How busy in Late April?

[mketting]

We are planning to visit IOA and US on April 27 and 28. Since this is after Spring Breaks and before schools get out I am hoping crowds will be down, am I correct?

 

[cdpa4d]

Easter is April 16th 2006. Some schools have the week after Easter off. Other schools have the week you are going to attend; however, the crowd levels shouldn't be as high as the week after Easter.

It is really difficult to say for sure, but if I were to guess I would say the crowd levels would be in the 6 to 7 out of a possible 10 range. We go that week every year and the crowds really depend on when Easter falls. Since Easter is a bit later in 2006 the higher crowd capacity will hang around a little later.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

You should be fine. Alot of people do like to go in the spring, but it won't be anything like you would see if you went in the summer.

 

[deelam]

Many New Jersey & Philly schools have off the week after Easter. I know many people who travel to Florida during this time. But I don't think the crowds are as bad as in the summer. It's still a busy time. I'm set to go the same week as you, but I'm considering changing to the week before Memorial day. The prices are just so much better.

 

[mketting]

In NY a lot of schools have the week after Easter off too, my kids do, but Easter is the 16th not the 23, making the Spring/Easter break the 17-21. I doubt many will have off the next week which will be the 24-28.

Does that change anybody's answer to how busy it will be on the 27th and 28th?

 

['Canes Fan]

generally, the last week in april and the first week and or two in may are slower times for us during the week. weekends pick up in activity due to us locals.

 

[mketting]

Thanks Canes Fan.

 

[SnowWhiteIsDreaming]

We went this past April 27-30. I expected it to be not too crowded. We were staying at the RP hotel so we had FOTL access and needed it.

It was High School Band week. There were hundreds and hundreds of high school bands there. I had no idea!. Just to get through the gates in the morning took more than 1/2 hour. It was a zoo!!! All the kids had express passes too so FOTL for the Jurassic Park ride took us 45 minutes! I had no idea that it was band weekend. The kids were there from at least Thursday and all left sometime on Sunday, I believe. Most of the rides were great ... I guess the band kids liked the Hulk, Mummy and Jurassic Park. MIB and all Suess Land rides never had a wait time with FOTL, but Hulk, Mummy and JP took at least 30 minutes to go thru with FOTL each time! I'm glad I didn't wait in regular lines. I don't know if there is a way to check when the bands will be there.

The worst was the pushing and mess at the front gate. Universal isn't like Disney; they don't have lots of turnstyles so at least 1,000 people were trying to get thru 2 turnstyles at 9:30 in the morning.Yuck!!!! People were jumping over each other and crawling through the shrubs in front to get to the turnstyles. There was actually no line - it was just a big mob.

The band kids were all very nice and friendly... so it was ok except for getting into the parks and some of the rides. I think this event happens every year around this time. Just be prepared for it if it happens to you...get to the parks right when they open (the kids start showing up mostly around 9:30-10).

-Karen

 

[Akdar]

Here is a copy and paste directly from Universal's website that might help you in your planning

Universal’s Grad Bash
Universal's Grad Bash 2006! On April 28 & 29, both Universal Studios and Universal's Islands of Adventure theme parks are being set aside just for graduating high school seniors to experience intense thrills, extreme excitement and unforgettable fun. Get your friends together and create memories they'll be talking about at every class reunion. Call 1-800-YOUTH-15 for more information or visit the official Grad Bash website.

I know the actual Grad Bash, doesn't start until 7PM, but I think that a lot of kids will be there during the day as well, just my opinion. My family and I are getting to the parks on the 30th of April until the 7th of May. I wish it was next week, but what can you do?

Hope this helps!
Mike

 

[Scottish-Helen]

I can't believe Grad nights are these dates. We are off to Florida on 22 April for 2 weeks and have the first 4 nights booked at Sarasota (this can't be changed) and 29 April booked into a timeshare which also can't be changed. I was going to go and stay at HRH for 27 and 28 April but there is no way I want to clash with Grad Nights. Young people need to have fun but I'd rather not be there when they are having it on a large scale.

Oh well this will give me something new to plan around. i think I'll go over to Disney for these nights and then maybe hit Universal the middle of the next week and just buy the Universal Express passes.

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

I agree with Snow White completely. We were there the same weekend and the band kids were HORRIBLE! The mess before you even get in the park was really bad and it took us about 45 minutes to get into the park. Also, the express lines were horrible and even the kids that didn't have express were using the line anyway and none of the attendants were checking for express passes or hotel keys.

Also, that is the week of our spring vacation and almost all of N.H. Mass., and Maine (probably VT. too but I'm not sure). If you can go in the middle of the week, that would work better. That being said, we love Universal and would go again during this time frame, maybe just plan better and not be at the parks right at opening. We will be there next month for Vetran's day, have been during that time before and it hasn't been busy, but it certainly could be. In case that happens, we just hit our favorites and have lots of pool time at the HRH. Enjoy!!!

 

[deelam]

Now I have to rethink my dates too. I was planning Disney at the start of my vacation, Now either I switch Universal and Disney dates, or I switch the whole vacation to the end of May. I have little kids, so I really want to avoid Grad Nights. I think the parks will also be very crowded during the day.

 

[Akdar]

That is why we are going from April 30th to May 7th. We are going to UO for 4 days and to Disney for the other 3 days. haven't decided on which days to go where yet, but we have time to decide that.

 

[mketting]

This info is why I love the DISboards.

We depart on April 29 on the Magic and I was thinking that maybe we should do universal on Wed/ Th instead of Th/FR so we could take Friday to relax and see some other Orlando sights before we board the ship. Well now that I know the 28th is "Grad Night" we will definetly do Universal on the 26th qnd 27th. Thanks for the heads up !!

 

[Mommy Poppins]

I'm with you MKetting. We'll be at USO on 4/26-27 and then move over to Disney! That way we're out of there before the band kids arrive.