How bad is mid-April, really?

[WonderlandsMostWantd]

Here’s the scenario – I will be at a conference in Orlando from April 11-15th. I’m a new DVC member as of this year, so I thought “hey, since I have DVC, maybe I should spend the weekend after the conference in Disney!” So I booked a studio April 15-18th (Friday thru Monday) with the intention of bumming around the World for the weekend before heading back home.

I’ve only ever visited WDW in December or January previously. All I was thinking of when I booked April was A) I was already in the area anyway, B) I’ve always wanted to check out the F&G Festival and C) it’s hopefully not too hot in Florida yet in April. I have since read posts saying that it will be Spring Break around that time and that a lot of people have vowed never to go back in April because it’s SO busy and such a madhouse and hot and crowded and sticky…

So, for those of you who have been, do you think it’s worthwhile for me to go out there and spend a few days? Particularly, it’s going to be just a few adults, no kids – will we get to enjoy any rides, or are the lines going to be ridiculous?

I’m really second guessing this; what started out as a fun idea on a whim, now has me a bit scared… I would really appreciate input, good or bad. I want to know what I'm in for.

 

[william1375]

That should be the week before Easter and Spring Break for many schools its gonna be crowded!

 

[arthur06]

That should be the week before Easter and Spring Break for many schools its gonna be crowded!

We are going the 13th to the 17th! I was hoping to miss the crowds, but I don't see that happening! I am hoping for a little fun time on Wed, Thurs, Fri... then whatever happens on Sat and Sun, I'm ok with! We got BCV at 7 months, so we are pretty excited!

 

[Donna M]

I love the weather in April.

We spent many Aprils down there so I guess the crowds are what's normal for us.

How about just hanging around the pools, shopping, checking out the other resorts for lunch, and doing non park activities?

 

[cbh]

The two busiest weeks we have visited were the week after Christmas and the week before Easter. The week after Christmas, the parks closed for additional entry because of too many guests, which did not happen the week before Easter. The Easter week was busy but doable, and I love going during the flower and garden festival.

 

[eva]

We went the week before Easter in 2008. I hate to say it, but it was crazy. We were there before a conference too. We bought 10 day passes. But after one day at the Studios we came back and added the no expire to the passes. Because we were not going to stand around in lines like that all week. So we swam, went to Disney Quest, and the waterparks. Be sure to get ADR's! One night that we didn't have ADR's we waited over 2 hours at the Turf Club. We are used to the crowds in May and June. So this was a madhouse to us.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

Where did you book? If you are at an Epcot resorts/BLT you can pace yourself fairly easily. If you are at SSR, there is DTD and the spa to enjoy -- particularly with an adult's only visit. Over at AKV, spending time watching the animals and doing some of the resort things are cool.
Weather in April is usually quite lovely -- crowds...work the magic hours (before and after) and have a plan of attack. What rides are mandatory (get FP), what rides are filler, and what can you skip.
Hey...any day at the World is better than most any other place on Earth!
Enjoy!

 

[DisneyPups]

I say go for it! If nothing else, just hang out at the resort. Explore DTD and chill out. The room is "paid" for, since you're using points. Why miss a chance to see the mouse? Maybe go Saturday, which can be a travel day for most people getting in/leaving, so that might be less (relatively speaking) crowded.

 

[Tara]

This is what I'm worried about, too! We were going in May (Mother's Day week) but had to switch to April because of testing at my son's school. My family will be there 12-20 April with others coming and going during that time. I'd love to not be there during this time, but not much else I can do.

2 other families are arriving late on the 12th or early on the 13th and we'll all spend a few days together - they go home on the 17th. I figure that part will be not quite as bad as later that week. When they go home, our childcare person will still be there and (she's arriving late on the 14th) and I think we'll manage okay with the crowds using early entry, non EE parks at night and using our GAC (assuming we get one, which I don't see any reason we won't given how helpful its proven for our son, who has ASD).

But...ugh. This is the best we could do trying to juggle 3 different families' schedules in 3 different states (meaning 3 very different school calendars).

 

[WonderlandsMostWantd]

Thank you all, I appreciate your input.

I'm continuing to get more and more apprehensive about the prospect. If it were just me, I wouldn’t mind as much – sure I won’t be a huge fan of the crowds, but I’d be ok checking out 2 or 3 of my favorite attractions and wandering the World Showcase for a full day and just enjoy soaking it all up and being there, lounging at the pool, checking out Downtown Disney, some mini-golf, etc… A laid back at-Disney-but-not-park-commando weekend could be lovely for me….

