how bad is peak season?

[linda_loo]

We are going during the last week of April this year, last week of peak season. I have heard that lines are a nightmare. Really... how bad do you think it will be?

 

[Cinderella]

Pretty bad - but a trip to Walt Disney World is still great at any time - and at least the weather won't be too hot. The good thing is that the parks are open longer at busy times - giving you longer for a rest in the afternoon. As long as you get there when the park arrives and take advantage of extra magic hours in the mornings you will be fine.

 

[laceemouse]

I would say that if a person had never been to WDW before and was planning to do a big once in a lifetime trip they should avoid the busy times at all costs! However, it looks as if you have been before and will probably go again. You don't really have to see every show and ride every ride KWIM? Just expect big crowds and plan accordingly. Use fast-pass, get to the parks early, ect. You will hear people who were there at the same time come back with totally different observations...i.e...."It was great" or "It was awful!" I would not let it worry me, and even if it is busy I would not let it spoil my vacation. Hours will be long, if you are in a park and it is unbearable just hop to another, go back for a swim, ect.....Be flexible and you will be fine

 

[gianna2006]

I've been there in the dreaded "summer months" and I can't sugar coat it - it's crowded...especially MK. Epcot, however, is so big that the crowds don't really seem that bad, and there always seem to be fewer people at AK. The important thing is to get there when the parks open, use the fast pass (whoever imagineered that one deserves a big kiss! ), and be flexible. You've been there before, so you know it's impossible to see absolutely everything unless you are planning on staying for a full month!!! Decide what your "must sees" are just have fun and make the most of it!

7/90 off-site
9/96 off-site
7/99 off-site
7/2000 off-site
4/01 off-site
5/04 off-site
5/06 goind DIS all the way at Saratoga Springs!!!

 

[linda_loo]

Thanks so much, everyone. You helped me put it into the right perspective... I think I'll put more effort into planning than what I did before and just be flexible.

 

[3littleHalls]

We went the last week of April'05 and it was much more crowded than we had expected it to be. There were still two states on a break. Also, it was the begining of Grad nights. Just busier than we anticipated. Make ADRs, FPs, and getting there earlier in the day should help. Have a magical trip.

 

[susykt4]

We were also there the last week of April '05 and our best strategy was to hit the parks at opening and ride as many rides as we could before the huge crowds hit. We avoided all the EMH parks other than our last day when we made the mistake of going to the early EMH at Magic Kingdom. It was INSANELY busy. The Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom were both packed by lunchtime so we left and took a break at our resort. MK was then much more manageable after about 5pm. Our kids were 4 and 2 so we never stayed much later than 8pm, but we had a WONDERFUL trip and rode/saw just about everything we wanted at all 4 parks in 6 days. Plan, BE FLEXIBLE and know what to expect and you will have an excellent time!!!

Also, WDW was much busier than usual for the last week of April last year because Passover fell at that time and many Eastern schools including NYC public schools had their spring break that week.

 

[linda_loo]

You know what I just realized by looking at my sig and thinking? I don't know that I have ever been there at a time when it was not super-crowded. The times that I went in December/January, it was Christmas/New Years. I've been there in April a couple times (last week of '05 too, just like a couple of you). LOL - I guess I just don't know any different and anything less than craziness would be a surprise, eh?