If you normally visit the week before/after Easter, how are the crowds?

[Gentry2004]

The last time we did the week before Easter was 2018, and that was because we had APs that year. It was very busy but manageable. Obviously this was the FastPass era. In 2022 and 2024 we did December and October. With my kids' complicated school/sports schedules and hot summers, I'm debating for 2026 if we want to brave the crowds of spring break or the heat of summer. I was originally leaning summer for the better crowds, but this recent heatwave has me rethinking that.

So, to pick your poison do you prefer spring break crowds or summer heat? I was trying to find a thread with first hand discussion of 2025 spring break crowds but was unable to find one.

 

[cruising spud]

Back in 2019, we went to WDW for the week before Easter and then continued our stay for a few days after Easter. The weather was gorgeous. Until Easter day, I felt the crowds were fine. We had FastPass and did all of the rides and shows we wanted. Then, Easter day arrived. We got to the Magic Kingdom at rope drop. Within an hour, MK was packed with people. Packed like we couldn't move. We have been to Disney a fair number of times, and I have NEVER seen anything like this. Now, for us, not a huge issue, we were staying a total of fourteen days, so we had plenty of park time. If my time was more limited, I would have lost a valuable park day.

Spring breaks vs the heat-I would pick the heat and fewer crowds anytime. As a family we could (within limits) manage the heat. Arrive at rope drop, stay in the park until noon, head back to the hotel for a dip in the pool, a nap, and a shower. Head back out to the parks around 5 or 6. Were there years it was hot, hot, hot-yup. We complained for a bit and then enjoyed the parks. Keep in mind, a lot of the rides and shows are air conditioned.

Now, I have friends who would much rather face crowds than heat. So, this is just my opinion.

 

[loves to dive]

I've been the week before and the week after (literally the day after) many times. I've also been in the summer/fall many times. I really haven't noticed the difference in the crowds around Easter but then again, I always park hop and don't need to ride every ride so I might be crowd blind. I will say the weather tends to be a lot cooler around Easter. I have had some warm days, around 80 some days but I'm from Georgia so that is almost cool for me. I've also had to wear long sleeves or a light jacket early mornings and night in the spring. I've had some rain in spring but nothing like summer/fall where you are guaranteed to have some kind of rain every single day. I would caution you to look at the run Disney schedule before you book. They tend to have a spring race nearish to Easter.

 

[beccasmom]

We visited the weekend after Easter in 2019 (late April). It was a very quick (for us) three-day visit. We only visited one park - Epcot - on Sunday and it was quite crowded. However, it was a Dapper Day and the Food & Wine Festival was ongoing. We had a great time, but I don’t remember how many attractions we experienced besides a few in World Showcase.

The weather was wonderful, just about as perfect as I could imagine. I will say that we visited in early May last year and the weather was very warm (not as bad as August, but close).

 

[scrappinginontario]

Traditionally the week before Easter is busier than the week after Easter..

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

Six of us (69,66,39,39,7,4) were there the week before Easter this year. Average high temp around 85. Crowds were manageable - I've definitely seen worse. We had very little rain so that helped us stay on plan. Had 4-day non-PH tickets. On-site stay so took advantage of early entry every day. Left the parks late afternoon. Went back to Epcot one night.

 

[AnnaS]

We arrive two days before Easter and stay 7/8 nights. So far same plan for next year. It is busy but I doubt it's as busy as the week leading to Easter. My grandchildren start vacation the Thursday before Easter.

My two sons bought LL for their families for a few days. I only bought for one ride. I think the major rides always have lines. Early entry helps.

 

[liamthompson]

We went the week before Easter this year and are headed back next week. We haven't left yet but I'm already going to say choose the spring break dates! If this summer trip turns out better, then I'll come back and amend my post haha

For our April trip, we came in at the end of a runDisney event and it was noticeably crowded but once the weekend was over, it was manageable. There was a mini heat wave where we slogged through 2-3 days in the 90s but more preferable than the neverending 90 degree days in the summer. We did not buy LL but should have.

For this summer trip, I threw out the itinerary I had for April and put in a much more heat-focused itinerary. So the summer might mean lower crowds but depending on your tolerance, you might be constrained by the heat anyways.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

Well, I just realized that we were there two weeks before Easter this year, so feel free to ignore my earlier post.

 

[Gentry2004]

We went the week before Easter this year and are headed back next week. We haven't left yet but I'm already going to say choose the spring break dates! If this summer trip turns out better, then I'll come back and amend my post haha

For our April trip, we came in at the end of a runDisney event and it was noticeably crowded but once the weekend was over, it was manageable. There was a mini heat wave where we slogged through 2-3 days in the 90s but more preferable than the neverending 90 degree days in the summer. We did not buy LL but should have.

For this summer trip, I threw out the itinerary I had for April and put in a much more heat-focused itinerary. So the summer might mean lower crowds but depending on your tolerance, you might be constrained by the heat anyways.

If you remember, I would love an update comparing the two trips!

 

[liamthompson]

We just got back and I was WRONG I'm so wrong that I'm considering booking for the same post-july 4th week again for next year haha

Sounds silly but I did not realize that low crowds didn't just mean shorter wait times in the park. There were so many times during the trip where I said, "where is everyone???" I walked right up to the check-in desk, there were minimal lines at the food court and plenty of open tables, and the buses weren't crowded either. In April, check-in took ~30min, the food court was busy although manageable, and the bus was standing room only even though we rode at off-peak times. I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to book sci-fi dine in and oga's cantina on a whim and I didn't just get lucky - there was plenty of availability throughout the day.

Disclaimer - our July trip was a resort-hopping trip with one park day and LL and our April trip had 3 park days and no LL so not exactly apples to apples comparison. The heat was very manageable in the park - I prioritized outdoor attractions for the morning and did shows in the afternoon and walked from air conditioned space to air conditioned space. Resort-hopping felt hotter because there were fewer AC breaks and my kid wanted to spend most of the time digging in the sand/playing lawn games/on the playground.

I originally thought the heat would be miserable because we live somewhere with similar humidity to Orlando but just a few degrees cooler, and most of our outdoor time has no quick access to AC (ex. after leaving the playground and getting into the car, you still have to wait for the AC to kick in vs at Disney, you merely walk into the hotel lobby and are greeted with an instant blast of cold air). It sounds really small but these quick AC breaks make a huge difference. At home, I constantly worry about my kid overheating but I was surprised to find that it wasn't the case while we were on property.

As others noted above, I think it REALLY depends on your heat tolerance. If you can walk 10-20min outdoors in 90 degrees then you'll be fine. Wear the right clothes, hydrate, and have a good heat plan and the lower crowds make for a more enjoyable trip.

 

[BigOnDis]

Our trip in 2024 worked out to be the week before Easter. We always go during spring break (my daughter is a teacher). It is most certainly busier during Spring Break, crowded even, but the weather is so much nicer. We have decided that since we go every year, we don't feel like we have to do everything, so the crowds don't bother use as much and much prefer the weather. We used to go in August and it was miserably hot.

 

[sjberg79]

We went this past Easter weekend (2025) and I don't really want to let out the secret but... it was fantastic crowd wise. Just normal wait times, nothing was extreme. Very pleasant time of year to go because everyone assumes every holiday will be packed. We will probably go again next Easter weekend.