My traveling companion however may be another story. When we first posed the idea (like I said, spring break/Easter never occurred to me) she said that she wants to “get in as many rides as possible” and she “doesn’t really care much about the other stuff”. Also, she is “not a morning person” and is figuring on getting the parks closer to 10am-noonish. In other words, she wants to see all the rides, but also to arrive at peak crowd times , when fastpasses for the major attractions will likely be gone already…

Somehow I get the feeling that her wants and expectations of the weekend and the likely reality of the situation do not add up to a positive end result. I just don’t know that the trip experience she wants from this is the trip experience she’ll actually be met with when we get there. THAT prospect isn’t exciting me much.

 

[eva]

Thank you all, I appreciate your input.

I'm continuing to get more and more apprehensive about the prospect. If it were just me, I wouldn’t mind as much – sure I won’t be a huge fan of the crowds, but I’d be ok checking out 2 or 3 of my favorite attractions and wandering the World Showcase for a full day and just enjoy soaking it all up and being there, lounging at the pool, checking out Downtown Disney, some mini-golf, etc… A laid back at-Disney-but-not-park-commando weekend could be lovely for me….

My traveling companion however may be another story. When we first posed the idea (like I said, spring break/Easter never occurred to me) she said that she wants to “get in as many rides as possible” and she “doesn’t really care much about the other stuff”. Also, she is “not a morning person” and is figuring on getting the parks closer to 10am-noonish. In other words, she wants to see all the rides, but also to arrive at peak crowd times , when fastpasses for the major attractions will likely be gone already…

Somehow I get the feeling that her wants and expectations of the weekend and the likely reality of the situation do not add up to a positive end result. I just don’t know that the trip experience she wants from this is the trip experience she’ll actually be met with when we get there. THAT prospect isn’t exciting me much.

You better wake her up quick! If she goes with this expectation, she is setting herself up for a miserable time. And if she is miserable, you will likely be too. The week before Easter we went to the Studios on a Monday at 9:00 am. We were only able to ride two rides before lunch at noon. We even used fast pass for one of them. Good Luck! During this time you will find that most fast passes are gone by lunch time.

Now your idea of seeing what you can and relaxing a bunch around the resort is great for this time of year.

 

[ToddyLu]

If she has been to Disney before send her off on her own, or ride to the park with her then you park yourself somewhere and people watch. Maybe meet up for dinner. I remember the only April trip we did was around 2004, say mid month. Lots of people from the UK there. I only remember being miserable in AK due to an increase in crowds and heat. This was our 4th trip I believe since 2002 so we weren't quite in commando mode. It was much warmer but not horrible. Don't let someone bring your fun down....make a point to give her the advice above and then don't look back. Have a great time. The one time I went to a conference we stayed at Swalphin (fabulous BTW) and I took great delight in taking a bus to DTD and calling DH while eating a Blizzard in front of the McDonald's. No park time but DTD was awesome on my own for a change.

We always go in October or December and since we are new DVC Members, I have points we can use the first week of May. We could use our APs and I think get in more pool time....we'll see

 

[ToddyLu]

I mean who would be upset about having to spend their afternoon by the pool at a Deluxe Disney Resort sipping an umbrella drink---I tell ya the priorities of some folks Tell her she can do any ride she wants, just only 2-3 a day. I would go ahead with the trip and have fun. When she complains just tilt down your sunglasses, take a sip and tell her, "I told you so".

 

[WonderlandsMostWantd]

I mean who would be upset about having to spend their afternoon by the pool at a Deluxe Disney Resort sipping an umbrella drink---I tell ya the priorities of some folks Tell her she can do any ride she wants, just only 2-3 a day. I would go ahead with the trip and have fun. When she complains just tilt down your sunglasses, take a sip and tell her, "I told you so".

Hehehehe, ToddyLu, you always seem to find a way to make me smile!

 

[alldiz]

Make sure your travelling partner is willing to be reasonable and go sip that umbrella drink at the pool when it gets crazy and not insist on complaining how crowded it is at that time.


I'm going for the 1st time during peak..peak...April 12-24th.
3 part trip.
4/12 BCV 5 nights....figure do most of the park stuff then...mainly 1st 3 days/4/17-21st...Carnival cruise...should be busiest time....hey ship only holds so many people right
4/21 Back to WDW...Kidani for 2 nights....might hit AK.....probably just chill.
Last day is BLT....trying it for 1 night....DD's birthday.....Just chillin poolside.


My point is I will be in WDW for a while but my expectations are plenty of ADR's.....2 a day....and cocktails by the pool will make it Magical
happy planning
Kerri

 

[OurDogCisco]

If you do plan to visit parks, I highly recommend that you get tourguidemike, touringplans or ridemax to help you out with planning. We went one year during Christmas and these things were very helpful. The key is setting your expectations early. You can easily tell your travel companion if you arrive at noon you'll be able to ride these things with long waits. There will be no fastpasses left, etc... Anyways, it will be crowded but if you plan right you can go on a lot of rides. Planning is the key and if your travel companion does not want to plan then, you'll have a miserable time.