How bad are crowds Easter week? Am I crazy?

[mommyboys3]

We're seriously considering a trip over Easter break (4/12-4/17). Here's a little more information: We've been to Disney before & know what are must do's for us (rides...no parades, shows or meet & greets). We like to take advantage of EMH & get to the park for rope drop & do as much as we can in the first few hours then head back to the resort for an afternoon swim & lunch. Sometimes we may go back to the same park at night (no hoppers for us). We've never stayed deluxe but are considering Beach Club so I know my boys will want to spend some time everyday at the pool.

I've read crowds are bad, but not awful. I figured with getting an early start, using FP+ wisely & not feeling like we have to do EVERYTHING that we might be OK.

I would love to hear from anyone who has been during Easter recently. How bad was it? Would you ever do it again?

 

[ArwenMarie]

We went in 2015, the week after Easter. The crowds were bad. Really bad. Not sure I would do it again but never say never

On the bright side, the weather is usually gorgeous

Sounds like you have a good attitude towards it to make it work.

 

[Alesia]

The crowds are second only to Christmas.

 

[bcinohio]

We were there the week of Easter 2015 and it was crowded but we had a great time. We were at MK on Easter Sunday. The MK opened a few days that week at 7am. We were there while it was still dark in the morning. We got a lot done. We used FP+ and went early each day (before rope drop). My son's marching band marched before the Electric Light parade. It was really cool. It did get more crowded as the day went on. If you have been there, have a good plan you should be fine. Have fun.

 

[scrappingbuckeye]

We've done it the past 5 years at least (our break always starts with Good Friday)- it's not that bad. Especially since Easter is later this year, a lot of school will have break earlier. If you go into it knowing that it will be crowded, you'll be fine. It's not as bad as people make it out to be. I would pick Easter over going when it's hot in July any day of the week. We do the opposite, we get there after lunch and stay until it closes. Usually the hours are extended so it's no biggie. Have fun!

 

[richmo]

We've done Easter twice. Yeah, it'll be crowded, but if you're smart setting up your FP's and just not sweat the extra people, it'll be fine.

One small plus with Easter 2017: Many times Easter falls right in the heart of spring break season, generally in late March. This time Easter is unusually late, so I think it'll be a little separated from spring break. Go for it...good luck!

 

[TheFloatingBear]

We're going the week after Easter, @mommyboys3, so I have similar concerns. We're three adults so hoping that will make things a little easier, but we have a similar plan... @richmo post helps me feel a little more optimistic! On the plus side, I've been in April (just not Easter), and the weather's great and F&G is fun!

 

[Owl X]

The Star Wars Celebration convention is at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando from April 13-16.
The 2012 SWC in Orlando had about 35,000 attendees. The 2015 SWC in Anaheim had about 50,000 attendees.
Many of those attending will probably spend some time at the Parks during the week.

 

[DVCcurious]

If you like being forced to walk single file to get through huge crowds .... in Liberty Square..... you may like Easter crowds

If you like waiting 45 minutes for Alladin's Magic Carpets....you may like Easter crowds

If you like waiting in a huge line for a bus while watching two busloads get on in front of you before you finally get on the 3rd bus....you may like Easter crowds

If you like waiting for Indiana Jones only to find out the next show is full and you'll have to wait another hour...you may like the Easter crowds

If you like getting rammed in the shins or back of the knees by strollers...you may like the Easter crowds

If you like waiting 30 minutes to order quick service only to find there are no open tables....you may like Easter crowds

If you like going to the pool and struggling to find empty lounge chairs...you may like Easter crowds

If you like extended queues...you may like Easter crowds

 

[alliecat523]

We've gone twice during Easter and I've never thought it was as awful as people say. Rope drop and use FP. You'll be fine.

 

[disneyAndi14]

We were there Easter of 2015 and it was very busy but we had a great time and did everything we wanted to with a good plan.

 

[skuttle]

Not crazy at all! We did Easter 2015 and had a fabulous trip. I wouldn't hesitate to go during Easter week again. The only downside, for us, was that things are more expensive. Yes it was very busy, but I never thought the crowds were as terrible as others have said. Maybe we are just more easy going about crowds. You definitely have to plan, but it's doable. I know the crowds can vary based on when Easter falls. Our trip, Easter was on April 5th.

