Is the week after Easter really that bad?

[leighe]

Unfortunately, my spring break this year falls the week following Easter (April 9-13). Party will consist of DH, DD 15 months, and myself. We are currently planning on flying in Sunday afternoon (Easter, the 8th) and flying out the next Sunday. We've always managed to avoid the really, really peak times at WDW so I am a little apprehensive. Animal Kingdom is open until 8pm almost every day that week! We are planning another trip the end of July so we were considering totally scrapping the April trip and lengthening our summer one.

Any opinions about Easter week?

Any advice or opinions?

 

[tigger1972]

Last year, myself, DH, and DS 2 1/2 went to WDW for 4 nights, checking in the Monday after Easter. Though DH and I had been to WDW many times in the past, it was the first time with DS so I researched and planned using the Unofficial Guide's touring plans as my spring-board. We honestly had a wonderful time!

The only time we really noticed the crowds was the evening we spent at Epcot planning to eat counter service around the world before Illuminations (a tradition DH and I always did pre-DS). Each counter service line took at least 20 min so we quickly realized we could only eat at 2-3 countries. I did feel a little stressed in those lines with DS and the stroller and felt like we did waste a lot of that evening in lines.

We really enjoyed the late hours and were surprised at how easily DS stayed up happy until midnight! We did return to our room every afternoon for a 2-3 hr nap, however.

Have a great time!

-April

 

[ZoZo]

Lots of schools have that week off as vacation.

 

[CapEldano2]

I went the week after Easter, and the crowds were big, but not too terrible. As long as you know what attractions to visit at just the right time, You'll be all set. For example.. don't visit Test Track at 3:00 and expect to walk right in..I think that's a given for some people, but if you're not one of those people, I would suggest checking out the Unnoficial Guide to Walt Disney World.. it has all that good stuff in there lol.

 

[dixiedizfan]

Gotta be honest ... Touring Plans has that week listed as all 9s and 10s; same as the week before Easter. All the school districts where we live have that week off. It will be very, very crowded, so plan accordingly.

 

[Maine-iac]

I was there from the Wed before Easter until the Thurs after this year. I was pleasantly surprised that the crowds were not as bad as I had anticipated.
Using the morning EMH is the way to go. You can get alot done by noon time (about the time that everyone else seems to be heading into the parks). We went back to the room and napped or swam for awhile then went back to the parks at night. We found the evenings and the evening EMHs to be busier than the mornings so we stuck with the morning EMH. Use the FPs and you can get alot done. If you plan it right you can go and have a great time.

 

[Tink415]

We went once the Monday after Easter in mid-April. I don't remember the parks being that bad (we go early or in the evening). I do remember we couldn't get a chair at Port Orleans Frech Quarter pool in the afternoon for the first few days and had to put a towel on the concrete pool deck for our stuff, and the water parks were turning people away by 11am the days we tried to go (no bus service either). It can be a hot week! By Thursday the crowds at the pools were a little less. We haven't run into the same conditions going Mid-April if it wasn't following Easter.

 

[leighe]

Thanks for all the replies! We discussed it last night and decided to go ahead with our spring break plans. We are considering moving from CSR to the BC so if the parks are just packed we can spend more time at the resort and the transportation options will be easier.