I want the truth.....

[dbelmo]

Ok Fellow disers....... please tell me the truth.

How bad (give examples of wait times, etc.) are the crowds the week before Easter?

tia
dbelmo

 

[mindyd]

We were there this Year and never again. By Tuesday the fast passes were all gone early afternoon and we waited over two hours for Test Track. We have gone in June the past three years prior to this and have gone different weeks and that doesn't not even compare to how long the waits were the week before Easter.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I can't speak to Easter but we went over Christmas this past year and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. Christmas is the only time that's busier than Easter. The secret is a really good touring plan. I purchased a subscription to TourGuide Mike. It's the best $20 I spent on my trip. If you click on the link on the Theme Park board then you'll get a $3 discount on the subscription (TGM is that board's sponsor). I figured with all the money I was spending, what was $20? Well, I'll never take another trip without TGM. That's how different an experience we had in December. It was our first trip over a busy season but it was our easiest time touring. We've gone during the slowest seasons and never had such an easy time. Definitely a worth while purchase.

 

[ThanksForNoticingMe]

We were also there the week before Easter. The more popular rides i.e Test Track, Space Mountain, ect. had a minimum wait of 60 minutes.

That said rides were not the focus of our trip..we did Keys to the Kingdom Tour, watched the Parades and shows, looked at the various exhibits in Future World at Epcot....

Yes it was very busy ..but unless the main focus of your trip is the rides there is plenty of activities that are not greatly impacted by the crowds.

I would def. go again the week before Easter...going during Easter or even Christmas is not bad...it is just different than going in the slower periods.

 

[Priorityonecb]

If it were my first trip, or a once a lifetime type trip...I would not go at that time. If you go often and you can go knowing it will be crowded and go with the flow anyway knowing you'll be back again...I would go if the timing worked out perfectly.

 

[momtwoboys]

We may be braving that week next April....we have been to Disney many many times so we can go with the flow. Just curious to see what others say that were there the week before Easter 2010. Our school vacation week ends with Easter weekend. Looking at April 15-22nd. HMMMMMM.

 

[cheerforchelsea]

I have been to WDW many times - but only one time the week before Easter--- I will NEVER go again at that time. Most of the rides we never got to ride - wait times were at least an hour. The parks were full of unruly teenagers there for spring break. We were at the ASMu and had tons of teenagers running up and down the outside walkways all night long (and we were on the top floor). Never again!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[punkin]

We were there this year and I didn't think the crowds were that bad. Of course we went at rope drop. Did all the headliners using FPs. Left around noon or one ( with a FP or two to use later) and then came back after dinner. The park hours were really long, and I think if you avoid the middle of the day it is not so bad.

 

[tinkmom2]

4 out of 5 of our WDW trips have been in March. One of those was Easter week. That week wasn't crowded at all. But since we only went in March we had nothing to compare it to til we went this November. I guess we were used to the big crowds because November seemed like a ghost town.
You have to remember spring break starts at different times for everyone so the crowds will go up and down. We never had any problems though. The only other thing I didn't like about March was there are many baseball groups and sports teams at the resorts.

 

[tlh0726]

This is not my picture. Someone else posted it and I had copied and sent it to a friend that mentioned that she was thinking about going during this week.

I have gone during Spring Break in 2009 and 2010 and never saw crowds like this.

 

[dis2cruise]

well, we have done it several times & we never waited more than 10 minutes when we did tour guide mikes way and yes we did get on all the popular rides.

you MUST get there at rope drop and follow his ways
leave right after lunch and then return at night the afternoon crowds are the worst. TGM also tells you certain days to go to certain parks and which ones to avoid like the plague. HTH

 

[jmb120]

I also recommend TGM. We have used him our last 2 trips to the world and now know how to tour the park and not wait in line. Seriously, we have never waited in a line longer than 10 minutes (most were walk-on's) using TGM and have done all the big rides.

I know that I sound like a commercial for TGM, but I was skeptical on my first trip but am now a believer. It's only $20 give it a try!

 

[LisaInNc]

Worse than you can imagine.

If you have been to Disney a lot you might be able to manage it but if this is a first time trip DON'T DO IT.

I went one year because I was spending Easter at my sisters house in Florida. It was so crowded you couldn't even see things I felt like the entire pavement was covered with bodies.

My DD who was 7 at the time actually asked to go. We were going back in June and she said that she would rather come back when it was less crowded. I agreed we stayed in the hotel pool and left a day early.

I won't ever do it again. If I end up in Florida for Easter again I might do a few restaurants, the hotel but never ever the parks.

Lisa

 

[ThanksForNoticingMe]

As long as you do some planning and used a touring plan from either Tour Guide Mike....or TouringPlans.com....you really should be fine.

The week before Easter is not the same as going the week of Easter.

College spring breaks start in late Feb and are staggered throughout the next several weeks...so I doubt you will inundated with Spring Breakers...we have never been.

The values may have more of the Spring Break types...idk. Perhaps try a Mod.

I will say my most recent Spring Break trip my father came, we stayed off property because he said he "needed a break from all the crying kids at Disney"

In summation I firmly believe you can have a wonderful pre-Easter vacation...I would go ahead and start planning!!!