crowded like Easter week, the hours were pretty standard hours. We were at the hotel most days after lunch, then sometimes went back to another park for a couple hours in the evening. But my kids turn into pumpkins at 8pm. We only got in one fireworks (WISHES) but my 6yo dd slept on the curb and missed them. We are early entry people, I guess!

MK did close early one day (that Tuesday, funny enough) but if you guys are getting park hoppers, just hit another park till 3-4pm when the parks start letting people in again! MK was open 8am-midnight usually, that week, so lots of hours to pick from!

AK, we were not very efficient at. We went back later in the week for a half-day to catch 2 shows we had missed.

My skeptic DH loved this vacation so much, he has graciously stopped arguing with me about doing ANOTHER week-long WDW trip this summer! (crowds again, but MUCH hotter and RAIN!!!!!!) We know we can make it all fun anyway! Easter week, one day reached 89 and my 2yo got really hot in her stroller. The rest of the week was in the 80's but not THAT hot! It only rained one night that we know of, all the days were cloudless and beautiful, mostly.

BTW, the 7 day tickets cost so little more than the 5-day ones that we were completely not pressed to spend many hours in parks. We probably only averaged 5-6 hrs of park time per day. BTW, my kids are 11,6,5,2.

I say, plan carefully and HAVE A BLAST! It will be crowded, although the CMs kept telling us that this was the busiest Easter break they had seen in a decade. I bet any Easter break is crowded too, but you can plan carefully, be flexible, and have fun as long as you are not averse to large numbers of people. Remember, there are often perks for going at that time too (think extra hours!!)

Beth

 

[corinascot]

If you want to eat in a sit down restaurant, make your PS's (or whatever they're calling them now!) before you go. I saw many folks turned away b/c NOTHING was open that evening. We also did counter dining, but did that during off hours.

Also, I thought some of the cast members seemed a bit stressed. Overheard a few sarcastic or rude comments.

 

[jbthi]

We went the week after Easter this year with daughter and her family. I was pleasantly surprised. The crowds were very manageable. I don't think we ever waited more than 20 minutes and usually not that.

DH and I always go off season, mainly Nov. and Jan. DD will not take kids out of school so when we take them it has to be at break or summer.

We go 3 to 5 times a year. I feel that the off season is getting more crowded and the high season seems less crowded. JMHO