We were there the Wednesday before Easter through the Friday after Easter. Like you, we go to WDW often and know we'll be back, so we don't have to do and see it all. We stayed at WL. We took advantage of the 7am EMH every other day since early mornings work better for our kids than late nights. We would get SO much done during those early mornings that it freed up our FPs for later in the day. For example, one day we went to MK and focused on Tomorrowland during 7am EMH, so we never used a FP for tomorrowland.

Flower and Garden at Epcot is beautiful. Epcot never looks better. DH and I also enjoyed the food booths...Like a mini food and wine! Kids enjoyed the two playgrounds as well.

We stayed away from MK on Easter day due to what I read about crowds. We spent the morning doing Easter activities at the resort, then did Fantasmic at DHS later. However, we just returned from WDW for Thanksgiving week, and we went to MK on Thanksgiving day despite the horror stories I read, and had a great day. Didn't find it too crowded at all. Not the wall to wall people others complain about!

We went back to WL often in the middle of the day to go swimming. Never had a problem finding a chair. THe pools were busy, but not overly crowded.

 

[Mrs. Inc]

We went march 2014...never again! I will only go during less crowded seasons. Just too much for me...crowds, money, time, frustration!

 

[mommyboys3]

Thanks everyone for the responses. Happy to hear some positive experiences. As some of you pointed out, Easter is later this year & won't overlap with college spring breaks so fingers crossed that makes a little difference in crowd levels. We really want to go back this year & with school & sports schedules Easter week may be our only chance. I hate paying the higher prices that time of year but it's a bit of a celebration for us so I'm willing to splurge. Thanks again!

 

[klmall]

We went at Easter twice several years back and it was busy but certainly doable. The standard advice to go early at Rope Drop helps as well as eating at off times. While we found long lines sometimes we had little trouble making ADRs and even got a room discount one year. The weather was fantastic both times too! While I would never say that first timers should go at either Christmas or Easter if I had to pick one it would definitely be at Easter!

Have a great trip!

 

[citygirl27712]

We went Spring 2015 for my daughter's 16th birthday. I swore I would never go during that time ever again but it's what was going to work best last year. We arrived on Thursday a week before Easter and left on Thursday of Easter weekend.

The crowds were not bad in all and the weather was exceptional. On Saturday when we went to EPCOT, the crowds in the world showcase were crazy due to the beautiful weather and the Food and Garden Festival. On Tuesday before Easter, at the MK, the park was really crowded after lunch. We decided to leave for the afternoon and came back after dinner.

I'm sure Easter weekend was crazy but we were always up and at it 1st thing in the morning.

We are headed back for 8 days over Christmas, Dec 22-30, and we can't wait! Never been at Christmas before so we are super excited. Prepared for the crowds but it will be cooler without the humidity that we are use to experiencing when we normally travel to Disney in September.

 

[Shamrock927]

One side note to keep in mind...

That week following Easter is school vacation week in New England states and many families/teachers choose that week for a Disney trip. So our last day is Thursday and then the vacation begins with Good Friday.

Will 6 states impact the crowds that much? Probably not with a destination as large as Disney. But just a note to keep in mind.

 

[Kay2397]

We've done it the past 5 years at least (our break always starts with Good Friday)- it's not that bad. Especially since Easter is later this year, a lot of school will have break earlier. If you go into it knowing that it will be crowded, you'll be fine. It's not as bad as people make it out to be. I would pick Easter over going when it's hot in July any day of the week. We do the opposite, we get there after lunch and stay until it closes. Usually the hours are extended so it's no biggie. Have fun!

Do you know if MK opened earlier than normal at 7am? We were there the week before Easter in 2015 and we enjoyed several 7am openings. I heard that these early openings didn't happen last year. I can't seem to find this information anywhere. Our dates this year are 4/7-4/14 (the week before Easter).

 

[BigredNole]

If there is a major holiday, it is going to be crowded, it is as simple as that. Many school districts schedule Spring Break over Easter weekend. It is going to be extremely crowded. It is not going to be "shut the park down" crowded, but it will be Bourbon Street crowded the weekend before Mardi Gras. The largest crowds I can deal with are Summer crowds. Anything more than that makes it not worth going.

 

[bcinohio]

We were at the MK Easter Sunday 2015. It did open at 7am. We were there before the sun was even up. Got a lot done in the first few hours. We did another day of 7am too that week. My son's marching band performed before the evening parade. It was crowded but if you have a plan, use FP+ and go early it can be done.